Enjoy your job?
Discussion
My job is how I imagine most people’s jobs right now.
It has its good times and then there’s the ‘I think I’ll quit today’ times.
I work in a Gym in a University so this time of year is pretty much deadville. Only a few international students remain and our local public users are what keeps the job ticking over. Obviously being a Uni there are quite times when term is out and the students go home. These times are perfect for catching up with all the non essential maintenance and paperwork that needs doing. Only trouble is the quiet times start at the end of May. So by late June most of it is done resulting in me finding piddly little mundane jobs to do to keep me ticking over.
Then there’s the busy time when term is in. The start of term in September is what we call ‘Hell month’ during this first month I barely have time to do anything as everyone wants their gym inductions right there and then, which should run at half hourly intervals but due to the ‘don’t give a s
t’ attitude of the receptionist they turn up every 5 mins or halfway through an induction I have started, it’s easier to do them after I’ve finished the first group as they will only be sent back up with the next group, which should be limited to 10 people but usually contains 15+ people saying they’ve been told to come up.
In between all these inductions there’s classes and club bookings to set up, often starting at the same time and both requiring the 2 staff on to set up each thing. So were running from one to the other trying to avoid the class/club starting too late as to affect the rest of the days bookings.
Combine this with being called every 5 mins to reception to answer the same questions 10 times over, and that the receptionist has heard you repeat 10 times over but can’t be bothered to answer it themselves as it interferes with their gossip time.
As a whole I enjoy my job for the variety it gives me. I work a 5week shift rotation so it isn’t as mundane as doing the same set ups week after week 365 days a year.
I love the variety of people I get to meet and interact with from all nationalities, even though some can be hard work at first, they do eventually learn to listen to what were shouting at them for!
In the grand scheme of career development I’m way behind where I should be right now, the end of this month will see me into my 9th year in the job, having been looked over twice for the promotion I and a colleague deserve. I’m told I should be at least an assistant manager of a leisure facility by now given my experience in the sector.
But I don’t mind really, thanks to it being a Higher Education sector I am paid very well for the work I do. I’m on the same rate as assistant managers of Council and privately run health clubs/leisure centres, and have 80% less responsibilities that they have.
To progress along the career path most people follow in the industry would mean me having to take a pay cut to get to a Duty Manager position, then slog that out for a few years before getting the Assistant Manager position of somewhere to bring me back to my current annual income, and right now that doesn’t appeal to me as my budget is pretty tight as it is!
Plus the closures every bank holiday and the weekish the Uni shuts over xmas/new year means I get close to 40 days off a year (including my Annual Leave entitlement). Not quite as much as Teachers get but still not bad going
It has its good times and then there’s the ‘I think I’ll quit today’ times.
I work in a Gym in a University so this time of year is pretty much deadville. Only a few international students remain and our local public users are what keeps the job ticking over. Obviously being a Uni there are quite times when term is out and the students go home. These times are perfect for catching up with all the non essential maintenance and paperwork that needs doing. Only trouble is the quiet times start at the end of May. So by late June most of it is done resulting in me finding piddly little mundane jobs to do to keep me ticking over.
Then there’s the busy time when term is in. The start of term in September is what we call ‘Hell month’ during this first month I barely have time to do anything as everyone wants their gym inductions right there and then, which should run at half hourly intervals but due to the ‘don’t give a s
t’ attitude of the receptionist they turn up every 5 mins or halfway through an induction I have started, it’s easier to do them after I’ve finished the first group as they will only be sent back up with the next group, which should be limited to 10 people but usually contains 15+ people saying they’ve been told to come up.In between all these inductions there’s classes and club bookings to set up, often starting at the same time and both requiring the 2 staff on to set up each thing. So were running from one to the other trying to avoid the class/club starting too late as to affect the rest of the days bookings.
Combine this with being called every 5 mins to reception to answer the same questions 10 times over, and that the receptionist has heard you repeat 10 times over but can’t be bothered to answer it themselves as it interferes with their gossip time.
