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I'm 27, Australian, female, and I just graduated a good university with a History/English B.A. I really, REALLY need a job so I can financially support myself, but I've got two major problems: I have a severe learning disability that is getting in the way of goddamn everything, and I have no solid work history/no references. I suffer from the maths form of Dyslexia. This means I can't safely handle money, cashier work, phone numbers, addresses, appointment times, driving or anything you can think of that requires being able to correctly write down numbers. Highlights of previous work attempts prior to my diagnosis include 'Handing customer back more money than he paid as change,' 'Giving people the wrong day to show up in appointments,' and 'Oh, I'm driving on the wrong side of the road?' I am with Centerlink, however they set me up with a "job hunting agency" that simply gives me a sheet of paper every month and advice on how to use google. They also ask me why I can't just count on my fingers. Fun! My disability has cut out most of the entry-level job options I've been able to think of and/or try. No call centre work, no cashier register work, no pizza delivery work, etc. Things I am good at: Organising paperwork, 90 wpm typing speed, smiling politely at rude people, working nightshift, I'm relatively fit and... I can write a mean essay? I'm not good for much, I'm out of ideas, I'm miserable from all my previous failures, and I need some help. Where can a person like me find work?
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Jan 4, 2017 03:36
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| # ¿ Apr 30, 2024 12:29 |
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Dyscalculia is much less commonly known than Dyslexia. Honestly, I got extremely lucky even finding out I had it, because I didn't know that type existed until my early twenties when I got sent to a neuropsychologist testing. Sadly it's not really treatable at this severity, but as for being taken advantage of, I've already set up systems to avoid that with the help of some professionals. I don't handle cash bigger than a $5 so I can't hand over the wrong note/get the wrong change and not notice, all my bills/payments are auto-deposits and withdraws to avoid me trying to manually handle them, I have very simple bank accounts with no major fees/interests/etc. to track and I have a highly functional email calendar for all appointments. Thank god for technology! 1) I have all my paperwork relating to disability, but I don't qualify by the government's standards since I'm theoretically full-time employable and perfectly capable of working. Right now I'm just on the unemployment benefits. 2-5) I will do that tonight and look into the online jobs! There's actually a gigantic Bunnings opening up this year nearby and in walking distance, so I'll make a note to hand that one in the minute it opens. Survey-wise, I do google surveys but they only ever give me a couple of dollars a month max. A transcript job would be perfect for me if I can find one with no maths, since I can type all day and night without problems. 6) I haven't tried, I have nightmares about accidentally reporting 120 injuries or something ridiculous instead of 1 and it going to press. 8) I do art as a hobby, but I'm not commission-tier and likely won't be for a few years minimum. Not going to lie, I dream of becoming good enough to rake in that furry money because I am perfectly okay with being unethical for cash. 9) I didn't actually think of using dyslexia organisations since I have a weird off-brand version, good thinking. ... And yeah, I'll try to be more positive. It's a bit hard when you're struggling with a really sensitive issue and less than helpful people treating you like they expect you to shove crayons up your nose, but I'll try to keep my concentration on what I can do. Less moping is on the agenda! Thanks so much for all that effortpost, I didn't even see the online jobs thread.
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Jan 4, 2017 09:06
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Rudager posted:... Was going to PM this to you, but seems you don't have them on, if you are interested in something like that and don't know if there's an abattoir around, my 8 year stint in that part of the workforce saw me working for a couple of different companies who all together have processing plants in NSW, QLD and SA and I also know where pretty much all the other processing facilities are through out QLD, NSW, Vic, and SA , so if you want to email where you live I can point you in the right direction with maybe a contact or at least the companies name and location. My email is [my username]6@gmail.com, and I can guarantee the barrier for entry is extremely low if you can tolerate some dirty work, probably 70% of the workforce doing that kind of job is someone on a working holiday Visa so they usually jump at the opportunity to put on an Australian who'll stick around more than 6 months. It's numbers in their entirety, so anything with them is out including counting and theory, and NDIS isn't helping since I'm in the cursed position of 'not disabled enough to be disabled by government standards, exactly disabled enough to be struggling to find work.' However, I definitely don't mind blue collar work ideas! I've never done it before, but I'm not squeamish, a job is a job and money is what I care about. Until I get financially independent I'm very reliant on my single mother, and, well, that's weighing on me heavily. I'm not very physically big or strong, so I don't know about hauling super-heavy things around, but cleaning sounds perfectly manageable. And right now? I love low bars as long as they come with a living wage. I'll get in contact with you!
