Autism and Employment (another PennSilverTaco thread)!

I was making $19 an hour at NAVMAR when I got laid off…

 

Good stuff man, spread the resumes around.

If the people who decline you don't give any real feedback, ask for some. Even a general question like "how could I be a better candidate for this role?" is a good way to spark the conversation. Maybe it won't bear fruit but worth a try

 

Charlie,

It's been my experience that most coworkers are just the worst. Sometimes you gotta endure the unendurable.

Might be why I decided a long time ago to be self employed and my only employee lol.

 

Don’t quite have the funds to go into business for myself; I get along fine with my coworkers. It’s just that some of them have no damn work ethic!

 

Don't quit until you have another job lined up. Better to stick it out than not having any money coming in.

 

That’s why I’m staying for now…

 

I'm not advising you to go in for yourself, just sometimes with coworkers you have to just shake your head and take care of yourself. Switching jobs in no way eliminates these knuckleheads, it's just new knuckleheads typically.

Do what you gotta do, but these morons are everywhere and if you need good coworkers to be happy at work, it can be tough.

 

I don’t need good coworkers to be happy, but I have never had a job before where people called out with such alarming regularity!

 

@TnShooter

One thing I’ve learned from searching for jobs is that if they basically hire you on the spot, it’s more than likely a crapshoot. The two exceptions would Spirit Halloween in 2021, and my current job. I do not like washing dishes, and many of my coworkers are disloyal lazy-asses, but I like the management and the pay is adequate enough that I’m willing to tolerate it through the holiday season if I can’t find a new job before Thanksgiving.

I applied for $15-per-hour full-time car washing job at Fred Beans Volkswagen that I am waiting to hear back on, I applied for two different jobs at Thompson at least two weeks ago that I have haven’t heard back on, I applied at Sullivan’s Scrap, I applied at an HVAC company in Harleysville, and I applied at the Home Depot near my house.

With regards to the HVAC job, it is full-time and advertises pay of $12 to just over $17 per hour. They asked in the questionnaire what my minimum pay requirement is, and I said $15 since that is what I am making now, but I am willing to temporarily take a pay cut if it means getting my foot in the door towards an HVAC career; I am also willing to commute (Harleysville is more than 30 minutes from my house). This particular job is an apprenticeship, and did not seem to require EPA certs, which is why I applied; I hope to have my EPA certs by the end of next summer!

A prime example of a job where I got hired on the spot that turned out to be a shitshow was Domino’s Pizza. For starters, the job had too many rules, especially considering that I would be making deliveries in my own truck that is titled in my name and that I pay for insurance and maintenance on (no rights on red and must go 5 MPH below the speed limit at all times when the whole point of the job is getting pizzas to customers in a timely manner; yeah, fuck you). The manager also expected me to work like 11 hours on my first day! This was specifically because I was replacing a pothead who constantly showed up to work high, and they wanted to fire him on my first day. I can understand that, but making a new employee pick up two shifts on their day is not the proper way to do business!

I texted the guy at Domino’s that I refuse to work not only a double shift but a midnight shift on my first day, and that I no longer wanted the job. He said that we could work something out, but I was done. Another obnoxious thing about pretty much every pizza place, whether it’s a independent and privately owned or a nationwide chain, is that the delivery drivers get paid less than the other staff but are still jawboned into helping out the other staff for no extra pay.

 

Charlie, I promise you, HVAC shops are always hiring, moreso in the summer, but there is no reason to drive 30 minutes to get to one. Particularly with a pay cut.

Even starting out being a parts runner, someone needs a guy. I would highly recommend just carpet bombing places close to you and letting the chips fall where they may.

Also, don't mention anything about being willing to take less. They will absolutely give you exactly what you asked for and not a penny more.

Good luck with whatever you do though.

 

One problem I’m continually encountering is that they want a year or two (or more) of experience in HVAC; I can get my EPA cert, but it’s pretty damn useless if nobody will hire me because I’m a rookie…

 

1-2 years really means 0-2 years. As long as you communicate with your application that you're looking to start a career in HVAC and are eager to learn, get licensed, and move up, many outfits would be willing to give you a shot.

 

You might have to start lower on the totem pole and then work your way up. No one needs anything more than a clean driving record and drivers license to get their foot in the door.

What position are you applying for?

 

That particular one was an apprenticeship. Do you think anybody would hire me without an EPA cert?

 

Possibly yeah. We hired guys without one often.

Although having one already and applying was almost always an easy yes. Keep after getting it and you'll be fine, even with 0 years of experience.

 

Just don’t tell them your nick name is “Sparky”

 

@ABA180
@ColoradoTJ
@Just_A_Guy
@shakerhood
@steelcity2
@TnShooter

I applied for a job as a mover/laborer at Two Men and a Truck today, and I heard back like six hours later! Full time and starts at $16 per hour! I just need a job that I can tolerate while I regroup, and washing dishes at a nursing home ain't it!

 

I hope you like it.

My brother worked for a company like that.
He HATED it.

People are either really nice, or complete assholes.
I mean, after all you are moving "their" things.
But some people get super emotional over stuff.

Then you have the ones that can not decide where they want stuff.
And want the shit moved 4 or 5 times.

Things to remember. Wood floors scratch, carpets stains, and wall don't give.
And stairs SUCK. They suck worse when you are on the down side pushing up.

He ultimately quit when a piano went into the lake.
But......It was coming any ways. He hated that job.
It was his first job right after he finished High School.

 

I’ve just got to get out of this damn dishwashing job before the holiday season!

 

@ABA180
@ColoradoTJ
@Just_A_Guy
@Lt. Dangle
@shakerhood
@Speedytech7
@steelcity2
@Steves104x4
@TnShooter

One thing I’m starting to notice is that even entry-level jobs are a pain in the ass to get these days. The majority of the jobs I’ve applied for, including Fred Beans and Home Depot, have these stupid personality assessments.

There is usually a phone interview, and then an in-person interview, and then on the case of Fred Beans it went to a review board or something. In addition to the personality assessment, I had to take these 20-minutes quiz that tested my English and math skills, among other things.

I got my current job because Amanda’s boss knew I was unemployed and said I’d be hired on the spot if I passed the background check. The specific words used were “beg your boyfriend to take this job”. This was never supposed to be a permanent job or a career, but I thought that I could handle it through the winter; I am will to tolerate it through the end of November, but I just can’t take it for much longer. Amanda is also looking for a new job.


We love who we work for, and we have no complaints about the money we make, but it’s just a very difficult and stressful job.