AITA?
I (21F) am currently looking for a second job right now, because my hours have been cut. I make just enough money right now to pay rent to my Dad (42M) who I live with right now. And also other necessities, like my car insurance, gas, etc. But money is pretty tight for me right now, so I’ve been more creative when it comes to making myself food.
I’ve mostly been applying online, which my Dad isn’t a fan of at all. He told me I needed to leave the house at 8:30, and not come back home until 5pm. So the first day I was off I did, but literally every place I went to told me to apply online, and that they weren’t hiring at the moment. It also didn’t help that my phone doesn’t connect well outside of regular wifi, so I can’t apply online in my car.
For the past couple days, I’ve been applying at home, because I feel very discouraged. I’ve wasted so much gas just driving around town to look for a job, and I even went to a temp agency because I feel desperate now. And to add onto it, there’s something wrong with my car, but I don’t have the money to fix it right now..!
My Dad suggested I go into the more industrial part of town, but I’m worried I’ll be laughed out of there because I know nothing about that kind of stuff. He got upset with me, and sent me a heated text about how I broke his trust, since I’m not looking for a job the way he would like me to.
He said since I didn’t do as he asked, I have to now leave at 8am, and come home no earlier than 6pm. He also said I had to report to him where I went, and the telephone numbers of the businesses, so he could call them himself–to see if I actually went there. I think that will hurt my chances of actually landing a job, so I don’t want to tell him the telephone numbers.
I’m still paying him rent on time, so I don’t understand why he’s reacting so verbally. AITA..?
Why don’t you go to the local library? They usually have computers that you can use. They also sometimes have other support like resume writing and interview skills.
NTA
Thanks for the suggestion! I honestly completely forgot about the library. I moved recently, and I hadn’t had a chance to even go until now.
NTA. When someone calls us or comes in and asks if we are hiring, we tell them if we are, the job will be posted on Indeed. Tell your dad to join the 21’st century.
I’m older than your dad & am fully aware that showing up on a businesses doorstep unwelcome will not lead to gainful employment. I’m not sure if he’s ignorant of this point or is trying to control you/punish you?
Additionally calling to verify you’ve been by will get him hung up on, most places just don’t have the time to engage in that type of discourse.
NTA & good luck with the job hunt
Thank you so much! I thought I was being unreasonable for a minute there!
Your dad is being TA here, it seems like he just wants you out of the house.
NTA. I’m older than your father. When was the last time he looked for a job? Applications have been solely online for *years*. He’s wasting your time and money because he thinks this is still the 90s. Next time he tells you to do this, say you will after he’s tried it once. He’s so clueless it’s a little embarrassing really.
Walking door to door applying for jobs is such an outdated concept. This is not how people hire in 2026. It’s seen as nuisance behavior. Go online and apply to places that have stated they are hiring. Does your dad still demand you get a job with a pension too? It’s a unicorn hunt.
If you happen to see a sign in a window that says we’re hiring by all means go in. If you walk into a store or restaurant without a sign they’re going to say no. Were not hiring. Or go online as you’ve encountered.
I can’t tell you how many resumes we used to throw out at my restaurants and retail shops. Oh just put it on file. My dude or dudette there is no file. We’re just going to throw it out bc when we do actually need to hire we will have hundreds of applicants who want jobs at that moment. You probably won’t want or need one bc it will be years or months from now.
Just ignore your pops and apply using the technology available to you today, in reality. You’ll be much more likely to get hired and won’t waste your time, energy, and resources. You can also apply to like a fifty jobs in a day online.
Edit NTA
I am a female and much older than your father. He is out of touch (unbelievably)and certainly doesn’t understand the job market in this day and age. Good luck, I hope you can be successful finding employment to get away from your Drill Sargent father. You are not the AH, but he sure is.
NTA—for an elder millennial, your dad is acting awfully boomer about this (no offense to boomers who actually know how the world works in the 21st century)
There are almost no jobs that can be applied for in person, outside of a hiring fair type situation, and some places will apparently put your name on a “do not hire—cannot follow instructions” list if you try to apply in person when they clearly want you to apply online.
That’s good to know! I had no idea some places would put me on a do not hire list for that! :0 I’ll definitely go over to the library to apply online more then, thank you!
Go to your local library and apply online.
Is your dad living in 1980? The job market has changed a LOT since when he were a lad. If necessary, drive yourself to the library and use their computers to apply for jobs, if you don’t have a laptop or tablet. I don’t think you can reason someone with your dad’s mindset into the 2020s. When you do get a job, think about moving out so you can live in the 21st century with the rest of us. NTA
NTA. Also your dad is acting like he’s 92 not 42. That’s not how the world works anymore and he needs to see that. Best of luck on the job search!