"just work at mcdonald's" is not a valid argument anymore, amirite?

It is definitely harder to get simple retail or fast food jobs than before. I'm old enough to remember being able to go to a restaurant between lunch & dinner rushes to fill out a paper application, interview, and walk out with a job that started the next day.

by Exact_Tie6906 1 week ago

When I worked retail years ago, it took me months to find a job—ended up working in Safeway. If I didn't live with my parents I'd be homeless

by Ok-Programmer 1 week ago

Generational housing, at least in the US (I don't know where you live), seems to be starting to be a thing again because of this issue.

by StockBid 1 week ago

Because the jobs you see online aren't real. It's the only explanation. They're data fishers.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

From the business's perspective I can understand that but from the applicant's perspective that is so damn annoying

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's annoying for us because we constantly have people following up on applications and have to explain all this to them. It's annoying to applicants because it wastes their time.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Most jobs online aren't real. It's the company playing the game so they can hire cheap out of the country or just make it seem like they are growing. Or scraping data.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It took me an entire year to get a part-time job as a cashier at a grocery store and it was getting repeatedly rejected from other retail jobs as well. That is not normal.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Way too many people, not nearly enough jobs

by Pedro05 1 week ago

No way. I could get three jobs today if I tried. Took you an entire year to get a job as a cashier? Maybe that's the issue. It took you an entire year to get a job my 15 year old just got within 5 minutes of looking. Seriously. She wanted to get a job Sunday. Monday I drove her to Kroger. She now has a job. It wasn't hard. It took her 5 minutes to walk in, and another 30 to meet with a manager and fill out paperwork. She starts tomorrow.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I work in Healthcare and could move to another company in a week. That's doesn't mean that other people aren't struggling with job hunting and getting interviews. Don't put others down for no reason. Do better than that. Also, OP specifically mentioned how it seems EASIER to get a job as a teenager, so I think you're giving them anecdotal evidence on that part lmao.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I live in the deep Midwest. I have ten plus years experience in my job, I've never had an issue finding a job. I've been out of work for six months. I went to four interviews this week. Guess what? No job. It's crazy and discouraging. Just because your experience isn't the same doesn't invalidate mine

by OkToe7663 1 week ago

Because a 15 year old is fine being paid minimum wage.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Not every single place in the US is gonna be the same ding dong. But this is true for a lot.

by Christydaughert 1 week ago

I took my niece who is 17 to King Soopers (kroger here) this past weekend to get a job because it should be easy right and they wouldn't even give her an application because they said they can get hundreds a week so they aren't taking anymore. But yeah... its super easy to just walk in lol

by Letha74 1 week ago

It really is. I only feel kinda safe and I'm in healthcare

by Commercial_Flow_9842 1 week ago

PhD here, and in the same boat as you. Also being told to just work at McDonalds.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

which field is your PhD on?

by Blockthurman 6 days ago

Critical information lmao

by JewelerExtreme 6 days ago

It's sad since we were basically told as kids "degrees = money" yet it would be far more accurate to teach kids "usefulness to society = money".

by mckennabernhard 6 days ago

Well, you are supposed to get educated in something that is useful.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

*usefulness to the owners of assets

by Blockthurman 6 days ago

...well it doesnt really feel like that latter rings true either lol investment bankers get paid way more than teachers and im sorry to say but the latter is way more important for society

by Simonisgenesis 6 days ago

Custodial arts

by InnerZucchini8756 6 days ago

Probably the "Pokémon Health Department"

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Since it's not STEM, it doesn't make much difference what it is. Anything that's not STEM sadly seems to lead to ridicule.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Even biochemistry, they won't hire you. You're overqualified except every lab job says you're not qualified enough...

by natalia91 6 days ago

PhD is niche enough that I don't think a STEM one fare that much better

by Blockthurman 6 days ago

A lot of white collar jobs are being shipped to cheaper countries these days

by Pedro05 6 days ago

Yeah, what you said about pushing around sounds true. Like you can not get a job because you are underqualified but you can also very much not get it because you are overqualified. I've got mine via personal contacts too, sadly that's how it works for the most part. Later on when you can truly call yourself an expert on something tricky, when you get on that deep water you have more space to swim but first you need to get there and that can be tricky itself.

