Creedelback's journey

I've been applying for jobs recently and I've noticed that at the end of the application, there are always questions about race, veteran status, and disabilities. I typically click "prefer not to answer" for all of them. I'm starting to wonder if this is hurting my chances of getting hired. I'm a white male without any disabilities, and I don't have veteran status either. Should I explicitly indicate that I don’t have disabilities? Does it make a difference in the hiring process if I were a veteran? I also avoid agreeing to receive texts or connect on LinkedIn, as I find those requests annoying. I'm really trying to figure out if my choices in answering these questions are leading to my rejections or if I’m just not a strong candidate overall. It’s frustrating because I feel like I keep getting ghosted after interviews or outright rejected. I’ve seen some comments suggesting that not answering those questions might actually help in getting interviews, which has me thinking about my approach.

I’m currently looking to switch gears and apply for some busser and dishwasher positions at local restaurants. My last experience in the food service industry was back in 1998 and 2000, when I bused tables and tended bar. I’m worried that there will be a lot of candidates with more recent experience, and I’m unsure how to present my resume. Should I just focus on my past roles in the restaurant industry and leave out my more recent work as a freelance writer and associate creative director? I doubt those titles will impress anyone in the restaurant field. Any advice on how to tailor my resume for this change would be appreciated!