Job woes

[MoogleViper]

Thought I'd choose this title, over the more offensive, "Working with Shitheads"

 

 

Had a shit day at work. Starting to really not like the job, or at least, the team that I'm on.

 

Some of you may remember my previous rant in the bad stuff thread. Well today was another shit one.

 

The Senior on my team can be a bit of a dick. He does very little work, yet is one of those that's very good at looking good to senior management and taking credit for work (read: my work). Last week, our manager was off travelling until Friday, so the Senior decided he was working from home all of that week (i.e. not actually doing much work). We'd decided the week before that I'd concentrate on project B, while he'd concentrate on project A. On tuesday, he emails me saying "I need you to do x, y and z" for project A (which constitutes about 90% of the work; and of course, he takes all the credit for getting it sent off).

 

Come last friday (manager has come back now, so senior has returned to office), I've finished the project A stuff, and have done what I can on project B. At the end of the day, I ask him if there's anything more to be done, he says no (this was preceded by 3 meetings discussing the project).

 

Cue today, I have training all morning, so I can't do any work, and in the afternoon team meeting, senior (in front of the manager, despite having several opportunities during the day in which we spoke) asks me if I sent of an important email for project B. I haven't sent it off, but I also don't remember being asked to send it off. He claims he asked me to, and as it's his word against mine (and my memory isn't the best), I say I've not done it.

Senior: "Well that's a day wasted and we're already short on time" (which I might add, is his fault)

Manager: "You need to start making to do lists"

 

After the meeting, I go back to my desk, search my emails, only to find that the important email had been sent off, by him. So when he returned, I asked, "Isn't this the email?" Rather than apologising for making me look bad, or just saying yes, he snarkily replies with, "Well you could have sent an email to check up on the progress." (Bear in mind, this is progress after half a day, for a task that takes 9 days).

 

 

But what really pisses me off, is there's nothing I can do. Despite being in the right, and him being in the wrong, my manager's opinion of me has gone down. And I can't go up to him and explain all of this, as I'll just look like a dick.

 

I can't wait until I've gained enough experience to move somewhere else. But that'll be another year at least. Another year working with a dick, in ridiculously overpriced, boring Oxford.

 

 

Anyway, what are your job woes?

 

And anybody that says, "be thankful you have a job" will be punched in the face.

[Ramar]

Anyway, what are your job woes?

 

Four years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience.

[MoogleViper]

Four years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience.

 

Yeah, I suppose I'm lucky that I have my job rea- GOD DAMNIT RAMAR!!!

[Dog-amoto]

Can't really complain.

 

Technically I have two pretty secure jobs now. Am going to be taking my assessments for my conductor job this week and I'll be keeping hold of my ADI badge so I can still give driving lessons if I want. Working with a load of people is completely different to what I'm used to, and I struggle to keep up with various stories I've been told about what other people have done on the railway, but it seems like a job where you mainly get left to your own devices, so unless I fuck up royally, chances are I'll have little to worry about from management. And if I don't like it, I've always got the option of telling them to stick it up their arse. I'm also aiming to get my HGV licence some time in the next year so that'll be something else I'll be able to do.

 

If you're not happy with where you are in life, train for a career doing something totally different. At the very least, you'll have plenty strings to your bow.

[nekunando]

Four years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience.

 

Four years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience too..

[MoogleViper]

If you're not happy with where you are in life, train for a career doing something totally different. At the very least, you'll have plenty strings to your bow.

 

That's what I want to do. But when I've only been here 5 months, it'll probably look worse on my CV than if I hadn't had a job at all.

 

 

I think I'd actually enjoy it on a different team.

[Fierce_LiNk]

That sounds shitty, @MoogleViper. Unfortunately, you're right in saying that there's not an awful lot you can do about that without coming across as some sort of trouble maker. In that sort of situation, all you can do is (like you said) get the experience to then move on and hopefully find somewhere better.

 

I'm annoyed at the turnover and amount of changes in our work place. I'm in my third year and this is what has happened, so far.

