Off Topic - I Hate My Job

"hillrat" (hillrat) 08/12/2020 at 13:44 • Filed to: None

0

53

This is not unusual, I’m a gov’t contractor so my working life is all about working for people who don’t know what I know and can’t do what I do and still direct my work. The real deal is that I’m just a well paid temp on an endless series of gigs of varying length. Might be 6 months, might be 6 years but the one thing that’s been very consistent is that there’s no stability as a contractor.

My question is this: how many people really love what they do, feel well compensated, and valued by their employer?

I’ve got the (kind of) well compensated part, but nothing else and that’s mostly OK. But fuck if isn’t a little draining to know in your heart you’re just a big fucking ho.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:55

3

Everybody hates their job a little. I hate mine a lot sometimes, but sadly, I’m really good at it, and for my education level, it’s at a way higher income point then just about anything else I could be doing.

Next step for me is starting my own business in the same field and making WAAAAAY more than I am now for the same job.

HammerheadFistpunch > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:55

2

I’m well compensated for my job, but deeply under-appreciated and stymied in career advancement. MBA time.

Textured Soy Protein > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:56

0

I’m the director of recruiting for a gov’t contractor, so... 

(I don’t find gov’t contracting particularly sexy but since I work for the company rather than on a contract it’s sorta kinda more stable, as long as there are actually open jobs that need filling. Which can sometimes be the case. I’m just happy that the particular company I work for is run by competent, BS-free people and has good benefits.)

ranwhenparked > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:57

1

I don’t particularly like my job, but it is really easy, I see my boss maybe once every few months, I’m good at it, and I feel that I am fairly compensated, once bonuses and commissions are taken into account. Also, the work life balance is pretty good (half day Fridays all summer). It’s my second time around working for this company, I decided the pros outweigh the cons more than at just about anywhere else I could go easily.

lone_liberal > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:57

1

I feel valued by my employer and while “love” might be too strong of a word I do at least like my job and the people I work with . I am not, however, well compensated. That tradeoff was a conscious decision since for a while I had a second job that would have paid me more with fewer responsibilities. I just didn’t like working there. So I when the time came to decide between the two I went with the one that I liked over the one that would pay me the most.

That all said, I also have a wife who makes a lot more money than I do so I was in the position to make that choice which is a luxury that most people don’t have. 

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 13:58

2

i kinda love what i do

but im underpaid and nobody loves me...uhh..i mean under valued

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 08/12/2020 at 13:58

4

This.

I basically have no education....like I graduated grade 12 (barely), drifted around post secondary for a while and got a job in claims by fluke.

I’ve done incredibly well since, but I always wonder when the good times are gonna stop.

hillrat > HammerheadFistpunch 08/12/2020 at 13:59

0

Yeah, I’ve been staring down the barrel of going to grad school for 5 years now. Been talking a lot of bullshit, I have the opportunity (wife is a professor, I get 70% off), but I’m a terrible student and have trouble prioritizing myself over my family so I haven’t done it yet.

hillrat > Textured Soy Protein 08/12/2020 at 14:01

0

Got anything in DC? You can email me at hillratdc (at) gmail [dot] com and I’ll hit you back from my real email.

fintail > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:01

2

It wouldn’t be called “work” if it was fun :)

I am often astounded when I think of how armed this society is, how it is dealing with diminishing quality of life factors, has a threadbare mental health system, sagging mobility, and the same amount of terrible leadership types in most facets of life, that there aren’t more “incidents”. My old office had crisi s phones hidden in several locations on every floor - something like that isn’t in case of an intruder if one is on the 10th floor of a building with secured access, it’s for a problem coming from within the building.

Work to live, don’t live to work, that might help with stress or annoyance.

HammerheadFistpunch > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:03

0

Yeah I’ve been looking at it on and off for 10 years or so, then I realized that if I didn’t do it this year, I would be one year further behind instead of half way through.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:06

2

Yeah I would much rather do something else but I am not really qualified to do anything else. I have a BA but I blew things up for a living before and I got into show business because it sounded interesting. But shows have to go on and you get stuck at all hours of the night finishing things and then going back early with almost no sleep. If I could keep to a regular schedule it would be fine but some shows are so big we have overnight shifts or double shift just to get it done. I spent a week on the side of a building getting some graphics to work in the rain when the Super Bowl was in SF.

ttyymmnn > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:06

11

I am a professional musician, and I play in the Austin Symphony. We also accompany Ballet Austin, and I also play in the orchestra for Austin Opera. I absolutely love my job, and the organizations value the musicians highly. It’s a great job. My dream job. Am I well compensated? No. But that’s not the company’s fault. It’s the fault of a society who does not value what I and others like me do. I wouldn’t trade it, though. I am extremely fortunate to enjoy going to work and have colleagues I enjoy working with. Of course, the problem now is that I haven’t worked since the middle of March. Fortunately, my wife does well at her job and has continued to work, and the symphony will be doing its first virtual concert in about three weeks. 

