So, I've sort of mentioned how I'm looking around for a new job. I hate to give up benefits and vacation time, but the negatives far outweigh the positives in my current job. I didn't finish college so I only have an Associates right now. That is about as good as having a high school diploma, really. I'm qualified to do nothing. Unless someone wants to pay me big bucks to read to them, I'm really good at that. Yeah, didn't think so. So I'm basically stuck working retail or service jobs until I catch a super lucky break and/or finish school. I don't mind too much as long as my employer treats me with respect and I make at least ten dollars an hour to start. I don't think that's asking a lot.
So I found a job opening at a local health food store. And if you have to work retail, those are the places to do it. The people who open small, local privately owned health food stores don't usually do it to get rich. They usually do it because they care...and a lot of them are already rich I've noticed. So generally the atmosphere is really laid back and the customers are happy because the people who shop there are generally rich and therefore more relaxed than the harried regular guy. Or you get the poor, idealistic students and crunchy types. But all those people are much more pleasant to deal with than your average consumer. I've worked at three health food stores in my life, all privately owned and very small. Two of them were the best two jobs I've ever had. I would still work at either one of them if they weren't in such weird towns I don't live in anymore. I've never been happier than when I worked at those stores.
So, obviously, I want the job. It would be SO, SO much better than where I work now. The HF store is open from, like, 10-6. My job now consists of three twelve hours days, 7pm-7am, and one six hour day, from 7pm-1am. I hate it. I hate the long days, I get no sleep. Then I'm so tired on my days off, I'm practically useless until Saturday and then I'm right back at work the next day. I have no time to exercise or spend time outside. And I'm on the opposite schedule as Mike and that only complicates matters in a one bedroom apartment.
I'm going to that health food store first thing in the morning with my resume. I am not taking no for an answer. They HAVE to hire me. I have experience with natural foods. I know organic produce, I spent years working almost year round on an organic farm. I'll work every weekend, weekend shmeakend, to me, it's all the same. I have a ton of customer service experience, I can work a register, I'll stock shelves, clean bathrooms, sweep sidewalks, I'm easy. I just want to work somewhere where they consider me a human being, not a number, a machine, or worse, just one small component of their great, big, corporate robot.
I want to enjoy going to work. I want to feel like I'm at least somewhat contributing to the greater good. Rather than sabotaging it like I am by working at a trucking company.
Then, if I get hired, I can give my notice and my new boss can take his forced Christmas hours and.....well, he can work them himself. So there.