 

- Deputy Head at the time has decided to retire, so a new Deputy Head has taken over.

- 2 boarding house mothers have decided to retire

- 1 more of these has decided to move on now, too.

- 3 Nursery workers have left and as many have joined.

- My Head of Junior School has left and has been replaced by another person who has recently left.

- Head of Languages has left and has been replaced.

- The bursar's assistant has left.

- The bursar himself is retiring at the end of this academic year.

- The art teacher is leaving.

- The head of D&T is leaving, who is also the Head of the boarding house.

- There have been 3 Geography teachers that have come and left.

- 1 RS teacher has now joined after the old one left.

- Music teacher has retired and another joined.

- ICT teacher retired and was replaced.

- Supply teacher came in, did a good job and looked like he was going to get a boarding house role before leaving.

- A learning support teacher has left.

- One of the Teacher assistants died midway through my first year.

 

(bearing in mind that we only really have one teacher for each subject and one for each Junior School class)

 

Some have asked me what I think about this and have enquired whether I "mind change"? Change is fine, if it's reasonable. What I have just typed is fucking lunacy. The place is almost unrecognisable from the place I joined 3 years ago. I understand that change needs to happen, but I'd just like a year that went smoothly without a ton of changes taking place.

[Charlie]

That's what I want to do. But when I've only been here 5 months, it'll probably look worse on my CV than if I hadn't had a job at all.

 

 

I think I'd actually enjoy it on a different team.

 

What is it you do, Moogle?

[jayseven]

The place I'm working for is the best telemarketing/etc company I've seen or heard of in brighton. There are departments dedicated to promoting the company's telephone business, which I can hear while I work and sound dreadful, but the PPI department I work in is really smooth-sailing with a lot of freedom and discussion between the different levels of job. Essentially the PPI business is blooming, but it's only really got 2-3 years left in it, so the team in place can sit in comfort earning a decent salary and good bonuses but know they need to move to an almost inevitably shitter company if this one doesn't come up with another idea in time.

 

Moogle -- that sort of situation sounds utterly fucking ridiculous. Do you think you handled it right? In that situation I often feel I've not said the best thing, then later think of the best thing to say. In that respect, nowadays when confronted with a stupid situation I'll try to either stand ground and think about the right response, or walk away without responding, then return with the best phrased retort. I think you're within your rights to bring the guy up on these matters. Perhaps treat it like a chess game and think of how to reply to a few of his potential replies, then bring it up in the next meeting (perhaps thinly-veiled under the guise of "if a superior is away and the work delegated has affected the timeplan of our individual projects, how should we best prioritise our duties?" or something.

 

I do feel for you, bro. Having no job = one stressor, but having a job can produce several individual stresses that cumulatively emburden you way more.

[MoogleViper]

What is it you do, Moogle?

 

Research Analyst at a Market Research/Marketing Consultancy company.

 

 

Do you think you handled it right?

 

Well I don't think there's much else I could have done without prior knowledge. I thought it best to concede rather than standing ground and risk being wrong.

[Cube]

I managed to get both the shitheads at my work to quit in September/November last year. So no problems at work now.

[Jimbob]

My job, call center and my job title is Customer Service Adviser. This is a copy/paste from the bad stuff thread.

 

I do ask myself on a daily basis why i even go in, maybe it's the money. Maybe it's the friends i have. Yes, that's it. It's both. And if the friends dried up (aka they left), i'd be gone as well. The way it's meant to be is, everyone should be treated equally and fairly. But it does not happen. Many people get away with things that even i can't get away with, because of their group of "friends" they have. Management have completely lost the plot since the new boss has come in. People get away with things that no-one should be able to get away with. Especially with leave and the job. You are permitted 3x 5 minute breaks between your hour lunch and 2x 15 minute breaks (which are set at certain times of the day). Which is meant to balance things out on the phones, but it doesn't as everyone goes at the same time leaving the phones un-manned around 1pm. And because of this, i've been told I can't have my lunch until half 1 because of the lack of people on the phone. I have addressed this to the manager, who simply said “so what, get over it and do as you are told”

