"Crappy Jobs" Poll

Which of the low on the totem poll jobs would you be most likely to apply for? I'm in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to jobs. I NEED a job, but my town is small with not a lot of job openings, especially in the legal field - I finished my paralegal degree last fall. I had planned on staying in the city and being a paralegal, but my apartment was robbed, a family member became ill, and my lease was about out so I decided to come back to my hometown to sort things out. Eight months later, I'm still in the same rut. I did a temp job which worked out well. After that, I managed to get a job in a law office (the only one in town that has any business), but it was TERRIBLE. I didn't know that a receptionist job could be that difficult, but there was no communication. The attorney would change his plans constantly, and I wouldn't know where he was. The office manager (the atty's wife BTW) was supposed to be with me to help with the calls and all the questions I got that I didn't know how to answer. When she was actually there, she was snotty and picked on everything I did and said. Found out I was the 4th receptionist in a month's time. So, left that job, and got a job at Wal-mart, which wasn't that bad except I was lifting heavy items continuosly (I'm a small, thin person, too). I literally wouldn't stop ringing up people for hours because it was just that busy and they wouldn't give me my breaks when they were supposed to. After a couple weeks, I was physically burnt out. I just never expected it would be this hard. Just now a lot of jobs have come up, and I'm applying, but not hearing back. I know it's not employment gaps, because I put on my resume that I'm working as an office assistant at the local university (my dad teaches there and can vouch for me). I'm not too worried because I just put a bunch of applications in, and it seems like I have to wait until I'm ready to give up before I hear anything.

I've never had any clear idea of what I want to do, which is partly the problem. I'm sure people are looking at my education, and wondering, why do I want this crappy job? I just want to ease my way back into the workforce again. I've even thought about applying for paralegal jobs in the city again, but I would have to move (it's an hour away). Plus, I had a few interviews at Columbus jobs soon after I moved back here and got the impression that they wanted someone local. Even though I said I'd move, they must've sensed the doubt I was having.

So, which of the local jobs sound most appealing to you, and why? Also, retail jobs are almost impossible to get around here (Penney's, Sears, etc.) because most people here lack education and there's a fight for what seems to be the best of the worst. Because I'm not really a people person, though, a salesperson job isn't a natural fit for me. I recently had an interview at a cosmetics/body care store, and I knew they saw that I wouldn't be the aggressive sales person type, even though I've had jewelry sales experience and can be that way with practice. So, I'm looking more closely at jobs with less people contact, though most lower-level jobs involve lots of direct contact w/people. A local bar is hiring bar help - I don't have experience mixing drinks and such, but I don't think I would necessarily need to know that since they're also hiring a bartender (I assume the bartender would do most of the mixing, and the others would help with serving and taking orders). It sounds more appealing than fast food, and this is a little nicer place than the average bar. I just lack the social skills, and also, know I'll be dealing with men hitting on me and being rowdy. I'm sure I could deal, but my parents I know would pitch a fit and prolly throw me out - may not be worth the risk, though I may check it out if I don't hear from any of the other jobs by the end of today. Sigh, maybe I should've made "getting pregnant and going on welfare" an option. :lol:

ETA: It left out "fast food worker" for some reason, so if you choose that, please just type it in your response.

 

maiseycat...i voted for waiting tables @restaurant...but only if it was highend...i could make great tips...but i'm in sales and have been for years...my vote would not be for getting pregnant and going on welfare...but thanks for the belly laugh this morning...i would keep pursuing the paralegal aspect and in the meantime think about things you love...if you love animals better than people then try a vet clinic or shelter...start your own dog walking or pet sitting business...if you are an outdoors person or good with plants and flowers the summer is a great time to get a job with parks/recreation...city jobs are not as difficult to come by as one might think...have you ever thought about being a postal carrier? the job you are looking for just may not be in the paper...take a day to observe how people make their money...btw, grocery stores are also a pretty good place to work...many are union and pay better than the big box stores...
the possibilities are endless...either find it or create it!

 

I'd go retail because it's on the list but if you're not a people person, I can see how that may put you off.

I think some of the best sales people are the ones who don't sell...
They let you know that they are there to help you if you need help but they don't buzz around you like a pest.

I once lived in a small town so I know jobs [good jobs] can be few and far between but hang in there.

I took a job that I hated and it lead to a great job because of contacts, so keep that in mind....

