Temporary employment day...(lengthy rant)

LOL Sticks, that is hilarious! Not pleasant for you, but, well,
not pleasant for anyone, I suppose, ha ha!

I've learned to watch people in the grocery store as well. If
you enter an aisle and someone on the aisle halfway down
suddenly turns and heads the other direction, they either got
what they needed from the shelf, or you are about to find yourself
to blame for what they left on the aisle!

LOL

we are so bad....i guess this is the only place that we can freely talk about making smells and not feel REAL embarrassed:)

up a couple of threads you were talking about another potential job....ie working with 2 women? is that sounding promising? minus working with 2 women?

Hi Sticks!

Well, I feel like I blew the interview, actually.

My first impression of the place was that it lacked a welcome
atmosphere. The chair was very wobbly even though I'm not much
of a heavyweight, the carpet was sad looking, etc. So here I was
already forming an opinion based on the reception area. It just
wasn't a good day to find a job.

In all honesty, I was judging the place before I even talked to
anyone. Even though the lady I interviewed with was just as nice
as pie, she reminded me of a previous employer. Then the young
girl reminded me of a former co-worker from the same place. As
time went by during the interview, I just kept having pre-conceived
notions of the place, and flashbacks to my previous job.

By the time I found out the place paid fabulous wages, paid for your
benefits in full and had numerous benefits, I had already acted like
a sourpuss. They kept making little notes on my resume. Likely "She
has an attitude problem" or "Miss Goodie Two Shoes doesn't like swearing."

If I don't get the job, I feel it will either be because the other applicant
was familiar with their caveman computer program, or because they
sensed negativity on my part about the previous job. That seems to be
my biggest problem. They open the door and invite you to be honest,
but I can't keep my mouth shut.

Mind you, I don't bad talk the previous job, but when the second interview
came (the big cheese) I basically told him that I have little tolerance for a job
where my work is sabotaged or I am on the receiving end of blame for things
I did not do, or had no control over. Then, without hesitating, I went into a
trail of something that included a professional environment, yelling and cursing
had no place in a job I wanted, etc.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to hear from the head hunter guy, another one of
those quizzes asking you to rate this and that from one to ten. Twenty minutes
of silliness without knowing if you got the job. Then you wait and wait and wait.
Then you call the guy and ask what the heck, and he tells you they already chose
someone else last week.

I think I'm about to surrender this job search and just settle in for the winter.

KM

I am so glad I read this thread - I was laughing so hard I cried!

On a serious note:
While it is a necessity to work so that you can live, it is also imperative to recognize that the workplace is quite similar to a community or family. Some function well, some are just beyond-belief dysfunctional. The question becomes one of whether you fit, or how much do you want change so you do fit?
It is important to remember that you only have so much time & energy on any given day, your life partly being a collection of workdays. Think of these as capital - to be "invested" as wisely as possible. An employee is not merely a resource: what each brings to the table needs to be assessed and given value.
If a workplace negates the value of their employees for whatever reason, it is doubtful that either will achieve long-term success.
The difficult part in a job search is to find a place where the company culture is one that is healthy, because of each employee's positive contributions.
Each of us has worth - don't allow yourself to be defined by shallow people with glaring issues. Just how much weight do you give to commentary from someone who is not grounded in reality? What is your tolerance level for workplace-environment drama? These type situations are going to happen, and are best thought of as educational: what can be mined from the situation? But if this type culture is the norm, are you willing to continually give your precious time & energy to dealing with it?
Best not to invest long-term where the outcome is a probable negative.
Be positive with what you have got to offer, be confident in your ability to do a job well, and leave the naysayers who prefer to wallow in the weeds, behind.

I'll drink to that!

When gainfully employed full time, we spend more time with
co-workers than we do our own families.

Hardly do I want to invest that much time of my life with someone
who shreds my documents, passes the buck to my desk, lies, cheats
and steals while I am doing right by the company.

Now, I'm no angel, I've been known to sit in the bathroom stall for ten
minutes just to take a mental break, once almost falling asleep while
there, simply sitting and leaning my head against the wall, exhausted.
But to sabotage someone else?

