Is your job getting you down?

[thestrangequark]

TSQ: You are remarkably brave and I am so jealous of you. As a fellow depression sufferer of a different kind I am really pulling for you that you can find fulfillment in your new path.

Thank you!

I want to play with brains!

You don't play with your food.

Maybe you don't, but I cannot see how one could resist slicing grey matter into microscopic pieces and mapping the neurons with sophisticated software in an attempt to elucidate the physical processes that define the mind before ravenously zombie-feasting on a tender hunk of parietal lobe!

 

[RoJoHen]

Oh man, my job just keeps continuing to piss me off.

My restaurant had two locations in the area. Mine is 14-years old, the other just opened 2 years ago. The newer location, due to poor management and poor sales, was closed a few weeks ago.

Several of the managers and other employees from the that store have transferred to my store and are slowly taking over. Several of my co-workers, people who have worked at my store longer than the other one had even existed, were just fired today. For those who know me, these two people are the parents of my god children.

They were fired without warning, and I am blown away. They are two of the best workers the place has ever had. I have no idea why they would have been fired except to make room for some of the new employees from the other store. I am unbelievably pissed right now.

The good news, at least, is that my motivation to find a new job is at an all-time high.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Whoa

There are more neural connections than there are atoms in the universe (!)

Good luck with that

 

[PKTrekGirl]

That sucks PKTrekGirl, it must have been horribly difficult situation to be in. In fact i can't imagine how shitful a place that would be. Yet another reason why i hate the corporate world.

I do appreciate my job, it's comfortable and like i said the pay is good. I think the reason i have been there for so long is because i know it's a good job. I'm just not very good at it and i think thats the problem not the job itself.

Well, if it will make you feel any better, I am a CPA who has spent most of my career, first as an external auditor and then as an internal auditor, rooting around in other people's work. And trust me - over the course of a 20 year career, this amounts to a LOT of people, and a LOT of work product. And that isn't even counting my review of other auditors' work (audit staff & seniors I supervised). And I have two comments for you:

1. I think you might be the first person in the history of the universe that I have met who actually admits they are not good at their job. I have seen a LOT of piss-poor work product over the years, but everyone has always got an excuse - usually one involving how their shitty work is someone else's fault. You are a VERY rare person, to admit your limitations. And speaking purely as an auditor, you would be the first person I'd help to IMPROVE your work product, were I around. Because you strike me as an honest and decent individual who would welcome the help - the kind of people auditors LOVE, for reasons which are of course obvious.

In fact, it would not surprise me at all if your supervisors really liked you and kept you around precisely because of your attitude - you try really hard, take responsibility for your mistakes, and know you need to improve. That counts for a LOT - at least in the eyes of *this* (former) supervisor.

2. If you can, I would really stick with the job until you get yourself a bit more sorted. Go to the doctor and investigate a possible learning disability, and if you have one, gather info about what you might be suited for that you can do for a CAREER - not just a job. Then get the training lined up.

And while you are doing that, put yourself on 'austerity mode'. This is what I did when I found out IBM was doing away with our division - I actually stopped spending money about this time last year, because I knew it was coming within a few months. I figured I had until about June...but sadly, I only ended up surviving until the end of March. So I was not in the BEST shape, financially...but the three months did give me a chance to build up a little 'padding', which is the chief reason why, so far, I have not had to break into my 401(k) money or cash in any stock. I might have to soon, if I don't find something (I am actually considering moving to another state if things continue to be grim here)...but so far, I am surviving, thanks to my move last January (continuing to this day) into 'austerity mode'.

In fact, tonight I am going to Target to buy the new Pearl Jam CD that came out yesterday - should be about $16 - $17. And trust me when I say that this is one of the largest purchases I have made for myself for anything but bills and essentials since last December (2009). I have turned into one CHEAP mo-fo as a result of this unfortunate unemployment. I had NO Christmas, for example - it didn't even happen in my little 'world'. I have had no fun at all in a year...but at least I still have my house. So far.

And this, coming from a person who used to have the money to buy pretty much whatever I wanted without even thinking about it.

Austerity! Start saving money if you are thinking about leaving a good job. You will be glad you did later.

