Career Advice

[The Rev]

Here's the conundrum: I have a job I do not give a fuck about, except for the money, which I kinda need to keep making at the moment. The problem is, it pretty much shows that I don't care, and I got some crap about it today at work (my attendance has been slacking off, and I got dinged). I also got alot of crap for being kinda good one minute, not so good the next. Basically, in a few different ways, my apathy is showing.

Now, there's no way I can start caring. However, I can probably do a thing or two to at least make it LOOK as if I give a crap. I'm just not sure what to do. Any advice?



The Rev

[fenderbender]

look for another job?

why's the money needed at the moment?

anyway to put that shit on hold and look for something new?


also... elaborate more... what do you do for a living? what dont you like about it?

[Mercury]

All you need to fool your co-workers is the right outfit and the right lingo. Slowly start turning into Gordon Gekko and soon you'll have the entire company by the balls. Wear a suit to work and refuse to discuss anything but profit margines with your coworkers. Then you'll be revered.

[osirus2020]

What's the issue? Are you saying you don't put 100% of your effort in, or are you just not working properly?

I suggest just putting all of your effort into doing a good job. Not a marginal job or above & beyond type job, just a good, thorough work. I have found that if I half-ass it the first time, I will just end up having to do it again. It sucks having to use more effort than a slug, but even if it's boring shit you're getting paid to do it.

One thing I have always had to think about is that when I'm working, I'm not just working for a paycheck. My first job is to be at work, doing work. My second job, is my job working for myself. When I get stuck doing shit jobs, or anything really, I try to do it as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.

Even though it may have only been something mundane, doing a good, thorough job, helps me feel good because I know what kind of worker I really am.

My main reason for developing this mentality is because growing up working, I have been surrounded by incompetent fools who value nothing but the time they get off work. Whether it was texting a friend, checking their e-mail, slacking off, whatever, I have always had to work with people who simply don't work well.

What's good about the way I see it, is that I can always have something to show (even if it is to just myself), I can always have something to feel good about.

[fenderbender]

What's the issue? Are you saying you don't put 100% of your effort in, or are you just not working properly?

I suggest just putting all of your effort into doing a good job. Not a marginal job or above & beyond type job, just a good, thorough work. I have found that if I half-ass it the first time, I will just end up having to do it again. It sucks having to use more effort than a slug, but even if it's boring shit you're getting paid to do it.

One thing I have always had to think about is that when I'm working, I'm not just working for a paycheck. My first job is to be at work, doing work. My second job, is my job working for myself. When I get stuck doing shit jobs, or anything really, I try to do it as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.

Even though it may have only been something mundane, doing a good, thorough job, helps me feel good because I know what kind of worker I really am.

My main reason for developing this mentality is because growing up working, I have been surrounded by incompetent fools who value nothing but the time they get off work. Whether it was texting a friend, checking their e-mail, slacking off, whatever, I have always had to work with people who simply don't work well.

What's good about the way I see it, is that I can always have something to show (even if it is to just myself), I can always have something to feel good about.

while i agree with this for actual physical work... shit like rev is probally doing, is just plain boring...

its harder imo to sit down and work hard to get the job done good filling out info... then it is to work hard doin some actual work

[toastyroach]

you're never gonna get ahead and grow in your career if you don't like what you do...

you need to keep doing the very bare mininum to not get fired, and look for a better job in the meantime...

[№1]

you need to keep doing the very bare mininum to not get fired, and look for a better job in the meantime...

No, you need to keep doing the very bare minimum to not get fired and just a little bit more.


Look man, Ima be out of work in three weeks. You and I are roughly the same age, the job market ain't looking too sweet and California is running out of money and WalMart don't take IOU's for grub and stuff. If you got a job that you can keep by doing what it takes to make the man keep signing the check then buck up and put the 'living your own life' shit on the shelf until things start looking up.

I'm gonna have to take a pretty substantial cut in pay to be lucky enough to try and start working my way back into what it is I do now, this is a crowded boat friend and seats ain't opening up real fast, I put six guys who could easily do my job on the street. Started off with my own competition if you will.

It'll come around again man, we'll see it too, hang tough.

[Being]

Yep. Pretty much if you need money and can't survive without a paycheck at this time, you need to just somehow find inspiration to fool your coworkers into thinking you care.


Don't slack off enough to get fired until you find a new job. The economy will come back eventually, just buy yourself some time.

Best way to fool your coworkers you care is by fooling yourself you care. give us some details on what kind of work and i'm sure everyone here will be able to give better advice

[toastyroach]

bleh... keeping participation to the minimum 'FTW'....

do you work for a mid sized / large company??

if so, it's very hard to get fired from these places... and they couldn't just do it out of nowhere... they have to build up a case against you... write bad performance reviews... notify HR give you warnings etc, etc... it aint like one day you just get fired, you pretty much have to know that it's coming... it's basically the best/worst thing about living in America

participation-to-a-minimum... then work hard at your resume/whoring yourself out/ learning a new skillset/networking...

[Being]

if they want to fire you, they will find a way

[№1]

bleh... keeping participation to the minimum 'FTW'....

do you work for a mid sized / large company??

if so, it's very hard to get fired from these places... and they couldn't just do it out of nowhere... they have to build up a case against you... write bad performance reviews... notify HR give you warnings etc, etc... it aint like one day you just get fired, you pretty much have to know that it's coming... it's basically the best/worst thing about living in America

participation-to-a-minimum... then work hard at your resume/whoring yourself out/ learning a new skillset/networking...

