Day Labor, Anyone?

[VanTrekker]

<p>It's kind of depressing watching my bank account go down, down, down....&nbsp; I'm between jobs and it seems like it's getting harder and harder to find anything.&nbsp; Perhaps it's my age or plus sized figure.&nbsp; It might be that these minimum wage jobs now want to do a background check and go up your backside with a microscope... (no criminal record here but I have a job history that looks like the results of an F4 tornado)...<br><br>Hopefully I'm going to get the job I intereviewed for yesterday.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's a good fit doing something I like during the preferred shift (2nd) and it's only a mile from home...&nbsp; However...<br><br>Should I not get the new job, I might try some day labor / temp assignments.&nbsp; <em>I'd love to know the kinds of assignments others have&nbsp;gone on, the duration, if you can go pick up a little work whenever you need a little cash, if some of the assignments would work for a heavier guy, etc...</em><br><br>Please share any info you might offer on the topic of day labor and I will be most grateful!&nbsp;&nbsp; <br><br>Kindest regards,<br><br>V.T.</p>

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hi Van trekker,<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I dont think it has anything to do with your size, It is just a really hard economy to match-up work/jobs sometimes. Besides, I have been folowing your blogs and CONGRATS on your continued weight loss. I am planning to relocate next year and have my own stress/fear of finding work, temporary/seasonal. I too am going to use day temp type work if if have to. I wish you all the best on finding work!!<br></span></span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Randy</span>

 

[jaguarbird11]

I have been finding jobs in restaurants as a cook - it is an industry that is known for its turn over and mostly low pay!&nbsp; but there are jobs there - always.&nbsp; Even if you have no experience in food service you can apply for a dish washing position.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>I found the same thing here, too.&nbsp; There are always cooking jobs, even at the worst times during this recession&nbsp; (unlike the early 1980s recession).&nbsp; I've had fast food places calling lately.&nbsp; Some of them are actually pretty decent to older people, too!&nbsp; If&nbsp;a person&nbsp;ever worked at Burger King and left on good terms, it would be easy to get a fast food job anywhere.<br><br>I lucked out and got an offer at a very tiny convenience store.&nbsp; I'm just waiting on the paperwork and background check.&nbsp; If it goes through it would be easy money on a great schedule.&nbsp; *holding my breath*<br><br>Like you suggested, I might go the way of a fast food cook if that does not pan out.<br><br>Thanks for the note!<br><br>V.T.</p>

 

[VanTrekker]

Thanks for the note, Randy!&nbsp; It's been a rough year with the weight thing.&nbsp; I picked up a few pounds and am working on getting them back off again.&nbsp; It's a daily struggle.&nbsp; It wasn't this hard 25 years ago!&nbsp; <br><br>Have a good one!<br><br>VT

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Ive done both temp work and day labor work.&nbsp; They are similar but not the same. <br><br>Day labor, you show up and fill out an application.&nbsp;&nbsp; Then you go there every day (as the name suggests) and sign in.&nbsp; Its like first come first serve, tho if a job requires special skillset you have you are picked from a smaller group for those jobs.&nbsp; But they take just about any warm body.&nbsp; You will see big groups of dudes standing outside the office at the crack of dawn.&nbsp; They pay you that day.&nbsp; I did it every other tuesday only though, because i wanted a specific job, driving cars at an auto auction.&nbsp; It was a long day of work but it was fun too....if you can get on that job its awesome.&nbsp; Most of the jobs are stuff like construction or road crew..being a flagger paid a little more and was pretty easy.&nbsp; <br><br>They pay more for guys to drive the crews to the job sites, with your experience you could pull that job probably.&nbsp; I think the best thing about day labor is you can pretty much go when you feel like, which might appeal to your lifestyle.&nbsp; The people might nag you about not showing up often but they will still take you.<br><br>Temp work is more like a real job, you go in and fill out an application and give a resume.&nbsp; They interview you much like an employer would, but of course they are accessing you for what jobs to send you on rather than a yes or no.&nbsp; They will almost certainly put you to work somewhere. Usually they are looking for office people, but some specialized labor might find work.&nbsp; Sometimes the jobs are one or two days, but more often than not its for weeks or months.&nbsp; I worked for a call center for bank of america for one, and it was hard.&nbsp; I ended up quiting, not for me.&nbsp; I then worked at a mortgage company, and was offered a permanent position "but we can only pay you a measily 40k or so, you sure you want it?"&nbsp; Ha!&nbsp; Unfortunately my ex wife didn't want me to commute for it, and I turned them down.&nbsp; Ironically, we split after that cause...I was out of work...<img src="/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br>The temp agency called 2 weeks after i left with another job&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp; I highly recommend temp work...you get paid a little less and no benefits, but if you want to build solid experience and get your foot in the door somewhere it will help you do it.&nbsp; Or, some people just make a career out of temping all the time.&nbsp; They are pretty flexible if you talk to them.&nbsp; I used a small outfit for the bank of america one, and Randstad for the mortgage job.&nbsp; Randstad was great, they even came to the office to check on me and how things are going.&nbsp; My ex wife used manpower but they aren't as friendly and seem to not care as much about you.&nbsp;&nbsp; Well...perfect for her i guess...but i digress <br><br>Good luck VT, im cheerin for you.

