Do you currently like your Job?

[quote name='dmaul1114']I'm a college professor at a research university and for the most part I love my job.

The undergrads can be a pain some time, and I'm not a huge fan of teaching in general (though grad classes are a lot more fun and rewarding to teach). But beyond that I love it as I've always been intellectually curious so a research focused career is very rewarding to me. And the teaching is a fair trade off for the unparalleled freedom to pursue my research agenda that you just can't get outside of academia.

Only downside is it's sometimes stressful with all the pressure to publish in top journals, bring in grant money etc., and trying to keep productive at that while keeping up with the teaching and the various committee/administrative work in and out of your department. So it's definitely not a job for people who can't stand working fairly long hours. And the pay is pretty lousy if you put it in terms of $/hr and required education level etc.! :D It's definitely something you do for love of the work and the autonomy in what you work on, what hours you work etc.[/QUOTE]
Do you find that the committees, for the most part, are a waste of your time? I swear that where I work, there is a committee for everything. In fact, there is a committee on committees.
 
[quote name='Clak']Do you find that the committees, for the most part, are a waste of your time? I swear that where I work, there is a committee for everything. In fact, there is a committee on committees.[/QUOTE]

Depends on the committee. Being the most junior faculty member in my department I haven't gotten stuck with the BS committees yet as our chair is good about protecting junior faculty so they can publish and work toward tenure.

I'm on the Graduate Program committee which is important (review grad student applications, develop the curriculum etc.) and I'm the department's liaison to the library which is barely any work. I'll need to pick up some college- or university-level committee in the next year or so though, and that will probably be a waste of time.

Other than that it's just the Ph D comp committee (develop and grade the exams), thesis and dissertation committees etc. which are also important.

There's also the outside the department service/commitee work. I'm on the outreach committee for one division in our main professional organization, but that's not much work. The outside service stuff will build up as I go on though, it's stuff you get into more after tenure. Don't want to spend to much time on it before hand, but it's important to be somewhat involved for networking purposes.

Finally there's the other stuff like peer reviewing journal articles. I've been doing that 6 or so times a year lately. Eats up a good chunk of time each time as you have to be thorough or theirs not point in doing it. Especially when it's for a top journal as you want to make a good impression on the editor who tends to be a leading professor in the field.
 
[quote name='Viva Las Vegas']Have you checked USA Jobs for accounting positions for the federal government? I know I usually see a good amount of those. Not sure how the pay compares to what you have in the past but the bullshit would be less I'm sure.[/QUOTE]

I did a while back, before I found that great Ohio job, but they never got back to me. I guess even if they do want you, the process is really slow. Though, I might look into what they have around here anyway thanks to your post.

I really liked working at Gamestop in high school. Because it was just a couple shifts a week, I didn't care about getting my numbers up. I really liked helping people and obviously loved working around video games. It's really a pity that the job pays crap and it's all a numbers game now. I wouldn't mind working there otherwise.
 
I dislike my current job badly. It pays well and is easy (also make good OT money when its offered), but it doesn't really utilize my education much, and I feel VERY ashamed about it (even if it's at one of the best companies to work for with really good benefits). I just work as an Electronics Technician. Co-workers are a mixed bag (sometimes I like them, sometimes some will annoy me). At least management tends to like having me a lot since I'm on time and willing to do most anything I'm told to.

I am searching really hard for the Electrical/Electronic Engineering job which fully utilizes my BS degree (which I earned in 2008) applying to over 200 jobs. I've gotten around 15 interviews all year, but haven't landed a single position yet. Makes me feel sad, so I'm considering going back to college getting my Masters (leaving my current job).

My job/career is why I'm depressed in life everyday. Just haven't been able to figure out what I should do, continue looking for a new job (moving wherever I have to) or return back to the state of Indiana going to college.

I'll be honest that what sort of slows down me doing anything is because I LOVE the state of Maryland, have a good group of friends here, love going to local anime conventions/snowboarding, and looking to have my first ever relationship.
 
