I'm scared now. After writing about the trouble I've been having finding a job...it's just coming down to the wire. I'm completely broke. Savings are gone. Everything. No one to borrow money from. After numerous applications not one single interview. Not one single call-back. Looks like I'm going to have to back to Burger King to my dismay. I don't know how to get up the nerve to tell my boyfriend I need to go back there or how to ask the manager I need my job back. I don't want to have to go back. I don't want to go back to the same co-workers (I never even told them I was quitting and never said goodbye). I can't cope with them. Back to feeling out-of-place. Back to feeling sick over the sight/smell of those sickening Whoppers. Back to what got me in this mess in the first place. Back to the vicious cycle.
There's no time now. No time to even find someone who can help me find a job.
But if I go back I'm saving up my money after I make up some back rent. Saving up for a doctor's visit (I don't have insurance). That's a start.
But I'm scared.
I cannot help you with your situation, even though I am in a slightly similar one myself if I remember your previous topic correctly (luckily my family is helping me out at the moment), but do you think you will be able to regain your old job?
Grocery stores? Have you tried those? They have less overwhelming stimuli than a fast food place.
I'm sorry things suck for you.
You have my sympathy.
Don't call. Go in in person, find out who the managers are, introduce yourself and ask about work opportunities, talk abotu how important work ethic is to you, etc etc. If they say that they aren't hiring, ask them if they foresee any openings in the near future, and if they have any, if they'd give you a call.
I've heard really bad things about Safeway though. I wouldn't want to work at one. What grocery stores do you have there?
Oh,and when you go, dress clean, well groomed, not in a suit, but something like basic black slacks or clean black jeans and a good shirt, clothes that say "well groomed but hardworking and professional, but not too good for the job". Make eye contact even if it is brief (like when you're introducing yourself) and give a firm handshake. If you have a resume,present that. If you don't, it might behoove you to make one. We can probably help you with that here if you'd like.
I don't know what's worse: when people ask me "where do you work?" and I say I'm not working at the moment (and how that makes me feel) or when I was working and they asked "where do you work" and I replied "Burger King" and they say "oh" and turns their head away like I suddenly have some contagious disease.
I know a lot of us have trouble with lying, but a little bit of creative embroidery can have interesting results: Q "where do you work?"
A "The catering industry". Or, if not working, say "I'm self-employed" and go on to talk about your interest in music as if it were a job. It doesn't even matter if you admit you're not making any money out of it, that just makes you seem interestingly bohemian!
Alison
This guy sounds like he is horrible. He ought to be more supportive. If you aren't working, how can you pay half the rent. He should be paying more than half if he is earning more than you.
My advice for what it is worth is to see if you can go on welfare (citing all the jobs you've applied for), go to employment agencies and specialised disability employment agencies and look outside the square in respect with jobs.
My disability employment agency kept suggesting that I apply for labouring type positions. I always dismissed the option out of hand.
After many months my co-ordinator gently asked me why I was so dead against the suggestion. Was it because I thought it was not prestigious enough. I said, "Look I am 35. I am 5'8" and 65kgs (approx 145lbs). I have worked in white collar all my life. If they see me come in for a job they won't want me. They'll see I have a small build and have no experience and laugh their arses off. Even if I did get a labouring job I would last because I am not a kid anymore and I won't bounce back like an 18year old". She was floored. She assured me very strongly that there were companies screaming out for labourers and not only would be happy to employ me but would pretty much make any concession for my disabilities if I roved to be a reliable and honest worker. Nine months later, no complaints. I am not 65kgs anymore, I am now 75kgs and none of that is fat. I feel as fit and strong as I have ever been and enjoy my job. The employment lady was right, the boss's found that I was a really good worker and any time I have a concern, problem, need time off or whatever, their answer is "Sure Ross no worries - anything else we can help you with?". Twilight Zone!
Hope these ramblings help.
Just out of interest - do you do housework and stuff at home? If so, your boyfriend needs to factor that in. It's hardly reasonable to expect you to pay half if you can't get work. I don't know if it would be possible to move into a place with cheaper rent but then you might already be on a long lease and can't change over.
I think you should try to apply for social security. They can evaluate you and diagnose you, too. In the meantime, start looking for a women's shelter. Your boyfriend sounds like an @$$. He is clearly no friend at all.
No, it seems to me that he is getting some kind of sick thrill in saying things to worry you and then blocking off any avenues to improve the situation eg. by saying the Burger King isn't hiring.
You've only got his word that they're not hiring. He could be telling a story there.
Is he responsible for the lease? I thought rent usually had to be paid weekly or fortnightly so it shouldn't have piled up for a long time. If you were both working and earning similar amounts, it would be reasonable under most circumstances for you to pay half, but because you've got so much less earning power, you shouldn't be forced to pay half the rent.
Not sure about the US system but hopefully somebody else can explain. Your boyfriend obviously has no concept of non-monetary value benefits. I mean, if he had to hire a housekeeper to do all the jobs you do, it would cost him far more than half the rent if the housekeeper spent several hours a day doing the chores.
I hope this doesn't sound bad (I don't mean to be crass) but if you two are sleeping together, it would cost him a huge amount to go to an escort agency instead to find female companionship. Again, it would be far more than half the rent.
I'm sorry but at best, your boyfriend sounds like a male chauvinist with old fashioned and sexist ideas about women's roles in the home. It's good enough for him to expect you to pay half the rent but if you got a job, he still wouldn't do his share of the housework.
This idea might sound a bit odd but do you think your landlady would be prepared to drop the rent if you could do special jobs for her like looking after the garden?
Why doesn't he get himself some better qualifications so he doesn't have to work at Burger King if he is so worried that you will outshine him?
Good thing character assassination isn't lethal this poor bloke would be dead a hundred times over.
Maybe his goals have changed? Perhaps his goals are different to the goals you would like for him? Maybe he doesn't need college for what he wants to do? Are you putting your expectations on him?