Should i become a cleaner?

I'm 30 now and I have been unemployed for a while. I am hesitant to take this part time evening shift job cleaning inside airplanes. I feel that i will become a 'cleaner' in identity. I 'feel' that this job is 'beneath me' somehow, but then i do have social phobia and all that so it does suit me and it leaves me time to maybe take up a university course and study to do something better?

Sorry to all the cleaners out there, I don't mean to demean you or your profession.

I have to decide whether or not to take this job I guess. It's been a while since i worked and it looks like i will be working as part of a large team too The pay is very good too.

Cheers.

Take the job. Anything beats a blank...meaning no income.

I started out as a cleaner in housekeeping in 1987 part time.
I owned my own business from 1994-2003. I then sold it and went back to the same job and became the Supervisor at $56k per year.

I would do it and see what happens. Good luck.

BTY, did you know that many millionaires own cleaning companies and most of those jobs we think are beneath us pay well. Trash collectors make upwards of $25 per hour and junkyards are owned by very whealthy people.

Yeah i guess it's just an image thing. I'm single and all that and i have to have a job where females will like me.

I don't get it...you have to have a job where females will like you? You want someone to like you based on your job? Or you're afraid that they'll hear your a cleaning person and form an opinion? Right now, if it's a job and it's legal, I'd say take it. Somebody has to it. And if you've ever flown think how irritated you'd be if there were nut wrappers and paper cups in your seats! You'd most likely be irritated that no one cleaned it--so actually it's quite an important job--you'd be keeping a ton of people from getting pi***d off!!!

Yeah I don't want people to form opinions on me based on my 'occupation'. And I don't want my own self image changed by that occupation either. This is probably why i've been avoiding getting a job.

Well, I look at it like, yes I may have to clean up after people, but think how I happy the next people are that they don't even have to think about it because I've alredy cleaned it. I haven't looked at your profile, but I'm guessing I'm 15-20 years older than you, so I look at things a little different, too. However: job...............no job..............job............no job..............hmmm..............go for job!!

It's more of a part time job really. 24-30 hours a week . . . I will decide tomorrow I guess. Im in occupational rehabilitation to try and find a job, but i got this one through a family member, i was 'lucky' i guess.

If the pay is good I'd do it. I know what you mean, though, it is low-status. But, well, it's nice to have money.

The summer before I started grad school I did some housecleaning, because it was my own schedule and it paid cash, better than getting some crap retail job, though it was hard work. The irony is I also had a part time programming job which paid a lot more but there weren't too many hours. It's weird to be a programmer moonlighting as a house cleaner. So I didn't tell anyone.

(((((((((((( BiscuitTin ))))))))))))))))))

I think you should take the job, a job is a job. Most people take jobs that are not going to be their career, everybody has to start somewhere I don't think that it is realistic to wait until you find your dream job to start working. Good luck.

My thought is this - What have you got to loose by taking this job??? Hmmm...I can't think of anything much.

But I can think of quite a few reasons as to why you should take it and I'll be happy to list them....

1. You will be employed and bringing in money for survival
2. You will be doing a much needed job for thousands of people
3. Girls will be happy to know that you are gainfully employed as compared to someone who isn't and may look lazy (that can be a real turn off)
4. By working this job you will be networking, meeting new people (I know it's hard but...)learning a new skill, building your resume and maybe, just maybe finding another line of work that really suits you.
5. Above all else, you will be building your self esteem by having a good paying job that will allow you to take better care of yourself. You will be a positive role model for the next person who has difficulties.

I could go on with a few more things, but I think you get my drift Please don't let fear and what other people may or may not think of you interfere with making your decision. Everyone that starts a new job has some anxiety over it. It's a normal reaction to the new and unknown. Just be yourself, ready to listen and learn and work.....it will go just fine!

Wishing you well!


sabby

BT,
There seems to be more pros than cons about taking this job.
Earning your own money can be a powerful step towards self-esteem. I realize you hesitate because of the nature of the job, but it's honest work.
As you pointed out, it would leave time during the day to pursue other things.
If you took only one course, you would be able to say to anyone asking about your work that you are working your way through university...jmo, but it's really no one else's business.
Many people work as waiters, etc. in order to pursue their dreams...there is no shame in service sector jobs.

BT, it's good you recognize that you have these feelings re identify and status. It's giving you a chance to work through them...perhaps opened your eyes in some way.
Jme, but I learned through the years that no one thing defined me. Many parts make up who I am...

Best wishes in whatever your decision,
Cap

In my opinion, any honest job for honest pay is worth doing and worth respect, and it's infinitely better than being unemployed. And as you said it would leave you with time during the day to pursue other things. I think it sounds like a good thing.

Lest you think I'm talking out of my hat, I lost a really high status, high paying senior finance job due to a drinking problem in 06. I was unemployed for 16 months while trying to get sober and deal with some mental health issues. When I went back into the job market, there weren't many equivalent senior positions plus I had to explain a year not working. I wound up taking a job that's several levels below my old job, at a substantial pay cut, and my ego still has a tough time with it occassionally. But the way I look at it is I'm lucky to be working at a decent job with ok benefits. I'm learning some new skills (it's in a slightly different area of accounting) and the fact that it's junior to my skill level means no overtime, when i leave work at 5 pm I leave the job behind. I have a chance to have a life outside work. I used to totally define myself by my job, but now thanks to being in a more junior position, I've had to redefine myself more holistically and it's made me feel a lot better about myself.

