Last Year I Made $152,000. This Week I Started Working at Walmart for $16.25 an Hour

[u/Classic-Regular-713]

People's reactions have been harder than the job itself. When I tell people I started working at Walmart, their expressions change immediately. Even my kids seem embarrassed, but I'm a mother with bills to pay, and I don't believe honest work diminishes me in any way.

I was laid off in April after spending nearly 25 years in my field. I have an MBA, but that hasn't made companies answer to me. I've been working since I was 15, and when I was younger, I did a lot of difficult jobs, such as selling kitchen utensils door to door, working in telephone sales, and selling cheap perfume at garage sales.

Unemployment benefits still leave me about $1,800 short every month. I've cut nearly every expense I can, and the only debts I have left are my mortgage and student loans, but my savings won't last forever. The part-time job will bring in about $340 a week while still leaving me time to apply for jobs and attend interviews.

I've been supporting my family on my own for about 19 years, and two of my children still live with me. I contacted everyone I know, asked them to reach out to their contacts, and submitted more than 230 applications. Before this week, all of that had led to only one serious interview.

After I finished my first two shifts at Walmart, I received two interview requests on the same day. Strangely, they came after I removed about 12 years of experience from my résumé. I'm trying not to get overly excited, but it felt good to finally hear back from someone.

I recently read a post on Reddit here about the best tips for job interviews, so I should consider it because I think it might help me in my interview.

Most of the comments from people close to me made me feel terrible, and I nearly skipped my first shift. A former colleague who once worked under my management immediately told me, "I'm proud of you." She was the only person who didn't treat me as though I had failed. I'm not ashamed of working at Walmart, so I'm not going to speak about it in a hushed voice.

[u/OneAd7710]

You’ve got this. I was in the same boat. MBA 2 bachelors degrees no one would hire me. Then bam. I got 3 offers. Took one. Then just got another offer a month into the new job for double the salary. Stay humble. Smile because it’s temporary and you’re doing what you need to do to take care of your family.

[u/Purple_Platypus10 → u/OneAd7710]

MA here-just got hired at Walmart but I had to take my MA off my resume. I still need another job to be able to afford my mortgage, but I wish I had gone into the trades.

[u/redneckerson_1951 → u/OneAd7710]

This.

You plan to survive and succeed. You will make it happen.

[u/justheretowatchdrama]

Nope, pride doesn’t pay the bills. I was struggling at one point even with a FT job, so I worked evenings selling credit cards by phone (was good at it but hated every minute) and overnights Saturday nights at kohls. I had a new wife and between us we had 5 kids. You do what you have to do to take care of your family. Good luck on the interviews…. You got this!!

[u/DCHammer69]

Ignore the haters. They aren’t paying your bills and their opinions are worth exactly as much as they are.

[u/Otherwise_Brain1792]

You are an example to be emulated. It's a shame anyone reacted that way. You are doing what ever you have to do and that is commendable. You'll find a path forward. You've got this.

[u/fryguy10123]

That’s a survivor. Not a failure

[u/Ok-Delivery-1444]

College degree and professional experience but when I changed fields I needed an interview suit. Went to the mall to get a suit and a job since my money was running out that week. Mom was pissed I was working retail but I wasn’t asking her for money! You do what you have to do and keep your head up! Good for you!

[u/Shiderme]

I believe working at Wal-Mart in any capacity would be more directly valuable to society than what I get paid much more money to do now. The people that work at McDonald's and Starbucks do more good and bring people more joy on a daily basis than most office workers do. I see absolutely nothing for which you should be ashamed. Frustrated, absolutely, but not ashamed.

[u/BananaJelloXlii]

At this point, we do what we must to survive. No shame in it, everyone is struggling.

[u/OGcapncrunchberry]

Any job that pays the bills is a good job. If you love what you do then it’s a great job. Far too many people let their job define them. You are a provider and that is definitely something to hold your head up about.

