Everyone thinks I'm a loser, even my kids. The look on everyones face when I say I'm working at Walmart....

To me work is work and you do whatever you have to do to support your family. I haven't worked retail since the 90s . Back then I did a lot of shitty jobs like magazine sales, door to door cookware sales, door to door long distance phone service sales, sold knock off perfume in parking lots. I've been working since I was 14 in 1993 with the exception of 9 months laid off in 2013.

I got laid off in March and am on unemployment. I've made massive lifestyle changes and the only debt I have is student loan and mortgage with escrow. I am still $2k short a month with unemployment and it's coming out of my very limited savings. I am working part time as to still get my unemployment and have time to look for a job. I will make an extra $322/week working at Walmart. After taxes that will almost cover food for the month and will lower what I'm taking from savings.

I've been a single parent for over 20 years. I have 2 kids at home that I'm fully supporting. I can't just sit here applying for jobs with no one calling me and just hope, I'd rather just figure shit out in the mean time n do what I gotta do. Ive already been through my network, nothing. I'm tapping into other people's networks, still nothing.

I have a MBA and 24 years in my field. Ironically I just finished my first 2 days at Walmart and I got 2 interview requests (after deleting 14 years of experience fr9m ny resume). I'm super happy about it. I've applied to 200 jobs since January (got WARN notice) and i had 1 legit interview.

Don't be too good to hustle n do what you have to do, whatever that may be. Yes all the negativity made me cry and made me want to just blow off my first day but I put my big girl panties on, said fuck the haters and went to work.

I have to give my one friend/former coworker props because her immediate reaction was " I'm so proud of you!" I used to be her manager. She is the only person in my life that didn't make me feel like a POS. I'm not ashamed I'm working at Walmart so I'm going to keep telling people.

That is all.

*ETA I'm a woman, mom*