Never figured you to be part of the cube farm and if you're not, stop giving shitty advice, corporate America sucks ass but not all of us work there. Some of us have to bust ass (I'm management and still 'work' for a living) in the world where your immediate supervisor also signs your paycheck.

Don't get me wrong, follow your dreams, but make sure you have means to dream first.

[xMSx]

The fact that you don't give a shit about it means you should probably find another job.

"He who has a job he likes never works a day in his life"
-Confuscious

[al-Mu'akhkhir]

become the robot you know you can be and PRETEND to like it, unless your hatred for your job is affecting your mental wellbeing (spending most of your time somewhere you hate gets stressful after a while IMO), in which case I wish you luck in your search for a new "career" path; might I ask what you do for a living?

[Peace seeker]

toastyroach's advice covered me.

Give the absolute minimum, keep looking for another job and pretend that you re active and that u give a shit.

You can walk fast in the hallways holding papers and lookin fustrated. When they ask you how you re doing, reply with something like "i ve been so busy because...client A...blah blah.....project.... blah blah....installation ....blah blah"

in a minute they will prolly be fed up with your blah blah and try to escape to another office.

when the boss gets in the office, speak louder with clients and play the frustrated/very busy employee that has no time for anything, but work.

Then when he/she leaves sit back and surf yahooka again.


Upper management (and corporations in general) dont give a shit about their employees. All they care is that they take their 170,000$ bonuses on top of their 250,000$ salaries. So FUCK EM! they dont know whats going on on lower levels. They THINK they do. But in reality they have no clue..

Thats why big corporation all of a sudden go bankrupt. Because those on the upper levels had no fuckin clue of what was going on the "lower" floors of the company. Or they did know what was going on, but didnt bother fixing it! Because usually, executives join a company to make a fast-buck for 2-3 years and then leave with a fat settlement. Their main concern isnt to "fix the problems" but to make as much as they can, show some bullshit sales numbers (that have been "fixed"), take their money and move on to another "sucker" company on a higher position and fool their shareholders accordingly.

You work your butt off and bring results for 10 years ina company and what do they do? They cut your salary 40% and eliminate your position (taking you back to level 1 after 10 years of work at their mf business) so golden boy (with zero experience, but with connections) can climb the corporate ladder and make all of a sudden 3x more money than you. Usually they dont have a clue about leadership skills..

I m in such a scenario.

So i dont give a fuck about my work (long time now). I leave early and try to bullshit around as much as i can. they bullshit me i bullshit them. Thats how it goes.

But on the other hand, trying to find a descent position nowdays is hard. I ve been lookin for over 3 years with various interviews.

If u gotta feed your family Rev, just stay there man and look for something better.


sorry for the ranting and long post

[catastrophe]

Do what you enjoy the most, and not too much should matter more.

[Center]

This entire thread is full of scarcity mindsets! Ughhh.

I don't see how people can waste a large portion (work) of their life doing something they not only don't enjoy doing but have to literally lie to themselves and their co-workers about the fact that they don't enjoy work.

Rev, to give you pratical advice, keep the job. However, I would seriously advise you to start really looking into what you WANT to do nowadays. Unless you have some passion for your job it's gonna be real hard to make a small or FUCKING HUGE fortune. Oh ya, and to be happy at work and after.

If surviving in this life revolves around making money don't you want to make money WHILE enhancing your mind and soul!?

[Peace seeker]

This entire thread is full of scarcity mindsets! Ughhh.

I don't see how people can waste a large portion (work) of their life doing something they not only don't enjoy doing but have to literally lie to themselves and their co-workers about the fact that they don't enjoy work.

Rev, to give you pratical advice, keep the job. However, I would seriously advise you to start really looking into what you WANT to do nowadays. Unless you have some passion for your job it's gonna be real hard to make a small or FUCKING HUGE fortune. Oh ya, and to be happy at work and after.

If surviving in this life revolves around making money don't you want to make money WHILE enhancing your mind and soul!?

what you re saying is true (in theory),

but have you been out lookin for a job lately.......?

do you think its THAT easy to find "the dream job" that pays good and you happen to like it too?

I ve been lookin for that job since 1989...

[Center]

Yes, I have. Wouldn't "the dream job" inherently be something you like?

However, I don't let things like that stay in the hands of others for long. Thats why I started my own company.

Anyway, you must STAND OUT! Be the guy who sends a personalized e-mail with a business solution in it. Be the guy who comes in for an interview and is relaxed and enjoyable who knows how to improve the bottom line for a business. Be the guy who gives more then just-enough-not-to-get-fired in EVERYTHING you do and you will inevitably bring to the attention of people in higher places, your work ethic and determination. Using this strategy I've had quite a few good jobs offers fall into my lap in the last couple months. I'm talkin $100,000+ annual.

Past that, it's not about what you do but about who you know. To get that dream job you gotta be the social butterfly networking guy. Doesn't mean you gotta sell your soul and be a boring suit muncher. Just means that you have to put yourself out there in the scene. Help people without any intention of being paid back. Be the guy people ENJOY to see show up at an event.

It's all about putting yourself in the way of success and opportunities.

[Peace seeker]

thats good advice man^^

[Center]

Thank you. It's come from many many MANY hours of time wasted on bullshit jobs and I realised had nothing to do with my plan on changing the world.

You can call me a dreamer but I'm not the only one.