 

I see some people walking in and out of each wing on their “5 minutes”, who are clearly out of their desk for over 5 minutes. How do I know this, I sit next to a manager and I can see the log-in page and how long some people are in a code for. Does this get bought up, no. Those 3x 5 minute breaks, people abuse them and get away with it as the manager simply "wipes" the record of them ever taking the break. I go 2 seconds over, and i have it in the neck. What makes me laugh is how people get away with what they are doing, heck i know people who are on "medical" leave and are plainly just skiving. I know a few people who do this, and I have bought this to management and asked them to check their reasons as to why they are off. I know the real reason, management know the lie. 2 people who sit in my wing should be fired, but alas are not and it does surprise me. But if i took one day out of the ordinary, which i have then i had a written warning against me. I spoke up against management, and i got told "get over it".

 

That's just the management and work colleagues. The work itself is a different rant. Those who work in a call center will know this and agree that the customers/public who call have serious attitude problems and feel they have the need to abuse you over the phone when they don't like the decision being made (¾ of the time, it's the customers fault because they fail to tell us on time certain things. I have been told that if you've worked in a shop with difficult customers, I can handle the calls. This should work, but never does because face to face is completely different to over the phone. Customers treat you different, and will take the chance to swear, abuse and be racist if they need to be.

 

I could rant and rave all day, but i won't. The job centre got me this job, I had to apply for it and as it was offered to me in the job centre I couldn't turn it down. If I did, I would have lost a months benefit. Call Center work is aweful, and I hate it with a passion. I will not work in another call center again after this one.

[EEVILMURRAY]

Four years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience too..

 

Five years after graduating, I'm still working in retail with bugger all experience.

 

[Blade]

Having recently been made redundant I can sympathise with people with job woes.

[bob]

I need to start looking for a job soon. This thread is making me terrified.

[Iun]

I feel for you, Moogs, I do. Couple of years ago, "we" decided to open up a bi-lingual section in the school.

 

Long story short, the other two managers hired an American guy as homeroom teacher, a teacher who I had rejected a year previously due to his lack of teaching experience, ability and personality. I told them repeatedly that (a) hiring is MY job and (b) that this guy was going to be a disaster. Anyway, they decided to persevere with him getting worse and worse, more and more attitude-y and generally pissing everyone off, even to the point where his co-teacher resigned because she couldn't work with him. Oh, and he blackmailed the school into giving him a two-and-a-half hour lunch break.

 

Eventually he goes completely off the rails, scares the shit out of the kids, screams at his co-teacher and threatened me.

 

The school then throws it all into my lap because it's "Your responsibility". So I have to take the flak from the parents about this teacher, apologise for "the school" fucking up and generally be insulted by the other management. The lucky thing was, I saw this guy's meltdown coming a mile away, so the class was without a teacher for two days - I had hired his replacement three days before he went nuts.

 

Did I get thanked? Did I get commended?

 

Did I fuck. To this day I have not had any kind of apology, and now my contract negotiations are coming up. Guess who I'm going to fuck in the ass? YOU, YOU COCKS.

 

Goodness, I've had a lot to drink tonight...

[Shorty]

I like my job, but I hate my commute. I think the stress is shortening my life, and it's so dull and repetitive - I actually feel depressed quite often knowing that I'm forced to spend 90-120 minutes a day alone with nothing but the shit radio. There's about 5 points in my journey where I could choose road A, B or C, none will get me there any faster but often one will have inexplicable queues metaphor for life etc etc.

 

My job is also quite underpaid, although the wage is slowly climbing. And there have been other jobs pop up that I could go for, but I don't feel I want to risk it in case I don't get on with the new people. Should I risk better pay and/or shortening my commute if I might not be given decent tasks or have decent relationships with my colleagues? I have no idea - so I typically do nothing.

