The Underemployment and Unemployment Thread

[ShatteredUniverse]

Pushing carts requires training? Training that lasts more than a minute or two?

We're talking about Wal-Mart here. . .

And, yes, it did require training, especially because the job as performed in a Wal-Mart parking lot requires the operation of machinery as well as manual labor.

There were also ancillary duties involved that had to be explained.

 

[faithmclaine]

I have had 3 apprenticeships and 1 job I am 19 I got sacked from all of them which is a real downer it also makes me feel stupid my real passion is animation but nobody will give me a chance because I dont have a degree in it but I am good at it grr so annoyed

 

[Cerulean]

Sounds fun. . . NOT.

Seriously, I think I'd pull all my hair out in an environment like that. At least when I was a cart-pusher, the expectations never lowered. It's too bad I wasn't cut out for the social interaction and chaos, because I was damned good at my core responsibilities. They even had me training new people (that position has a HIGH turnover rate.)

Yeah I am one who likes to stay relatively busy. I am used to the demands of working out of a queue that has a timer on it, and having someone (kindly) reminding us to keep taking calls. Now to just sit and wait for something to come in is maddening. I have managed to read most of our training material and a lot of our internal tech support information. So at least I am continuing to grow, even if it doesn't *feel* busy. I'm sure it will pick up.

 

[Mattymatt]

I understand that a few of us are either unemployed, or under-employed and under-paid in whatever jobs we may do, especially menial jobs, despite our skills.

Feel free to share with us your experiences, as well as your thoughts on being underemployed/unemployed.

At 40 years old, I am beginning to look at life through a different lens. Rather than worrying about being underemployed or "employed at potential," I am looking at this as what will bring me the most peace in life. I am also looking at undermployment as not necessarily a negative thing: It can be a choice as well. After 16 arduous years of trying and failing to climb the corporate ladder in information technology, I am perfectly fine with being a Security Officer for the long term. The job is doable and without a whole lot of hassle from superiors. I won't make a mint but I will have a less stressful work life.

 

[Mattymatt]

I have had 3 apprenticeships and 1 job I am 19 I got sacked from all of them which is a real downer it also makes me feel stupid my real passion is animation but nobody will give me a chance because I dont have a degree in it but I am good at it grr so annoyed

Keep your head up and soldier on! Don't let this be a defeat. I've been fired from quite a few jobs and it is what it is - mostly, it's on them. I have to thank the time that I spent immersed in heavy metal culture for the thick skin that I've developed. I've just learned to flip these guys the bird and move on like nothing happened. Of course, I mean figuratively flip them the bird - actually doing so might not be a good idea. I actually made that mistake once and it earned me a security escort off property even though I am not a violent person.

 

[owlet]

Since finishing my dissertation for an MA, I've been job hunting but with no success. I developed a condition which specialists are saying may be Meniere's disease so I've been looking for part time hours in an office environment (I now have to use a cane to keep my balance when walking so retail jobs are out of the question, regardless of the huge amount of stress they cause me). So far, I've had four interviews and after each, I was told I did really well, including at the tests and a presentation I had to give, but someone with more experience was chosen. I'm currently applying for PIP and I'm still sending out job applications as well as trying to find a place to volunteer, but in September it'll have been a year since I started looking and to be told there's nothing I can improve on for interviews, tests or presentations is demoralising in that it's purely down to experience (and I have had a bunch of jobs in offices before). I'm trying to stay positive, but it seems like I'm suddenly unemployable..

 

[Mr Allen]

Equal opportunities my arse they just say that because they have to, they DON'T mean it.