How do you find opportunities to upskil yourself for minimum wage jobs?

Stellar

So in short, I'm looking to finally manage my workplace anxiety while upskilling myself so I can work a part-time customer service job (think along the lines of customer service in a cafe, shop, bar or similar). the long-term aim is so I have more options for what i can do while on a working holiday visa, so I can start planning a better life elsewhere.

I know if I go straight into a role in a cafe, pub or other noisy environment I will crash and burn. Trying to learn these skills while on the job in a loud environment will be too much due to my neurodivergence. I need to ease myself into it slowly, where I'm able to take my time, ask questions and make mistakes.

My only two stipulations. Such a role needs to be in a quiet environment, and I need to be paid.

There is a local charity that offers a part time upskilling course (including in places like a cafe/shop assistant). While such a scheme is ideal on paper, it is unpaid. Given i've effectively been long-term volunteering for multiple things since 2019, I want to avoid more volunteering. I need to be paid. Long-term volunteering isn't viable for me anymore.

I've tried looking on sites and Facebook groups. They all ask for multiple years of experience, no training opportunities as well as unsocial hours for poor pay (I will not work evenings or weekends unless they pay me extra, something that is legally required in other countries)

Does anyone have any recommendations on where I can get this experience? i do not feel comfortable disclosing any of my disabilities to employers.

thanks :)

Stellar

Oh for the initial workplace to help me settle in and learn skills, I'm happy to disclose disabilities. It's when i go into employment after this that I won't because that would put a target on my back.

The skills I've gained include writing, social media, audio and video editing, public speaking, cross-cultural collaboration, tools like microsoft office, slack, teams, wordpress/youtube etc.

I have a lot of skills that would benefit an employer. I've tried looking for jobs for these skills both in and outside my desired fields (social action & sustainability), but I'm not hearing back.

I've never done cash handling, managing a reception desk or preparing simple food like coffee. Those are the skills I want to learn, as it will be easier to get a job on a WHV. as you say, there are loads of hospitality jobs.

"If it’s a small quiet place they’ll be struggling just to survive, and probably couldn’t afford to pay overtime for ‘unsocial’ hours […] They have to take what they can get, they can’t tell an employer how it’s going to be. Wages are what they are, and saying that other countries pay more for working ‘unsocial’ hours won’t make a UK employer up what they’re paying. […] but in real life I don’t think any employer would take on somebody who was stipulating terms without giving a reason for it."

Just gonna gently call this out. It's these negative, thought terminiating cliches many British people say and believe that contribute to my workplace anxiety. A cr*p job is worse than no job at all, and that includes decent jobs with poor pay (a company that can't afford to pay more than minimum wage shouldn't be in business at all).

Even if it's real life, things can - and should be better - in the UK. However, the UK left is too cowardly, exclusionary and strategically inept to make it happen, hence why i want to leave the country.

Young people like myself are miserable here. I'm sick of being out of work and I need money coming in so I can start building a life with meaning and purpose. That's why I've had to start broadening my options, as much as I'd rather stick to what i already know and can do.