Had the same thing happen in 2019, agency sent me to a FedEx spot in Olive Branch for "machine operator" work and it was literally just me and a tape gun for 10 hours. First thing I do now is call the actual site before I show up, ask for the supervisor by name, and confirm what equipment they actually run. If they can't tell me, I don't go. And if I get there and it's wrong, I stick it out one shift so I get paid, then I call the agency that night and tell them to fix it or find me something else.

Got to call this one like I see it, I've been sanding end grain on oak for years and never once felt like I was losing sleep over it. Three light passes sounds great until you hit a piece with reversing grain or a knot and that plane wants to tear out worse than any sander ever would. A block plane is a nice trick for sure but people act like its some magic fix and its just not, you still gotta sharpen it right and set the blade shallow or you get chatter and a worse mess. Sanding is slower but its dumb proof and most of us are just building benches for our sisters, not furniture for a museum. Happy it worked out for you but I wouldnt run out and tell every beginner they need one.