Good luck to you.
I'm sure you'll be okay because you seem open and smart from what I can tell.

 

Do you mean to say least appeals to you?

 

No, I want to know which job out of the list do you find most appealing, or would be most likely to choose (if you had to do one of those jobs for a living).

 

I'd pick restaurant server, because i've done it before. I've worked at several restaurants and i enjoyed them very much. The last restaurant i worked at was a Cuban restaurant down in Ocean Drive. Nothing against the others but working at a restaurant seemed to be the most plausible and comfortable for me. I think retail jobs are wayyy too stressful and whilst i've never worked at a gas station, i heard it's a tediously boring job. Hotel maid isn't a bad idea but the pay isn't worth the job (at least here in Florida).

I'm sure the story might be different there in Ohio but left to me, i'd pick the aforementioned - restaurant server.

 

What about residential cleaning? There is an ad in for a cleaning agency that wants part-time people to clean houses - 10 hours/wk. guaranteed. Pay is $8.00/hr. Cleaning isn't one of my favorite things to do in the world, but it would keep me busy so I wouldn't have time to get bored, and I wouldn't have to deal with stressful situations and people coming at me all the time. The ad says that knowledge of buffing and stripping floors is a plus. :shock: I wouldn't think that cleaning services would be doing that very often, though.

Aw, thanks. I don't worry about being smart enough for the type of jobs I'm looking at (most don't require much brainpower), but I lack the stamina and people skills. I used to be much more confident than I am now. I thought cashiering would be easy, but that job physically wore me out in no time flat. I've never had to work hard before - my schooling prepared me for mentally challenging work, not physical work. I actually always planned on being a SAHM like my mom, but my college sweetheart and I parted ways so now I have to figure out what else can I do? I'm actually finding that working-class type jobs appeal to me more than office work.

Thank you all for your input.

 

Sooo, what did you end up doing????

My friend was here and couldn't work (she had to wait for a visa) so long story short, she tutored kids and babysat and made a very decent amount of money doing this. The tutoring brought 20$ and hour (granted she is a native German speaker and has a degree in spanish) and babysitting was paid very well too.
Dogwalking is another fun thing to do (beats cleaning I think) along with Dogwalking you could run errands for people. You would just have to advertise your services somehow to get clients.

 

Well, I got a job at a fast food place. They were interested in me for a mangement trainee spot, but I said that I want to start out working part-time since I've never done anything food-related before. If I like it, then I can move into the trainee program. I've never WANTED to do anything food-related, but this is a service-oriented town, and what else do you do? I'm starting to look for paralegal jobs in the city again. A firm that I interviewed with when I was attending school told me to send them a letter when I graduated (the job they were interested in me for at that time conflicted with my school hours). I just sent them a letter, letting them know I'm interested in returning to the city. I didn't send them anything at graduation time because I returned "home" and was closed off to the idea of ever being up there again.

Right after I got hired for the fast food job, I got a call from an eye doctor's office - I'd turned in my resume to them weeks ago. It was a blind ad, and it turns out I know the doctor. My family used to go to him, and I went to school with his kids. His wife and my mom would hang out together at the country club pool all the time. We kind of lost touch with them when we moved out to the country, and we stopped going to the doctor's office because we found a practice that was more convenient and cheaper. When my dad quit his big job to teach, my parents stopped hanging around that crowd. I'm sure they're wondering what happened to us. At least it helps that I know them somewhat - I'm not counting on getting the job, though, because they're looking for an optometric assistant (ad said experience preferred, but not neccessary). I'm guessing I have a better chance than if I wouldn't have known them at all - in a small town, it's not what you know, it's WHO you know.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to juggle what I've got going. I have an orientation for the fast food job on Mon. I have an interview for the doctor's office job on Wed. Chances are the restaurant will want me to work Wed., so I have to either make up a reason why I can't be there on Wed. or tell them the truth, that the other thing came up unexpectantly. I was dumb when the doctor's office asked if mornings or afternoons were best - I said either one since I'm not used to working. I should've said mornings cause the restaurant isn't open in the morning (I don't think), but I don't want to call back at this point and have them change my interview time (that looks bad, IMO). I am happy though that at least I'm employed somewhere! I also had an interview from that residential cleaning place on Tues. He seemed to like me and said they might call me to do a test clean in a few days, but I haven't heard anything so it looks like I didn't get that. Just as well because I already have so much happening!