Are you fresh out of college? How long is your credit history?

In your situation, I would probably wait until you find employment. But you are right to do your homework first. Find out your credit scores from the credit bureaus. Not the free scores. The free scores don't matter because no banks use them to determine credit.

You don't mention having any existing credit cards. If you don't have an established credit history, and you are unemployed, I think it is a long shot to get approved for a rewards card.

If the above situation is correct, I recommend applying for a prepaid or a starter card like the Citi Simplicity Card to establish a credit history.

The risk here is that if you don't have an established credit history, or your credit score is low, being rejected for a card will make that situation worse. In fact, if you need to buy a new car when you find your dream job, making the wrong decision now could increase your loan interest rate.

I know you are impatient, but some things just take time. And if you screw it up because you aren't willing to wait, it could take a long time to fix your credit.