I don't know if this is depression or what, but I am having great difficulty in making a decision to get a job. I had this plan that I wanted to travel while I'm still young, and to do that, I calculated how much money I'd need. At first it seemed like a great plan, and I was all in.
But then I didn't do so well at the first job I was training for, so they didn't hire me... and I started to think about how bad I am at waiting tables (which was the money making job I had hoped to get).
I have spent two weeks mulling over this, and reluctantly surfing the web for waiting jobs, while hoping to get anything else. But I know deep down, the quickest job I could get would be at a restaurant, I'd just have to commit to it. If I wasn't so scared I would go hand out resumes today.
I just had this fleeting hope that maybe I could work in an office or somewhere where I could sit and not be verbally abused, and not be judged based on two days of minimal training in a high stress environment. But I have no experience in an office.
Do I need to suck it up, or slap myself out of it & get a waiting job? If it doesn't work out, I could get even more depressed... The last two jobs I had greatly diminished my self esteem. What should I do?

[kaliope]

you just need to remember that you are not going to become good at something overnight. it is going to take lots of practice. imagine learning how to play a musical instrument. that is what it is like learning to wait tables. it takes lots of skill to balance the needs of that job. it takes coordination, time management, good memory, balance. bosses expect you to get it overnight and diners are a high turnover business and there are tons of waiters out there that it is easy for them to find a more experienced person to take your place if you don't keep up. they don't care about your self esteem. you just have to remember it is not about you. they just want their food out fast. just keep trying and don't let it get you down. take care.

[HockingPastryChef]

I like Kaliope's answer.

Like he said it takes practice and time to learn new skills and even skills that you haven't used in a while. You are human, nobody is perfect.

I smile each day at the fact I'm not perfect. Think about how boring life would be if you were perfect. The term that you need to flow in your mind is "Do the best you can and don't give up." Plus remember EVERYBODY is different. Just because someone is very good one skill doesn't mean that they are great at another.

Also you can always practice carrying trays around at home.

Wish you the best of luck at finding a job!

[Slamjammer]

One does not aspire to "wait tables". You were going to save up a bunch of money with this job...enough to allow you to travel??? Are you serious?

Take an assessment of your skills. What can you do? More importantly, what do you LIKE to do? Find a job that is compatible with what you like to do...then do it as well as you can. Don't worry about money. Keep your eyes open for opportunity, and the money will find you. Save some money, THEN consider some travel, if that's what you like to do.

Who knows....maybe you could be a travel agent ;-)