As a whole I enjoy my job for the variety it gives me. I work a 5week shift rotation so it isn’t as mundane as doing the same set ups week after week 365 days a year.
I love the variety of people I get to meet and interact with from all nationalities, even though some can be hard work at first, they do eventually learn to listen to what were shouting at them for!
In the grand scheme of career development I’m way behind where I should be right now, the end of this month will see me into my 9th year in the job, having been looked over twice for the promotion I and a colleague deserve. I’m told I should be at least an assistant manager of a leisure facility by now given my experience in the sector.
But I don’t mind really, thanks to it being a Higher Education sector I am paid very well for the work I do. I’m on the same rate as assistant managers of Council and privately run health clubs/leisure centres, and have 80% less responsibilities that they have.
To progress along the career path most people follow in the industry would mean me having to take a pay cut to get to a Duty Manager position, then slog that out for a few years before getting the Assistant Manager position of somewhere to bring me back to my current annual income, and right now that doesn’t appeal to me as my budget is pretty tight as it is!
Plus the closures every bank holiday and the weekish the Uni shuts over xmas/new year means I get close to 40 days off a year (including my Annual Leave entitlement). Not quite as much as Teachers get but still not bad going
NobleGuy said:
Yeah I guess... It's just that IT for me is so lacking in challenge 90% of the time it feels more like a prison sentence most of the time. To me it's all effectively the same - show data, save data, present it this way, drag it from here and put it here, etc., etc., etc.
I think I need to find something else I'm good at
You could move into a software job where you don't find yourself doing that. I've only had two jobs, but I've found myself challenged as a normal part of work for most of that time. Also, I've worked in a lot of different areas (in my current role), but I would say that your description of the work would only apply in the most reductionist sense. I think I need to find something else I'm good at
Perhaps you are in a completely different area of IT. More likely, though, it is simply that I am not as able as you are; try becoming more stupid, then see if work is challenging again!
no......
I work for a well known automotive glazier company. It used to be a fun job mainly down to the people I worked with and the freedom you had. Plus bonus is linked to productivity and due to the atmosphere we used to work in extra jobs and extra hours were things I used to enjoy doing.
Now with a clamp down on procedure and implementing new guidelines the job has become boring and mundane. Will I stay maybe? will depend on self motivation and goals out of work at the moment.
I work for a well known automotive glazier company. It used to be a fun job mainly down to the people I worked with and the freedom you had. Plus bonus is linked to productivity and due to the atmosphere we used to work in extra jobs and extra hours were things I used to enjoy doing.
Now with a clamp down on procedure and implementing new guidelines the job has become boring and mundane. Will I stay maybe? will depend on self motivation and goals out of work at the moment.
I love the work that I do. I even dream about the work. I work in data analysis in quite a specialised/niche area. Essentially I try to understand and solve intangible problems.
I don't always get the politics as there are lots of personalities to manage upwards in the other supervisors and management team. Actually I can really suck at the politics because I just can't take some of it seriously. The industry politics - relations between different companies - are also a whole new kettle of fish that I am still occasionally bemused by. Supervising others whilst doing their job alongside them has been another steep learning curve - good thing I'm a thick skinned workaholic :0)
I don't always get the politics as there are lots of personalities to manage upwards in the other supervisors and management team. Actually I can really suck at the politics because I just can't take some of it seriously. The industry politics - relations between different companies - are also a whole new kettle of fish that I am still occasionally bemused by. Supervising others whilst doing their job alongside them has been another steep learning curve - good thing I'm a thick skinned workaholic :0)
boobles said:
You forgot to mention what you do?
I crash test child seats in cars (some rather nice cars aswel) & also aircraft seats (not in cars obviously) & have worked for the same company for 18 years. I enjoy the work but the pay is crap.
Are you a dwarf? Like "Mini-me"? Surely you could name your own price?I crash test child seats in cars (some rather nice cars aswel) & also aircraft seats (not in cars obviously) & have worked for the same company for 18 years. I enjoy the work but the pay is crap.
