Learning Disability and Job Problems.

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S

Seeking-Christ

Guest
#1
Yesterday I was writing a Pen Pal back. In order to answer one of the questions, I found myself talking about the problems my learning disability has caused me with work. Prior to that, I thought I had posted all the prayer requests that I was going to post. This is one more. This kinda tells you why I haven't left the job I'm currently in. You can pray however you want!

I’ve been at my job for 19 years. Next August it will be 20 years. I don’t particularly like my job but it’s a job that I’ve been able to hold down. It was really hard for me to get a job. When I was in School I didn’t know what I wanted to be. Due to my learning issues, and maybe even because I was bullied like crazy, I just wanted to survive school, and get out. Once I got out, I never wanted to go back! In fact I even suffered a small nervous break down, which I think all the bullying combined with working really hard, plus not having any friends that I could lean on, pushed me over the edge. Which could even be why I still suffer from an inferiority complex. I don’t know. Anyways, I had an interest in Electronics. So I took that for my last two years of High School. It was at a vocational school. After graduation, I took a year away from school and work. I volunteered at a Church as a sound man. I poured myself over sound system manuals, trying to learn the proper way to run the sound system for the Church. After three years of that, I finally tried to get a job. I started looking for an entry level job in electronics. I found one, and was there for 4 weeks, building circuit boards. My boss called me in, and told me, that “Your an Artist” “You do good work” but “Your too slow, so we are going to let you go”. That reminded me of how I felt in my classes at school.

About year later, I managed to get a job at a recreational vehicle factory. I was with 3 other workers who packed replacement parts. I was also there for just 4 weeks, and was called in, I was told, “You do good work, and they told me what they really liked about my work, but then they followed it up with, your too slow, and if you don’t speed up by the middle of next week we are going to let you go.” I replied, “I quit”. Next I got a job coach, who helped me figure out my resume, and took me places to try putting in applications. I had a few interviews. Nothing stuck until I tried at the School. They took me in, and I’ve been a Janitor ever since. I’ve tried to move from a 9 month position to a 12 month position, but my supervisor told me “He’s afraid that I wouldn’t work out”. That seems to be reoccurring theme in my life. Work my tail off, but I'm never good enough. :(
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
4,994
2,912
113
#2
Yesterday I was writing a Pen Pal back. In order to answer one of the questions, I found myself talking about the problems my learning disability has caused me with work. Prior to that, I thought I had posted all the prayer requests that I was going to post. This is one more. This kinda tells you why I haven't left the job I'm currently in. You can pray however you want!

I’ve been at my job for 19 years. Next August it will be 20 years. I don’t particularly like my job but it’s a job that I’ve been able to hold down. It was really hard for me to get a job. When I was in School I didn’t know what I wanted to be. Due to my learning issues, and maybe even because I was bullied like crazy, I just wanted to survive school, and get out. Once I got out, I never wanted to go back! In fact I even suffered a small nervous break down, which I think all the bullying combined with working really hard, plus not having any friends that I could lean on, pushed me over the edge. Which could even be why I still suffer from an inferiority complex. I don’t know. Anyways, I had an interest in Electronics. So I took that for my last two years of High School. It was at a vocational school. After graduation, I took a year away from school and work. I volunteered at a Church as a sound man. I poured myself over sound system manuals, trying to learn the proper way to run the sound system for the Church. After three years of that, I finally tried to get a job. I started looking for an entry level job in electronics. I found one, and was there for 4 weeks, building circuit boards. My boss called me in, and told me, that “Your an Artist” “You do good work” but “Your too slow, so we are going to let you go”. That reminded me of how I felt in my classes at school.

About year later, I managed to get a job at a recreational vehicle factory. I was with 3 other workers who packed replacement parts. I was also there for just 4 weeks, and was called in, I was told, “You do good work, and they told me what they really liked about my work, but then they followed it up with, your too slow, and if you don’t speed up by the middle of next week we are going to let you go.” I replied, “I quit”. Next I got a job coach, who helped me figure out my resume, and took me places to try putting in applications. I had a few interviews. Nothing stuck until I tried at the School. They took me in, and I’ve been a Janitor ever since. I’ve tried to move from a 9 month position to a 12 month position, but my supervisor told me “He’s afraid that I wouldn’t work out”. That seems to be reoccurring theme in my life. Work my tail off, but I'm never good enough. :(
It seems that you are a perfectionist. I am much like you. I joined the armed forces and ended up an electronics tech. In civilian life, I was too slow to work in the same field. My school history was "could do better".