TheJWT > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:07

0

I get paid enough and I feel relatively valued , but I still hate my job and my entire field.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:07

0

I can’t say I love what I do, but I’m incredibly well compensated for a job that comes pretty easily to me and is rarely high stress. And to boot, I have a small equity stake in our small company. I pretty much won the job lottery (minus the love part, of course).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 08/12/2020 at 14:07

2

So, when’s the next step?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheJWT 08/12/2020 at 14:11

0

Oof... how long can you last? Hope you’re saving some ridiculous percentage of your salary to prepare for a second career.

CobraJoe > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:12

0

My question is this: how many people really love what they do, feel well compensated, and valued by their employer?

I feel reasonably well compensated and reasonably valued, but I’m starting to completely lose interest in what I do. (Not that it was all that exciting at the beginning.)

I have dreams of starting my own side gig that eventually makes enough money to quit, but I don’t want to take time away from my hobbies, or turn my hobbies into a money making gig that kills the fun.

So, yeah, I know the struggle.  But, I recently bought a new (to me) car, so that’s giving me something new and interesting to think about.  

TheJWT > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/12/2020 at 14:12

1

I’m currently learning Japanese and getting certified in teaching EFL, the plan is to move to Japan and teach in the next couple of years

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheJWT 08/12/2020 at 14:14

1

Cool - will be an awesome adventure!

I have a cousin who’s lived there for over a decade as an English teacher. Married a local, kids, etc.

TheJWT > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/12/2020 at 14:18

0

Thanks, I hope so! It seems like the people who move there to teach either end up loving or hating it. I’ve been trying to do my own research and do what I think is best for me and I’m really excited for the challenge!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:19

1

I don’t love what I do

I’m well compensated but it’s been doing more work for less pay three years running — but again, I do fine.

I don't feel valued, appreciated, or respected.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheJWT 08/12/2020 at 14:22

1

I think if you have a very strong sense of self, with the foreknowledge that you’ll never fully be accepted in society, regardless of how long you live there, you’ll do great.

I’d love to immerse myself in a different culture for a year or two. Hope to get that chance at some point in the future.

jminer > HammerheadFistpunch 08/12/2020 at 14:23

0

This is where I am - well paid but there are no further advancement opportunities where I am and management that really doesn’t care about much of anything . I don’t have a degree though and kind of fell into IT at the right time (mid 00's) when it didn’t matter so I’ve been successful.

Being senior but not wanting to do management puts me in a strange no-mans land right now.

jminer > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 14:31

1

I feel you - also working on the government but as a direct employee for a quasi-governmental agency. I have stability and good pay but have become thoroughly disengaged with what I do. The levels of bureaucracy are staggering and we are so far behind in the tech stack it’s frustrating.

Currently trying to make the move back into the private sector to keep from being institutionalized...  

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/12/2020 at 14:40

1

Could be sooner rather than later. My business partner and I have been shopping for clients for the past few years. A few nibbles here and there, but a company we both used to work for just lost a big client that we’ve been in contact with. So maybe soon, but maybe not. Typical consultant stuff............

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 08/12/2020 at 14:41

1

Best of luck!

hillrat > ttyymmnn 08/12/2020 at 14:45

1

That’s fucking awesome and also terrible that we seem to have to choose between jobs that pay and jobs we love.

DasWauto > fintail 08/12/2020 at 14:53

1

Something something boiling frog metaphor.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:04

1

You’re not the only one.

I’ve never been happy working at any job, nor did I enjoy school or studying.

Not sure what I can do: my company does treat me well, I love my boss and my team, and I can only enjoy it as much as I can.