PKTrekGirl: Thanks for reminding us we need to be grateful for what we have and not take things for granted. I know this is a tough road to go through right now, but I have faith a smart and capable person like yourself will come out the other end in a good position.

Well, we'll see. 'Smart' and 'capable' (and even 'qualified') are apparently less in demand than is 'cheap'....because when I left IBM, they were still laying off Americans left and right and replacing them with people in India and Brazil. Who cares if they were 'accountants' who didn't know a debit from a credit (seriously - I am not making that up)? They would 'work' (if you could call it 'work') for pennies on the dollar, and that was all the big guys with the multi-gazillion dollar bonus potential cared about. IBM just gave these so-called 'accountants' an American supervisor, made that American responsible for getting the job done...and the flunkies in India and Brazil would do NOTHING, while the American, who was terrified of being laid off, was working hundred hour+ weeks doing everyone else's work. And STILL living in fear of being laid off!

That was the IBM I left 9 months ago.

Believe me - 'smart' and 'capable' have very little to do with getting employment in today's corporate culture.

At this point, I'm relying on luck, to be honest - either being in the right place at the right time...or coming across a job at a company where someone owes me a huge favor. Because when you spend 9 months applying for jobs where you KNOW that maybe 10 people in all of Atlanta have the necessary skills (one of them being you)...and you are not even getting a call for an INTERVIEW...well, you know that the way you get a job now must be WAY different than the way one used to be able to get one.

 

[PsychoPere]

Hey Rage, a pharmacy technician sounds like an interesting job [...]

Not if it's in a community pharmacy, in which case it's pure fucking hell dealing with dumbass patients all day long who blame you for every little thing their doctor or insurance is responsible for.

...Okay, I'll admit I overstated a bit. I quite enjoyed my first three years working in retail and I only stopped being able to tolerate the morons when I transferred to the absolute worst store in the district.

Rage, I hope you're able to find a job as a pharmacy tech and regain your confidence. If you're in the U.S., the big chains tend to pay the best (Walgreens, CVS). I've heard that Target, of all places, pays similarly to the big two, but department store/grocery store pharmacies generally do not pay as well. Anything non-retail (hospital, home infusion, mail order, etc.) will pay much better.

 

[Velocity]

I was a pharmacy technician in a hospital system of 3 hospitals about 20 yrs ago and I made $5.25/hr. The stress was brutal.
I am now a federal employee. It seems like everyone hates federal employees and we're under attack. They have already frozen our pay for 2 yrs and are talking about freezing it for another year and making us take 2 weeks of unpaid leave a year, among other things. We're the scapegoats for the discontent people have with the government. In my job I have to have a degree, and continue to take 40 hrs of classes a year. I have to keep up with constantly changing government regulations and policies. It's just getting to be too much, especially with the micromanaging managers.

 

[donners22]

Ah i'm really sorry to hear that Donners. I hope i'm not prying, but how do you cope with having to face your ex on a daily basis?

With great difficulty...

I just don't speak to her or even look at her unless it's absolutely necessary for work reasons, in which case it's as professional as I can be.

It's harder dealing with her mother, actually, as I tend to encounter her suddenly in a corridor or some such, which means I'm not really prepared for it. At least my manager has a bit of awareness of what happened (unfortunately, the whole thing became quite public knowledge), and we won't have to directly work together.

 

[backstept]

Whoa

There are more neural connections than there are atoms in the universe (!)

Good luck with that

That is frankly impossible.


on topic: like MetalPants I also work at Walmart
it's frustrating and crazy at times, but instead of getting bent out of shape by every stupid customer I just laugh inside my head every time I have to explain what a megabyte is, or when somebody calls us instead of the manufacturer when they have a problem, or when they freak out because we don't have a certain item
I remember all the times when I've had excellent customers who realize that I really do know what I'm talking about, and leave satisfied, and sometimes even shake my hand, or try to give me a tip (stupid no tips policy )

I also recently started working at the company that laid me off last year. It's been nice to be back there, and thankfully work is picking back up, and I'm going full time in a couple weeks!

So between the crazy people of walmart and drafting I'm pretty satisfied . . . even if I never have days off anymore . . .

