Working in retail/food service/minimum wage

[pinkiepieRN]

Hi. I've been out of work since July 2012. I've had medical problems that have interfered with me working as an RN since then and even though I've been looking for work (hospitals, home health, PRN/part time), I've been on interviews with no success. I'm currently applying at places like grocery stores, pharmacies, and fast food. Has anyone else done this and continued job hunting while working a minimum wage job to pay the bills?

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

I found that I was always over qualified for those positions and they knew I'd leave once I found a job on my level. Have you considered tutoring? Maybe babysitting? Good luck in your Job Search

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

[pinkiepieRN]

Thanks. Yeah, I know I'm over-qualified, but it's something I'm being pressured into doing. It's so discouraging because I know I can definitely do my job properly if I were re-hired as an RN and there are opportunities out there, but I don't know when to give up. I don't *want* to give up but I'm getting pressure from my parents (with whom I live right now) to just do anything rather than hold out for a nursing job even though I can afford to wait a bit longer. I don't want to be miserable in a job that I hate or worse, that's holding me back from getting a nursing job.

[Hygiene Queen]

I have.

I walked into a local dollar store, dressed nicely, politely asked for an application and filled it out.

No sooner did I get home that I got a phone call and asked to come back.

Got a job that same day.

Turned out the gal I got the app from was the assistant store manager and she was so excited that she ran back and told the manager to hire me, lol.

Was I over-qualified?

Definitely.

That doesn't mean they won't hire you.

The only down side was that I always always always got stuck on the cash register (I wanted to be in the back unloading the truck, lol!).

That was because I had people skills and could do math when the register broke down (which happened often!).

It was hard work for just $40 a day but it was better than no work.

Of course, when I left the manager said, "Dang it! I knew it was too good to last."

The message I took from that: he wouldn't do that again.

He knew he wasn't going to keep anyone "who could do better" for very long... and it wasn't worth his while.

Still, you do what you have to do to make ends meet...

I would try to get a job...

But don't let yourself get too comfortable...

Remember your goals!

[pinkiepieRN]

DISREGARD! I just got a job offer for a travel RN position in my specialty!!!

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Congratulations!