What is a "dead-end job"? What is it about these jobs that make them "dead-ends"?

Question

Will no one hire you if you worked at a Wal-Mart for two years?

If one has the qualifications to work at a higher-up job, will they frown upon that person if he worked at a Wal-Mart for a while?

Thank you all for your answers. I am a cashier at a Wal-Mart and I actually enjoy the challenges I face because my associates treat me with respect. I not only cashier but I also do other things for when people call out and need someone to lend a hand.

I want to work on concept art for science fiction games and perhaps write my own books, and simply thinking about those sort of things and knowing I have the energy to do it keeps me optimistic for the future. My artwork I did at college was praised by my drawing teacher and my classmates so I know I still have the talent.

The reason I work at Wal-Mart is because I need to stay close at home to help with my baby brother who has a mobility handicap. I will use this as an explanation for my next job and also say that I learned how to be a productive employee, a proficient speaker, and fast typist there (with the keys and buttons on the control panel) :-P

Answer 1

A dead-end job is just that. You go to work for the 'man' and one day you wake up and you're life has passed you by. The 'Man' kept you hangin on by paying you just enough to get you by but did nothing to help you prepare yourself for anything else (including retirement).
Don't worry about the Walmart thing. Prospective future employers will view that experience as an entry level position providing you with your next stepping stone.

Answer 2

A dead-end job is a job that isn't going to take you far unless you stay in that chain of jobs. Working at Swiss Chalet and McDonalds a lot of times are dead end jobs because once you get the management, there is a next-to-none chance that you are ever going to get above that. You have to be happy in your job and you don't want to be flipping burgers for the rest of your life, I'd look for another job.

I worked at Swiss Chalet for 6 years, and I'm working in a daycare now... I don't think your previous experience has anything to do with promotions in terms of "frowning" upon.

Answer 3

I used to be a mechanic. To go to trade school and work through the lower paying years of my apprenticeship, I bartended. When I got my licence and made a really good wage, doing a job my girlfriend (at the time, soon to be my wife, now ex wife) was proud to tell everyone I had and a job I was proud to say I had, I decided I liked bartending more and left it for that. I used to make $24/H, owned my own house, had a great car I payed cash for and went on a vacation somewhere around the world once a year. Now, I make $8/H, can only afford to eat a can of beans every other night, live in my grandfather's sail boat and own nothing. Was it worth it? I don't really know.

Answer 4

There are no dead end jobs, just dead end people. If you are a clerk at a gas station, people think that's a dead end job, but I know someone who started that way and now owns the gas station, because he was a loyal employee and the owner trusted him, and eventually turned more and more of the business over to him. It makes taking a vested interest in what you're doing, not just an hours work for an hours wage.

I would hire someone who cleaned toilets for two years, because that is someone who does what needs to be done instead of thinking that they're too good for any job.

Why you do what you do is part of who you are. I took a huge demotion at my job, but I went from being 2 hours from work to 20 minutes - because I chose to spend more time with family and less time on the job - and yes, every year that $$$$ less hurts, but I never regret that change. I see resumes of people who have big lapses in their career, and they write in their cover letter how they took off to care for an elderly parent who was in hospice, who's going to hold that against a potential employee?

Answer 5

It's not about where you work, but the quality of the work you do and what you can contribute to a new job, whether it's sales skills, leadership, etc.

A dead-end job is one in which there is no growth potential, such as being made a manager but never being promoted above that.

Answer 6

It's a dead end job because you have no hope of moving up within the company.

Coca Cola is another place that is good at handing out Dead End Jobs. (They like to leave their employees doing the same job for 50 years and then lay them off.)

Answer 7

A dead end job is a job that does not allow for advancement. As an employer I would look at your most recent occupation and if I saw it was Wal-Mart (I'm a publisher) then I would overlook you for someone who worked in the printing and graphics industry.

Answer 8

Working at Wal-Mart would just be viewed as prior experience.

A dead-end job would be any job for which there is no chance of advancement.

Answer 9

dead end job is one where there is no chance of promotion, raise or benfits. more or less simple grunt work.

depends on what the new job is. everyone knows someones gotta start somewhere so chances are they really won't care. some who are picky will look for more pertinent experience relevant to the job duties. but, simply point out that your tenure there was worht while and that you learned alot but now are trying to pursue more professional goals and ambition.s

Answer 10

No its the glass ceiling effect!

You get a job and can't get moved up but you can still see
other people getting better positions! Alot of jobs only
have so much growth potential...I was a delivery driver,
went to asst. manager, and the last stop would be Manager.
No other options beyond that!!