[quote name='2DMention']

My tip of working for 17 years. Get along with your co-workers. If they ask you to do something, even if they're not your boss, do it and make them your friend. They may be assholes, but before long you'll be their boss. Be patient. Be everybody's bitch at first. Don't be afraid of looking the fool and stupid. It happens to everybody. Be polite, and do the best job you can do and things will eventually work out for you.
[/QUOTE]

This is a YMMV type of thing.

You can do your best job and still get lampooned for mistakes that are not your fault; I worked for a stupid fucker, at a very small company, who made promises to customers that I was supposed to keep, but was not made aware of. Needless to say, I don't work for that asshole anymore, nor would I ever have become his boss.

Also you may be very helpful by assisting others and still get taken advantage of. I worked as a part time assistant, at a community college, and these two full time assistants only had about 20 hours of work to do in their 40 hour week, yet they treated me like a tool. They pawned their shit work off on me by giving me, the noob, some BS about how it is my responsibility. A third full time assistant retired and instead of replacing him, they assigned all his responsibilities on me in addition to what I was currently doing without a raise for the extra work. Everyone knew I was overworked/underpaid/treated unfairly, but the boss didn't care. Coworkers told me to quit, but I put up with it because I wanted in to a full time job that was going to become available in about a year. I did not get the full-time job. Instead I was told they wanted someone else and if I left my current position they would just higher someone better.

Concurrently, I was working a second part-time job, at different small company, that offered me a promotion and full-time about two weeks after being turned down for the full-time job mentioned in the above. Now I work with a few of stupid people who think Standard Operating Procedures are just guidelines that you can deviate from for convenience.

I've also noticed that being bad at time management by chit-chatting and friendly with the boss may get you further ahead, as opposed to doing all your work on time like an efficient pack mule with little to no socializing with the boss.
 
[quote name='lilboo']It's ashame that retail pays so crappy. For the most part, it's fairly enjoyable IF you are in a department where you are helpful and know about the products. What good would someone be in an auto department, when they know 0 about cars? Or that person in the electronics department who doesn't know what mp3 means.

Though, retail can get VERY overwhelming. :([/QUOTE]

I agree, retail can be stressful, but not as stressful as keeping up with orders so that engineers and techs can continue to do their work.

The pay does indeed suck at retail, but if you stay with it and make manager and eventually DM, the pay is better.

Fortunately, I can afford to live off of retail wages, because I don't have a mortgage. I just have to worry about my month-to-month bills.
 
I enjoy my job. I just wish it paid more, though I probably wouldn't enjoy whatever extra stuff would be tacked on to my job to increase the pay so its a catch 22.

What I'm actually doing though is mostly enjoyable.

Except killing kittens. Thats never fun.
 
I work at LongHorn steakhouse, I get only $4.35 an hour but I also get tip out. There are days I can work 5 hours and only get $10 tipshare and the usual hourly pay. It sucks big time, having to deal with the newest guy who got a job there, bussing tables, putting on a fake smile because the manager watches over the host like a hawk, dealing with peoples stupidity about why they dont understand that we cant remove the shrimp from the "Lobster and SHRIMP dip" because its is premade before we get it, Having to clean after kids when there parents dont care they throw the loafs of bread/rolls like semtex grenades and bite the crayons into little pieces and its just all so much to go through knowing I could only make $10 doing it. fucking sucks, do NOT work for a LongHorn Steakhouse or really any Darden owned company unless the other restaurants under the name pay better (Olive Garden, RedLobster, Bahama Breeze)
 
