On Reading Ehrenreich
In 1996 Barbara Ehrenreich, a well-respected journalist, took on the task of revealing what it is like to live life in the working class by immersing herself directly. Specifically, she was bringing light to the effects of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 that left the working class in a lurch working low-wage jobs while trying to support their families with food, shelter, and peace.
In her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America she recounts her undercover experience surviving as a low-wage worker in Florida, Maine, and Minnesota in occupations such as waitressing, cleaning homes, and working in retail. While each of the three experiences are different, they all have in common the fact that Ehrenreich had to completely change who she was in order to obtain a job to cover her expenses.
In each scenario Ehrenreich had to change her haughty dialect, remind herself not to reference any aspect of privilege, and had to lie about her past experience (understandably). The crux of this connection I am making is that oftentimes it seems that minimum-wage jobs are filled with candidates who plan to hang around for awhile, and that is tough for a teenager who is just trying to work to save up for college.
After hitting many walls trying to land my first job without official working experience when I turned 16, I decided to search outside of Indeed ads and instead put in applications where it would be fun to work, even if they weren’t seeking help. I applied to work at Rocket Fizz, an old-fashioned soda pop & candy shop. I created a resume demonstrating how my leadership positions within extra-curricular activities could translate into strong skills in retail, and I mentioned that I’m a reliable Honors student. The owner loved it and called me the next day offering me 2-3 shifts per week. I only required training for one day, and my boss was so impressed with how quickly I picked up the role that she immediately made me a key-holder who was allowed to open and close the store on my own. It was literally an ideal job, and I was able to meet so many interesting people.
Not All Good Things Last
However, early in the fall of 2024, Rocket Fizz closed permanently. I decided to take a break, since I’m a great saver, until stores were looking for seasonal workers. I figured if I stand out as a strong worker, I’d likely be the one chosen to stay on the schedule after the winter holiday ended.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. First, I interviewed at a Panera, and the manager was so impressed with me that he bragged about what a great fit I would be with another manager on my way out. A couple of days later, I was notified that the position was filled with multiple other candidates.
The next week, I interviewed at a local movie theater. The interview was going really well until the manager asked me what kind of student I was. I explained how much I love my AP classes and extra-curricular activities–because I do–and I was sure that it would impress her like it did the owner of Rocket Fizz, and she’d think I’d be a very responsible, hard-working, quick-learning clerk. Instead, her face looked panicked, and she started rapid-fire asking me how I balance everything and how I would manage to fit a part-time job into my schedule.
I explained that I have a study hall and excellent time-management and organization skills, but she looked skeptical. I often feel like an adult trapped in a teen’s body, and this was one of those times because I was telling the truth and wasn’t believed. I never called out of a shift at Rocket Fizz, and when co-workers did, I always covered their shifts. I know how to hustle.
Battling Bias
I did not get the job. I also received various online rejections that were shocking. Chipotle told me that I didn’t have scooping skills. Wawa, which is across the street from me, rejected me 15 minutes after submitting the application three weeks ago and currently has 4 new young workers in training.
I asked a local retired successful business owner why he thought I was striking out so hard. He stated, “On paper and in person you can come across as intimidating for these types of jobs. You could manage these places. Perhaps they think you won’t take direction well or will overstep to make suggestions on how processes or other roles could be improved. Despite being 17, perhaps they think you’re overqualified, may get bored, or don’t need the job.”
I was infuriated. Flabbergasted.Those were all unfair, biased assumptions. “Every single doodad and [object] through which she expresses her unique, individual self is, from another vantage point, only an obstacle between some thirsty person and a glass of water,” wrote Ehrenreich.
I felt like that she. I was wearing my favorite Harvard sweatshirt at the theater interview, so maybe this added to her bias of me. Never would I imagine not getting a job because I’m an actively engaged honors student who juggles a lot and wears a pipe dream screen-printed on cotton/poly blend. In fact, I was told I’d hear from her in two days, and I was completely ghosted. Frustrated, I did not pull that same “teen behavior” and called and asked for feedback. I was wished good luck finding a position “with more growth opportunities.” Sigh.
C’est La Vie
4 young people had “in-training” badges on at Wawa today, and they were all in various states of overwhelm as lines backed up and people were walking into each other in the crowded store. I recently went to Panera, and the new young kid couldn’t answer any of my questions about allergens for my brother and panic-asked his boss. I was rejected from Smoothie King 3 times, and when I went to pick up my brother’s kids’ Angel-food smoothie, the new girl couldn’t figure out how to key in my order or its price because they were temporarily out of kid-sized cups. The manager came over to push the correct button and explained an obvious inference while rolling her eyes. These were just observations of recent experiences.
