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Rant

Workplace and employment

Posted 15 months ago|14 comments|592 views
Written by
jenna0215
Saint Charles, MO
Hi..I just want to express how disturbed I am about the workplace in general these days, not to mention trying to find employment.

I have a job. I loved my job until just recently and no, I do not mind change depending on what it entails that is.

What I find disturbing is that they give us a job to do and I do it with the best intentions for myself and my company. But recently I feel like I am supposed to just be a "yes man." Lately I feel more that I am supposed to just say yes to one line of the business in my company while trying to make sure that I am making my line of business happy. Not sure how one can do that because you cant make both happy but we are supposed to do that...somehow.

So I think okay...let's see what else is "out there" after being with this company for 8 years. What do I get? A series of tests to take. I think to myself, its okay. I graduated from college Summa Cum Laude. This should not be an issue. I forgot about my test anxieties. I was always the last to finish any exam. I forgot about the racing heart while getting a test in front of me. But still this is what they want so I will take it. I did. I didn't finish the 10 minute test that required a calculator and some words I was not overly familiar with. I graduated with A's...did that make me a genius? No...but I thought I was somewhat smart. I guess not. At least according to this test.

Okay..so I didn't finish my 10 minute test of questions and processes in which they gave me. I did have to stop and breath a few times to calm myself down (test anxiety). Alright..on to the next step with no time limit. NOW..we get tested on questions like..do my co-workers like me, do I like danger, is it better to work under fast paced conditions, slow paced conditions, etc; all which were asked in a different format about 4-5 times. Basically it was a psychological exam being scrutinized by someone who probably never took a psych class.

Since when did the merit of my work in real life fall into some category of some crazy psych test along with questions like if you have $2 how many pages of copies could you have if .10 buys 3 copies per each? Really? Does my work life really come to this?

What kind of society have we become?

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COMMENTS
15 months ago: It's really kinda funny. If I was told to take one of those I would just defer by saying.... I'm crazy...who else are you going to find to do my job...

I'm serious. The answer would be NOBODY and they know it.

Chin up.
jenna0215
jenna0215
Saint Charles, MO
15 months ago: Well...perhaps..but if you are taking a test for a job you feel that you are qualified for and they care more about this crap then on your work history..its not all that funny..and its not your job yet. ;)

But your comment made me laugh..and lately that hasnt been easy for me to do! So thanks!! :)
15 months ago: I'm with TCG on this.... some of these tests are bogus and only reflect an endless amount of testing to see if you are a 'compliant' ....once I applied for a job at a grocery store without any prior work experience... they looked at my resume and chuckled that it was vacant of their prerequisites. I just said... "Look I am the hardest worker you will find, and I do what I'm told." To that they chuckled again and said that they would call me if I got the job. Monday I got the call... and in mere months I was department management! Sometimes you need to go for the jugular and do something unexpected, fresh and memorable... what't the worst that can happen? Stay at your current job?

BTW, welcome to RantRave !:]
sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: Truth, interviews have gotten so crazy.
The interviewer doesn't even have a clue how to choose a potential employee.
They choose based on who they want. If they are younger, if they are female, or male they have their own perception of who should get the job.

I had a guy interview me once who said, "What can I do for you," I said, I need a job. He said, okay. When I was on unemployment, the State calls you in to have these mock interviews, I told them "no" because that can put a crimp into my style, which is I don't follow rules. Who wants to be generic?
sunny2
sunny2
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sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: If you are working for a corporation, you are always a number. One of the firms I worked for had an educational program, a woman in her early 50s went back to school for financing. Other employees mentioned to her that they scrutinize woman, especially age, and sure enough she finished and was laid off. You can be a hard worker and at the same time not be recognized while others get the pay raises and promotions. I was told once in a training class that the hardest worker has some insecurity issues and works harder to make up for it. That is a crock. Some people take pride in their work and get a lot done because they focus. I was in an office where they were behind in their work almost a year. I went in and cleaned it up in 3 months while being told by the other employees to slow down and stay behind. The owner was failing and didn't know why. Everything has changed. If your resume matches one or two criterias that match a company's computer, you might get a call back.