Maybe the head hunter guy is right. I have unrealistic expectations
in an employer. LOL.

Wuvie and Sticks, I am laughing uncontrollably. Thanks for brightening my day.

I think it really $@^#& that we have to work with catty backstabbers sometimes and put up with stuff that just isn't right. I finally had enuf of a new boss torturing people in my dept. and quit a while back, even tho people were warning me that I was getting too old to get another job - that no one would hire me (just turned 50 and I am NOT old!). It has taken a while, I have to admit, but I didn't try all that hard either because I just needed a break from the insanity and to recover from the ulcers and heart palpitations I was getting. Plus of course, I got to spend more time in my garden :)

Now I have a temp job with absolutely no job security or benefits, but I am working in my field, have an opportunity to learn some very valuable skills, and work in a place with HEAT (literally, the last place the heater died and they told us they weren't going to bother fixing it) and co-workers who treat others with respect. Plus if I work 40 hours I am paid for 40 hours. Last place I often worked 70 hours for that same 40 hours of pay. I put up with it for 11 years. I shouldn't have.

I'm trying to figure out how to work for myself and still make ends meet.

Don't settle for less than what you deserve!!!! You deserve to be treated with respect!! Money is over-rated. Good health and less stress are more valuable. Best of luck to you!
Juli

BTW, I sabotaged myself by letting potential employers hear a few complaints about my previous company. It seems to me like I am lying if I totally gloss over the problems and act like there was nothing wrong, but my sister in HR insists that's what you have to do. Luckily, my present company already had heard horror stories from someone else who works there, so I didn't have to say much about why I left.

Juli,

Many thanks for your posts, indeed, Katye, yours too, definitely!

You know, the next interview, I think I will try to concentrate on
just positive things. I'll bite my tongue and just think hard, I won't
lie, but I will just have to quell the truth.

I just hope they don't ask what I learned from my last job, LOL.

KM

Wuvie....what you learned from your last job is that.......

you are.....
resourceful
a quick learner
able to deal with difficult situations and people
able to complete your tasks without food
focused
the goes on....

but above all, you've learned that you have the super-human ability to continue to work through green gas clouds that take everyone else down! :)

Heathr, many thanks!

With all of your help, I'll make my last job job sound
like a dream.

Tomorrow will be a better day for certain. :-) KM

Wuvie, you are correct, concentrate on the positive. A potential employer will be turned off if you say negative things about the former employer. You run the risk of being labeled a negative person (instead of honest). Afterall, they don't know you, or the other employer as well as you did!

katye what you said was brilliant...thanks for saying something so profound but relatively simple and straightforward...

may...i am 52 and i am working after 10 yrs...i haven't been out there long enuf to see if it is hard to get a job or not...my temp advisor said that people look for people like us who are more mature ....

edited to remove

This message was edited Nov 5, 2007 1:01 PM

This message was edited Nov 5, 2007 3:48 PM

Uh oh. It has become a bit difficult to take part in this conversation.

This message was edited Nov 5, 2007 1:02 PM

wuvie...sorry, i hope i haven't stepped on your toes..

Wuvie - Heathrjoy made an excellent point in that your 1 day in office-Hell served up a lot of positive points, which she listed.
When you interview for any position, it is necessary to sell yourself, as in advertising. The mindset being - "This is who I am, and this is what I can do for you & your company."
Most of us "need" to work. It is common to sound desperate. I am not being accusatory here, just pointing out a reality of NEED.
You began this thread & told an incredible story: it was both poignant & hysterically funny. You obviously believe in yourself, and prefer to stay as far away as possible from all the BS. This is great, because you have skills to offer, as well as a positive impact in the workplace environment.
That being said, when you interview, make sure that you find out what they have that is worthy of you working for them - it's a 2-way street. Don't ever forget that!
Work should be mutually beneficial for both the employer/company AND the employee.
Both components need to be present. You possess unique abilities/traits that most would welcome. And if a company does not value you - move on.
You will find a place to land, but sometimes it takes longer than we want. However, it is worth the wait to work in an environment where your employer believes in you.
Wishing you the very best!
Regards, K

Sorry, Wuvie. I will back out now.