My job is so fking unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:
First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the fking stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.
Anyway, I drive these fktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
king unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the f
king stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.Anyway, I drive these f
ktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
Ahhh Moneypenny said:
After 6 pages am dissappointed that there are not more people who hate their job as much as me, only a couple, I actually considered crashing the car on the way to work the other day so I didn't have to go in for a while, not completely maiming myself but enough to warrent a few weeks in hospital
Been there myself too, Kerry, (a few years ago) so I totally understand your thoughts. 
Oh and I agree - I thought it'd be more balanced or perhaps even biased towards hating... maybe it's a case of only people at the extremes being motivated to reply, with a bias towards those who are happy. Even so, I have to congratulate those who do - it's an enviable position.
Come on, misanthropes (without the comma - that could be a aphorism for those who enjoy their jobs) get moaning!
Edited by Landlord on Thursday 2nd August 08:14
jonno990 said:
My job is so fking unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:
First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the fking stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.
Anyway, I drive these fktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
I got it. king unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the f
king stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.Anyway, I drive these f
ktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
jonno990 said:
My job is so fking unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:
First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the fking stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.
Anyway, I drive these fktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
Brilliant. king unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the f
king stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.Anyway, I drive these f
ktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.jonno990 said:
My job is so fking unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:
First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the fking stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.
Anyway, I drive these fktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.
Zionks! Like, that sounds heavy.king unbelievable. I’ll try to sum it up by first telling you about the folks I work with:First, there is this supermodel wanna-be chick. Yeah, okay, she is pretty hot, but damn is she completely useless. The girl is constantly fixing her hair or putting on makeup. She is extremely self-centered and has never once considered the needs or wants of anyone but herself. She is as dumb as a box of rocks, and I still find it surprising that she has enough brain power to continue to breathe.
The next chick is completely the opposite. She might even be one of the smartest people on the planet. Her career oppertunities are endless, and yet she is here with us. She is a zero on a scale of 1 to 10. I’m not sure she even showers, much less shaves her “womanly” parts. I think she might be a lesbian, because every time we drive by the hardware store, she moans like a cat in heat.
But the jewel of the crowd has got to be the f
king stoner. And this guy is more than just your average pothead. In fact, he is baked before he comes to work, during work, and I’m sure after work. He probably hasn’t been sober anytime in the last ten years, and he’s only 22. He dresses like a beatnik throwback from the 1960’s, and to make things worse, he brings his big fking dog to work. Every fking day I have to look at this huge Great Dane walk around half-stoned from the second-hand smoke. Hell, sometimes I even think it’s trying to talk with its constant bellowing. Also, both of them are constantly hungry, requiring multiple stops to McDonalds and Burger King, every single fking day.Anyway, I drive these f
ktards around in my van and we solve mysteries and st.Surprisingly, I do enjoy the one that pays the bills, Part time sales assistant for a large diy/trade chain, (did work for the company's orange diy sister and that was crap), we have a good laugh at work, both with other members of the team and the customers, dealing with tradesmen is a lot easier than dealing with diyers. Plus I am learning lots of new stuff which will probably never be used
Also enjoy doing the craft fairs and events with my handmade jewellery (unless it's raining and it's an outdoor event), plus I also enjoy making the jewellery in the first place.
Last job is being a mum..... not so much fun with stroppy teenagers (one of who got grounded on the first week of the holidays)
Also enjoy doing the craft fairs and events with my handmade jewellery (unless it's raining and it's an outdoor event), plus I also enjoy making the jewellery in the first place.
Last job is being a mum..... not so much fun with stroppy teenagers (one of who got grounded on the first week of the holidays)
aizvara said:
NobleGuy said:
Yeah I guess... It's just that IT for me is so lacking in challenge 90% of the time it feels more like a prison sentence most of the time. To me it's all effectively the same - show data, save data, present it this way, drag it from here and put it here, etc., etc., etc.
