I'm so disappointed in myself, I failed at my job and life. Help?

Question

A few weeks ago, I was on the verge of being PROMOTED at my job, & now, I'm gonna be DEMOTED. Actually, I've demoted myself, 'cause if I don't, I'll be fired.

I'm a cashier, & I've been short a few times.
They told me that the next shortage is automatic termination, so I've decided to step down from cashiering

I feel like such a loser. I thought I was smart!! I graduated early, with a 4.0, & I've always done well at most things. I don't know why I kept messing up as a cashier. They watched me on camera, & saw me make STUPID mistakes. Giving people change of a $100 for a $10, paying them back what they paid me, etc.

I learned the register in a half hour!! I thought I'd be good at it!

I feel like an incompetent loser. I've never failed at something like this before... EVERYONE can be a cashier...

I cry every day at my job... whether it be over co-workers, bosses, or customers, I cry. Used to be 3 or 4 times a week, now it's daily.

I just feel like such a failure.

My family was so proud of me, no one, including myself, ever expected me to make such stupid mistakes, and be incapable of my job... which could be done by a monkey...
Why am I such a loser? Why did I screw up at this so badly?

Answer 1

you're only a failure if you feel like a failure.

you might have gotten a 4.0 but cashiering is something that just isn't your calling. i betcha if you try something else, you'll kick @ss at it.

and if you cry at work, it means you're doing something you hate. don't subject yourself to that.

Answer 2

Don't worry. There are plenty of things that can help. There are some nutritional reasons that can cause a person to lose focus. Try eating mostly organic and healthy food. Avoid more than 2 cups of coffee a day and preferably no alcohol. Do not use synthetic vitamins or mineral supplements and don't use energy drinks. I have seen people completely ruin themselves using supplements and energy drinks. Go on a low sugar diet. This is the nutritional aspect of repairing your life. The emotional one is this:
Start a new life. Get rid of all the things that take your time but produce nothing such as too much TV, too much music, too much chat, etc. Clean out your room and throw away anything you use less than once a month. Clean your car's interior and exterior. Get rid of anything that reminds you of something sad. Trust in God and place things in his hands. Convince yourself that you are a new person. Find a hobby that you do no more than once a week such as ice skating at the mall or walking at the park. (don't walk near the streets, too much pollution). Convice yourself that you are a new person and try things that you normally would NOT do, even if its just for the sake of seeing the world in a different way, one that you have never seen before. If you make new friends, have them call you by a new nickname. If you dress poorly, throw away your clothes and buy new clothes. But be sure to change the style. You used to be a perfectionist, you graduated early with a 4.0 gpa. This robbed you of your energies and you're paying the price now. Its NOT about changing who you are, its about changing how you experience the world. And most importantly never look back at your bad days.

Answer 3

Please understand:
YOU . . . ARE . . . NOT . . . A . . . LOSER!

After losing my job in a programming group due to a manager saying I didn't measure up,

Then losing another programming position because I was set aside in a management shakeup,

After finding myself as a store manager, then losing my position due to a supervisor getting rid of me to place a friend in my job (she didn't last),

Then being dismissed because of the boss' golfing buddy wanting a better shot at a promotion,

After being fired due to lack of sales (after getting no support from my management team),

AND being downsized after ten years of technical support work...

...it DOES seem that I'm a failure.

Maybe I am. But I won't give up. NO, I Won't.

And neither should you...if for no other reason than to stop the idiots from winning.

Like it or not these things happen - and Unfairly.

By All Means, have a good cry - but then get back in the game.
If being a cashier doesn't work, see if you can get into office work (if you had a 4.0, you have SOME computer skills - THOSE are Extremely Valuable)!

You CAN do it...the only Question is: Will You?

Please say YES...say you WILL do it!

If only for my sake - and the others on this board that are cheering you on!

Answer 4

You shouldn't feel like a failure over a min wage job! C'mon - you are obviously a smart girl (look at your grades!). You just can't multi-task or else you get side tracked. I would most likely do the same thing - I am very smart, but don't let me start talking, I lose track of whatever it is that I am doing. I have a Master's Degree and can't find my stupid keys half the time. Don't look at this as a loss. Look at it as a gain. You were put on this earth to do something great - Cashiering is obviously not it.

Don't let it get you down. Suck it up as a learnign experience of what you can't do - DON'T get a job as a teller...LOL and focus on what you can do. You learn fast, so you could probably do data entry very well. Pick yourself up and move on to bigger and better things. Six months from now when you are makign more money and doing something more rewarding, those same folks will be right at the same ol' store, doing the same ol' thing.....

Answer 5

I blame this square on the lack of training. You said you only got half hour of training and that is not enough to work out all the kinks. Had you been better trained you would have been given hints and tips on how to make sure you give the right change, like putting the money on the top ot the tray while making change so you can see it, then put it away and give change. Some registers have a shelf on them above the tray and lots use that.I really think you didnt get enough of a thorough training you needed. I am sure you arent a failure maybe you are just meant for better things than being a cashier!!

Answer 6

Listen my wonderful friend; Failure is only a learning experience; just think. It is something you learned from, and a mistake you will never have to worry about making again. Stop beating yourself up.

I am a fairly intelligent person who has worked at the same job for over 46 years and I tried being a cashier ina part time job once; i failed miserably because I just could not learn how to use the darn cash register.

It just wasn't the best job for you. I don't know what opportunities you have in the town where you live, but don't put yourself down and stop beating yourself up. Forget pleasing other people. PLEASE YOURSELF. Until you are comfortable living with yourself, you will never be comfortable living with anyone else.

I love you for your unique self. Now stop crying, wash your face, clean yourself up, clean your house, and get back in the game. There is something out there for you. Do you love children. There must be a daycare near you that needs help. Think of someone else and not yourself when you wake up in the morning, and get on with life.

If this comes into your mind, say, okay, i thought about it, it happened, it can't be changed, now, let's forget it and get on with the rest of my life.

Love yourself and the world will also love you.

Answer 7

I can see why you feel this way, because I've felt that way when the job does not work out. But that does not mean that you are a failure. It just means that you were in a job that was not a good fit for you. Do you see the difference?

I want you to take a good look at what you want to do. You are smart and you just need to find out what you are good at. Can you get to a library and read "What Color is My parachute, 2007" by Richard Bolles. It has a great section on looking at what you do well and looking for the right fit in that area.

Answer 8

Being short on your register does not mean you are stupid. Possiblely in a hurry or a little careless but You do not achieve a 4.0 by being stupid. Maybe the job you are at is not right for you. Maybe move onto something that you would be more in-tune with doing.

If you need to talk or vent you can email me at [e-mail]

Answer 9

Your doing poorly because you look down on that job. It is not an easy job when taken with the whole. Scrutinized by management to ensure honesty, dealing with impatient and irate customers and not to mention keeping alert for customers trying to scam you ("I gave you a twenty, not a ten"). If "any monkey can do it" why do cashiers positions suffer one of the highest rollover rates of any job?

Answer 10

What I think your problem is. You are trying to impress the boss and everyone around you. Don't think about anything except what you are doing. Don't impress any but yourself. Do the best that you can do and nothing more. Don't worry what any one else thinks about you. You are thinking I am going to fail. Turn this thought around and think I will not fail I am a 4.0 student I can do this. There is no need to cry about any of this it only makes you feel bad about yourself.

Answer 11

#1 get over it we all make mstakes the key is to learn from them i think 4 u 2 continue as a cashier u need 2 slow down greet your customer and pay attention 2 what u r doing