--splitimage

Hi ... I used to clean offices in the evenings during university. It was a clean job and an easy job and it allowed me to do what I wanted during the day. What's wrong with that? Nothing at all. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person. Remember that. You are more than your job. And it won't be forever. Nothing ever is. It just suits your purpose right now, that's all. Take care.

Hi Tin,

There was a man I was in love with a long time ago and he was a janitor at an airport. He was also a house painter and later he worked on cars. I didn't care what he did. I loved him for him. Also, the benefits at the airport were really awesome. In this economic climate, a job is a treasured jewel. And a woman who falls for you no matter your job is more worth keeping than a woman who wants a doctor or something just for the money and prestige, in my opinion anyway.

Also, you might find some cool stuff on the planes tee hee. I'm flying on Monday...I'll think of you and the other plane cleaners...if you took the job, thank you for what you do. Planes are cool....and an airport would be a really neat place to work.

I hope you take it.

Hugs,
Rayna

I have found that since i've accepted the job, i feel like my life is at least rolling forward now instead of sitting in stagnation. Working in a part time evening job i have no intention of staying for long in has really given me impetus to think about what i want to start doing in life and what kind of job/career i should be choosing for my future. Much better than sitting around and being unemployed imo. Though it does come with much existential and social anxiety.

I have been in an occupational rehabilitation program for about a month now to choose what i wanted to do in my work life, and the plan we drew up was to get a regular job now, and then also do some study at the same time so i can build a career or at least a plan for myself.(i'm thinking maybe speech pathologist, locksmith, or audiologist) So this is all part of the plan, i don't know why i resisted it so much.

Also happy to report that i've found out that the pay is really good and the conditions also, and i only have to work part time which is great cos i've been out of work for a year with anxiety problems and probably couldn't do full time right now.

Cheers guys.

Tin.

Congrats!!!!!!

(((((((((( B T ))))))))))) I'm so glad to hear you excepted the job. I wish you much success for as long as you are there and into your future.


sabby

Biscuit Tin,

Congratulations! That's great - I'm glad you accepted the job and even happier that the pays good. And you have space to work on pursuing another career. That's awesome.

--splitimage

BT! I just read your thread here, and I'm glad you accepted the job. You may even find you really like it! As for your "image" and what girls think...What woman worth knowing would dismiss you based upon your job?!!! Any good female friend should congratulate you on working at a good-paying job of honest work!
I'm a teacher, and I often envy the janitors at our school. They don't have to deal with the chaos and problems of behavior from students! In that respect, I would enjoy the peace of the work you are doing!
Love
Patty

Hiya Tin,
Dancxing pepppers for you. That's awesome that you took it Already you sound more conident. Good for you. My grandma has an audiologist, its really cool the stuff they do. And they help people hear. That would be a really neat career.

When do you start? Keep us posted.

Hugs,
Rayna

just adding my congratulations mr. biscuit. I'm glad you did it. It's not forever, it's just for now, and it is money! it's just kind of too bad that in our society, for a lot of people, you "are" your job. I would have taken the job too, though, and screw anyone who thinks it's beneath them.

i hear speech pathology/audiology is a really good area to get into. not sure exactly why but it's my understanding that those people do pretty well.

I'm considering not taking the job again. I think I accepted the job just to get rid of the guilt. It seems like a massive undertaking and i'd rather not work, maybe i'm not ready?

Being nervous before starting any new job is normal, especially if you've been off any length of time. I was out of work for 16 months due to addictions and mental health issues before I went back to work full time, and I was terrified.

But I still think you should take the job. Just take it one day / step at a time, and do the best you can while acknowledging to yourself that it is going to feel uncomfortable. If you hate the job, feel you can't handle it, after two weeks, then you can always quit.

But the thing about fear, is each time we face our fears and go ahead and do it anyways, then the easier it gets.

Good luck.

--splitimage

Amen. The more you avoid your fear (at least in my case) the greater the anxiety the next time. I would put off something that I fear )I have this panic about going to my internal med doc for my physical & keep cancelling it & rescheduling it for a month later thinking surely I'll be able to do it then--WRONG--my anxiety is even worse then. But I have all these physical health issues that need to be addressed. My therapist finally made arrangements to go with me.

But also as far as the prestige or whatever of the job, I have a friend who is a school bus driver. She was a nurse & absolutely couldn't deal with the stress of that job, but thought everyone would look down on her for being a bus driver. Know what? Her co-workers are the nicest, very well-educated people (smart enough to know that you get paid well for working very few hours & have the summer off!) & she enjoys the children so she is very happy.

Go for it!!--Suzy

First day was yesterday. It was ok, i am really out of shape so it was very tough and i didn't get much sleep. I might keep it till i find an easier job.

I haven't been looking forward to going back, ealier this morning i was pretty depressed about it and considering doing something stupid.