[Schwarze Eule]

Hello... I'm a bit lost. I'm 20 years old, and have only had two jobs since I finished school in 2012. My first job was as a kitchenhand/dishwasher in a takeaway shop/restaurant. It went okay until things got a bit chaotic one night, and I got the blame for things even though I had been doing my best and it wasn't all me. My hours got cut back after that, so I had less work, but I thought I was doing alright. I must have been wrong, as eventually I got a phone call with an apology, saying I had been made redundant as it was too quiet. I don't believe that, I feel my boss was just trying to fire me in a nicer way.

My next job was as a kichenhand/dishwasher in a cafe, but mostly as a dishwasher. It seems to have gotten quiet again, as I haven't been called into work in months. I have struggled with speed in both of my jobs, and have been told I needed to work faster. I don't feel confident enough to work out the front with people, so my options are limited until I do. I need to get a new job, but I just don't know what to do about the speed thing. It's really not my fault, I'm not slow deliberately... I was slow at completing things all through school. I don't have a diagnoses of anything so there's not even a reason I can give for this.

Does anyone have any advice for me, is anyone else in a similar position? I'm tired of working dead-end jobs but I don't have much of a choice right now. Neither of the two jobs I have had were full-time, I don't know what that would be like... or whether I would like it. I'm going to try a distance learning course next year, I hope it will go okay. Thanks...

[gloamingone]

Is there anything that you would really like to do? What is your dream career?

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[Schwarze Eule]

I really want to work with animals, but I don't want to be a vet. There are not many options for what I want to do in my town. I'm going to do a distance learning course next year, but am worried about failing. I struggle to get myself motivated to do certain things, which is probably why I can't even drive yet.

[Webgoji]

Originally Posted by Schwarze Eule

I really want to work with animals, but I don't want to be a vet. There are not many options for what I want to do in my town. I'm going to do a distance learning course next year, but am worried about failing. I struggle to get myself motivated to do certain things, which is probably why I can't even drive yet.

There are all kinds of jobs that work with animals that you may just not have found yet; veterinarians and zoo workers are obvious, but what about training therapy animals, working with animals in movies, pet sitting and grooming?

Don't worry about working a dead-end job. I'm 41 and work at a dead-end job. But outside that I'm working on my passion of writing. So go ahead and get that dead-end job to pay for the bills and start checking out your options for working with animals in whatever way works out; maybe education or mentorships or something.

As far as motivation ... some depression might be holding you back and could be worth checking on.

[Schwarze Eule]

Hm I could do something like that, have thought about being an animal trainer before. I'm supposed to sign something so I can become a kitchenhand at a retirement home, but it's only casual work. I don't think I am going to go through with it, since I don't feel comfortable with having to do an MRSA test... o.o As for the depression, I think I'm okay. I feel fine for the most part, I just feel down sometimes at night, as I am aware my life is not going anywhere. I can handle it.

[Tommo]

Originally Posted by Schwarze Eule

Hello... I'm a bit lost. I'm 20 years old, and have only had two jobs since I finished school in 2012. My first job was as a kitchenhand/dishwasher in a takeaway shop/restaurant. It went okay until things got a bit chaotic one night, and I got the blame for things even though I had been doing my best and it wasn't all me. My hours got cut back after that, so I had less work, but I thought I was doing alright. I must have been wrong, as eventually I got a phone call with an apology, saying I had been made redundant as it was too quiet. I don't believe that, I feel my boss was just trying to fire me in a nicer way.

My next job was as a kichenhand/dishwasher in a cafe, but mostly as a dishwasher. It seems to have gotten quiet again, as I haven't been called into work in months. I have struggled with speed in both of my jobs, and have been told I needed to work faster. I don't feel confident enough to work out the front with people, so my options are limited until I do. I need to get a new job, but I just don't know what to do about the speed thing. It's really not my fault, I'm not slow deliberately... I was slow at completing things all through school. I don't have a diagnoses of anything so there's not even a reason I can give for this.

Does anyone have any advice for me, is anyone else in a similar position? I'm tired of working dead-end jobs but I don't have much of a choice right now. Neither of the two jobs I have had were full-time, I don't know what that would be like... or whether I would like it. I'm going to try a distance learning course next year, I hope it will go okay. Thanks...

This one is easy to get right. But you won't listen. Nobody does. Anyway...

1> define your passion;

2> get into a university and focus on that passion;

3> take any job at all in that field for whatever money they offer.