Someone please help me understand the absence of the previous posts of LouC and sticks_n_stones. I had read them before and in totally agreement of there stand that, " We are all in the place that God wants us at any given time" Why were these post deleted? I will NEVER back down in my belief that GOD puts us where He wants us to be.

Dahtzu, I'm not sure I agree with you on a couple of things. I think sometimes we put ourself were we want to be, regardless of what God had in mind for us! I'm not saying He can't control things, I just don't believe He will force things on us.

As for the posts, I believe the person who posted them, removed them. For whatever reason, THEY decided to delete them. Or did I misunderstand you?

thanks psych, how do we go about deleating a posting? I don't know if you misunderstood me because I don't know your thoughts. Anyway hope your day will be good.

I don't have the faintest idea how to delete the whole post. I can see how to edit, you go back to your post and below the little post # is the word "edit". That will let you change what you said, and it will then say "edited on ... "

To delete the whole thing you just click on the edit and erase. Start at the bottom and hold down the backspace button until it's gone.

Hello and thank you both, there have been many times that after I sent the post, I wanted to edit or erase. Thanks for your help.

Katye,

Many thanks for your helpful and informative posts. Just as you mentioned,
it is indeed a two way street.

Often an employer mentions they are looking for "the right fit". I want to make
certain they fit, as well.

Each time a job interview doesn't pan out, I'm glad in a way, because
if they aren't sure of me, I wouldn't want to work for them. I'm certain the
position of yesterday was given to the woman who interviewed before me,
as she had the experience they were seeking.

The previous job, another applicant had experience with their particular
software, and the job before that, the woman who interviewed me likely
felt she was saving me a lot of time in travel. After all, she, too was
a mother who drove an hour to work. Having done it for eleven years, she
did me a favor.

So, I'll look on the bright side of not getting these jobs. Each time a job
does not pan out leaves me available for one that may come along that
I'll really be interested in, instead of just applying for whatever comes along.

In the meantime, maybe I'll fire up the kiln and make a few pieces to sell
until spring arrives. By then I'll have lost my urge to work outside the home.
Well, other than keeping up with the gardens, LOL.

Wuvie, I'm sorry you are having such a bad experience job hunting. just know it is their loss, and on the bright side...We still have you, and that makes this place better.

Aw, Dat, it's not that bad. Each time it doesn't turn out, I think it
actually makes hubby happy. Of course, he doesn't mind if I do
go to work, but he sure enjoys having the home fires burning, literally,
while he works.

Once upon a time when we were all gone for the day, we would come
home to a cold house in the winter, have to chase down wood, do all
the nightly routine before we could even settle in. With me at home, the
fire is burning, the chores are done for the most part (though I don't do
the chickens or the pet pig) and Cody does his own homework.

:-) So there are upsides, I should just make the best of it and be glad our
lives have changed for the better these days.

as i have always said wuvie...you need to write a book; you are so creative and full of ideas....and you are hystercial with your stories....; this place would not be the same without you at all!!!!!

Yes, there are LOTS of advantages of having a stay-at-home spouse. If you can afford to do it, I think LOTS of us would choose it! I have applied for a job, that I am crossing my fingers on. IF I can get on, it would mean that my husband COULD quit his job and focus on just school instead of working long hours AND going to school.

I once was hired for a job where the "higher up boss" told me flat out he did not want to hire me but my immediate boss did. He also said he would be "watching me"!!! I worked there almost 2 years. When I was getting ready to leave, he tried to convince me to stay on. I asked him if regretted hiring me! He was pretty apologetic.

Oh, Sticks. I'm just one more cog in this fabulous wheel that I
hope keeps on turning at Dave's Garden.

