Question

I could use some adult advice! I am a single mother with no family in the state. I dont have a college education, and im a line cook in a kitchen. Ive been at my job for 2 years and aside from never getting paid on my payday, I am just genuinely burned out. I desperate for a new career path. However I havent been able to find a job more than $10 an hour that can ensure im home every evening with my kids at 4pm. I cannot afford extended daycare expenses as im already paying for afterschool. My boss knows this is the only reason why I havent left and uses it anytime I tell him I need a break. We are constantly understaffed, and throughout the years I have learned every position. I started at $8. 10 an hour and worked very hard to be promoted to $10. Im often called the backbone of the kitchen (and the only woman) and no one wants me to leave. I desperately want to climb out of this and provide a better life for my children. I want to not be miserable anymore and actually enjoy cooking again. I dont own a computer nor do I have any money to put towards a MLM. My car is 20 years old and is hanging on to life by a string so any jobs delivering or ride share is out of the question. Can you help me figure out what steps to take?  

Answer 1

What state are you in? There’s in home care as a CGA (through an agency) that here in Washington starts at $15/hr with paid training. You take on clients at their requested schedule, sometimes light transportation to groceries or appointments with mileage reimbursed. Just during the interview explain you have child care hours and see if they hire you or have a need for those hours of availability. If you enjoy it, you could always become a CNA and the progress to RN.  

Answer 2

Look into court reporting pays well! As a single mom some states offer assitance to single mothers that want to make a career change.  

Answer 3

Health insurance companies have great hours and great pay. Many of their entry level positions do not require a college education.  

Answer 4

Definitely look into banking! I’ve been working for credit unions for 14 years and it has been a great career. Started as a part time teller and I’m currently a business analyst for our consumer lending department. Nowhere to go but up, great hours and good benefits!  

Answer 5

USPS I make almost 25 an hour. No college degree necessary

Comments

@brauer I’m a rural mail carrier. I make $18.  

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@patellate I'm a career clerk been career for over four years now. My only wish is I would have gotten in when I was much younger lol

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@brauer me too. I lived in Portland, Oregon at one time. The post office advertised about 125 jobs. There were multiples of thousands applied for the positions. Have a great day!  

Answer 6

I don’t have a college degree and I work in daycares or montessori schools. You get discounts on daycare and the pay is not bad. You are guaranteed weekends off and they tend to be very flexible on hours

Answer 7

Is there something you really enjoy doing that you could turn into a side business?  

Answer 8

You might want to look at moving closer to family or just looking at jobs in other areas. It will be a huge decision but could make life better for your family. From one single mom to another: it's rough but you got this momma!  

Answer 9

As a start, would you be able to find work in a different restaurant? I know you are looking for a different career, but maybe just a better environment would be a helpful first step?  

Answer 10

I am an order filler at WalMart. I make $20. 20 an hour. Other positions make less, but really good money too. They match 6% on 401k and $1 day for college degrees. Their benefits are good and I love the team I work with. It's hard work, but it can be a long term job. Good luck.  

Comments

You make 20. 20? I'm a personal shopper there. is that that the same position?  

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@penoyer I don't think so. I work in a distribution center. I build the pallets that come to your stores. I have never walked less than 11 miles a shift. This is an example of what I put together for the stores. Obviously this pallet has almost all been put away. I do dry food. The cold side and freezer make even more money.  

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Oh wow. Yes except for break I'm on my feet the entire time and moving. I only work PT though. We just had a dis center open up I might look into it

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This cracks me up finding images online. I work a weekend graveyard. I am also part time. Good luck!  

Answer 11

No college degree here. I’m a materials management technician for our hospital. I’m in charge of receiving in all the product for the hospital and distributing it to correct departments. I make $12/hr and I work 7-4 Monday-Friday. I am not a single mom but I am the only one who picks up/drops off our kids everyday.  

Answer 12

I’d say something in banking!  

Answer 13

Banking. Sales. Find a new kitchen. You have plenty of experience to becoming a kitchen manager. See if you can do serving as well at the restaurant maybe? Server make great money.  

Answer 14

Substitute teaching would give you hours that would work for kids!  

Comments

@warnerwarning our subs have benefits too!  

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@carminecarmita I think that is highly variable. Our subs get $70 per day with no benefits.  

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Yeah I get 100 a day but no benefits

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@settling723 probably so, the benefits for ours are paid by the company that employs them not the school district. They also get 70/day without a bachelors

Answer 15

3rd shift childcare.  

Answer 16

I made $17/hr base starting in call centers and banking. Admin and secretarial paid more than that too. It's definitely worth the switch and making your way, and I'm happy to answer any questions you have how I make it work!  

Answer 17

Check Aldi’s they pay pretty good . Costco does also.  

Answer 18

I started with MetLife through a temp agency, got hired on full time with no background in insurance at all. They paid for all my licenses and training. I was with them for 10 years before they did reorganization within the company and I didn't like the way things were heading. I'm now a licensed insurance agent that works for a broker. maybe try a temp agency and see if they can help you.  

