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I'm having a job crisis
Sci-Fi Wasabi
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I work for a retailer (whose name matches a certain round, red symbol) and my time there has gone from good to extremely poor over the course of a two and a half years. I'm recognized as a very hard worker who can get the job done. However, the companies' full time senior position I had is being restructured into a normal employee position and I feel like my hard work has left me with no opportunities. Despite their reassurances to the contrary, I also predict that I will be left with much higher expectations and responsibilities as a result of my experience compared to my peers.
Right now work is harder than it was during Christmas. Over the course of the last two months my company has experimented with how few workers they can have while keeping a store open, and the stress and pressure has been, at times, nearly enough to make me lose my shit and give up the job that (so far) is keeping a roof over my head. I'm full of conflicting emotions; I'm sure they NEED me in order to get some VERY IMPORTANT things done, but they treat me like I'm expendable in order to expand my (huge) workload. I don't live at home anymore and rely on this place to live. I have no place to go if I lose this.
I feel like I can't get another job. I feel like I can't go to school. I don't even know who to turn to or what to do about my situation. The best I can do is ask for advice on how to cope with the anger and fear I'm feeling. Panic attacks make me feel like there is no such thing as tomorrow, and my unhappiness is affecting myself and my partner in ways that make life less worth living. What do I do?
Right now work is harder than it was during Christmas. Over the course of the last two months my company has experimented with how few workers they can have while keeping a store open, and the stress and pressure has been, at times, nearly enough to make me lose my shit and give up the job that (so far) is keeping a roof over my head. I'm full of conflicting emotions; I'm sure they NEED me in order to get some VERY IMPORTANT things done, but they treat me like I'm expendable in order to expand my (huge) workload. I don't live at home anymore and rely on this place to live. I have no place to go if I lose this.
I feel like I can't get another job. I feel like I can't go to school. I don't even know who to turn to or what to do about my situation. The best I can do is ask for advice on how to cope with the anger and fear I'm feeling. Panic attacks make me feel like there is no such thing as tomorrow, and my unhappiness is affecting myself and my partner in ways that make life less worth living. What do I do?
Sci-Fi Wasabi on
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Then, look to a trade if nothing else. CC's offer them, and there are fucktons of grants, scholarships and special loans (and government bursaries!) to get them.
There's certainly no harm in looking around for another job. With your experience you'd probably have a leg up on others applying for the same job. I would at least be certain there's no other opportunities.
Surely there's someone in upper management that you can talk to about your out of control workload. HR?
Not saying that you should cheat the system, but depending on how bad it is - you may not be cheating. Either way - at the very least you should look for a new job. Nothing takes a load off like not needing this crappy job.
Best of luck.
You made a few mistakes which has led you to today:
1. Target is not a career choice. Even if you stay there years and years and years - no level of hard work is going to get you past a shift-manager job there. Store manangers, district managers, marchandising specialists, etc - all bring OUTSIDE education and experience to the position. Very few "rise-through-the-ranks" from cashier.
2. You put all your eggs in one basket. You were hoping beyond hope for that full time position to hold out so that you'd have an improvement in working conditions - which ultimately proved to be a very leaky life boat. When it finally sank, you feel like you've got no where to turn - specifically because you left yourself no other options. NEVER DO THIS TO YOURSELF. The rule of thumb is to plan for the worst, hope for the best.
Now, all of that being said, lets talk about your options:
As Target is not a career choice, you can find that same level of job in other locales. While yes, the job market sucks, they are out there - you just have to look harder. Put out applications at all other retail outlets and get set for some interviews. Turnover in the retail market is still turnover - its a tough business, so timing is everything.
You mentioned you dont think you can do school? Why not? Money, time, parents, got mortgage, kids?
As someone who overcame most of these, I can tell you how to do school - just tell us why you think you can't.
Sorry to be so dark, but 10 years dealing with retail has taught me that its a results driven business. To stick around you need luck, skill and be a manager, with a degree.
So the bright side? You work roughly 40 hours a week right? Go to school and get a degree. Look at the online schools. I got a degree working 40 with a wife and kids, it can be done. Set up some goals and get out man. Retail will suck your soul, and then replace you with the next sucker. Find your passion in life and focus on that.
I can easily admit that I put myself here, but now I have to figure out how to man up and take life in the direction I want.
I attended a local community college for a term with like 14 credit hours a week until my mom died, and I think psychologically I damned myself to a life of retail. I'm getting to the point where I'll do anything to get out.
If you are willing to get out of this situation that you created then don't focus on the problems. Acknowledge them and focus on the solution. A problem is an opportunity. Overcome it and use it as a stepping stone to something better.
Not to be a pessimist, but this is a very important point. As soon as you start feeling like you are essential and they NEED you, you start feeling entitled and work yourself into a frenzy about things that might not normally bother you.
They don't need you. They can probably find someone to fill your position for even less then what they are paying you. Keep that in mind when you find yourself getting caught up in how they 'should' treat you.
My suggestion would be to get the support of your girlfriend. Doing this with support will be MUCH easier than going it alone. Maybe you both want to start looking nto things and need to start thinking about what you're willing to give up in the short term.