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Speaking of wishful thinking...I'm workin' on that.

For those who aren't totally sick of hearing about this stuff...my gameplan for tomorrow:

1. Drop off Catholic Charities volunteer form. Meant to do that last week, but it's a long form and they aren't open every day.

2. Apply at the Post Office, or at least look into it. I *think* you have to take some sort of test, but maybe that's just for mail carriers. I think I kinda thought about them months ago, but all this time I've always had one or two positions I was waiting to hear back on. *sigh* I can't wait any more. I figure the PO may well be doing a lot of hiring so they have time to train folks before the holidays, and maybe my military experience will count in my favor, but we'll see. If I lucked into a behind the counter job that didn't pay too badly, I might stick with it. The customer service side of computer support is my favorite part of the job anyhow, and that's more or less what that would be. It'd mean losing a chance to reenter the computer field if I didn't switch soon, but maybe that's OK. I'm not sure what I think now.

3. Since I figure just about any post office application is gonna take awhile to process due to likely background checks, even if they actually want me and fast...I'm gonna go to just about any place I can think of that I wouldn't absolutely hate to work (not gonna work at the perfume counter at Foley's, for example...*gag*), and I'm going to fill out an application and ask to talk to the manager a bit about the typical jobs. If they let me do that, I figure it'll let me ask a few questions about starting salary or whatever, and at least let them see my face. In the other five or six stores I've applied, I've not been given that opportunity...the most they'd do is talk to a manager on the phone when I was there. They'd never actually ask one to come out so I could ask them my questions. But these were big stores. I thought I had a better chance there just due to the sheer number of employees, but maybe not. I'll try the smaller stores at the mall next.

A big factor in why this is discouraging is that most retail jobs here start at minimum wage. Now, I'm not even sure I agree with HAVING a minimum wage, but if there must be one...it'd be nice if it was a bit higher than it is here: $5.15. Granted, the cost of living here is pretty low, but I'd have to work more than one job to cover rent and expenses here. Even for a temp job...it's hard to accept that, especially as I'm not having luck finding a permanent job and don't know how long it may take. And especially as a big reason I moved in the first place was so I wouldn't have to keep begging family for loans to stay afloat. I hear tell some places do commission - my brother said the Radio Shacks in CA do, so I'm assuming that's the same everywhere. That could make a difference. Trouble is asking about that sorta stuff without sounding like someone no one would want to hire. If anyone has any inside info on which places pay slightly above average for chain stores (I realize it's probably different wherever you go) or which pay commission...I'm all ears!