I really think that’s my depressive side talking, but it doesn’t help that I basically need to move to a bigger city for advancement (probably Toronto) which sucks because having a centrally located condo similar to what I have in Ottawa would cost me double in Toronto. I wouldn’t be driving as often, would likely end up taking more transit, and I think I’d be depressed for a bunch of new reasons.

What’s the point of making more money when all of it needs to go back into a mortgage? It sounds like a lot of us here are at a crossroads. There are many directions but the ones I can see look bleak. 

just-a-scratch > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:07

1

I like my job quite a bit. I stop short of saying I LOVE it. I work for the wastewater treatment agency doing engineering. It’s nice to know my work contributes to public health in an important way. It’s also nice that it’s about as stable as any job can be.

I spent 10 years doing contract and temp work. That was so much more stressful.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:08

3

* Do something fun

* Do something that pays

*  Do something legal

Pick two.

Textured Soy Protein > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:24

1

Our current openings are more in MD & VA but I’ll email you. 

3point8isgreat > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:28

0

I generally like what I do, feel I’m adequately compensated for it, but my employer likes to give whiplash on how much we matter.

But I’ve also known I wanted to do engineering since I was a kid. And known I wanted a technical engineering discipline since pretty early in college. I think it has helped knowing what I wanted to do for so long. Took a lot of job changes to finally get to a place where I really like what I do. Still gets tiring and isn’t always exciting. But I always think it’s neat to do.

Tripper > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:41

1

I first and foremost feel well valued by my employer, I’m well compensated but I’m worth more. I don’t like my current situation. I’m actually hoping super hard for a maybe opportunity into the industry “cars” that is currently pending. It will mean relocating and might even mean a pay cut but I’ll be doing what I love.

The big drain on my psyche is my work “persona”. Everyone is a little different at work but I feel like I’m bordering on “Impostor Syndrome ”. I’m so fake at work I have to like shake it off before I get in my car and go home.

One of my close friends was riding with me when I had to take a work call. I hung up and he says, “Who the fuck was that guy you just were!?” I replied with something to the effect of “some bozo”. I know it’s just part of the hustle but it bothers me to my core.

Tripper > ttyymmnn 08/12/2020 at 15:44

2

Hey I didn’t know this about you and think its super neat! With all the planes...I dunno I didn’t think “musician” let alone classical musician. Way to love what you do!

Future next gen S2000 owner > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 15:44

0

I feel pretty valued and well compensated but  I hate my job. It’s a cushy gov’t job though. It’s really niche though so I feel a bit trapped. It sucks.

hillrat > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 08/12/2020 at 15:53

0

It’s like I tell my customers when they ask for the impossible you can have it:

Right

Fast

Cheap

Choose two of the three.

hillrat > Textured Soy Protein 08/12/2020 at 15:55

0

Holla! It could be an excuse for me to buy a new car.

hillrat > fintail 08/12/2020 at 16:01

1

Indeed, my job is what I do, not who I am. It’s much tougher to separate from work when you sit at your dining room table all day though.

As for having crisis phones at work, that’s super nuts. It’s like we decided that paying for mental health care was too much for us as a society to bear and just said, “Fuck it.”

jeepoftheseus > Tripper 08/12/2020 at 16:01

1

I am familiar with putting that mask on. Good luck on taking the dive to something that you’re passionate about. I ditched my awesome-but- get-paid-nothing job to put on a tie and chase financial independence.

It’s been three years and I have learned two things: that I don’t like busting my ass to make money for people that sit in an office pretending to be busy in between tee times and that  I fucking hate wearing a tie.

shop-teacher > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 16:03

1

I love my job ... most of the time.  But I honestly think every job has its shit days, no matter how much you love it.  I work for a district that compensates my reasonably well.  Well enough to feed my family of four, and keep us clothed and roofed and doctored.  Valued by my employer?  Well, that is a complicated issue.  I have many bosses, and their value of me is highly variable.

ttyymmnn > Tripper 08/12/2020 at 16:04

2

Started playing trumpet in 4th grade when I was living with my mom, then moved to live with my dad who is also a professional musician. Turned out to be a good move all in all. Actually quit playing in high school for various reasons (band sucked, smoking dope, didn’t give a shit) , then went to college and quickly realized that playing my horn was all I knew how to do. Ended up getting three degrees in playing trumpet, all of which are doing me diddly squat, except that I got to study with some really great teachers along the way. Originally planned to be a college professor, ended up making a little bit of money performing, and couldn’t be happier. Being in academia would have sucked. 

jeepoftheseus > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 16:18

0

I’ve had a job that I loved and felt valued in but wasn’t paid very much. It totally had some shitty days but on the whole it was pretty awesome. Life got in the way and I now have a job that has a very high ceiling financially but I do not like very much. Some sketchy things happened internally earlier this year and I’m looking for an exit. Thankful to have a job for the time being though. In 2019’s economy I would’ve walked the week that I realized what was happening and started swinging a hammer or slinging beers at a brewery until I found the next one. I guess I’ll figure out what the life lesson is when I look back on it one day.

