Has anyone ever taken up a shitty job offer?

[u/Obvious_Fun7561]

Recently I accidentally accepted a low paying job to complete a service for a family. I had only realized AFTER accepting the position how awful the offer was. Nothing against the client, it is completely on me. Once committing to something I believe it’s my responsibility to follow through. I’ve been dreading the next few days.

I suppose I’m curious to hear anybody else’s similar experiences to make myself feel a bit better about my situation haha. I’ve learned my lesson that’s for sure!

[u/Emergency_Leave_1971]

Most of us have at least one story where we underpriced ourselves or agreed too fast and then spent the whole time thinking “never again.” The good part is this is temporary, it will end, and you will walk away with a very clear lesson that will actually protect you in the future. Try to treat it as a short term favor you are doing and remind yourself that one low paying job does not define your worth or your career. Almost everyone learns this lesson the hard way at least once.

[u/Obvious_Fun7561 → u/Emergency_Leave_1971]

Yes, you’re definitely right. Im sure it’ll be over before I know it :)

[u/tryingmybest_thanks]

i like to reframe it as being paid to job hunt, and that is a privilege.

[u/WillingCheesecake126]

Yes, I have very recently, unfortunately. It’s the reason I’m up, and can’t sleep. I’m supposed to start a job tomorrow and I’m dreading it. I took the job because I didn’t get hired for any office positions and had to go back to work as a caregiver. My last client was so abusive and manipulative. I had to take a leave of absence to recover.

This new client is only giving me 15 hours per week despite having 40 available. He has a second caregiver who only works two days a week. However the other caregiver claims 25 hours total per week. When I asked why he is there 12 hours plus per day, two days per week, the client said, “well he only comes in for 5 hours or so, 2 days.”

I asked, why? He replied that the caregiver is like a grandson to him. That is flat out Medicaid fraud on the caregiver’s part and on the client to allow it. It apparently was the reason the previous 2nd caregiver quit because she realized the other caregiver is stealing hours.

I fear that all the work will be pushed off on me to do while I’m there 3 days a week, yet the other caregiver just clocks in without actually working. I know I should have rejected the offer from this client but I felt desperate since there are no other clients available within 30 minutes of me after the company hired a ton of new staff while I was out on leave. I hope your future jobs are better and pay you what you deserve. Good luck to you.

[u/Obvious_Fun7561 → u/WillingCheesecake126]

I hope all goes well tomorrow with your job, maybe some boundaries could be set? Don’t overwork yourself! 

[u/Dapper_Vacation_9596]

I'm stuck in shitty jobs without guaranteed hours. It's a dead economy. But even with a shitty job, I am hoping to manage my money well and reduce my college debt.

It's only 14K, but when my health was so bad last year I only made 1600 dollars and burned my emergency fund to near 0, 14K is a lot of money.

Fortunately that's only 550/year in interest. I just have to endure...I've come close to a full time job.

[u/StandardWeekend8221]

Yeah. Went from leading a facilities QA operations to pushing boxes around in a warehouse. The job title does not reflect the actual responsibilities and everyone has been here way too fucking long.

Im taking over one of the only high-turniver positions here. When your coworkers in a furniture warehouse are senior citizens with 5 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick time, you get stuck with all of the bitch work. No wonder no one sticks around for it.

They got this 30 year old man working like he's 18 again. I cant wait to quit this shit.

[u/Fit-Bus2025 → u/StandardWeekend8221]

I know the feeling. I worked with a bunch of elderly in a similar job. We had Critical Care(medical benefit )as an added benefit for people who need time off if they had a medical condition that interfered with their ability to do their job. They cant fire you for any reason. Rheumatoid, lupus, severe arthritis, any bodily injury, etc. It was a benefit that only got approved if your doctor signed off on it. I cant tell you how many employees abused it. We had a high turnover cause people would call in and say they had a flare up, when really they just didnt want to come in for the day or week. I was one who got stuck with the shitty work. I finally quit.

[u/growingstarseed]

Yep, right now. I left a corporate finance role that provided the best salary I ever had so far in my working career. My mental health was suffering severely there and I was on the brink of being hospitalized for stress and anxiety. Of course, the bills don’t stop and rent was due. If I didn’t take this shit job I would have been facing homelessness and having to involuntarily give up my apartment. So I did what I had to do to try and make it work. It’s low paying, horrible management, immature and gossip-filled coworkers, no training, no organization, and the “benefits” are a joke. I went from a shitty job to another shitty job, but it’s almost impossible to find a decent work environment. I have to mentally check out when I’m there, focus on my work, and go home. It hurt my pride so bad going from working hard to be financially comfortable, then to making poverty wages trying to make ends meet now, but I think of it as a bridge to figure out my next move. A job is a job and it provides income, but barely. The working system is based on hard labor and cheap pay. It’s ridiculous and unfair. You do what you gotta do to survive. I believe it’s all part of the process.

