Should I stay at my part time job even though it makes me feel so anxious?

[jj806]

Hi, my name is Jess. I'm 15 years old and have just started a part time job in a bakery. I received a call two months after I applied for the job asking if I wanted to come in for what I thought was an interview, but was actually training. The boss is nice, but I struggle to understand her as she doesn't speak much English. She told me after i'd had my first two training sessions that it would take me 16 weeks to be up to the standard where she can trust me too be able to manage the bakery on my own if no one else was working. My family is going on a big holiday to Europe at the end of March, so heres my dilemma. I never knew it was possible for a part time job to make me so anxious. I have nearly cried while working and It takes me so much courage to even walk in there. I have shifts on the weekend, and I have to start preparing myself at the start of the week. I have a 5 hour shift in in half an hour, and I had a 5 hour shift yesterday too. I don't know how worth it it is for me to struggle through a job that makes me feel physically ill when I'm going away for 6 weeks on march 28. I wish working came easy to me. Do you think I should stick it through until my holiday, even though when I get back I probably won't continue with the job it makes me feel so horrible and empty?

[White_Rose]

Dear JJ

Hello and welcome. Going to Europe in a few weeks. That is a wonderful holiday to look forward to.

I am sorry you are finding your job so stressful. Can you think of any reason why this is so? On the face of it 2 X 5 hour shifts a week is not much, so obviously there is something else wrong. Could it be the bakery you are not comfortable with? Some people react to environmental things such as smell, which makes them uneasy. What about your boss? I see you like her but the strain of working out what she says with limited English may be stressful to you. There are many people who find constantly interacting with the public a bit of a strain. I'm sure there are many other possibilities for you to think about.

The reason I am asking you to consider these suggestions is because of your future work life. I don't know what your plans are for your future. Perhaps you want to enter the workforce when you leave school, or perhaps go to uni first. These will be major changes in your life so if talking to customers all day makes you feel uncomfortable that will have a bearing on your future career. Do you understand what I am getting at?

It doesn't help you in the here and now, but you could consider it as something that may impact on you in the future. If you can find a reason for your panic about going to work in the bakery, then that should help you to decide what to do. For example, if the problem is understanding your boss' instructions, it may be you serve someone you feel nervous in case you are not doing it in the way you were told, you may be unsure what to say, how to wrap bread etc, use the till, give advice about the bakery products. They are tasks you will get used to but the learning period can be unnerving. Once you feel confident you will be happy working there.

On the other hand you may be afraid of using the bread slicing machine. It makes me nervous just looking at it. If you can work out why you are uncomfortable you may either be able to do something about it, or resign because the problem is too hard to manage.

Now, have I made anything clearer? When you return from your holiday you may discover that you feel OK working there. In that case you have a part time job which gives you pocket money. If not then leave and find another job. It is worth having a good look at this job and the reasons for leaving if only to avoid making a similar mistake later.

Please continue to write in here. We are here to help.

Mary

[SarahLulu]

Hi jess. My name's Sarah and I'm only 16. I too have a part time job at Mcdonalds. I started as soon as I turned 15 back in november 2015. It was great at the time, made friends, became independent. However then my mental health started declining and I would work more to be away from my family as well. I would cry every second shift. It was hard. In october 2016 after a few hospital admissions I made the decision to quit after trying to do only one shift a week. It was too much and I couldnt do it. Yesterday, I returned to work and had my first shift back, it was busy, it was strressful but I'm glad I made the decision to return.

My advice Jess, Is try and reduce your hours to one shift a week and if it is still to stressful, quit because it's not worth the stress it puts you through. And when you think your ready to return do that and start off with one shift. Stick to it a bit longer as you might just be uncomfortable starting out work. But really weigh up the options.

Best of luck