I think I need to find something else I'm good at
You could move into a software job where you don't find yourself doing that. I've only had two jobs, but I've found myself challenged as a normal part of work for most of that time. Also, I've worked in a lot of different areas (in my current role), but I would say that your description of the work would only apply in the most reductionist sense. I think I need to find something else I'm good at
Perhaps you are in a completely different area of IT. More likely, though, it is simply that I am not as able as you are; try becoming more stupid, then see if work is challenging again!
I think part of the problem is me - I've got no life plan these days which has reduced my motivation massively.
No, and work/career (in a number of jobs) has been a consistent source of thought/deliberation/unhappiness for about 12 years....
In the past I've had dull jobs. In my current job I'm very busy with overlapping projects with a lot of sub-contractors, suppliers etc. which makes for the time passing quickly, but it is often frustrating, lots of hassle, chasing changes and everything just feels rushed.
The hours are okay, the money is okay, but there's very little satisfaction from my point of view, just a lot of fire-fighting and getting things done in very short(and ever-shortening) time-scales in order to be able to move onto the next projects, whilst trying to make a profit for the company.
Working in an office really gets me down these days.
I suppose that gaining more experience and becoming better at the job could lead to self-employment/contracting although I'm not sure that I have enough interest/enthusiasm in the work. Self-employment could provide 'carrot' of more money (not my primary motivation)and a 'stick'(fear of not earning anything).
In the past I've had dull jobs. In my current job I'm very busy with overlapping projects with a lot of sub-contractors, suppliers etc. which makes for the time passing quickly, but it is often frustrating, lots of hassle, chasing changes and everything just feels rushed.
The hours are okay, the money is okay, but there's very little satisfaction from my point of view, just a lot of fire-fighting and getting things done in very short(and ever-shortening) time-scales in order to be able to move onto the next projects, whilst trying to make a profit for the company.
Working in an office really gets me down these days.
I suppose that gaining more experience and becoming better at the job could lead to self-employment/contracting although I'm not sure that I have enough interest/enthusiasm in the work. Self-employment could provide 'carrot' of more money (not my primary motivation)and a 'stick'(fear of not earning anything).
Ahhh Moneypenny said:
After 6 pages am dissappointed that there are not more people who hate their job as much as me, only a couple, I actually considered crashing the car on the way to work the other day so I didn't have to go in for a while, not completely maiming myself but enough to warrent a few weeks in hospital
what is it you do and why don;t youy stop doing it? i used to detest my job and couldn't see any future at all in it. it was bone crushingly boring and the people i worked with were dullards. it got so bad i was terribly depressed, used to think of half arsed excuses not to go it or to go in late and i was such a bad employee i spent whole days playing solitaire or arriving in the morning half baked just so i could face it.
ended up getting some great advice and mentoring from a pher [paddy&murphy, big thumbs up to him] so i quit. spent over a year unemployed and contracting, working out what i should do. applied only for full time positions that interested me and offered a varied career, and ended up 15mths later moving to a new country to take one up. so far so good and i have so many more varied paths to take from here simply by virtue of being here in the first place.
I mostly enjoy my work. I get to meet to people, talk and explain technical issues to non technical people, deal with customers, management, geeks and sales. It pays well. I sometimes think I'm overpaid for the actual working hours I put it, feels too easy sometimes like I'm going to get caught and HR will call and say actually sorry about this but we got your pay wrong is should be 50% of what it is.
I also mostly work from home, only left the house once for work in the last two weeks. I don't commute, I can eat my lunch at home and do chores when I'm not busy. Most meetings these days are via voice or sometimes video conference so if i'm not that involved I can sit and play computer games on my other screen.
When it's quiet I prevaricate about the work I do have then end up working late to finish something I had plenty of time for. That's me though not the job.
I also mostly work from home, only left the house once for work in the last two weeks. I don't commute, I can eat my lunch at home and do chores when I'm not busy. Most meetings these days are via voice or sometimes video conference so if i'm not that involved I can sit and play computer games on my other screen.
When it's quiet I prevaricate about the work I do have then end up working late to finish something I had plenty of time for. That's me though not the job.
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