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Jan 4, 2017 11:27
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Per posted:Off-topic, but have you considered doing an Ask/Tell thread? I think (god, I hope) I'm in the right subforum for employment, so do you mean about my Dyscalculia? I don't mind talking about it, it just doesn't seem very interesting.
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Jan 4, 2017 12:00
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You've got a point, and it's really not as if I'm doing anything else right now besides surveys for cash (Thanks, Lump!)... So here's an ask/tell thread for any questions: https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3804102
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Jan 5, 2017 01:49
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Don't worry, I'm still here! Doing that A/T just took a lot more attention than I was expecting, since I wasn't expecting anything at all. I live in Sydney in the eastern suburbs, within about half an hour by public transport to the CBD. For volunteering, I've actually booked into a meet and greet slash volunteering training opportunity at one of the big organisations near the end of the month! I've also looked up a more local organisation, but I'm going to have to go in person just to work out if they're still open since their website seems a little dated. I used to volunteer a lot in my teenager years, since I was a junior girl guide leader so I did work with the red cross, etc. and looked after the little kids. If anyone does have recommendations for good places to volunteer in Sydney, lemme know since I'm just going by the seekvolunteering type of websites. I actually used to do contact MMA a long time ago. I'm not the fittest puppy right now, but if I can get a training course that doesn't require me to cough up ridiculous amounts of cash that's definitely an avenue I can pursue. I have been laser-focused on short term opportunities since I want a job nownownownow and not more schooling (I actually qualified for honours but I like money) but part time is doable. I also enjoy punching people. Things I've been doing since I've started this thread: - shoved my online resume for shelfpacker into all the Coles I can reach in a reasonable length of travelling time (That is, beneath one and a half hours each way). I'll try to do Bunnings today. - Signed up for a volunteering meet and greet. - I put in for my 'working with children' and 'national police check' ... check, which I'll hopefully get soon enough. This'll let me work with vulnerable people and hopefully open up more options in terms of elderly/childcare/just padding my goddamn resume. - Contacted my local library to see if they have any book clubs running in 2017 I could join because my god is moping around alone in my home driving me insane after four years of a busy university schedule, and I need to get out of my house because my cats aren't great conversationalists. - Using swagbucks, pureprofile and google rewards I have earned... $8! It's not exactly a stunning accomplishment, but hey. Free couple of lattes? Oh, and off-topic and perhaps slightly E/N, anyone have ideas for other social clubs I could look up? I like books, and art, and the outdoors in moderate quantities when it's not summer, but it's hard to find adult social clubs versus the infinite list of kiddy results.
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Jan 6, 2017 02:42
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I have a volunteering trainee slot in a food warehouse on Monday, which will hopefully let me know if I am able to work in a warehouse in a low-stress environment where money isn't on the line. Unfortunately, I have to get up at 4:30am to get there... But I'll manage. I also highballed an application and I have an interview for a position as a researcher at a different charity, when I wasn't even expecting a response! If it works, I hope I'll get a reference from them by the end of Jan/Feb and I'll be able to shove some recent work experience on my resume. I'll update to tell you all how Monday goes afterwards, whether in celebration or immense whining.
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Jan 6, 2017 23:15
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Today went badly, and I got a bunch of rejection emails today for my Monday wake-up. Operation "Find rich man, throw self in front of vehicle, sue." Inches higher up the employment options list, but I'm going to try again to get into a disability employment agency rather than the useless guys they've put me with.
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Jan 9, 2017 08:01
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VideoTapir posted:I'm a Special Education teacher. If you are just now finding out that you have this disability, I presume you did not get special instruction in math when you were in school. So you don't actually know yet if you can't do math...there might be methods you haven't heard of for doing things which could allow you to improve drastically. Can you at least count reliably? Can you not recognize numerals reliably, or are your issues mostly with operations/algorithms? I'm unreliable about everything and, to be honest, I've have such an awful time with maths teaching that you'd literally have to knock me out and drag my unconscious body to get me into any special instruction even were it available in Australia.
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Jan 16, 2017 05:51
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Bad news: No job. Good news: Going to visit a gothic horror book club on Thursday, and I have two volunteering meet and greets on the weekend followed by a potential volunteering interview for a research spot. None will lead to a job, but at least I'll not be moping at home. ??? News: Applying for an education certificate course which will let me teach ESL students, I've been poking at purelife and swagbucks for a couple of bucks here and there, and I even did a bit of fanart I'm mildly okay with looking at.
