And if things weren't bad enough...

[logomancer]

So I called the temp agency that I sent an application to a bit ago, and they say "Well, we have a position for an evening shift position in C-Burg." I tell them that might be difficult for me to get to, since I have no car/license. And he says, without skipping a beat, "Well, if you don't have a driver's license, this office can't help you." Nobody at that place ever told me that. I wasted a good deal of my time -- an hour spent doing their online application, then another hour or so for their stupid paper application and tests -- for nothing.

It's not like I was expecting this. It's a temp agency, for fuck's sake. These people are supposed to cater to those who have trouble getting a steady job. A driver's license and car requirement seems excessive, given the kind of people who end up in that situation. So now, it's a Catch-22. If I want a temp job, I need a license. In order to get a license (which requires car insurance, gas money, etc.), I need a job.

Things can't get much worse.

Comments

[vond.livejournal.com]

Actually getting a driver's license only requires minimal driving skills and the ability to pass a written test. Lots of people have expressed willingness to help you get your license over the years, but you never seemed interested. I honestly assumed you were planning to look for a job in a city with a real public transit system (the BT doesn't count) after you graduated.

[rattrap.livejournal.com]

I hate to continue whacking a sore nerve here, but pretty much every temp agency is set up that way. By their very nature they may have work for you in Blacksburg this week, Salem next week, and Narrows the week after that. It's very rare that any temp agency job lasts more than a week or two.

[vt-andros.livejournal.com]

I honestly assumed you were planning to look for a job in a city with a real public transit system (the BT doesn't count) after you graduated.

Sorry if I gave that impression. That wasn't the case.

The reason I didn't get a driver's license when I was a student was that it didn't make sense, from an economic standpoint. I would have had to pay insurance (and yes, you do need car insurance in Virginia to drive), which for me would have been sky-high.

Plus, I would have needed to learn how to drive in the first place, and nobody (besides you, to my recollection) was interested in helping me. I didn't want to bother them when they had too much going on in their lives as it was without me asking for help. As for you -- well, accidents happen, and I didn't want to risk angering you by dinging your car while learning how to drive.

So, with my friends out of the question (as far as I knew), that left driving school, which would've cost even more money. Plus, I heard that it was always swamped. So yeah, at that point, the BT was the path of least resistance. Plus, I was paying for it anyway.

But yes, I do want to learn to drive someday. I figured that after I got employment straightened out, I'd work on it.

[aburatsubodream.livejournal.com]

It's actually best to start out learning to drive in a rural setting -- you don't have to worry about other cars as much -- and so you can concentrate more on controlling the vehicle, keeping the car on the road (the feel of side grass vs. gravel is a BIG hint) and learning the feel of the gas pedal and brake pressures.

After that, it's a rather simple step-up to parking lots and other area's where you have more hazards and distractions about. My parents actually set up a loop around my driveway and my Uncle's house for me to practice on...

I'd be willing to let you practice a little bit with Cyrano in a rural setting next time I get to visit... Do they do learner's permits when your over 18?...

[mephistakitten.livejournal.com]

Recommend getting license ASAP even though you don't plan on using it, due to the fact that car insurance rates go down a lot with time you've had your license, even if you don't own a car or haven't been driving.

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that's awful! Good luck with all of that...

Do you really need a car to get a driver's license? Or did you just never learn to drive at home? Do you have any friends who could help you out there? Also, I don't know if you need insurance to hold a license, if you don't have an actual car. Maybe you could get really basic liability stuff that is cheap?

And here's a completely unrelated question: How in the fuck do you do anything without a driver's license? I don't mean for driving (its intended purpose, after all); I mean for things like identification, renting an apartment, etc.

Anyway. Sorry for all this suckage, and good luck!

[flamingophoenix.livejournal.com]

I'm still not convinced that you need car insurance in order to hold a driver's license, so long as you don't actually own a car. {{citation needed}} of course.

quit being lazy

[(Anonymous)]

I mean seriously

[rbandrews]

Well, there was definitely some time-wastage going on, but...

Look, the essence of a temp agency is that you work in different places. If you can't GET to those different places, then you are not qualified to work in a temp agency. I really can't believe that you even wasted their time by applying.

Actually, no, I can.

And having a car is very not hard to do. You live in Blacksburg for god's sake. You can get an old junker car, and then the insurance on it would be next to nothing. Go borrow some money and do it like everyone else does. Quit feeling sorry for yourself and grow the hell up, already.