 

Also my job has nothing to do with the degree I accrued £15k of debt to earn, and yet I feel no urge to go down that route anyway.

[Agent Gibbs]

I'm a qualified engineer now, and yet my job title still includes "trainee" in it, despite the degree and 6 years experience.

 

In days gone buy once qualifying we automatically moved into a graduate post (which included a small pay increase) or there usually were Assistant Engineer roles available (on a different pay scale, so more progression available). However in their infinite wisdom as part of cost cutting exercises they removed all the vacant Graduate posts, and have removed all bar two (one is now filled i'll get to that) of the Assistant Engineer roles! so now i'm qualified, doing an engineers workload on the pay of a Trainee.

 

There was one Assistant job that was advertised last year when myself and my friend qualified, and he got the job over me, which i'm in two minds about. We both have the same qualification with the same grade, only he has worked here for 4 years and two of those were spent in another non engineering role, albeit i helped to train him up and got him to a good level and he excelled. But apparently we were very close in an interview but he won out solely on one question, where we were asked about considerations when say introducing a scheme on a road near a hospital and school, we both said the usual and included close liaising with the hospital and school to avoid disruption, mentioning doing the works in a school holiday....but in addition to that he advised contacting the school travel co-ordinator within the council to make sure any routes were altered, and i didn't. This obviously impressed enough of the senior managers to get the job over me.

The problem is in the 6 years i've done this job and have done schemes near school, i have learnt one thing, as all the other experienced engineers have, that this is not worth doing as 1, they never ever reply to consultation so its a waste of valuable time and 2 the school themselves who you would already have consulted are meant to arrange themselves with the school....so i in my experience omitted a politically correct answer that in practice is not done.

 

Thankfully another position is supposedly to open, and the only others likely going for it with me, aren't as qualified or experienced, so i'd assume i'm the front runner, that and i'm going to give every bullshit answer now and even add if its actually done in practice, rather than rule it out in my mind because of such.

 

I may even go for a Higher engineers post since the bloke who held it has left/been arrested and convicted of being a dirty pedophile....oh wait senior management want that kept quiet

 

Thats also a problem with my work, politics coverups and general detachment of senior management who have no spine, and bend over backwards to look good

[Charlie]

Also my job has nothing to do with the degree I accrued £15k of debt to earn, and yet I feel no urge to go down that route anyway.

 

A lot of the time a degree is just a means to the end. The degree itself isn't that important, it just shows that you worked hard for 4 years to get it and have learnt the skills needed for the workplace. Obviously not the case in all degrees.

 

I have literally just handed in my 4 week notice to my current job. Moving to Morgan Stanley!

[Magnus]

Shorty - try audio books? They wouldn't shorten your commute, but a good book may make it seem shorter, at least.

[bob]

I'm a qualified engineer now, and yet my job title still includes "trainee" in it, despite the degree and 6 years experience.

 

In days gone buy once qualifying we automatically moved into a graduate post (which included a small pay increase) or there usually were Assistant Engineer roles available (on a different pay scale, so more progression available). However in their infinite wisdom as part of cost cutting exercises they removed all the vacant Graduate posts, and have removed all bar two (one is now filled i'll get to that) of the Assistant Engineer roles! so now i'm qualified, doing an engineers workload on the pay of a Trainee.

 

There was one Assistant job that was advertised last year when myself and my friend qualified, and he got the job over me, which i'm in two minds about. We both have the same qualification with the same grade, only he has worked here for 4 years and two of those were spent in another non engineering role, albeit i helped to train him up and got him to a good level and he excelled. But apparently we were very close in an interview but he won out solely on one question, where we were asked about considerations when say introducing a scheme on a road near a hospital and school, we both said the usual and included close liaising with the hospital and school to avoid disruption, mentioning doing the works in a school holiday....but in addition to that he advised contacting the school travel co-ordinator within the council to make sure any routes were altered, and i didn't. This obviously impressed enough of the senior managers to get the job over me.