((HUG))

Karen Marie

psych...you are so right...; i have been thinking of having to hire someone to clean my house...(i never did it b4....but i am making the almighty dollar so hey!! i can pay!!) then hubby got mad at me cause i was rushing around here rooting stuff....watering this , watering that....he sez....honey, we can just buy it in the spring.....(@@ that means i can SPEND more in the spring cause i would buy it anyway)....i now have a dry cleaning bill....didn't b4 cause i was wash and wear...; gas bill; doggie care...on and on....; granted i am SO glad i have money now....but it is just going out the back door to bills...and stuff i used to do...ie yard care, doggie care etc etc

Wuvie - thanks again for starting this thread & sharing your story. Besides the fact that you were able to get it off your chest, I believe what you had to say was relevant to many.
I too, am in the job market. So, in a sense, I understand your plight. It is very difficult to be patient, yet I know that there is a place for each of us, where we will be an asset to any company & valued for whatever we bring with us. That is worth waiting for, in my opinion.
But waiting does not help pay the bills, nor increase a sense of certainty. For me, it is about the pursuit of where I would be happiest & of most use. I temp in order to "see" what's out there, and get a sense of how a business is run from top to bottom. In doing so, one benefits from the exposure as well as increasing knowledge/skills and the ever popular hands-on training in regards to "how to handle idiots".

Again - many are in the same boat. For those fellow travelers: keep looking ahead!
As a hard worker you have much to offer. Be confident in your ability to perform & sell that message to whomever you interview with. They don't know you & can't read your mind - it is up to you to communicate this to them. Basically, you "live" with these people 40 hours a week. So, if it's not "right", move on.
Take care, Wuvie, and stay warm! K

I know what a struggle it was for me to CHOOSE an employee back when I was doing the hiring and firing. I have hired some great ones, and I've hired one or two that were nightmares! I also believe HOW we train and treat the employees has a HUGE impact on how good (or poor!) of employees they turn out to be. I think the company takes some of the responsibility in the outcome! That's me I guess... I believe in investing in good training of quality people (and then treating them right).

Amen!
Training saves a company time and money in the long term. this is so basic, but most places I have been, throw the employees into the fray and expect them to figure it out.
This is fine if the individual is intuitive, but most people need direction.
If they are "too busy" to train, are they too busy for their customers, as well?
Just a thought...

After I left as office manager, my EX hired a blonde bimbo to job share with the other secretary. When I met her I thought I'd die laughing. My oh my... her outfit was disgusting! She just about ruined his business before she was gone. I sure pitied our former secretary for having to work with her!

If only I could share a copy of the 'job notes' I was handed when
working my previous job. Looking over them, one would swear it
was a candid camera joke.

I will never, ever work for another company going through bankruptcy.
Of course, I was not privy to this big red flag when I first joined. Later
I would see that it only made sense the way they ran the company.

Slowly but surely I've learned to ask questions and not be afraid to
ask them. The biter is the honesty part. I've always been one to spill
the beans, tell the truth, and it sucks that in order to get a job you have
to lie, or omit things. "Why did you leave?" Uh, depends on which
version you wish to hear. LOL.

But then I rest easy, because if they don't value honesty and integrity,
I don't want to work for them anyways.

Hmph. LOL.

KM

Wuvie, it's so good to see honest people in this world. We all have to live here, so what's the point of lying? It's also good to see that you haven't lost your sense of humor which, in my humble opinion, is extremely important. If I couldn't laugh my way through the day, I don't know what I'd do.

Kwan, indeed. At the end of the day, sometimes all you can
do is laugh. Getting uptight and angry won't change anything,
so once I spout to get it out and it's over with, I'm back to
smiling again.

Just spoke with the other agency for the last interview. When
I mentioned not having heard from them, she said they had not
either, and to just hold tight, I may have the job, I may not.

As no one has called, I've showered up and am heading to town.
I think it's time for a new office heater, because if I'm going to stay
home to work through winter, I'd rather be warm. Nothing like trying to
type with frozen fingers. Sunshine, a bit breezy and a tad chilly today.

Thanks for listening to all of my whims and whines, everyone. It
does help to get it out, and I'm glad there is a forum where I can
just ramble on like this. It helps and feels good.

Karen Marie

Laughter is good for you, too. I read a report not too long ago that said people who laugh a lot, live longer. And I also agree that a place to 'spout' is also good for you.

Thanks for both.