[quote name='iKilledChewbacca']I work at LongHorn steakhouse, I get only $4.35 an hour but I also get tip out. There are days I can work 5 hours and only get $10 tipshare and the usual hourly pay. It sucks big time, having to deal with the newest guy who got a job there, bussing tables, putting on a fake smile because the manager watches over the host like a hawk, dealing with peoples stupidity about why they dont understand that we cant remove the shrimp from the "Lobster and SHRIMP dip" because its is premade before we get it, Having to clean after kids when there parents dont care they throw the loafs of bread/rolls like semtex grenades and bite the crayons into little pieces and its just all so much to go through knowing I could only make $10 doing it. fucking sucks, do NOT work for a LongHorn Steakhouse or really any Darden owned company unless the other restaurants under the name pay better (Olive Garden, RedLobster, Bahama Breeze)[/QUOTE]

Knowing what you now know about the restaurant industry, does it ever scare you to eat out? Or are the horror stories of health violations not that rampant?
 
I was a meter reader for the city, checking people's water usage for the past 3 years. I hated every second of that job, mainly because of horrible management from my so called "boss". I got promoted and am now working as a PC tech and working help desk now and my new bosses are awesome as hell. Getting OJT while going to school and i couldnt ask for more at all...loving life now.
 
[quote name='iKilledChewbacca']I work at LongHorn steakhouse, I get only $4.35 an hour but I also get tip out. There are days I can work 5 hours and only get $10 tipshare and the usual hourly pay. It sucks big time, having to deal with the newest guy who got a job there, bussing tables, putting on a fake smile because the manager watches over the host like a hawk, dealing with peoples stupidity about why they dont understand that we cant remove the shrimp from the "Lobster and SHRIMP dip" because its is premade before we get it, Having to clean after kids when there parents dont care they throw the loafs of bread/rolls like semtex grenades and bite the crayons into little pieces and its just all so much to go through knowing I could only make $10 doing it. fucking sucks, do NOT work for a LongHorn Steakhouse or really any Darden owned company unless the other restaurants under the name pay better (Olive Garden, RedLobster, Bahama Breeze)[/QUOTE]

I worked at an Olive Garden years back. Pay was less then (think it was $2 something an hour) but tips where better as they weren't shared.

You got to keep your own tips, minus a 10% tip out to the bar.

I'd say look for another waiting job, ones where you have to share tips evenly suck as if you're good you get pulled down by the crappy servers who get shitty tips. Much better to be somewhere you get to keep your own tips.
 
[quote name='Kendro']Knowing what you now know about the restaurant industry, does it ever scare you to eat out? Or are the horror stories of health violations not that rampant?[/QUOTE]

Yes, yes I am. I get 50% off menu prices and I just cant get myseld to use the discount because of my knowledge of how the back of the house works. ew.ew.eww.ewwwww.
 
Work in a hospital laboratory. Have done so for 8-9 years. Will probably do so until I retire or die, whichever comes first.

People working there are OLD and set in their ways. (I'm nearly 35 and I'm the youngest person, not counting phlebomotmists there).

Once you get settled in a routine (after around your 3rd year) it's not difficult any more and the only challenges come from those rare nights when the ED is busy or a patients hard surgery goes bad.

Most of time time after 8pm it's just alot of standing around doing nothing. And for a place that should be cutting edge and actually USING computers they rely far too much on manual work and there's alot of needless double checking and filling out forms.

Do I like it? Yeah, it's okay. Most nights it's pretty easy and I can ever surf the internet or read a book during the last few hours. It's what i went to school for, and while it doesnt pay as much as nurse they pay's decent enough.
The only thing missing is the challenge. Once you've learned how to do it, that's all there is. Could do it in my sleep now.
 
[quote name='Kendro']I can't complain. I work in an office 9 to 5 but I don't really start "working" until 10:30. Then I have lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 and resume "work" at about 2:30. Then I go home at 5.

What do I do during the meantime? Browse CAG of course. :D[/QUOTE]

Giving this a healthy bump since it has been a year since my post above.

I've been working for a different company for a few months now and couldn't be happier. I wouldn't say I have as much leisure time as I used to above but I got a 50% pay increase for about 20% more work.
 
I work clerical for a supermarket's distribution center. After 7 years of warehouse gruntwork for less, I am happier working behind a computer and processing orders.
 
