I've worked retail my entire life from 2019 up till now. I recently was working overnight at walmart 40+ hours a week and after being hospitalized for a bit, I was let go. It was a sudden absence for a few weeks where I was unable to tell the store what happened, so of course I was gone. I did *get* a job but the place I am working at now does not give me anywhere near enough hours to do anything with (talking like 1 or 2 days a month. Why even hire me at that point?)
I've applied to basically every retail place near me. Dollar Tree, Target, Sams Club, Walmart, Petsmart, Petco, Walgreens, Home Depot, CVS, Family Dollar, gas stations, Mcdonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, you name it. I either get ghosted or rejected emails. I don't think it would be so hard, considering I have 6-7 years of retail under my belt since 2019, and some of those places I actually worked at before. Back before/around covid I could send in an application as a teen with little experience and get a job interview/offer that very week. Now? With 7 years under my belt I'm lucky to get a rejection email.
I just called one place (out of the others that just blatantly never have anyone pick up) and asked to speak with the store manager for an update on my application. He said, "I have to go through 60 applications for your position, I won't have a response until later this week". Like what??? 60 people are applying for a 12-15 an hour retail position? Bro... There's no way I'm gonna be selected. If this is how it is for any other job, no wonder I'm not getting anything back.