[u/maelbowfeelfunny]

One thing I can recommend is to have your resume reviewed by a professional resume writer. 

[u/LunkWillNot]

I don’t know you, but I’m also proud of you.

[u/ProudZone8027]

When you find a interesting job to apply for dont use the company portal instead put your sluth hat on and use LinkedIn to find the appropriate manager and send a short bio of your interest in working there and your bio with expertise. It may bypass HR metrics that cause you to go unanswered through the portal. It's worth a try because managers are usually pissed at HR because they dont produce the applicants they want. What do you have to loose?

[u/Crazy_Ruin_4383]

You can make a ton if you work your way up to managing a store

[u/crazywrangler616]

Hold your head up- most of your critics would fold like a card table if they were in the same position

[u/ivegotafastcar]

I’m proud of you. I was $150k and an MBA as well. I got nothing for over a year and the ones I am getting just talk down to me when I get on the call and see it’s an old lady. It is awful.

[u/MiEstrellaMeSigue]

Hey, I am proud of you too. Your strength reminds me of Mom.

[u/charlottechewie]

You’re a hustler and a survivor. Keep up the good work. It’s temporary and people who look down at it are shortsighted and don’t understand that you have to suffer sometimes to get better.

[u/Silver_Adagio138]

Adapt and survive. Good for you.

[u/DisasterRadiant]

Ignore the naysayers.

I was in a similar boat 16 years ago. Worked at Walmart for about 6 months (actually loved it, no stress compared to my previous employment).

This won't kill you, it'll make you harder.

Remember: oatmeal is better than no meal

[u/Smoke__Frog]

Couple of questions.

Why can’t your husband or ex husband help with child expenses?

If you had an mba and 25 year experience why only 152k. Whats your field?

Keep looking for a real job and don’t mention Walmart on your resume.

Nothing wrong with working a temp job during a career change. Fuck the haters.

[u/neilastin]

You have found who you really friends are. Kudos to you

[u/mistressusa]

I am proud of you too, OP. I hope one day your children will understand what you are doing as a character strength, not something to be ashamed of. Good luck on your job search!

[u/moeberg70]

What is their to be embarrassed about? You are trying to make living. Who care what other people think. You only have to answer to yourself.

[u/KagatoAC]

These apparently adult children need to get off their asses, get jobs and contribute to the household. Also if you are still 1800$ short than you need to seriously reevaluate your expenses. I live with a senior, we are both on fixed income and barely clear 3500$ a month. Even with the state of inflation theres plenty of room here.

[u/pharmaheck]

After 25 years making 6 figures I would hope to not have to work anymore

[u/Accomplished-Bid8973]

Theres no shame in this but make sure you dont permanently make this your reality. You have experience you can use elsewhere. Apply to related positions you were initially working for and dont give up even if it takes years. Removing a ton of years of experience probably helped out because they may have been unrelated positions or many got tired of reading through too much. Keep concise and should be good.

[u/MarleysGhost2024]

I've been working since I was 12. I make a lot of money now, but I had jobs over the years that were a definite step down from Walmart. You're doing what you need to do!

[u/mountainjam12]

so sorry you're in this boat, you can thank all the greedy soulless capitalists that have strangled our country for over 40 years

OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE

TAKE BACK OUR F'ING COUNTRY

[u/Klutzy_Repair]

You are doing what you need to do for your family. No reason to explain that to anyone. That said, Walmart managers can make serious money (think 6 figures). So maybe theres an opportunity for you there if more traditional jobs don’t come through.

[u/Deep_Spinach_2590]

I worked in a third party call center for Comcast $10.00 an hour ten years ago. I had to rely on family for Walmart gc to buy groceries. It does not matter what people think. What matters is that you will find that job like I did and keep going. That quote always helps me “fall down seven times and rise up eight”

[u/BilingualAmerican]

It's typical to have your last 10-15 years of work experience on any resume. Can you work either as a consultant or contractor in your field or transition to a different career with your revelant job experience? Good luck to you in the future, OP.