This thread is back???? Been a year, wow.

I'm in a much different place now. REALLY like my current job. Work's work, but I think this is the best I am going to be able to do. Nonprofit, great coworkers, great PTO, very low stress, no overtime (and usually work less than 40 hours a week as we leave early on most Fridays). Only problem is the pay is not that great for someone of my qualifications, but it's still pretty good considering it is a non-profit and the work is so low-stress, which is hard as hell to find in accounting. Very thankful to have found this job; it'll be a year in February. :D
 
I've been at Apple as an FRS (Family Room Specialist, so a mix of consumer training & tech support) for almost two years now, and I absolutely love it. My coworkers are awesome, the pay is solid, and the benefits and opportunities Apple provides are incredible. I should be moving more toward the Genius side of things in the new year so I'll be doing less training, but I still look at every day like I'm getting paid to have conversations with people. Can't beat that.
 
I am a auto claims adjuster for an insurance company and we got bought out about 2 yrs ago and everything has gone downhill since. From the workloads to the health insurance. As far as the job goes, I do enjoy it. I like investigating accidents, nego with people and attorneys (notice, two separate words...lol) but not all days are great but I have more good days than bad and for someone like me who didn't finish college, I make decent money and more than a lot of co-workers who do have degrees just because my enjoyment shows in my work product.
 
Working for the same place for over 13 years now. The last 7 of those years we were purchased by an investment company, saw a management restructuring shortly thereafter and a huge cut in our hours. I literally get half of the hours I did 7 years ago. Thankfully, I'm paid way too much for what I do, and even at half my hours I'm still surviving. Unfortunately, the soul of the place died about a year ago and it is just not fun any longer, and you can feel it. Time to change venues, and I have been looking.

I did manage to have a job of sorts as a contract worker for a small IOS developer, but they were so disorganized and very shady. My three month contract got pushed up to eight and was completely a waste of time as the artist kept changing the scope of the project every week and the project was never completed, driving me insane in the process. Without a game design document to stick to, it was a maddening endeavor.

I'll not be trusting freelance work anytime soon, unless it is from a major company that I've heard of before. For now I'm just building up some solid items to publish on my own and display in my resume for later.
 
I don't mind my job. I work for an IT consulting company on a help desk job. I get to work from home at least two days a week and the benefits are good. My coworkers are fun, but my bosses are pretty much tools. Overall though, I can't complain too much.
 
I have a question for anyone who has successfully negotiated a higher salary or someone who has been in the position of being a manager and needing to hire someone.

It is very easy to think that the person who wants the job is at the mercy of the employer (meaning they will accept a lowball just to get a job). Do employers really try to give a fair offer in fear of the employee leaving for a better offer a few months down the line? Meaning, are employers just as afraid to give a low offer as employees are in receiving one?

I have been contracting at my current company for a few months now and I am 100% positive they will offer me a permanent spot. I'm just wondering how much "power" I have in terms of salary negotiation. Obviously I am in a weak spot in that I want to go perm, but at the same time, I really contribute to my department. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they would be devastated if I leave, but they really would lose a key individual (not trying to be narcissistic, I've already made a few suggestions where my boss actually made formal requests to IT to have their systems changed due to my input).
 
[quote name='Chase']Job is fine, but I'm more of a Matthew guy.[/QUOTE]

I simultaneously snorted and groaned. Well played.
 
[quote name='Kendro']I have a question for anyone who has successfully negotiated a higher salary or someone who has been in the position of being a manager and needing to hire someone.

It is very easy to think that the person who wants the job is at the mercy of the employer (meaning they will accept a lowball just to get a job). Do employers really try to give a fair offer in fear of the employee leaving for a better offer a few months down the line? Meaning, are employers just as afraid to give a low offer as employees are in receiving one?