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Jan 17, 2017 10:06
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Suspicious Lump posted:Post your art plz If you make fun of me I'll cry into my cats. It'll be tragic esp. since I'm wearing make-up and no one wants mascara in cat fur.   Anyway, good news: I just signed a 6 month contract as a volunteer researcher today! It's not paid (hence the volunteer) but it'll give me something to do and it's for a really good organisation. They were very friendly and excited to have me on board, and we've already discussed the project I'll be supporting. I'm still hunting for paid employment, and I promise I'm listening to everyone's suggestions and thoughts even if I haven't responded the past few days. It's been too hot to type, and I hate Australian summer.
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Jan 24, 2017 05:17
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It's working with sensitive subjects and cases, so it's mostly just a confidentiality agreement! I've never tried to look into commissions. My art is substandard compared to most people that do it, and more importantly I don't have anything resembling a standard style/quality since I'm still learning! So I wouldn't be able to guarantee two images to be of the same tier of work, or even that I could do what's requested. It's a pretty saturated market full of people with years of experience and lots of followers already. Though I will happily take $$$ for questionable art subjects whenever I reach that stage. The character is Blue Pearl from Steven Universe, she's a minor character but I love her design.
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Jan 24, 2017 06:48
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Fusion Restaurant posted:Maybe yoga instructor? There are probably physical jobs which are short of the level of physicality slash fitness of martial artist I'm not very flexible, but that's something that comes with practise. I've been planning on adding more intense stretching to my regular routine. I'll keep it in mind! And copy writing would be a skill I have except I've found it's all fun and games until I somehow end up with being expected to write up numbers. Things I'm doing right now: - I got into a 120 hour TESOL course in May! I should theoretically be able to do it since I did manage my degree. We'll find out. - Lots of volunteering! Besides the charity research position, I did a convention, I'm volunteering at one of Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras events later in the month, and some art tours. - Going to the gym once a week for weightlifting and other ~intense exercise~. I'd also be running at home but it's so drat hot. It's just. Why? Why is it so hot..?! - Doodling at least once a day. - Spanish in Duolingo, because might as well...? At least I'm keeping busy, even if I am poor.
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Feb 14, 2017 10:53
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legsarerequired posted:Your artwork is actually pretty good! Like, neither of us are gonna be in the Louvre, but I bet you could totally offer commissions to people. Join a fandom community, explain your situation, and offer to do quick drawings for money (i.e., non-colored drawings for $5-$10, colored full portraits for $15, three portraits for $30, things like that). Your work is pretty and I think it's in a style that a lot of people would eat up. I can't think of anything to say but aww, shucks. Thanks! I might give it a bit more practise because I can't produce that level all the time - heck I can't even make things look the same day to day - but I'll try to get up my confidence in the next month or so, with plenty more practise. I'd feel awful if I gave someone subpar work so I want to make sure people get what they pay for.
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Feb 15, 2017 13:30
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I'm very familiar with people and commissions - I know some friends who do gorgeous art, commissions, etc. on a regular basis - and I know how saturated the market is, and how far I have to go before I can dream of meeting that ideal, so it's a long shot even if I undercut to have anyone pay me. But gently caress it I'll at least do a portfolio, I guess, and see what other people say. If anyone does have other suggestions, I'm still diligently reading this thread and working on every opportunity I can get. coolusername fucked around with this message at 11:50 on Feb 17, 2017 |
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Feb 17, 2017 07:23
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| # ¿ Apr 30, 2024 12:29 |
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Suspicious Lump posted:I think you're missing what people are saying or maybe not. While your artist friends are aiming at (I think) the conventional market, people here are saying to aim for niche markets like fandom who pay decent money for work that might not be something you'll be proud of. Unless you mean all your artist friends are drawing MLP, furry and R34 art, then ignore the above! Well, one of them does... Referencing is a hell I know well, especially when both departments want different styles but... well, proofing would be a problem because I can't actually check for date, page number, journal volumes etc. But English tutoring might work! O right and guys? Don't hit on a lady working the door at an event by opening with talking about your dead mother and trying to get behind the desk to touch her shoulder. Just. A suggestion... Though speaking of working doors it turns out my ability to repeat the same greeting over and over again while being friendly is useful! Now if i could find a paying job asking only that of me coolusername fucked around with this message at 12:37 on Feb 25, 2017 |
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Feb 25, 2017 11:43
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