I am 38 y/o, no more educ than a h/s diploma, no in-demand skills. My life is a mess! HELP!?

Question

I can't begin to tell you how humiliating it is to find myself qualified for nothing more than menial labor. I was tested (as a young child) and found to be very intelligent-no genius mind you. In any event, this set of circumstances has completely crushed my spirit and things are only getting worse. The fact that my checking acct may be seized as well as an impending foreclosure do nothing more for me than make me feel worse rather than inspire me to take action before I land hard on rock bottom. Anyone who has faced such predicaments like this but resolved the issue successfully are encouraged to impart upon me the wisdom that you gained, or at least some positive advice would also be greatly appreciated. Thx!!

Answer 1

I don't really know how to say since I was being known as an average person with an average IQ. But I'm the same with you since I also only have my hs diploma. If you know how to drive, maybe you should try to be a taxi-driver.

Answer 2

D, some of the most intelligent people I have ever met are high school or college maintenance people. And some of the seemingly not so intelligent ones are certain college professors!
I've lived a long time, been around a lot of people, and I have come to the conclusion that formal education does not make an intelligent person. The "School of Life" makes you an intelligent person and very unique. My guess is that you don't know how to place emphasis on what you already know. Go to a job counselor for help with your resume.

Good luck. I know you will move on from this and get a good job that gives you a lot of pleasure.

Answer 3

You can contact a Temp agency for office work. Except for your question, your English looks good. You would probably test well and get a decent menial Temporary job. If you are reliable and have a good work ethic then the Temp agency will receive good reviews about you and send you out on more challenging and better paying jobs. Make sure they specialize in office work and nothing else. Those whose corporate names don't say it, usually handle other jobs. I've never gotten a decent job from anything other than a classy temp agency that included the word "Office" or "Account(ing)" in it's name. Start off with office work, then try applying to an agency that handles accounting placement. You can have more than 1 agency working for you. (Yes, the agency's name is on your paycheck, but they are trying to find jobs for you.) Once you have a lot of accounting experience, then you can get a decent accounting job.

Try to dress conservative and nice. I've had better success with skirts than with slacks/pants. If you can find a matching blazer/jacket and skirt for interviews and for 1st day of work (good first impression) then you will have more success. Sometimes I can find them at K-Mart, WalMart & Target pretty cheap.

A good agency tries to find "good fit". That means that the way an employee processes information is the same way the employer process it. You talk the same way. Some people are visual thinkers, others are verbal. These things are important for good communication. Some personality types clash. If you don't have good fit where you are placed, and don't last more than a day or 2, don't worry, keep trying.

Once you are set up with them, call the agency every day. Try to sound polite, cheerful, professional, yet genuinely concerned with their well being. "Good morning, how are you today..." They, don't really want you calling more than once a week, but I found that Monday's & Thursdays were good, once I backed off a little. Why every day? Because, at first, you want them to remember you and to give you a try. On Fridays, Employer's discover that they need help the next business day, more than any other day of the week. Friday would be a great day to refresh the agent's mind about you, except that they are swamped with customers, so Thursday is good. First thing Monday morning is good because they are busy trying to fill jobs for the week. "Oh I was just thinking about you (and 2 other better qualified people)". It is just easier to send you, because you are already on the phone. They want to gain points with the customer by sending someone quickly and someone who is interested in working, like you.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as menial job or dignified job. Just imagine if all the sweepers in the world strikes, Everything would become messy. Its normally stupids who fuss about jobs, "the worth of a man cannot be measured with just numbers". You are still worthy atleast you are honestly looking for a job rather than pleasing yourself with illicit.

Try to find a job which is suitable for you or which you can do. Try to get a ground first. Then you can build a fort if you have the strength.

Answer 5

first of all...I'm no expert, I'm 25 and haven't lived through much yet...but i know what my mom taught us....my mom is a hard working mother of 2...she has a house & her own car, in a wonderful neighborhood. She busted her *** all her life to make sure we had everything we NEEDED. She is a laborer. Retail jobs, all her life no higher education than high school. But she made it work, she sucked it up and went on to managing her own store, making her own money...just working for it. We didn't have the best stuff growing up & living in a high class neighboehood made us feel like we were below poverty. But i am thankful for what we had, and thankful i wasn't brought up to be a spoiled brat. I got a job as soon as i turned 16, and bought all my own stuff....have my own car from money i earned. You just need to do the same, Do what you can do....try to become a manager, move up in the company your in to a higher level. And if you really feel like a laborer is just so demeaning then take classes at night. You didnt say that you were married or have kids, if you don't i really dont know what your crying over...its only you, that you have to worry about. Your 38 now, not a child anymore...this is your life and no one can improve it except you. And thats a decision only you can make.

Answer 6

Ok so you are 38 and you are losing it all. You can sit around
and bemoan your lack of skills, or you can get off your butt and
do something about it. Enroll at your local community college.
Take advantage of the school counselor and see what aptitudes
you have. Do you have any hobbies that you love? Sewing?
home decorating? love for animals? mechanical skills? What
do you like to do with your free time or what do you enjoy doing
the most ? Take a look at yourself and see what you can do.
One friend who loved animals started a dog walking business and
is makeing a better living than when she worked in a cubical farm. Plus she is a lot happier. Another took a talent for
baking and now has a small company making pies and pastries
for local restaurants. Another with a love for cars started a
detailing business, he goes to people's business and details
the cars while the owner is working. What about learning
something like massage therapy? Or start a housecleaning
business? There are a lot of people who are so busy that they
are very willing to pay for someone to organize their homes,
care or drive around their kids or do their shopping. Be
creative and look for a need that you can fill.

Answer 7

So your life is a mess...it is up to you to get motivated to change that. If there is NOTHING you can do financially...last resort is one of those credit counseling places (they do effect your credit...don't let them tell you any different). Last resort - declare bankruptcy and clean your act up! If you have no money, you are a perfect candidate for a pell grant. This is student aid you DON'T have to pay back to the federal government. All you have to do is apply and maintain a "C" average or above. If you might lose your checking account...now is the time to empty it! You will need all the resources you can get...it may seem underhanded BUT...I think you need your money more than Uncle Sam and a bunch of corporate yahoos...pay bills with money orders until you are back on your feet or decide what to do. I promise you - money is 2ndary to your health and your family....so what...10 years bad credit but this is a 2nd chance to get your garbage together and learn from your mistakes!

Answer 8

If you live in the USA, or perhaps if you live elsewhere, you might consider being a CPR instructor. People's hearts stop and somebody needs to know how to help them, if possible. Contact the American Lifeguard Association. A CPR instructor trains lifeguards, nursery school teachers, police, etc.

Answer 9

Everyone has something special in him....you just gotta find out.....
Try out photography.....writing....singing or dancing.......there are millions of things you can do to earn a respectable living......if you fail in one aspect dont loose heart....just try another one......
Personally I think education is a must......I dont think reading books....getting a degree does much to do with education....education is one which a person learns by himself.... by his personal expereinces and finds something to excel at.

Best of luck

Answer 10

I found Tony Robbins' audiobooks "Personal Power II" and "Getting the Edge" to be very inspiring; they have helped me get through some very difficult times in my life. Your welcome to write me if you have any questions.