In ten years...you will be a part owner in that business. This is a promise.

20??? Geez...a student loan & putting that dishwashing experience to work around a campus somewhere will make it entirely feasible.

Open the freakin' door......and you'll see that the world is spread out in front of you.

Cheers!

[Tommo]

Originally Posted by Webgoji

There are all kinds of jobs that work with animals that you may just not have found yet; veterinarians and zoo workers are obvious, but what about training therapy animals, working with animals in movies, pet sitting and grooming?

Don't worry about working a dead-end job. I'm 41 and work at a dead-end job. But outside that I'm working on my passion of writing. So go ahead and get that dead-end job to pay for the bills and start checking out your options for working with animals in whatever way works out; maybe education or mentorships or something.

As far as motivation ... some depression might be holding you back and could be worth checking on.

I agree with you, entirely...

[Tommo]

Originally Posted by Schwarze Eule

Hm I could do something like that, have thought about being an animal trainer before. I'm supposed to sign something so I can become a kitchenhand at a retirement home, but it's only casual work. I don't think I am going to go through with it, since I don't feel comfortable with having to do an MRSA test... o.o As for the depression, I think I'm okay. I feel fine for the most part, I just feel down sometimes at night, as I am aware my life is not going anywhere. I can handle it.

Your life is not going anywhere???

You are most probably doing something that saps motivation. I can only guess what. All I can say is stop your recreatin' and get back to school.

I'm off......

[Schwarze Eule]

Thanks for the advice guys. Well I didn't actually get university entrance, so that's not really an option for me. I don't learn well from listening and taking down notes, I much prefer to be shown how to do things. I'm doing a distance learning course next year through Polytech, if my application gets accepted. There is no option to stay on campus, unless I do the vet nursing course the following year, which I'm not going to do. As for sapping motivation, well I'm not doing much other than gaming and spending too much time online. Just looking for a part-time job now, so I can bring in some money while doing my course.

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by Schwarze Eule

Thanks for the advice guys. Well I didn't actually get university entrance, so that's not really an option for me. I don't learn well from listening and taking down notes, I much prefer to be shown how to do things. I'm doing a distance learning course next year through Polytech, if my application gets accepted. There is no option to stay on campus, unless I do the vet nursing course the following year, which I'm not going to do. As for sapping motivation, well I'm not doing much other than gaming and spending too much time online. Just looking for a part-time job now, so I can bring in some money while doing my course.

No offense but why did you apply for university at this age in the first place? You should go sign up for a community college and get your two year associates degree and get your general education credits out of the way before ever stepping foot at a university. I say that because it is much cheaper that way. I would only advise students to go to a four year university straight out of high school (18-20) if they have parents who can afford those thousands of dollars per year for four years, or if someone is really masochistic to themselves and wants to put themselves into tremendous debt ($20,000 at least) for their four year education. You will be saving yourself a lot of money going to community college for your first two years, then transferring to a local university. Just make sure your major is transferable because I have a friend who majored in something that didn't transfer to his four year uni and he basically lost all that time that he spent getting his associates degree in that field. Sit down with a career counselor at your community college too.
Work part time and go to community college part time if you can (or full time, either or, whichever you can do). This also gives you more time to really figure out what you want to do and gain more experience working in different side jobs, etc.

[UpHill]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

No offense but why did you apply for university at this age in the first place? You should go sign up for a community college and get your two year associates degree and get your general education credits out of the way before ever stepping foot at a university. I say that because it is much cheaper that way.

I think I see that DEJ is in New Zealand; I don't think the university system works that way there.

[Koko2]

Don't worry about the speed issue with your dishwashing jobs as they're just basically using you and being fast would not get you promoted. In fact, don't let them know how fast you really can work. For one, you can eventually get osteoarthritis in your hands and fingers if you do manual labor for long. Try to build social rapport, friendships at work, and maybe you'll get promoted someday.

[Schwarze Eule]

Sorry ComicRose but I don't really understand what you are talking about, UpHill is right that New Zealand does not work that way. I appreciate the response though. I never applied for university, you have to do certain things in high school to even get the chance to apply to any once you're out, unless you go do some of those courses as an adult. I don't plan on going to one, as I just don't think I would learn much there, and it would be very expensive. And thanks Koko2, those sorts of jobs don't really take you anywhere unless you're really good and move onto other jobs in that industry.