Thanks for letting us all rant to you, hah!

hillrat > Future next gen S2000 owner 08/12/2020 at 16:20

0

As a contractor the only thing I’m qualified to do is be a contractor or federal employee. Initially I was thinking I might finally be brought in from the cold & turned Fed at my current agency, but after the last two weeks I’m convinced my best bet is to leave and try again elsewhere.

hillrat > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/12/2020 at 16:42

0

I don’t feel valued, appreciated, or respected.

That sucks and I’m sorry you feel that way.

The gov’t makes you feel like you’re robbing them because you work for a company that charges the gov’t ~2x your salary for you to be there. This is neo-liberalism at work.

Khalbali > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 16:42

0

Nah.

AestheticsInMotion > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 16:55

0

I’m a senior ops manager at a major delivery company. I don’t love the job, but on days like today where I can navigate through the near endless layers of issues and come out the other side with a resounding success... Well. It does feel pretty good. 

I’m happy with compensation, and do feel highly valued. Which... Is the first time I’ve been able to say both of those things! My last employer told me upon asking for a raise that I’d never be able to make more than I currently was without a degree, and that I should be happy with what he gave me. Definitely didn’t feel valued there! I think about that a lot, as after jumping ship I doubled my salary and cut down to four days a week, still without a degree

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 17:08

0

In project management circles that’s known as the Iron Triangle. For any given project, the area of the triangle is what it is: the only way you can change it is by changing the project (i.e. the scope). If you’re not prepared to compromise on scope, then trying to push in one of the corners of the triangle just pushes one or both of the other ones out. And if you have a reasonably balanced project (i.e. the triangle is close to equilateral) then the other points will go out by more than the one you’re pushing on comes in, because how the math on area of a triangle works (i.e. a small improve ment in speed has a larger cost in money or quality) .

fintail > DasWauto 08/12/2020 at 17:09

0

Unfortunately, there’ll probably never be the massive general strike or similar that is probably needed.

fintail > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 17:14

0

I strictly define the hours where I will actually care - and I try not to think about it outside of that. I have a co-worker who takes it all personally and will obsess and work her but off on things where she shouldn’t, even if she doesn’t get deserved recognition or promotion. I know it isn’t coming unless I leave, so I don’t take it personally. I might lack some work ethic, or maybe there’s such a thing as too much of it.

I could see having such phones in a bank or other customer facing facility, but in an internal-only building that requires a badge to get in and a badge to get to the stairs or elevator, there’s only one thing it could be for - if an employee goes off the deep end. Kind of representative of this society. I think the “fuck it” level was reached when cops became de facto mental health workers.  So much glorious trickle down for all.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 18:07

0

I don’t have those kinds of problems luckily. And it’s in poor form of me to complain during a pan-cession — but you did ask :)

Kiltedpadre > hillrat 08/12/2020 at 18:14

0

I enjoy my job. I definitely wouldn’t say I love it, but it’s something that I feel is important that gives me just enough challenges to keep it from being boring.

I’m compensated quite well when compared to other places I could work in the industry. However, pay has been horribly stagnant in the industry so I don’t feel we’re compensated at a level that represents the importance of what we do or how dangerous it can be.

I like my workplace. There are only 1 or 2 employees I don’t get along with, and most of my work is done alone so I rarely interact with them outside of our prejob briefings.

My boss makes me feel appreciated. He has hinted on numerous occasions that he wants me to advance my certification one more level before he retires. He’s made it clear I’m his choice to take over his position. Now I just need to decide if I want to spend the rest of my career in meetings and fielding emails from folks that actually fell for the lies they were told by the people we replaced when my company took over where we are.

My only other advancement option though would be going back to working for a city or county where I’d have worse benefits and need to deal with city or county commissioners. Been there, done that, got out of it with a smile.