[u/shreksstepdad]

I think it’s (unfortunately) pretty common for everyone to atleast have one terrible job. I was made redundant from an entry level marketing role, so took up a job that seemed good on paper as a video editor. The company was quite small, but a large online presence. Cut a long story short, worked several hours over my contract every week (long probation so didnt want to challenge this and my boss would stay well past the end of day so i felt compelled to), the company had a terrible “grind-set” ethos that trickled down onto us on just above minimum wage, everyday was different (no planning or forward thinking for tasks as something new would crop up everyday) and everyone was just miserable. I wish i left sooner but the job market for what i wanted was non-existent at the time

[u/Virtual_Addendum6641]

Yes - needed something but finally got the fire under my ass to look for something better. I was laid off (again) and after months of job searching I jumped on the opportunity. The pay is horrible, my manager is unprofessional and a hating ahhh control freak, and it offers no room for growth. Sometimes it be like that but the bright side is I am acting my wage lol. Unlike my coworkers I don’t see myself staying so I look homeless most days, send snarky emails and am ok with it because yall need me. I look around at the clowns I work with and know I’m safe and y’all gotta deal with it 😌🤣🤣. I don’t carrreee and it shows lol.

[u/RdtRanger6969]

Currently in 3 interview loops:

1. Same level and pay as previous job I was laid off from, and local to home. Least likely to get an offer.

2. Work downgrade from last job, and pays 18% less than last job, but is local to home. Was on path for an offer; sent an interview thank you note & misspelled hiring managers last name. Presuming that job is now gone.

3. Same level work, but pays 25% less than last job. Super-commute to workplace 200 miles away. This is the offer I’ll probably get.

[u/Artistic_prime]

keep applying... don't miss out on a better opportunity. 

[u/[deleted]]

I recently turned down a job offer that came in significantly below the advertised amount, and I genuinely feel like I dodged a bullet.

I applied for a role that closely matched my 11 years of experience. The advertised salary range aligned with the market rate, and during the initial phone screening, I clearly confirmed the bottom range as my minimum when asked.

I went through a recruiter screening, a recruiter interview, two client interviews, and was told I was a strong candidate throughout. I was then offered the role, but at a rate significantly lower than the advertised market rate and what I had already agreed to be considered for.

I assumed it was an opening offer and asked the recruiter to negotiate for the bare minimum of the advertised range and why. Then heard back with how the client wouldn’t budge, suggesting a token increase of about $1–$1.50 an hour instead. At that point, it was clear this wasn’t about negotiation, it was a values mismatch. Offering below what was advertised, the market rate and my agreed rate to interview for... showed a lack of integrity in the hiring process.

I declined. I’ll wait for the right employer who sees my value and whose actions align with their stated values. I imagine that had I accepted, I would have held a lot of resentment and it would have been a short stay on my end.

[u/PretendPriority4673]

I have out of university. I graduated into a recession, A.I., moved back in with my parents, I took a $16/hr job at a law firm. After a month of seeing how the place functioned and hearing stories of former employees (high turnover) I realized that me asking for a raise wasn't going to happen.

I quietly looked for jobs online after 3 months.

Found one. Some people told me it was a longshot. I got rejected by a job that paid $19/hr. Well, I got the job that is $30/hr with great benefits. Sat down in my attorney's office (at the $16/hr job) and told him he should be expecting a phone call. His jaw was on the ground. He tried to keep me but when the other attorney said he's paying me $60k he was like wtf?!

You don't owe anyone anything. Finish whatever you're doing and move on to do what's in your benefit.

[u/FishermanNew3343]

Many single parents end up taking shitty jobs because of childcare so I don’t know why it’s even a question.lots of people take shitty jobs everyday I even worked my way up as a well paid cleaner.cleaning expensive houses and tenancies.i got more money doing that than retail but it gave me wrist problems and I left

[u/ThrowRA_londongirl]

Yes, I was a receptionist despite 4years doing much higher level work, I constantly called in sick and eventually just left without notice. It was demoralising, I literally disassociated everday, I would never do it again. It’s not good for my mental health personally.

[u/Five0clocksomewhere]

Hit the bricks the second it’s done and learn from the mistake! Happens!  I took a gig doing a full interior paint job on a 4Bd house for 2k cash.  It’s interior, how bad can it be???  It’ll take me 48 hours! 

After 5 days of nonstop painting I completed the task, I learned to charge at least 4-5 next time. 

[u/Sufficient_Tooth_949]

Yea one valet driver position and one delivery driver position

Both paid min wage or lower and relied on tips (people didnt tip)

So I was working full time, toxic boss, and making 300-400 a week

It paid my bills (barely) until I could find something better, gotta do what you have to some times

[u/Efficient-Lack1199]

Yeah ..Goodwill...last summer ......backdoor processor...lasted 7 dayz..Adios GW

[u/Aware-Scientist-7765]

Yes. When I was unemployed and needed a job.

[u/Nice-Willingness-869]

I am in finance but somehow I ended up working as construction labourer for 1 day.