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Not so much the job, but the fact the competitions for a higher position a favored to or given priority to Retiring military who'll all ready be drawing a pension from a $60K plus salary, then make another $50k+ in the job. ( I have nothing again service personal ) but why even try for the job when you know you won't be considered. They only post the job to go through the motions.
I had a notice out for career watch, and when I got a notice saying this job is coming up, on it was a note saying this person is given priority consideration.( they 99.9% of the time get it.)

 

[Agony_Boothb]

That sucks PKTrekGirl, it must have been horribly difficult situation to be in. In fact i can't imagine how shitful a place that would be. Yet another reason why i hate the corporate world.

I do appreciate my job, it's comfortable and like i said the pay is good. I think the reason i have been there for so long is because i know it's a good job. I'm just not very good at it and i think thats the problem not the job itself.

Well, if it will make you feel any better, I am a CPA who has spent most of my career, first as an external auditor and then as an internal auditor, rooting around in other people's work. And trust me - over the course of a 20 year career, this amounts to a LOT of people, and a LOT of work product. And that isn't even counting my review of other auditors' work (audit staff & seniors I supervised). And I have two comments for you:

1. I think you might be the first person in the history of the universe that I have met who actually admits they are not good at their job. I have seen a LOT of piss-poor work product over the years, but everyone has always got an excuse - usually one involving how their shitty work is someone else's fault. You are a VERY rare person, to admit your limitations. And speaking purely as an auditor, you would be the first person I'd help to IMPROVE your work product, were I around. Because you strike me as an honest and decent individual who would welcome the help - the kind of people auditors LOVE, for reasons which are of course obvious.

In fact, it would not surprise me at all if your supervisors really liked you and kept you around precisely because of your attitude - you try really hard, take responsibility for your mistakes, and know you need to improve. That counts for a LOT - at least in the eyes of *this* (former) supervisor.

2. If you can, I would really stick with the job until you get yourself a bit more sorted. Go to the doctor and investigate a possible learning disability, and if you have one, gather info about what you might be suited for that you can do for a CAREER - not just a job. Then get the training lined up.

And while you are doing that, put yourself on 'austerity mode'. This is what I did when I found out IBM was doing away with our division - I actually stopped spending money about this time last year, because I knew it was coming within a few months. I figured I had until about June...but sadly, I only ended up surviving until the end of March. So I was not in the BEST shape, financially...but the three months did give me a chance to build up a little 'padding', which is the chief reason why, so far, I have not had to break into my 401(k) money or cash in any stock. I might have to soon, if I don't find something (I am actually considering moving to another state if things continue to be grim here)...but so far, I am surviving, thanks to my move last January (continuing to this day) into 'austerity mode'.

In fact, tonight I am going to Target to buy the new Pearl Jam CD that came out yesterday - should be about $16 - $17. And trust me when I say that this is one of the largest purchases I have made for myself for anything but bills and essentials since last December (2009). I have turned into one CHEAP mo-fo as a result of this unfortunate unemployment. I had NO Christmas, for example - it didn't even happen in my little 'world'. I have had no fun at all in a year...but at least I still have my house. So far.

And this, coming from a person who used to have the money to buy pretty much whatever I wanted without even thinking about it.

Austerity! Start saving money if you are thinking about leaving a good job. You will be glad you did later.
______________________________________________________________________________

ARGH! why didn't the quote thing work properly!


Thank you for the kind words and awesome advise, PK. I hope my supervisors feel that way lol. I have never understood the need for people to blame others it's one of my pet peeves and unfortunatly too common in the workplace.


I did go to the doctor today and he seems to think everything thats going on workwise is related to depression. So i have to go back on some tablets that i was taking and go for a check up in 3 weeks. My doctor seems to think that my focus and ability to do my job may increase once i'm on medication and feeling better. I did approach him about any possible learning disorders and it's bascially a case of wait and see how i go with back on the meds. If in 3 weeks there is no improvement my doctor will refer me to psychologist to do some tests.