I have been contracting at my current company for a few months now and I am 100% positive they will offer me a permanent spot. I'm just wondering how much "power" I have in terms of salary negotiation. Obviously I am in a weak spot in that I want to go perm, but at the same time, I really contribute to my department. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they would be devastated if I leave, but they really would lose a key individual (not trying to be narcissistic, I've already made a few suggestions where my boss actually made formal requests to IT to have their systems changed due to my input).[/QUOTE]
Honestly, find out how much others in the department make. The company will always low-ball you if they can. If you leave in a few months, there'll always be a bunch of people ready to take your place for less. Employers love recessions because it lets them pay a lot less than what they normally would.
 
Good thread, I enjoy reading through it. I recently (start of October) moved to a new town to try and get work in the field I just finished university for. At the moment I am just working full time retail to pay rent, bills and until I find something new.

So the job is kinda sucky, its okay pay, fairly easy however some (well most) of the co-workers are tools but I just get on with it. Luckily for me my girlfriend (who moved down with me) works in the same place too and all our shifts are the same hours.

It does suck though wanting to do one thing and then getting stuck working something completely unrelated but I guess that gives you more drive to search harder a move on? Although its super tough to get work these days
 
Totally! I actually have the tendency to quit if I do not like a job.
I admire those people who can stick to a job simply because they "need to".
 
Interesting thread. I started teaching middle school a couple months ago and I enjoy it though I also recently accepted an English teacher position in Japan in next year that I'm looking forward to.
 
After graduating college with a degree in Economics (though I really want to work in Accounting) back in May, I started temping for an organic food distributor in June doing various ad-hoc projects. Liked the people in my department and the company atmosphere, and I recently accepted a full-time position working as a cash applications specialist. I process check payments, wire transfers, credit card billings, etc for one of our distribution centers. Pay is less than I'd like but reasonable, and I get good benefits now too. Going to hopefully move to our accounting or analyst department in a year or two but for now I like my job!
 
Wow, saw this thread right around my time of hating my job.

I joined my company as a tempt 2 years ago after repeatedly getting laid off due to companies I worked for going under during the recession. After working there a few months and seeing my end of the line come up due to a finished project, I asked a VP that I got along with, who was happening to be retiring in a few months, if he can get me a job anywhere. I ended up taking a lowball offer for doing finance in the Sales Ops department, which I thought was an excellent start since I was going for my MBA in Finance.

Fast forward 2 years, Im doing basic reconciliation work and just got stabbed in the back by a new hire that took my credit on a huge project. It seems like everytime I think I have something to move up or at least get paid more, I get slapped in the face by someone. But, now that I got my 2 year experience (and can fudge my resume to make it look better) Im hoping to move along to something better. Right now my bank account is draining and my wife wants a second kid, so I really need to make the change, although Im that type thats always afraid to do it.
 
[quote name='Survivalism']Good God. You must have the patience of a saint. I worked retail for 6 months before I got fired for calling someone a cunt.[/QUOTE]

That's a little much eh? I've worked in retail for years then got another Job in retail as a manager. Ive had quite a few run ins with nasty customers throughout the years but have gotten far better. I guess because of the position I'm in now.

When I worked at the movies I had a hard time being so patient with these types of customers though.

I once had a guy make fun of my lisp. It's not a bad one and I've met some super obnoxious people and not one of them has made fun of it since this guy. He picked the wrong day though. When he made fun of me, I asked him if he was serious and told him I'd quit on the spot for a chance to deck him. He apologized. In retrospect I may have overreacted but I was just so irritated. Felt like he thought I wouldnt say anything back because I was at my job, and it bothered me.

Then I had a guy who bought tickets from me. All he said to me two and two. I furthered questioned the types and amount of tickets he wanted since he was quite vague when he asked for them. He then
Said 'can't you count? Two kids and two adults, four" or something to that effect.I then said " can't you be more specific with what you want since you're kids obviously aren't here, I can't arrive at that myself" he said I was being rude and proceeded to call me dumb. So I called him an asshole
 
I don't hate nor do I love my job. I'm a process engineer at a factory so I made better than decent money, but it isn't the type of job or place I want to stay at long term. Just about coming up on the two year mark. The pay does make it difficult to try and move away though. I'm a relatively cheap person and I'm paid enough that I don't think there is possibly a way (in my current lifestyle) that I could come close to spending what I make. I guess it is because I don't have expensive tastes (aside form vacationing a few times a year).
 
