Bummed out about job prospects

[froghat]

I've spent the last few months trying to get the job I wanted at a few different places. After tons of back and forth BS, both times I was rejected. Now I have no options but to get some crap job at a grocery store or Walmart. etc. I just feel like there's no point. I'll be making min wage and still living at home at 27. Most of the people I'll be working with will be high school kids and I'll be seen as the old loser still working at a grocery store. I'm seriously thinking about working overnight, so I don't run into someone I know. What do you guys think? Has anyone worked retail before? Was it ok? What shift did you have? I'm not sure how I'm gonna get motivated to work at a retail store. How lame!

 

[jayBDee]

I am not sure how many applications/resumes you sent out. From personal experience, I had to send out 5 applications/resumes a day for a couple of months before I had some 'hits'. Working at a grocery store is probably not the worst place to work. You could work there until you find better. I am pretty sure grocery stores have a high turn over. Try not to care about what others might think of your employment. They are probably much less interested in what your doing than you think. You shouldn't feel strange around them. For all they know, you could be going to graduate school and you are just working there to make ends meet until you finish school. I recently overheard an interview with Red Robin Restaurants I head one guy that wanted to be a cook while he finished up his PhD in education. So I guess what I am saying is don't classify all people in retail as losers that go nowhere. Those jobs can be stepping stones to better things.

If you totally hate the idea of retail/grocery you might want revisit CareerBuilder, Monster, and Craigslist.

If you can't get any leads off of that you can try registering at MANY temp services.

Make sure you have a nice looking resume to catch their eyes. You might want to surf around to see how some people layout their resumes. You could also go to Barnes and Noble....and take a few notes on some layout styles that you liked.

 

[Slothrop]

Making minimum wage and living at home at 27 is better than making nothing and living at home at 27. It's also the best thing you can do now to get a better job later.

It's also better than being 25, on your own, and desperately in need of a job--any job, so you can afford next month's rent. That's where I'm at, right now. It sucks, but I gotta do what I gotta do. My education and prior work experience don't reflect what I think I am capable of, but I can't expect an employer to just take it on faith that I can do what I say I can, and to pay me what I feel I deserve for it. None of that matters in the face of needing the work. (Incidentally, my best prospects right now are Wal-Mart and a local grocery store.)

My advice, insofar as I can offer any to someone in such a similar position, is to have the humility to work the job that you can get, even if it isn't the job you feel you deserve. You've still got more important things to think about, like how you're going to use the job to help overcome your anxiety.

 

[GloomySunday]

I would advise doing some voluntary work in something you might enjoy. I did some last year and it really enhanced my CV and helped me to get the job I now have.

Employers are interested in people who show commitment and who have experience in doing things, being pro-active. It's not all about having qualifications and so forth. They're interested in people who can actually do the job and have some "hands on" experience.

Use this time wisely and work towards a better future. You can do it if you really try.

 

[froghat]

Thanks guys, I'm feeling a little better today. I guess I'm expecting too much and should lower my goals at first. Anything is better than staying at home doing nothing. Just making some money every week and meeting new people in a step up.

 

[worrywort]

I worked at a supermarket last year when I was 25. It was difficult at times, and most of the other employees were 17-19 years old, but I tried not to let it embarrass me, because really I don't think SA is anything to be ashamed of. Everybody has their own battles to face in life and this is ours. If you were physically disabled in anyway you wouldn't expect to be mocked for having to take jobs below your mental capablilities. If getting a job at walmart is a big step for you, then take it and enjoy the challenge for everything that it will bring you, and forget about what other people think. Working at walmart may not be a challenge for a lot of people, but for us it is, and that's nothing to be ashamed about. So I say take the job, enjoy the challenge, and forget what everyone else thinks!

 

[sketchy24]

Try to get a job at a production plant of some sort if there are any in the area. If they're union, even better.

They pay well, its union (hopefully) so you don't have to worry too much about being kicked around cause you're quiet. Plus its excellent exposure for SA. Never have to worry about running into someone you knew. Same people every day and you can challenge yourself daily. The work is hard and yes I was a complete wreck when I was going through training but hey, if I can do it, anyone can. Plus once you have you're job, you really aren't required to talk to anyone at all. You just come in, do your thing, leave go home. And being the newbie, you'll probably be working nights for the first 4-5 years.

All I did was put in a resume even though they weren't hiring at the time. And it was nothing special. I made the resume on a site intended to help little kids make their first resume (since I didn't have a clue ). I just filled in the answers and made the whole thing up for me. Anyway, it got me the job at least (and really, at a plant, there are no requirements aside from able to do the job that needs to be done and you arent on drugs or havent been arrested anytime recently...).

I don't know just something to keep you're eye out for on the job hunt.