I'd like to have something to go to if I do decided to leave, but i'm going to approach my supervisors about changing my duties, maybe taking on something that isn't as intricate and where i have less chance of making mistakes. If that isn't a possibility i am going to see if i can be given a secondment to another area where i might be a better fit and i'm going to do a bartending course that i'm interested in to give me another option. However at the same time having some 'austerity padding' sounds like a good idea. I hope the Pearl Jam CD was a good buy!

 

[Cheapjack]

I had a job where I was under weekly contract, and my contract was reviewed every week, for a year. The supervisor took a dislike to me, and they brought in work logs, to check how much work people were doing. I was working with dangerous equipment and a few people used to switch things around when you weren't looking, to make it look like they were more competent than you. The Supervisor kept rewriting my worksheets, to make it look like I wasn't pulling my weight. this wasn't true, as even the main boss knew that was exactly the reason people didn't like me. I ended up getting the sack, but was only laid off, cos the boss didn't want to sink anybody, as he was breaking the health and safety laws. The supervisor who got rid of me ended up getting the sack, six months later, for incompetence.

Even in that place, if you were working and people could see it, it was difficult to get rid of you.

I sometimes even paint myself in a bad light, just to make people feel better and play the devils advocate on myself. That isn't very sensible at all, with people you have offended badly.

 

[TerokNor]

I did feel that way sometimes in my first career. There were many things I liked, but also many things I disliked and took home with me after work.
I think what I hated the most was the tact of time. Every 30 or 45 minutes a different fate in front of you and you had only so much time and then say Bye. Sickness, sadness, death too often and you are like a worker in a factory. Human 1- 45 min, human 2-30 min, human 3- 45 min etc. ...
However I did actually love the work with people, well most of them, especially with the children and people with mental disabilities.
So I decidet to do something else, related, but with another tact of time. Still study for it, but love it (well maybe not right now, because of examinations), but in general. Though before I decidet to leave my old job and start something new I did a lot of research/ reality check up/ clearing the financial aspects etc.
I find it great, if someone has a dream and goes for it, but I think its also important to not just start into the blue.
Well with some dreams thats ok, but when it involves career change and leaving ones old job it should be well.. a realistic, reachable goal without the danger of falling into a black hole being higher than the chance of succeeding.
I wish you, who want to change something within their careers all the best and success with what you plan.

TerokNor

 

[iguana_tonante]

I want to play with brains!

You don't play with your food.

Maybe you don't, but I cannot see how one could resist slicing grey matter into microscopic pieces and mapping the neurons with sophisticated software in an attempt to elucidate the physical processes that define the mind before ravenously zombie-feasting on a tender hunk of parietal lobe!

And when I thought I couldn't be more scared of you... suddenly I am.

 

[JarodRussell]

So screw it i have decided that i am going to pursue a forgotten dream of working in a bar and hopefully some day getting into flair bartending. I'm going to get my RSA (responsible serving of alcohol) and get some training at a local bar school that is pretty highly renowned. I dont know if it will work out but i think i should give it a try.

Is anyone else in the same boat? if you are please post here, hopefully we can all encourage each other and support each other to make the changes that need to be made.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Jackpot! You're absolutely right. Do what you want to do.

I had a job where I was under weekly contract, and my contract was reviewed every week, for a year. The supervisor took a dislike to me, and they brought in work logs, to check how much work people were doing. I was working with dangerous equipment and a few people used to switch things around when you weren't looking, to make it look like they were more competent than you. The Supervisor kept rewriting my worksheets, to make it look like I wasn't pulling my weight. this wasn't true, as even the main boss knew that was exactly the reason people didn't like me. I ended up getting the sack, but was only laid off, cos the boss didn't want to sink anybody, as he was breaking the health and safety laws. The supervisor who got rid of me ended up getting the sack, six months later, for incompetence.

Even in that place, if you were working and people could see it, it was difficult to get rid of you.

I sometimes even paint myself in a bad light, just to make people feel better and play the devils advocate on myself. That isn't very sensible at all, with people you have offended badly.

Are you by any chance paranoid?

 

[TheBrew]

*SNIP*

Sorry to hear about that. Ever thought of government work? At least they can't out-source.

I might go for a career change in a few years. IT is fun, but maybe I will go be a musician. Or start a non-profit. Or teach. Or get into politics. So many possibilities.