 

[VanTrekker]

Thanks for the info, DazarGaidin!&nbsp; Much appreciated!

 

[user 423]

It's been a few years but I've done the temp thing a couple of times. One gig was at a warehouse full of pharmacy items where you kept very active running around picking orders. It&nbsp; was full-time, 2nd. shift and there was a chance to be hired for a permanent job. I liked it because you kept very busy and the time went by quickly.&nbsp; The temp agency had described the job as one with "overtime available" and at the end of the shift the warehouse super would ask for volunteers who wanted to work 2 hours extra. Most nights about half the group opted for the OT. The first 2 weeks I worked 50 hrs/wk. as I needed to catch up on finances. Then the semester at the local univ. started where I was signed up for a couple of classes and I then refused the OT.&nbsp; After the 30 day probationary period, I asked them if I would be offered a permanent job. They said no because they only wanted people who would always work the 2 hours OT.&nbsp; Of course the temp agency didn't tell you that at the beginning.<br><br>The other job was a nice and easy sitdown job disassembling electric utility meters that were being upgraded with satellite transmitters and the ad said "No standing, no lifting!". That job was great for me as I had back problems and I had a good time chatting with the 3 co-workers in my area. It didn't pay much but it was a good fit for someone going to school part-time. About 3 weeks into it both of the warehouse guys that loaded boxes of meters for the disassembly area decided not to show up. The boss said he needed someone to load the boxes of meters onto pallets that he would move with the forklift. My co-workers were all older ladies, so I got elected. Now, I wouldn't have minded doing that and adding a little variety to the day if my back had been healthy. The boxes weren't super heavy but after about 3 load cycles, I was really beginning to ache.&nbsp; I was in a tough spot because with just about any job, even if it's one that doesn't require lifting, if you tell the employer you have a bad back and can't do certain things they will recoil from you real fast because they are afraid of lawsuits. Since I didn't want that on my record, I just told them I had to quit and didn't give them a reason.<br><br>So anyway, try to check with the actual people doing the job where you might work. The temp agencies aren't very honest and will misrepresent. Plus the job duties might change to something you hadn't planned on.

 

[RJCooper]

What&nbsp;are your skills?&nbsp;When someone asks what do you do for a living, what do you say?&nbsp; Answer that and&nbsp;find a way to do it for yourself.&nbsp; I&nbsp;entire career has been a temp, day labor, etc. and I am a carpenter.&nbsp; There is no hiring full time.&nbsp; You can think you are a full time employee, but you are a temp, nothing more, nothing less.&nbsp; <br><br>If you can make up a flyer and have the ability to run a power washer, you can easily in just about any part of the country with a town of 5000 people and up make $20,000 in 6 months working 3 days a week.&nbsp; Just something to think about.&nbsp; I will never work for an employer ever again.&nbsp; However, a customer is a temp employer.&nbsp; <br><br>Get creative with making money, don't put all your eggs in one basket in case a basket drops.&nbsp; Think multi income sources&nbsp;regardless of how little ($50 a week) they are.&nbsp; It all adds up.&nbsp; This time of year it is simple for me to do $1500 a week in shorts and flip flops.&nbsp; Marinas have boats that need cleaning, RV Campsite have travel tailers that need cleaning, local business, mold&nbsp;siding home owners,&nbsp;used car lots, etc.&nbsp; <br><br>There is more to this freedom then just not paying rent and a mortgage.&nbsp;