I applied to some jobs

[Mattymatt]

I've been on disability for a few years now and it's been really hard to find work in my career field, Information Technology. At this point, I just want to go back to work in some capacity. Today I decided to swallow my pride and apply to McDonald's and Regal Cinemas. I think it would be good for me to simply work in an easy, menial capacity. A small part of me is a little sad knowing that this is a huge step in the wrong direction, but this will only be temporary. I am going slowly insane simply spending all day in my apartment. Human beings aren't meant to be idle; we're intended to produce meaningful work. At least I will be able to earn some money while staying below the social security earnings threshold. I hope that come August, I will be ready to go back to school and immerse myself in the world of Automotive Technology. Please wish me some luck. I am scared about going back to work - scared of failure ... again.

 

[Bolletje]

I’m wishing you the best of luck! I got rejected for McDonald’s when I was hunting for jobs a few years back, on account of being overqualified. I hope they won’t make that much of a fuss for you, since you actually want to do menial work.

 

[Mattymatt]

I’m wishing you the best of luck! I got rejected for McDonald’s when I was hunting for jobs a few years back, on account of being overqualified. I hope they won’t make that much of a fuss for you, since you actually want to do menial work.

Thanks, but I am overqualified too. I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Well, for now I don't mind doing menial work. I wouldn't say that I exactly want to do it, circumstances are just dictating otherwise. I think I'll probably get hired because the labor market is really tight in my area. More people have jobs than not so I have been getting call backs from the most unlikely of places.

 

[tducey]

Good luck to you in your search, I'm sure you'll be successful.

 

[Butterfly88]

Good luck!

 

[clg114]

Good luck. I hope that things get better for you soon.

 

[Mary Anne]

Thanks, but I am overqualified too. I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Well, for now I don't mind doing menial work. I wouldn't say that I exactly want to do it, circumstances are just dictating otherwise. I think I'll probably get hired because the labor market is really tight in my area. More people have jobs than not so I have been getting call backs from the most unlikely of places.

Envious of your BS in criminal justice! I loved working at an all male prion transitional center. I could have stayed on if only I had that type of degree.

 

[Mary Anne]

I've been on disability for a few years now and it's been really hard to find work in my career field, Information Technology. At this point, I just want to go back to work in some capacity. Today I decided to swallow my pride and apply to McDonald's and Regal Cinemas. I think it would be good for me to simply work in an easy, menial capacity. A small part of me is a little sad knowing that this is a huge step in the wrong direction, but this will only be temporary. I am going slowly insane simply spending all day in my apartment. Human beings aren't meant to be idle; we're intended to produce meaningful work. At least I will be able to earn some money while staying below the social security earnings threshold. I hope that come August, I will be ready to go back to school and immerse myself in the world of Automotive Technology. Please wish me some luck. I am scared about going back to work - scared of failure ... again.

McDonalds is really sensory overload and not easy. I could never do that! There is lots of noise, people moving fast, and too much action. The cinema sounds much more low key and relaxing.

Are you near a Home Depot? They need lots of help at this time of year...especially in the garden dept. I watered plants for 8 hours on my first day, and didn’t have to deal with overloads of the people kind. It’s peaceful and quiet. Today though it feels as if I must have walked ten miles. I worked in several capacities indoors and out. Feels good to be so tired.

 

[Thinx]

Once when I wasn't working full time but needed a job to pay bills I just left my higher qualifications off the list. They can cause misgivings and aren't really relevant to the tasks. Good luck job hunting I would and have definitely done what you are doing my best lowish paid job was in a library that was not bad at all. I like to be busy too and motivation can drop when you're not busy I find.

 

[Juliettaa]

Good luck.

I can understand you wanting to start off with a menial job. When someone has been out of work for a while, it's a good strategy to ease yourself back in. That way, you can gauge how you cope under pressure, if you're satisfied with mundane tasks or if you need brain stimulation.

It will give you time to work out if a menial job is, well, just too menial for that great fountain of knowledge you have around criminal justice

I wish you all the best Mattymatt. Remember, should you get a knock back, it's their loss!

 

[Bella Pines]

Good for you, see each challenge as a stepping stone. And just by taking action, you've already succeeded.

 

[Mattymatt]

McDonalds is really sensory overload and not easy. I could never do that! There is lots of noise, people moving fast, and too much action. The cinema sounds much more low key and relaxing.

Are you near a Home Depot? They need lots of help at this time of year...especially in the garden dept. I watered plants for 8 hours on my first day, and didn’t have to deal with overloads of the people kind. It’s peaceful and quiet. Today though it feels as if I must have walked ten miles. I worked in several capacities indoors and out. Feels good to be so tired.

