I was in my local shopping centre place and had a gander at the job vacancies board, and amazingly there's a vacancy for a weekend job in a shop I wouldn't mind working in; Pumpkin Patch (baby clothes if you'd not heard of it!). It's probably the best shop that there'd be to work in for me so I'm really tempted to go for it, but there's some stuff holding me back. I get quite anxious in any sort of social situation with people I don't know, and sometimes just walking around shops can make me freak out. This is why I say Pumpkin Patch is a shop I could handle working in better than most other ones - the main customers would be mothers / other adults who I feel more comfortable to be around in general, because I feel they're less likely to be thinking bad things about me, and also because they're bound to be besotted with their kid and so not really care about who's serving them!
However, I still have big doubts. If anything, the anxious-ness is getting worse as time goes on and if I even managed to get to an interview, and then somehow manage that and get the job, I can imagine myself just freezing whenever someone needs something. I know a whole part of this anxiety lark is the fear of it being bigger than the actual reality, and that maybe this would actually be a great opportunity for me to get more used to people in a secure-ish environment, but my non-logical side is holding me back.
I'm aware that this is written quite jumbled-up-ly (sorry, it's 2:30!) but if anyone gets me / has experienced similar / would like to advise if I should apply for it or not / would like to do anything else then I would be very grateful! Thanks muchly dudey people :) xx
Why not take it one step at a time, apply for the job and go from there.
Work out how much you need a job and want a job and go from there. Pumpkin patch is likely to be scary for the first few shift but once you have done it a few time's and have got comfortable with the other staff member's you will be okay the next time.
I had a job at uni where I had to give tour's around campus for prospective student's. My first solo tour only had a couple of people on it and I got horribly lost! I explained that I was new and they understood and we both got value from it - they were able to ask question's on why I chose the uni and what my first impressions were etc. I learned that if I got lost again or didn't know an answer admitting it making an appropriate joke/comment and moving on solved most problems.
There is a saying 'Feel the fear and do it anyway!' so I would say go for it. What do you have to loose by applying for it? If you get an interview this is valuable experience that is invaluable and if you don't then you have still tried your best.
look after you
xoxox
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I understand where you are coming from and I get insanely nervous/anxious when I have interviews/talk to new people. I'm pretty loud and bubbly though so people don't tend to realise just how nervous I get inside! However, a large part of me refuses to let something that I'm not totally in control of govern my actions and stop me doing what I want today. I have my final interview today [after a 2 other interviews and a trial shift] at TGI's with the big boss and I pooing myself lol. However, that nervousness lets me know that I am alive and reminds me that I want to do well. They are going to expect a certain amount of nervousness though and more often then not take that into consideratino too.
As Cam said, take it one step at a time and at least apply for the job? There is no point in perhaps worrying about things that you don't know are going to happen yet? If you want it, its convenient and it will be a great experience and as you said, could help with the overal social anxiety you have... this could be *great* =) Don't doubt yourself, remember you know a lot more about what you don't like then other people do. You can always learn some skills to try and combat the physical symptoms of anxiety too, remembering to breathe deep and focusing on the thing infront of you to stop your non-logical side making things up to worry you =P
Give it a go? A least apply? And do let us know how it goes? PM me anytime lovely.
I know exactly how you feel. I always used to be quite nervous in social situations but I've been in my part time job now for 2 years and my confidence has grown so much and now I have lots more friends and stuff.
Take it one step at a time. Apply for the job and if you get an interview don't panic. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, sometimes I feel that if I'm in new clothes and going somewhere important I feel odd and I get confused! But that's just me lol.
Pumpkin Patch seems like a good job, we have one here and it always looks friendly and nice inside. I was really nervous and panicky on my first day at my job mainly because I'd never had a job but everyone made sure I knew what I was doing and picked everything up really fast.
If you don't apply you'll wonder what if I had applied? But by applying you take away that wanderment.
I can really understand what you mean, I'm trying to find a job at the moment, and it's absolutely terrifying! Everyone else has given lots of wonderful advice and there's not all that much I can add, but yes. I understand how scary it is, the first interview I had was awful, I was shaking so much. But I was proud of myself for going and doing it, and it helped me to realise that it's really not all that scary after all. Maybe apply for the job, don't spend too much time at the moment worrying about what would happen if you got it, just focus on applying and interviews and things. It *does* sound like a good opportunity, and a rather cool place to work :). Keep reminding yourself that it really isn't all that bad, and you're perfectly capable of doing this. Filling out an application doesn't even mean you have to turn up for an interview if you really can't face it, don't think that far ahead.
Just from a personal point of view, it can really help to just go ahead and do things that I'm scared of. I know it's not that easy, but if you can, it's worth it. Even if it doesn't go perfectly, you've done it, and you can do even better next time. Oh, and for my first interview, I took a couple of friends to wait outside the shop, haha. It made it a lot less scary!
Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone, I think you've persuaded me to go for it! You're all right - applying is not scary in itself, so I'll just take it from there. What will be, will be, if you like.
If I dooo get an interview though, expect me to make another thread saying how terrified I am and that I should never have listened to you :P Teehee, thank you again!
hey I totally get where you're coming from. When I went back to work after being out cos of depression, it was as a waitress and I found it impossible to go up to customers. it was SO scary. But you know what, I had to make myself do it and it got easier with time and ended up grand. Sometimes it was still scary if I wasn't feeling good but I managed.
So I would advise you just to go for it! You never know, it could turn out great. it sounds good. If you don't like it you can always leave but at least you will know you tried and not wonder what might have been.
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
Location: London . . . the less awesome one in Ontario, Canada
Good for you for applying!! Doing something like this, something that you're really nervous about, is a huge and awesome step. Just don't forget to come back and let us know how it goes. ;)
I'd forgotten about this thread until today! Unfortunately I've heard nothing from this place, but there's another job advertised on our 6th form noticeboard now, and I'm thinking of going for that, too. It's in a busier, more anxiety-provoking shop (Next), buuut with all your advice from before, I'm going to take it a step at a time, and apply for this, too :) I will update you all again!
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
Good luck, finding a job can be hard, but just apply and see what happens. If you get a job the first few shifts may be a bit worrying but the more practice you get hopefully the easier it will get. Good luck!
You seem to get exactly like me, it took me ages to even give my CV in to places!
But once you get over the initial nerves and your first day at any job, you realise it's not actually as bad as you thought it would be!
Just try and remember that.
Also, don't be put off if they don't even get back to you at all, if they are busy and stuff and choose someone else i find it's quite rare places phone you and say thanks for trying or something.
Good luck.
Ali xox
With demons dancing off mirror images reflecting all that you wanted.
So far from perfect, onward we will strive.
Take it for what it's worth, this truth that you've realized.
You're not who you thought you were, it's time to see the other side of what you have become.
Ooh, this is really good!
I was so nervous about getting my first job, I ended up getting one in my first year of sixth-form in a toy shop (You'd be surprised how stressful it is). But even with all that - I've learnt to love it, I'm sure you will too!
It's a nice break from having to sit in school all the time, and the people I work with are lovely. It's also nice to see the smile on smoeone's face when you've helped them find what they've been looking for - I'm glad you're just going to go for it, good luck!
x