I’m cool under pressure and have strong critical thinking skills. None of these situations I described would have caused me to visibly panic or run for my manager, yet self-sufficient me cannot land another part-time job, and I’ve been trying for over 6 weeks. It’s not that I can’t handle the rejection. I don’t take it as a slight to my ego. The right one will come. It’s instead the lack of logic I’m meeting coupled with the frustration that I have experience, leadership, responsibility, and strong communication and critical thinking skills, yet I’m the one striking out, and it feels like it may be because of those qualifications. I meet people my age all the time at businesses I frequent and have many friends who work, and on the whole, most don’t communicate well, don’t make eye contact, I hear they call out frequently, and many complain excessively. I wouldn’t act unprofessional in those ways.
So, frankly after finishing Barbara Ehrenreich’s book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, I’m feeling the irony in not getting by in this expensive senior year as I cannot land a part-time job while racking up 6 college acceptances–for which I want to save. My experiences and the feedback I’ve been given are making me think that others are perceiving me as “too much” as my generation is struggling with motivation. I should be able to get another part-time job without downplaying my existence.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
People often tease me for not dressing like a kid (“Hey, grandma!”) or for coming across as too mature in how I speak or demonstrate manners, so I’m nearing desperation mode where I almost want to conduct a similar experiment as Ehrenreich by dressing like teens my age, communicating like them, and not sharing most of my life or qualifications with those interviewing me. Maybe I’ll chew gum, stare at my feet, and speak inaudibly and get hired. I don’t know, but I do know that my college textbooks won’t pay for themselves.
I’m currently looking for a part-time job in Marlton since that’s the home where I spend most of my time. I am not wealthy by any means. I just love college sweatshirts, and I can’t sit still. I constantly have 10 tabs open in my mind, and I will hustle and remain focused as my mind cycles through each one in the periphery. I’ve handled all of my life’s obligations well for going on 4 years. It’s just who I am.
So, I should not have to lie about the academic rigor I love or exaggerate my flexibility because managers don’t believe I can have both high academic standards for myself while being focused on the job (despite proving this at Rocket Fizz). I have a variety of experiences to make me a great candidate for any position and deserve a fair chance to prove my mettle.
Lots of young kids hold jobs. Anyone can scoop rice, Chipotle, or popcorn, AMC. As someone who can memorize 90% of what I read, see, or hear without repetition, I would be an asset to any business. I had regular customers who would come in on my shifts to talk to me because I’m not afraid to talk to adults, I can make a mean smoothie after seeing the directions once, or even work the late shift at Wawa because I require little sleep and it’s a skip across the street, but not if I’m not given a fair chance.
Ready for Rejection When it Makes Sense
I suppose this frustration will prepare me for the pain of rejection when it happens as I’m still awaiting 14 college admission decisions, mostly from my reach schools, but even with those, I think I will feel less frustrated than this because it’s like lottery odds to get into several of the schools that I applied to, so I’m being realistic and not expecting to get in, just like people play Mega and don’t truly expect to win–but a part-time job ringing up orders should not hold the same odds for a high school teen with working experience and common sense.
I want to earn money for expenses in my senior year and for college. It’s honorable to work, and I want to work; I hustle in all that I do, so it shouldn’t feel impossible or way out of reach at 17, especially when numerous businesses are closing early or complaining because they can’t staff them with reliable employees. Indeed is filled with part-time job listings, I’ve applied to more than I can count, and my voicemail box and job search email inbox is still empty.
I have a strong work ethic. Like Ehrenreich, I shouldn’t have to completely change who I am in order to land a job to cover my expenses.
Josh Friedman • Jan 6, 2025 at 1:44 pm
Laurel, thank you for sharing your experience. I know its frustrating. I know because the same thing happened to me when I was your age. I’ll share two experiences with you;
When I was your age, I got a job working at Friendly’s Ice Cream. There was a grill cook there that yelled at me relentlessly that I wasn’t working fast enough. It made me angry (because I didn’t think it was true). Needless to say, 17 year old me really didn’t like her. One day, I was on the campus of the local community college. I was wearing a coat and tie for a quiz bowl competition (me being a nerd and all). I saw that same grill cook in the student union, studying feverishly. We each saw a different side of each other. It was humbling for me. I realized all her hustle and impatience at Friendly’s was how she was getting through school.
A year later, I was in college. I came home on a break. Late one night, I went into a 7-11 (we didn’t have Wawa). The clerk was a former high school classmate of mine working the late shift. Again, awkwardness. I was buying phone cards (how college kids made long distance calls back in the day). I was embarrassed because I knew my life was, in the moment, a bit more carefree than my former classmate.
Along the way, I eventually was able to find jobs that met my needs as a student and paid reasonably well. But the “grown-ups” who worked there with me were always all-too-eager to throw jabs at me or my education. I had to learn to take it in stride.
You are going to do amazing things. People are going to poke at you for it on the way up. But one day, you might be their boss. Or some of these workers who are taking the jobs you want will come to you needing your help, hoping you will extend to them the knowledge you’ve acquired. That will be your validation and your opportunity to show your true kindness.