Light manufacturing assembly job?

[Veronica73]

So a company in my area is ramping up production of ventilators. And according to a local reddit board, they are “desperate” for people. It’s considered a “light manufacturing assembly” job. It’s not something I would normally apply for, and it pays less than half than I normally get paid/hour. But I have a strong feeling my regular gig (I’m an independent contractor/freelancer) is going to have a lot fewer hours available for the next several months. It would be a second shift position, so I could still work a good chunk of hours for my primary gig if they need it. It’s not like I’m desperate for money. I mean, I have a nest egg. I’m not going to go homeless or starve, although I will have to start using my savings. A big chunk of why I would be doing it is because I am scared that we don’t have enough ventilators and I feel like I would be doing something to help this situation. The thought of doctors having to choose who can receive treatment and who can’t is....heartbreaking. But of course the money helps too. I wouldn’t be doing it on a volunteer basis. I mean, they aren’t giving the ventilators away for free.

But I’ve never done a job like that. I have no idea what it is like. Sounds pretty boring. Which is fine. But at the same time, I don’t want to get a repetitive strain injury. I worked at a lab for awhile and had to do a lot of pipetting, and that started to get pretty hard on my hand and wrist. I’m not used to physical labor. Although I worked on a dairy farm doing physical labor for a year (quite awhile ago) and I was really good at that and enjoyed it. And that was a physically tough job.

Anybody have any thoughts on this? On the one hand, I imagine most of these restaurants and bars are going to be laying off/firing a lot of people because of lack of customers. And I feel like I am in less need than probably a lot of people. So I wouldn’t want to take away a job from somebody who needed it more than me. But at the same time, somebody at the company says they are desperate for workers. But could I even hack it? My normal job is more of a creativity/computer-oriented job. But I also am very reliable, conscientious, and hard-working.

[preraph]

Why not interview for it and find out what the position is. And then decide.

[Veronica73]

I suppose. Guess I was just wondering if anybody else has done a similar job and has an idea about what a job like that entails. If a bunch of people were like “don’t even bother” I wouldn’t waste my time updating my resume and submitting an application and possibly going in for an interview. I mean, it’s certainly not my dream job by any means, and not an area I have worked in before. But if they really are desperate... And I guess I have some extra time right now anyway.

[Marc878]

From what you posted it’s assembly line work. You stand or sit in a work cell or line and do the same  function over and over. Repetitive.

Usually a low skill set required.

[Veronica73]

Yeah. How awful do you think that would be? I guess I should just apply and find out during the interview, if I get one.

[Veronica73]

Oh man      

Off topic, but one of our weekly newspapers is shutting down. Most of their advertisers were concert venues and restaurants. I guess they lost them all at once.

[Blind-Sided]

If you freelance, and need some $$$ during this... you don't really have any choice. Just go do it for a while, and leave in a few months when this is all over.  It will keep you busy, and put some money in your pocket.