Truth - They love when you say:I do what I am told." I said to one of the interviewers at a legal firm, who had a very big head, "Look, what is the matter with people, they don't know a good worker when they see one." I got up to walk out and shook their hand, and I got the job. My response surprised them. Like you said unexpected. I did that for 3 or 4 interviews and it worked.
sunny2
sunny2
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sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: Years ago, Jenna, I remember my husband taking a lie detector test.
There are so many people looking for jobs, they can have their pick, so they don't care. I can see a psych test for certain types of jobs dealing possibly with special needs children, or children with problems, or handling a lot of money, or police, or State jobs. It's a big game to weed people out in most of these other companies.
Altruist
Altruist
Eugene, OR
15 months ago: Sunny has some good advice Jenna. Right now it is an employers market and they can afford to be choosey.

When I applied for City jobs they had the "best" most comprehensive tests that I had gone through. The interview was with a panel of 4-5 people and they asked good questions. People understand if you are nervous but if you show that you are a good hard worker they can overlook the nervousness. Just be yourself.

Some people do work harder to compensate for other shortcomings. I had a friend that was dyslexic, but I never knew it because she worked so hard and got so much done.
15 months ago: What a load of manure AL.

Jenna. Take this to heart. Go into every interview with a "I don't give a crap if they like me, I can do the job attitude". Yes, you might find 4 to 6 people sitting across the table during an interview. But, why should you care? You can do the job. Right?

They are looking to see how you react under pressure.

Don't give them that pleasure.

Trust me. I sit on a hiring team.
sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: Cypress why is it that 4 to 6 people will sit in during an interview?
Usually that is for high paying jobs, right? I think it is harder to please that many people. One may like you, the other can hate you.
Sometimes with those jobs, I would think you have to care a little.
They want to hear why you want to work for them and sometimes all you have to say it is a stepping stone, and they listen to see how smart you are.
I would get a carefree attitude for jobs that weren't meaningful to me, but something that was really important, I wouldn't be flippant.
15 months ago: 4 to 6 on the hiring team question... OK...

Try this... No Management is on the lower level Hiring Team...

The lower level Hiring Team is all grunt employees... seriously... even folks that clean the toilets...

Why be interviewed by grunts...

Short answer....

If you can't, won't do your job or are a slacker that calls in sick for a day off after the Super Bowl...

the grunts have to cover your rear by working harder.

Make sense?
sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: It makes sense.
I know friends that have been interviewed by 4 - 6 people for a job that pays around 35,000 and put them through the ringer even though they had the skills and were qualified they didn't get the job. If they don't like you or a certain look, you won't get hired. Then you go on an interview with 1 or 2 people and get hired for twice that amount, and they like you.
Remember you are entitled to sick days and personal days.
15 months ago: Somehow it seems that calling in sick after the Super Bowl (or any other time for that matter) because you self inflicted a hangover is not a entitled sick day.

The Navy still enforces it's sunburn rule.

What law requires any free sick days or personal days? Those are a gift and should be treated as such.
sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: Most people go in and earn an honest days pay. I know sick and personal days are necessary to maintain health on a job. I don't feel they are gifts just part of company policy.
If people work hard and are loyal to a company, the company should show that they are appreciated. I understand the law doesn't require anything but 1/2 hr lunch and 2 15 minute breaks a day.
(This is in 2008 when the economy went down hill.)
After my job was outsourced, I took a job that was okay but the boss sold it to one of his managers who was as stupid as they come in business. She knew nothing about managing and hid in her office all day. The other was a big bully and threatened to hurt people. They were nice as could be when trying to convince the employees to go with them starting their new company. After working for her and her partner for 1 year, they wanted their employees to work for nothing because they couldn't meet payroll, but they were taking all the money. After promising me a check for a month that they never intended to pay, I left. Found out that they were stealing my health insurance deductions from my check for the past 6 months. I had no benefits, and those benefits could have been carried over with me. I had to pay it all back myself. They had sick and personal days even vacation. Except when you left for vacation, there was no check delivered to your bank account.
So, it is more than laws that make a company successful. It is people being honest, loyal, and fair on both sides. I don't want to think like a glorified manager with no heart who looks down on their employees thinking they don't deserve anything but to be beaten down. I've never met a manager who was good. They take orders and are yes men. They are the small fish in the ocean of sharks. This is why people work for themselves. You don't have to answer to that garbage.
sunny2
sunny2
15 months ago: To add talk about laws, all the employees filed with the Labor Board and have yet to be reimbursed. Some worked 2 months more without getting paid.

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