Im too stupid to ever earn more than the minimum wage

[Uncertainsausages]

Panicking just a little. Job searching and I can't even understand half the job titles out there. Everything needs skills I don't have!

I don't even have a driving license, let alone experience in different computer programmes.

On good days I don't feel particularly stupid, but let me tell you job searching makes me feel spectacularly worthless. I will never be able to earn enough to support myself without government assistance in the form of benefit top ups. Top ups which I don't feel confident will be around many more years.

I have tried to do night classes to upskill and am rubbish - I just think I can't learn. My brain sort of freezes in panic, then I make stupid mistake after stupid mistake, until I'm nearly crying and just want to run away.

That has to be the definition of stupid, right?

Feel really down today.

@Uncertainsausages

We appear to be the same age and I found myself nodding in agreement at your OP and replies to others. We could have easily written the same thread only I'm choosing to keep my head down (actually had thoughts I was having a midlife crisis, to be honest), at least you're addressing the issue.

I too see job roles advertised and just think "What's the point"? when it starts reeling off everything they require and past experiences and I don't even understand half of what they're going on about.

I think my problem is that I've been in this job for so long now and although we're stretched thin and massively overworked yet underpaid for what we do, I'm too afraid to put myself out there.

People ask me all the time, 'What is it you want to do' and I always reply that I don't know. Because I don't. If I did I would work towards a degree for it or work up the ladder. But I simply have no idea.

I think sometimes I'm just destined to be in crap jobs rather than a career and a more comfortable life.

Wow, that's the most honest I've ever been on here and the first time I've ever said that typed that out loud.

OP - a lot of people can't write a post with correct spelling and grammar like you do, so you've got one up on a lot of people already. I doubt you are less intelligent than most people! I'm sorry you feel so full of doubt, I think this is much more about lack of confidence than lack of ability.

Is it worth looking into where there are skills shortages where you live so you could focus in on picking up a skill that is much needed? Or whether there are jobs where you could start less skilled and move into management, such as facilities management. Yes, that may sound like another 'what does that mean', but it's basically what we used to called janitorial services and it is desperately short of people. You can start with cleaning or catering and move up into managing how whole buildings are run, for example.

I think you learn in a different way from others and that is not a bad thing. I do too.

I take notes when learning something new and collate them all into a ‘desktop manual’. So if I want to enter abc document into the system, these are the steps to do it...

I also will note down a method of doing something I don’t do very frequently. Then when I’m asked to do it, I don’t need to panic as I can review my manual. Any new task gets added into my manual.

I’ve considered myself a person with practical smarts that have served me well in jobs, but not intellectual smarts. To my great surprise I’m doing a degree in my mid 40s and smashing it! Sure it’s not a technical one, but its amazing to think I can do it successfully and have stuck with it.

I also think they way some of our brains work regarding learning, changes and develops as we age and it make more sense after we have had life/work experience Making it easier to learn.

You mention you enjoy exercise. Could you do some training and become a personal trainer or get a job in a gym? Or any other sports organisation? Do some voluntary work with a (eg) netball club or something like that?

I write a lot of lists- when I’m at work I’m constantly crossing jobs off and adding new ones- right down to the times they need doing. And at the top I write the date, and in big letters ‘Binky’s- please don’t throw me away!!!’

Post it’s are my friend

It's such a shame we're programmed to equate what we earn with what we're worth.

OP. You sound far from stupid to me.

Have you tried writing step by step "How to" instructions?

Job posts are a big fib anyway. I nearly didn't apply for my job because I didn't think I could fulfil some of the criteria, and I have a PhD in my field! It was the way the job ad was written; load of HR gobbledegook! Also my male colleagues don't even give that a second thought. If they reckon they can hit 2/3 of the points they'll go for it.

You sound a lot like me. My grandma always used to say I was intelligent with absolutely no common sense - and bugger me she was right. I can write and talk well, understand things that others might find complicated, I read far faster than most people I know and have a (I think compared to my peers) wide vocabulary. But sometimes I over think a task, do it the most complicated way imaginable, get it totally arse first and end up a nervous wreck.
I've done a succession of minimum wage jobs in care, retail and hospitality. I currently earn about 70p above min wage. I've been promoted in past jobs and earned decent money only for the above to happen and I get so stressed I step down or leave before I'm pushed.
I've worked for my current boss before and she says I'm a 'middler' in that I'm happy at a middle supervisory level but higher than that and I crumble and am not capable. That means I'll never earn enough money to not be on top up benefits at least with a child at school, because I'd have to work 7 days a week and even then, I'm not sure I'd manage on what I'd earn. It's taken a while but I've found my 'niche'. I work at night, I have some autonomy but I've got certain things to do, and it's time sensitive to some extent. I work alone, so it didn't matter how many times I screwed up, there was no one around to see me!
Go for the minimum wage jobs, there can be prospects to advance, but to a level you can cope with. Even if it's a couple of years to get experience, and then move on to where you can get promoted.

And don't be thrown by job descriptions, as pp's have already said, many times it bears little resemblance to the actual job! My job description has manager in the title and a list of things I was sure I could never do. Ultimately, I'm a glorified cleaner and general assistant, who's 'management' is of the hoover mainly!
Good luck, find your niche and work at it.

Not saying you’re stupid OP, you’re probably being hard on yourself but there are plenty of people out there who aren’t intelligent who make a lot more than minimum wage. I know several VERY successful people who struggle with spelling and grammar. I have a junior colleague on £30k who can’t type anything without a myriad of errors, he’s great in other aspects though. I think drive is more important to success than outright intelligence.