I failed to consider that McDonald's would be sensory overload. Maybe they could just throw me in the pay window at the drive thru?

 

[Mary Anne]

I failed to consider that McDonald's would be sensory overload. Maybe they could just throw me in the pay window at the drive thru?

Ha ha...have you observed how stressed out those particular employees are? Because they are not only at the pay window, but are also bagging and pouring drinks, and getting the food, and also at times called away to do other tasks. Besides that, at high volume times, like lunch, and dinner, the cars que up in long lines, and people can be really rude. The cashier in the drive up window bears the brunt of all the attitudes. She also is asked to get all kinds of condiments, and that is more time is slowing down the order taking. She makes the change, and deals with changed orders, and added in orders, and a million things. No thank you, it’s not a stress free job. Especially at McDonalds!

 

[Mary Anne]

Thanks, but I am overqualified too. I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Well, for now I don't mind doing menial work. I wouldn't say that I exactly want to do it, circumstances are just dictating otherwise. I think I'll probably get hired because the labor market is really tight in my area. More people have jobs than not so I have been getting call backs from the most unlikely of places.

Why didn’t you go into criminal justice? I only wish I had that education because I loved working in a prison environment in a motivational counseling position helping the men to find employment as they got ready to leave prison. (No, I would not to work as a prison guard.)

 

[Mattymatt]

Why didn’t you go into criminal justice? I only wish I had that education because I loved working in a prison environment in a motivational counseling position helping the men to find employment as they got ready to leave prison. (No, I would not to work as a prison guard.)

Fair question. I wanted to go into Criminal Justice but it didn't want me so much. First off, I was overweight at the time of graduation (I still am overweight but had gastric bypass 2 months ago) so I won't be going to any academy. Secondly, too many skeletons in my closet. Also, I believe that the Criminal Justice system is very, very broken because a disproportionate number of poor and minorities are in the system. Furthermore, the whole for-profit industry that sprung up around corrections and prison operations is morally and ethically reprehensible. I had fun with my undergrad internship and was personally and professionally defeated when they did not hire me on.

 

[Mattymatt]

Ha ha...have you observed how stressed out those particular employees are? Because they are not only at the pay window, but are also bagging and pouring drinks, and getting the food, and also at times called away to do other tasks. Besides that, at high volume times, like lunch, and dinner, the cars que up in long lines, and people can be really rude. The cashier in the drive up window bears the brunt of all the attitudes. She also is asked to get all kinds of condiments, and that is more time is slowing down the order taking. She makes the change, and deals with changed orders, and added in orders, and a million things. No thank you, it’s not a stress free job. Especially at McDonalds!

Agreed, fast food is very stressful so I am glad that it did not happen. Let's see what Wednesday brings with the dump truck and work from home gigs. From a money standpoint, the dump truck job would be a gold mine for me but it's an overnight shift. I would only earn about 11.50 per hour on the work from home gig but it would be a relatively comfortable job.

 

[Mary Anne]

Oh, I agree with everything about it being a broken and corrupt system. I worked with a fairly decent non profit while interning at the prison. It still had some eye opening irregularities, and some of the Staff did not behave in professional ways. Some mad money off prisoners, and some did some really bad things. Most were caught and fired.

I just tried to stay out of all that and do my job. I was lucky in that I worked with 3 other staff, and I had my own dept to run. For the most part, the inmates were great and appreciative.

The justice system is disturbing. Chicago has some extremely bad reputation for cops killing people of color, and always getting away with it. People of color are jailed and imprisoned far more easily and for much longer periods of time. It breaks my heart.

Congratulations on taking charge of your weight.

 

[Rich Gray]

I tend to do well in call center jobs (little to no body language, it is restful). I also get hired when they are hiring in groups.

 

[Gracey]

Yes the fast food industry can be insanely busy at times
But,

You wear a uniform (no decisions to make)
There’s a script and protocol for each of the different work areas.
Something happens outside these parameters, hand it over to a manager.

There’s a procedure to follow with everything,
Cooking, cleaning, setting up, closing down, interacting with customers so the only think you’ll have to think about is what you might like to eat for lunch and what you’re going to spend your wages on.

I know a young lady who will be completing a Business and Politics qualification at Oxford when the term starts.
She’s been able to work part time at McDonalds whilst studying for her degree.
I know an architect who through his degree and masters did weekend shifts at MacDonalds (I think it was seven years in total)

So yeah, there will be a lot of routines to learn initially, once those are mastered it should be easy money to earn

You’re taking the initiative and doing something.
Something is better than nothing.
Well done

 

[Mr Allen]

Well done to the OP

I wish I could have some of the same luck, like 20 years ago I went for a checkout operator gig at the Co Op, they said I was "overqualified" and "shop work was beneath me", I was like, WTF?!