Comments

@jdavie Kinney or she could be an account manager. We all know good talent is so hard to find! ( account manager at large broker here! )

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I went to school for nursing and ended up in insurance. Never know where you're going to end up. I love the insurance business. My 10 years was Life insurance, working with underwriting as well as managing a closed block of business as well as annuities and the stock market. Now i'm selling insurance which was a big scary jump. I've seen a lot of people come and go when with Met. Yes good talent is hard to find and hard to keep. The broker i'm with now is a small local company but absolutely great to work for.  

Answer 19

It takes a village to raise a child, find mom or das friends you can tap into. When I moved to a new state with 5 year old (no family for 1, 000) it was an absolute must that I find help with the kiddo. Result was a tight community of working parents in need of a village. Don’t be afraid to ask for help - it is out there I promise you m.  

Answer 20

Look for call center work! I started at one right out of high school! Most have day time hours and in my area base bay is $12 an hour. Or maybe try serving instead of cooking at the restaurant more money and flexibility as well. Community Collage in your area and get the Pell Grant to cover schooling expenses and you can even buy a computer for school with the grant money to take online classes!  

Comments

@jester yes! I made 75K my first year in a call center. Base pay was 32K. (Insurance sales) It was work, but it was worth it.  

Answer 21

HUGS! ❤️❤️ I can relate! I was hired at a new job for $7. 25 and there’s no way in hell anyone should be making that! (Thanks federal minimum wage. ) I then said I quit. I’m going to read these comments because I need more income too but I also refuse to be away from my kids at night even though my parents say, “they are older now so get over yourself” Yes they are older but I still don’t want them to be by themselves for a long time at night.  

Answer 22

Thank you everyone for the very kind and informative comments. Moving away to family is not a possibility due to my childrens close relationship with their father. I am reading all of these comments and have a lot of good ideas. I appreciate everyones time and kindness from the bottom of my heart ❤

Comments

@pothook you do what’s best for you and your kids. If you can make a better life near your family because they can help out more than definitely consider it. If not, dad needs to step up more so you can work another job with different hours.  

Answer 23

I'm a personal shopper at Walmart. It's hard work! I make 13. 75 I just started

Answer 24

You can go to a grocery store in the deli or meat department and make more.  

Answer 25

I work for a call center now. I get paid 14 an hour. I’m in Ohio and that’s about average for here.  

Answer 26

If you can pass a piss test then I’d look into any and all union apprenticeships in your area. Depending on your area and trade, starting out could be in the 20’s a hr and tops out in the 40s. They will teach you what you need to know. Its hard dirty and some times dangerous work but it pays.  

Answer 27

Look into cooking at schools. both elementary and universities, hospitals, retirement homes and privately contracted kitchens on military bases if you are close to any.  

Comments

I have a chef friend who has been working for a retirement community for YEARS and loves the job and the hours.  

Answer 28

Look into entry level jobs with your state, city, or county. Public agencies give great stability

Answer 29

Customer service jobs suck, but where I live they start out at $13/$14 an hour  

Answer 30

If you would like help with a resume I will be happy to assist you. Just PM me and we can connect. I specialize in resume transformations to help people with their job searches. You may think being a line cook is not a job of many skills but I promise it is far more than most realize.  

Answer 31

School cooks are always needed and they make far more than that plus benefits and retirement and the same schedule as your kids!  

Answer 32

I understand doing something the kids can come with. Anything you can get in with the school district would be the best schedule set up. PLUS they pay very well.  

Answer 33

Look into claims adjusting for auto insurance. Money is good, normal office hours, plenty of opportunity for advancement and no degree required

Answer 34

Factory work always pays good but it’s hard work

Answer 35

If u have an Amazon near u, I hear they have really good benefits and start at more than 10

Answer 36

Amazon distribution pays really well and has good benefits if u have one close

Answer 37

Work for a school  Pay is ok. no weekends or holidays. so I can grab a small part time one of need be. i am an instructional assistant andake much more than that. plus summers I am off or find part time to supplement

Answer 38

Look into house keeping at a hospital. I worked 1st shift out by 330 pay started at 10 an hr and got raises. Just a suggestion you could consider

Answer 39

Your employer is a manipulative asshole. You will definitely do better away from him/her. Trying reaching out to catering companies and seeing if they need help. You should reach out to your local community College. Community colleges are on the forefront of workforce development and have many programs to help you transition into a different career.  

Answer 40

Maybe serve some days so you can earn some cash

Answer 41

My first advice is to move, either closer to family or to a place with better paying jobs. I can tell you right now that I know kids graduating from HS driving haul trucks for mines with no formal education who are making $50, 000 to $75, 000 a year. Sometimes we use stepping stones to get to our goals. Those kids work for the mines till they save enough for college. That’s how I paid for two degrees and my husband got a bachelors without student debt because of the mines.  

Answer 42

My granddaughter was a Customer rep for Amazon. Try there. Pay was more than 10$ per hour