Hey, neat, it's this thread again. Didn't post last time. I don't really have an interesting or even respectable job.

I plant trees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onT8B3GjgLY

Not right now, of course. I'm laid off and going to school, with a job waiting for me in the spring. Just like I was this time last year, and the year before that, and... "It's a great job in the winter" is the usual joke. Even without the weather, I wouldn't be physically or mentally capable of doing it all year. Don't know many that could. Decent money for me. Wish I was better at it. We get paid by the tree (usually 11 cents, sometimes more if the land is poor quality or hard to get to, never less), so there's incentive to improve. A strong, skilled, motivated planter will make pretty damn good money in a pretty damn short time, though there's a god damn endless torrent of temptation and opportunity to drink/smoke/ingest your money away.

Never go tree planting. Not much risk of that, since my understanding is that tree planting doesn't really exist in the US. But for any Canadians or Scots or Australians (especially the Australians): never go tree planting.

Or at least never go planting in Australia or Ontario. And get on with a reputable company, because there are a lot of fucking horror stories.
 
Worked fast food for 7 months, ending up despising it after about 3. Recently quit, now working as a delivery driver, picking up and delivering food from a multitude of restaurants around town. I don't make an hourly salary, just delivery fee and tips, so the per hour pay after gas expenses isn't that stellar, but the company I work for isn't particular cheap, so I do get $10 tips almost every night if I deliver to the wealthier side of town, and the dispatchers are pretty chill and tend to disperse good tips around to everyone.

Not the best situation, but I'm working to support my college lifestyle, so I can't complain. Tuition and rent is already in the bag so I don't really need much more for now.
 
I work for local government - city level. I've been in local government ever since I graduated college and I love it. The responsibilities are great, the pay is outstanding and the benefit package is very very good.
 
[quote name='Rumors']That's a little much eh? I've worked in retail for years then got another Job in retail as a manager. Ive had quite a few run ins with nasty customers throughout the years but have gotten far better. I guess because of the position I'm in now.

When I worked at the movies I had a hard time being so patient with these types of customers though.

I once had a guy make fun of my lisp. It's not a bad one and I've met some super obnoxious people and not one of them has made fun of it since this guy. He picked the wrong day though. When he made fun of me, I asked him if he was serious and told him I'd quit on the spot for a chance to deck him. He apologized. In retrospect I may have overreacted but I was just so irritated. Felt like he thought I wouldnt say anything back because I was at my job, and it bothered me.

Then I had a guy who bought tickets from me. All he said to me two and two. I furthered questioned the types and amount of tickets he wanted since he was quite vague when he asked for them. He then
Said 'can't you count? Two kids and two adults, four" or something to that effect.I then said " can't you be more specific with what you want since you're kids obviously aren't here, I can't arrive at that myself" he said I was being rude and proceeded to call me dumb. So I called him an asshole[/QUOTE]

Dude I currently work in the cinema and I know exactly where you're coming from. Some customers are just so stupid and rude sometimes.
 
I've worked at a non profit animal shelter since March of 07 (I was 16). I enjoy working there for the most part. It comes and goes. I can't wait to become a police officer though so that is kind of ruining whatever enjoyment I do get from my current job. I went through the whole hiring process (7 months) with St Pete to not only get rejected, but they also waited so long to tell us that the two January police academies filled up. Now I have to wait until April.
 
I'm OK with my job. The work part is interesting and the pay is good but I can't stand the other BS (making hours, low bonus, 12 hour days, 50 "bosses", no vacation, etc.). Pretty much like everyone else.
 
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