Dreaming of Seattle? please read (employment, friendly, place)

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by yaya97

I am not blaming the city ( I find Seattle stunningly beautiful).
This said, I have " held " the same job domain for over 20 years and have worked in 4 states . I am simply saying that my encounter with locals- not transplants was very cold. I could go into details: ex: when I applied for a job in Healthcare prior to my retail experience, during the interview I was directly asked " Another person from California? why are you looking here? We are full"

Another case where one experience doesn't apply to a whole city, or to all employers. Of the people I have hired in the last few years two are from California, one from Alaska.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by yaya97

Thank you Kayla- maybe this retail company has a “different” mentality and perhaps had a worked this job in Chicago my experience would have also been bad. I’m just sad that it’s the first employment ever where I won’t stay in contact with one single person.

One's experience depends in part on one's expectations. I've never expected to make friends with co-workers. The way to make friends in Seattle, is, as one poster here said, to join some neighborhood sports teams (the social soccer leagues result in a significant number of marriages, I hear), or other hobby groups, the Mountaineers hiking club, or boating clubs, volunteer for street fairs, annual srts/music festivals, film festivals or one of the Sister City committees, museums, or whatever suits your fancy, or attend dance evenings: salsa, swing, folk, contra (lessons for a small fee before the evening officially starts). Check out activities and classes, workshops at the Parks Dept. facilities.

Get involved in the community. That's how people make friends. It sounds like you haven't even begun to try.

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

One's experience depends in part on one's expectations. I've never expected to make friends with co-workers. The way to make friends in Seattle, is, as one poster here said, to join some neighborhood sports teams (the social soccer leagues result in a significant number of marriages, I hear), or other hobby groups, the Mountaineers hiking club, or boating clubs, volunteer for street fairs, annual srts/music festivals, film festivals or one of the Sister City committees, museums, or whatever suits your fancy, or attend dance evenings: salsa, swing, folk, contra (lessons for a small fee before the evening officially starts). Check out activities and classes, workshops at the Parks Dept. facilities.

Get involved in the community. That's how people make friends. It sounds like you haven't even begun to try.

Sorry if my post was perhaps not clear. I did not expect to make friends right away. Being from Seattle, I actually have lots of friends here.
I was simply noting how coldly I was met in work. When working in other states, I was met with much greater warmness. I never imposed myself and simply asked when it seemed appropriate, for a quick helping hand. Never happened here.

Granted as someone mentioned, perhaps I was very unlucky and the stars were simply not aligned. I continue to think Seattle is so beautiful.

PS : yes I am actually signed up in a hiking club as well as boating on lake Union when it opens up.

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Another case where one experience doesn't apply to a whole city, or to all employers. Of the people I have hired in the last few years two are from California, one from Alaska.

perhaps I was just unlucky...

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

Also, you mentioned starting last December. Beginning of winter. Then the virus anxiety hit last week of February and nothing has been the same ever since.

Might be really bad luck.

Possible!

[jakebarnes]

Sounds like a very poor workplace culture. Possibly there is some resentment towards your position due to a reason you don't know - someone got passed over, or whatever. So they are passively aggressively blaming you for it. Having a workplace where people don't want to help each other tells me that management is very bad and doesn't want to create a team environment. I have worked in places like this - they are no fun unless you like competing against your coworkers. Personally I do not and I think it makes for a dysfunctional workplace.

Then the "Freeze", which is really just introversion mixed with passive aggressiveness, just adds to the problem.

Sorry you are dealing with this!

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by jakebarnes

Sounds like a very poor workplace culture. Possibly there is some resentment towards your position due to a reason you don't know - someone got passed over, or whatever. So they are passively aggressively blaming you for it. Having a workplace where people don't want to help each other tells me that management is very bad and doesn't want to create a team environment. I have worked in places like this - they are no fun unless you like competing against your coworkers. Personally I do not and I think it makes for a dysfunctional workplace.

Then the "Freeze", which is really just introversion mixed with passive aggressiveness, just adds to the problem.

Sorry you are dealing with this!

Thank you for your words. I am trying to find a job here but am applying all over as I need to support the family.
Maybe bad luck ...I hope that is what was!

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by yaya97

Sorry if my post was perhaps not clear. I did not expect to make friends right away. Being from Seattle, I actually have lots of friends here.
I was simply noting how coldly I was met in work. When working in other states, I was met with much greater warmness. I never imposed myself and simply asked when it seemed appropriate, for a quick helping hand. Never happened here.

Granted as someone mentioned, perhaps I was very unlucky and the stars were simply not aligned. I continue to think Seattle is so beautiful.

PS : yes I am actually signed up in a hiking club as well as boating on lake Union when it opens up.

Aren't you leaving? Wasn't that the point? The requisite "goodbye Seattle!" post? Another poster on this thread has been saying "goodbye Seattle!" since forever but never leaves.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Another poster on this thread has been saying "goodbye Seattle!" since forever but never leaves.

Oh, he leaves. Has left a few times.
For some inexplicable reason he keeps coming back.

yaya, whatever your choice I wish you well. I do think it was a tough time to move. Winter's are pretty quiet with the gray and short days. Spring and Summer is when the PNW lights up but unfortunately CV-19 put a big halt to that.

Oh! And your office mates suck too.

[yaya97]

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

Oh, he leaves. Has left a few times.
For some inexplicable reason he keeps coming back.

yaya, whatever your choice I wish you well. I do think it was a tough time to move. Winter's are pretty quiet with the gray and short days. Spring and Summer is when the PNW lights up but unfortunately CV-19 put a big halt to that.

Oh! And your office mates suck too.

Thank you!
Again I love the beauty ( that mountain!!!!!) here and maybe my experiences represent a perfect storm of bad timing.
If I can stay I will But just keeping my head down in the office.
if not I will visit with pleasure!