 

[Cheapjack]

So screw it i have decided that i am going to pursue a forgotten dream of working in a bar and hopefully some day getting into flair bartending. I'm going to get my RSA (responsible serving of alcohol) and get some training at a local bar school that is pretty highly renowned. I dont know if it will work out but i think i should give it a try.

Is anyone else in the same boat? if you are please post here, hopefully we can all encourage each other and support each other to make the changes that need to be made.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Jackpot! You're absolutely right. Do what you want to do.

I had a job where I was under weekly contract, and my contract was reviewed every week, for a year. The supervisor took a dislike to me, and they brought in work logs, to check how much work people were doing. I was working with dangerous equipment and a few people used to switch things around when you weren't looking, to make it look like they were more competent than you. The Supervisor kept rewriting my worksheets, to make it look like I wasn't pulling my weight. this wasn't true, as even the main boss knew that was exactly the reason people didn't like me. I ended up getting the sack, but was only laid off, cos the boss didn't want to sink anybody, as he was breaking the health and safety laws. The supervisor who got rid of me ended up getting the sack, six months later, for incompetence.

Even in that place, if you were working and people could see it, it was difficult to get rid of you.

I sometimes even paint myself in a bad light, just to make people feel better and play the devils advocate on myself. That isn't very sensible at all, with people you have offended badly.

Are you by any chance paranoid?

I saw someone who I used to work with, and he confirmed that the logs were faked. It seems that there are other dud jobs in the world, too. The boss was basically an anarchist. Well, he made out it was 'may the best man win', but he didn't like it if I did. But even he didn't really want to sack me, the supervisor kept pushing it with the logs. That's what I was told.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

^ Cheapjack, your situation sounds like Lord of the Flies in a workplace setting, you were all one step away from ending up like poor four-eyed piggy.

 

[Cheapjack]

That's accurate.

I felt a bit like a Vietnam veteran too, and feel that way, when I see co-workers. You couldn't see who the real enemy was and you couldn't tell who was doing just enough to stay ahead and who was instigating, though I have a good idea who the main three were. The boss treated the whole thing with amusement, nodded when I considered taking up Taekwondo, to deal with co-workers, then looked in disproving amazement when I threw one of them who gave me a dubious bearhug. The boss himself had about about a quarter of a ton of samples above his office, that, if collapsed, would have put him in hospital. Or, so I was told, maybe just to increase the terror. Some seemed to cope with it, mainly the ones who were out on site all day. It was one step up from being in prison.

I'm out of it, and from now on, even if people laugh at me for doing it and quite plainly don't want me doing it, and don't seem to care if everyone else ends up in a similar position, I'm going to try to minimise it, or at least warn. I'm sick of being made out to be hyperevil, and a traitor to my origins, cos I survived it and don't do the absolute hypermaximum to stop it happening again. F*** em.

I'm here.

Though, the Taekwondo would have been a good idea.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

... My disappointment in myself coupled with my team leaders frequent mood swings and tripled with having to deal with rudeand ignorant customers, has stressed me out to the point where i have been at home since last friday in bed refusing to go to work and sleeping all day...

...So screw it i have decided that i am going to pursue a forgotten dream of working in a bar and hopefully some day getting into flair bartending. I'm going to get my RSA (responsible serving of alcohol) and get some training at a local bar school that is pretty highly renowned. I dont know if it will work out but i think i should give it a try.

Go for it mickmike

As suggested try it part-time first of all ~ you don't want to burn your boats and you will have that secret within you that you have an escape plan started.

A cautionary tale though.. both Son and I work in the service industry and there are many 'moody bosses' and 'rude and ignorant customers' there too ~ we have many a late night discussing 'the public'. Start with the worst experience and try to laugh about it and end up with the best and feel proud you made someone's evening fantastic.

It's a tricky job, but it can be very rewarding

 

[Agony_Boothb]

^ Thanks for the encouragement K'Ehleyr!

A few things have made me think twice about going into bartending, mainly having to deal with potentially agressive drunk customers and having to clean up vomit and other bodily fluids. But then i realised i have had to help my friends or friends of friends in similar situations so hopefully i can handle it. But starting off part time is a good idea particularly if i end up not liking it.