The problem is in the 6 years i've done this job and have done schemes near school, i have learnt one thing, as all the other experienced engineers have, that this is not worth doing as 1, they never ever reply to consultation so its a waste of valuable time and 2 the school themselves who you would already have consulted are meant to arrange themselves with the school....so i in my experience omitted a politically correct answer that in practice is not done.

 

Thankfully another position is supposedly to open, and the only others likely going for it with me, aren't as qualified or experienced, so i'd assume i'm the front runner, that and i'm going to give every bullshit answer now and even add if its actually done in practice, rather than rule it out in my mind because of such.

 

I may even go for a Higher engineers post since the bloke who held it has left/been arrested and convicted of being a dirty pedophile....oh wait senior management want that kept quiet

 

Thats also a problem with my work, politics coverups and general detachment of senior management who have no spine, and bend over backwards to look good

 

What sort of Engineering do you do? Civil? What sort of things do you do day-to-day? Is it fun? (Other than management being crappy)

[Agent Gibbs]

What sort of Engineering do you do? Civil? What sort of things do you do day-to-day? Is it fun? (Other than management being crappy)

 

I do Civil engineering, and have sort of fallen into a rut of doing road works which doesn't test me nearly as much as i wanted to. It can be very rewarding especially when you see a finished scheme on site being used correctly.

 

but i wouldn't recommend any work in the public sector that is public facing, at least half of the "work" i do is correspondence from members of the public who think they are qualified engineers, human speed cameras or closet politicians.

They don't understand that budgets are limited and work has to be prioritised so sites with known accident histories are address first to stop further accidents, instead they whine that their residential street is an accident waiting to happen and more important, or they tell you how cars do 100mph down X road etc and why did you waste money X location, or you get the racist ones who say you send money on X ethnicity when they shouldn't be in the country

 

any good feeling or enthusiasm beaten out of you....and thats ignoing the media's representation of fat cat civil servants, so everyone hates that you work for any form of government....10% of the public sector are paid like kings and get gold plated pensions, the rest of us earn less than the average annual income and watch our friends in the private sector get better work, more pay and less of the beurocrisy that destroys your soul

 

so yeah i'd recommend engineering even civil engineering, i wouldn't recommend the public sector

[bob]

Hmmmm, well i hadn't even considered the public sector to be honest - i'm assuming if i did, i would end up doing sewage or something horrible like that (my degree is in Fluid Dynamics).

 

I'm just a bit worried i won't really be qualified for any job when i start applying.

[Shorty]

Shorty - try audio books? They wouldn't shorten your commute, but a good book may make it seem shorter, at least.

 

I tried that once, struggled to concentrate so I gave up - but that was a biography so maybe I should try again with some fiction. Any recommendations?

[Jimbob]

And another part of my job. I hate the commute as well, combined with the 8 1/2 hours i'm in work. I also have to commend with 3 1/2 hours travel and waiting. I can hear you all saying "get a car, will be easier". And with that i agree, but the distance i gotta travel works out to be twice the price i pay for the train on fuel. I currently pay £40 a week on the train, if i had a car i'd have something around £60-£80 p/w on fuel. This is based on a friend who has a small engine car and travels 6 miles less than me to work. It doesn't work out to be cost effective.

 

The commute wouldn't be too bad if i had a decent shift, my 1st train into work is at half 8, second is at 9:15am. I get to work at 9:45am ready for 10am. Thats the good part, the bad is the finish. I leave work at half 6 most days on a normal shift day. Some days i do lates, so the first part is the pain in the backside part. So by leaving at half 6, i get home at half 8. 2 trains still, but with a 45 minute wait after the 1st train.

 

Each day (including lates and weekends), i have a 12-13 hour day. 5 days a week, leave at half 8/half 9am. Home at half 8/10pm. A shift change means more time at home, but still have these 12 hour days. But adds 2 hours to my evenings at home. Which will improve my social life drastically.

 

I have asked for a shift change (the difference would be home at a decent time).