After 200+ applications and 15+ interviews, former corporate employee takes $11/hour dishwashing job

A 29-year-old former corporate employee has taken a part-time dishwashing job paying $11 an hour after months of unemployment and more than 200 unsuccessful job applications. The man said he was laid off from his corporate job in April with a nine-month severance package and is receiving unemployment benefits until November.

Despite attending more than 15 interviews, he said he has still been unable to secure another position. After four months without work, he said the prolonged job search had begun affecting his mental health, leaving him without the routine and sense of purpose that had previously structured his days.

The decision to take the dishwashing job, he explained, is not primarily about earning money. Having lived frugally throughout his working life, he said he has enough savings to cover roughly five years of expenses.


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‘I never thought I’d come to this’

The man said he had become increasingly frustrated by his inability to separate his identity from employment and the constant pressure to find another corporate role.

“After 200+ applications and 15+ interviews, still nothing. Dismayed and my mental health taking a nose dive, I lost all structure to my days and feeling useless,” he wrote.

He said he continues to feel compelled to find another corporate job, even though he did not particularly enjoy the work he had been doing previously.

“Having been extremely frugal for all my working life, thankfully I have an emergency fund to last a good 5 years,” he wrote.

He has now accepted the $11-an-hour part-time dishwashing position, which is due to begin the following week.

“I never thought I'd come to this and I'm not doing this for the money, but to feel useful, in any way. To give structure to my days... or maybe I'm rationalizing this to myself,” he wrote.

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Job loss leaves him questioning his relationship with work

The man said he hopes the new role will help him step away from the anxiety surrounding his career and give him a few hours each day in which he can focus on something concrete.

“I'm hoping this experience can be grounding and I can turn off this anxious mind for a few hours a day,” he wrote.

His experience also prompted him to think about what retirement might look like. Even though he has hobbies, he said he remains uncomfortable with the amount of unstructured time that comes without work.

“If I were financially independent and retired, I wonder if I'd feel anxious about not knowing what to do with my time. Even after all my hobbies, there is still so much time left,” he wrote.

He also wondered whether his father, who has spent 30 years working in the corporate world and is due to retire in three years, might face a similar sense of uncertainty.

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Other workers share their unemployment experiences

The post prompted other users to discuss their own experiences after losing jobs, with several describing financial pressure, career changes and the need to find purpose outside conventional employment.

One person said they had been earning a six-figure salary in their previous technology job before being laid off. They described taking on a series of low-paying activities during two years of unemployment, including selling plasma, counting advertisements and 3D glasses and evaluating displays at movie theatres. They also said they worked as a secret shopper at Jersey Mike's and Denny's in exchange for free meals and spent roughly four hours each week waiting at food pantries.

“I completely relate,” the user wrote.

Another commenter suggested that dishwashing could turn out to be beneficial beyond the income. They said they had volunteered at a soup kitchen and worked in its dishwashing area.

“You never know - this may be therapeutic. I volunteered at a soup kitchen and did dishwashing duty. It actually felt productive and useful,” the person said.

A third user described taking a different approach after struggling to find work for eight months. They said that after five months, they shifted their focus towards earning five certifications relevant to their field, including PMP, CPHQ and LSSGB. According to the commenter, each certification required more than 100 hours of study.

They said they spent up to 10 hours a day studying and applying for jobs, seven days a week, while taking a day off before major interviews. The user added that the strategy eventually helped them secure a new role with a 50% pay increase.

Others raise questions about unemployment benefits

Some responses focused on the possible impact of taking paid employment while receiving unemployment benefits.

One commenter cautioned that if the dishwashing job was formally reported rather than being paid “under the table”, it could potentially affect the man’s eligibility for unemployment benefits because he would no longer meet the definition of being unemployed.

Another user questioned whether investment savings could affect eligibility for unemployment support, writing, “Are you able to receive unemployment despite whatever investment funds you have? I'm not sure how this all works.”

The discussion reflected the different challenges that can accompany prolonged unemployment, from financial uncertainty and career setbacks to the difficulty of maintaining a sense of purpose without the routine of a full-time job.