by Schowalterkeena 6 days ago

Harvard applicants have a higher acceptance rate than Walmart.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I never even got a call back from fast food jobs when I applied in college. I was astonished because I figured it was so easy. It was also a college town so I'm sure they got an assload of applications but still. I had a whole resume and didn't even get a chance. It was humbling

by Longjumping-Spot-357 6 days ago

I have 6 years in the army, a degree, some certificates, and years of work experience and jobs still don't call me back after I apply. It's incredibly difficult to get a job right now.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

whenever I would bring home a bad grade in k-12 my parents would be like "do you want to work at mcdonalds" or "you'll spend your life flipping burgers now" guess that aged well lol

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Go work at Burger Kimg

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Try a temp agency if you struggle. Reexamine your resume

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Very good advice. I know 3 people who obtained a permanent job after temping and are now working their way up. All in industries that they would never have considered beforehand.

by fbeier 6 days ago

Yep forklift ticket and sign up with an agency and you should have a job in 24 hours. Won't be very sexy but it'll pay the bills

by Anonymous 6 days ago

The one that's worse than "just go work at McDonald's" is when I hear stuff like "Young people don't want to work" uhhhh no actually we do but it's difficult to get hired for even the most basic stuff unless you know people who know people. I'm in a small town so it's even worse, they'll take someone who's their cousin's friend with no qualification before they'd take me who has the right diploma for the job. add to that the not getting hired because you don't have enough experience but you need to be hired to actually gain experience. we get stuck in a vicious cycle there.

by Elissaflatley 6 days ago

Mcdonalds here pays like 25 an hour which is more than many medical nurses and assistants so yeah, its much harder now than before.

by Smithamberenice 6 days ago

My daughter is 16 and applied to 25 places and only one responded. She got that job but they wanted a 16 year old to work the closing shift and I said no. When I was a teenager getting a job was dead easy. Not anymore.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I loved closing in HS that was the best shift.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Applying online is garbage, your best option is to go speak to someone in person. Trades will still hire you, pop into a construction company, ask if they're looking for a laborer.

by sid92 6 days ago

Yeah obviously, a big part of my take on it is a yearning for a simpler time, but the point about trades stands, the online only thing really only applies to big corporate hirings.

by sid92 6 days ago

Tried this too. Usually get told to apply online

by Anonymous 6 days ago

At the very least you need to have an email of someone within the company to send your resumé to if seeing someone in person isn't an option right away. Any of these Indeed or LinkedIn "apply now" buttons are just sending your info straight into the shadow realm.

by gertrudebarton 6 days ago

I'm speaking in regards to people who have physical limitations and are relegated to desk work

by gertrudebarton 6 days ago

You didn't really mention that, but realistically speaking that covers a very small portion of the population. That sucks, and it's gonna be harder for them.

by sid92 6 days ago

It works against you if you HAVE experience. The goal of every business is to hire the most qualified person for the least amount of money. The fact that you have experience now is a detriment as you will ask for more money at any entry-level position. I recently got passed on an entry-level mortgage servicing job. I have 4.5 years of Loss Mitigation experience. Something is not right. I even had an in-person interview so it was a real position they were hiring for.

by Significant_Big5630 6 days ago

Outsourcing of jobs is a huge problem

by Pedro05 6 days ago

Interesting and clearly depends on the area. My 15yo is starting work at a grocery store next week

by Anonymous 6 days ago

It never was. People just look down on fast food workers.

by Lubowitzadeline 6 days ago

People working at McDonald's in my area make the same amount I do. I love my job and don't have to deal with customers. I would never work fast food again.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Nursing homes often need dishwashers and kitchen help.

by Claudie89 6 days ago

Just sell butthole pics online /s

by Anonymous 6 days ago

It's globalization and outsourcing coupled with a bad economy. Like it or not trickle down effects are real and the effect for McDonald's for instance is just trickling down from white collar jobs. Add in AI and we are all on a timeline now that has an end date.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Also why is it treated as some disgrace to work at some places? Work is work. Part of a functioning society. Doctors want burgers and scientists wear pants. It's a lot harder to find these kinds of jobs than it used to be, fs.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Temp Agencies. You get a job, temporary as it may be, but if you stand out you could be offered full time opportunities. Also if your not offered full time status at least you can fill in blanks kn your resume. So, even if i were between assignments from the temp agency I still list on my resume as actively employed as im their employee. This helps with the other things you're applying for in many ways- shows you'll take whatever is thrown at you, employed people are more attractive than unemployed people etc.