I did all kinds of jobs. I was hypersensitive and quit at the drop of a hat. I was fired more than once, including the first two jobs after I left the military. My attitude changed when I got married and had kids. I could not just quit when I was bored or felt insulted.

We need to trust God with every aspect of our lives. Most of my problems were because I tried to work everything out myself. For many years, I had in effect two lives. I had a "Christian" life that revolved around meetings, prayer and Bible study. Then I'd have my secular working life. The Lord showed me that He wanted to be involved in every aspect of life. He gave me the word

"Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is an unturned cake." Hosea 7:8

That's where we get the expression "half baked". We need God to be involved in every aspect of our lives. When we do that, things start to turn around. I ended up in a great job and retired when I wanted to.
 

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
Oct 23, 2018
12,541
10,160
113
#3
Imho I would sit in a quiet place and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the root of the problem. Whenever I feel puzzled by the reaction of someone toward me, that's what I do. I try to see where the other person is coming from esp if it's a reoccurring theme. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and will reveal to you where the disconnect is. Sometimes I fail to see something right under my nose.
Also, when I was looking for work, I ALWAYS went to the Lord, told Him what I would like in a job. It worked for me because God is a good Father and loves to bless us.
 
S

Seeking-Christ

Guest
#4
Imho I would sit in a quiet place and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the root of the problem. Whenever I feel puzzled by the reaction of someone toward me, that's what I do. I try to see where the other person is coming from esp if it's a reoccurring theme. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and will reveal to you where the disconnect is. Sometimes I fail to see something right under my nose.
Also, when I was looking for work, I ALWAYS went to the Lord, told Him what I would like in a job. It worked for me because God is a good Father and loves to bless us.
I've sorta tried this without good results. Dude I'm just not good enough for society. When I talk to the lord about it, that is the same feeling I get when I'm done. :(
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
57,027
26,752
113
#5
I’ve been at my job for 19 years.
That's a long time! Many people don't or can't or are unable for one reason or another to stick with a job that long. You are also to be commended for the work you do given its "social status" when you are obviously well suited for other work which you do quite conscientiously despite not being able to meet the employer's need for speed. Poking around youtube the other day I came across a video about the rate of workplace accidents and other things related to injuries plus, degradation of worker health and safety due to lack of care which, likely in many cases, is largely the employer's fault for sacrificing such things in the name of speed, efficiency, and profit margins. I would have liked to have watched it but didn't because I was in the middle of looking for something else; however, when I type "workplace accidents" into the search bar on youtube, a lot of videos come up! Just the other day I watched a movie based on the Teflon poisoning and coverup carried on by Dupont over decades while they knowing exposed thousands of people to toxic life destroying chemicals, all for the love of money. I'm sorry your feet cause you so much trouble, especially since you have to be on them most of the time to perform your work duties. I can't imagine having to pay five hundred dollars for a pair of shoes and/or insoles o_O
 

blueskies

Active member
Apr 2, 2022
150
122
43
Pacific Northwest
#6
I’ve been at my job for 19 years. Next August it will be 20 years.
I’ve tried to move from a 9 month position to a 12 month position, but my supervisor told me “He’s afraid that I wouldn’t work out”
I am sorry to hear the pain you are in and your frustration.
For you to hold this job for nearly 20 years is itself a testament to your ability and work ethic. Employee’s that are kept this long are valuable and difficult to replace, unfortunately some managers are reluctant to acknowledge this kind of achievement. As a manager l will tell you that you are the kind of employee I would want to hire and retain.
Perhaps you can ask to have a meeting with your supervisor, and the discuss what steps you need to take to be put on a 12 month schedule, what training is needed and if your supervisor can help you with this. It’s surprising how few people will pursue this option and management is often impressed when an employee shows initiative. You are a valuable resource to the school and if your supervisor is a good one they will want to retain you and help you grow.

I’m praying now for you.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,553
16,417
113
69
Tennessee
#7
Having been at the same job for 19 years I would say that you definitely know how to hold on to a job.
 

Flowergirl19

Active member
Jun 1, 2021
361
162
43
#8
Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 9:23-24