by Total_Duty8717 6 days ago

From my experience atleast in Nordics getting these "low end jobs"has gotten equally hard with engineering jobs :D My friend got a job as retail store cashier. He had to send video resume,he had phone Interview, on spot Interview that included couple of hours unpaid work,and then he had to wait for 1 week before they made their decision. For engineering I had one inperson Interview, psych tests, and second Interview. In 3 days after this I heard how they had to use a coin toss to select the person.

by Constant-Step-8974 6 days ago

Do you have a degree? Places won't hire if you're over qualified because they know you won't stay there for years

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Been unemployed low-key for 2 years give or take. I truly feel like if you aren't a young teenager or extremely qualified you won't get a job.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

The key to getting those jobs is to go there in person. So many people just sit home and fill out applications online. The managers don't even have time to look through them most of the time. Show up, talk to them, get an application and follow up in person again if you have to.

by Myrtiekshlerin 6 days ago

Unless it's a small business that only has paper applications.they're most likely going to look at you like you're stupid and just send you to the online application

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I hate those test. Have you seen the one with some kind of blue alien and it ask how this picture makes you feel lol

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Ours just does the "Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree" thing. The key to passing is to never feel strongly about anything, either way. The company doesn't want someone who thinks, they want someone who does what they're told. I have not seen the 👽. I don't know how that would make me feel, but it wouldn't be a strong feeling. 😆

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Why isn't Canada preserving jobs for its citizens

by Pedro05 6 days ago

Mass immigration to drive up housing costs & drive down wages. Apparently high school kids can't even get summer jobs lately, cause adults from not Canada are working themzz

by Simonismallory 6 days ago

Crazy how work permits are handed out like candy

by Pedro05 6 days ago

I find it fascinating how you people cannot find the space between "respect your citizens and ensure their health and success" and "Respect immigrants whom are also just humans trying to find a better spot on earth" which by the way, is your right as a human, to use the earth.

by Clement84 6 days ago

Imagine

by Simonismallory 6 days ago

We just rewarded the mass immigration party buddy. Zero accountability. I have security clearance. I think I know what it is.

by Simonismallory 6 days ago

Huh?

by Simonismallory 6 days ago

It's weird you want to reward a government that has been failing Canadians for a decade

by Simonismallory 6 days ago

In 1990 I switched jobs in a day. Left one job, hired at the other within an hour. Started the next day. It was all completely unplanned.

by More_Cut 6 days ago

I get the job market it rough. Do you not have any connects from past jobs you could reach out too? I would suggest always building your linkedIn for this purpose.

by Dramatic_Nothing 6 days ago

This is the easiest time to get a job ever

by Anonymous 6 days ago

How do you figure?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Tell that to me and everyone I know that had to spend months and months looking for work where I live.

by gertrudebarton 6 days ago

*an un skilled job

by InevitableMeal 6 days ago

I know it's easy where I am I'm not sure about you guys. I live in a welfare state so nobody works here. Everyone's desperate to hire. I quit my old job and got another one in 2 days. Helped they still had paper applications. If you go to a place and they still have paper you're likely getting hired.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

What is a welfare state? I'm not from the USA so I've never heard that term?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

I'm from the US and have never heard someone say "welfare state." 😂 my guess is just a state with a high percentage of the population on some sort of government assistance

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Basically lazy people who can't get off their ass collect a check from the government who takes it out of taxes I pay. " Working like crazy to support the lazy"

by Anonymous 6 days ago

Sure, but if you're not in a welfare state, you're gonna have a bad time. Where I am, rent is $630 a week at a minimum for one bedroom units. That's a decent chunk of your pay if you're getting a little under $1000 a week after tax.

by Anonymous 6 days ago

just work at kwik trip

by Anonymous 6 days ago

And this was in 1997?

by Anonymous 6 days ago

McDonald's by me is so desperate for workers, they are starting at $15 instead of the minimum wage here which is $7.25. If someone can't get hired there, something is wrong with them.

by stehrorville 6 days ago