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If there are other threads or posts on this subject, please direct me.
I have been working for over 35 years, unfortunately, most of those in jobs where I have had to deal with "the public" all day. There was a time I enjoyed it: I am considered friendly, outgoing, and extroverted.
I also love the people I work along side of, we are like a tight-knit family who spend 40 hours (sometimes more) together. I don't want to leave my job, there really are no other options in my town, we have good benefits, and I am the bread winner in my family, still supporting myself and two college kids. I am a good 15 years or more from full retirement.
However, I am getting absolutely sick and tired of dealing with the public all day. I don't know if I am getting older and less tolerant, I don't think that's what it is. I am just so sick of stupid, needy, lazy, or obnoxious people, and it' getting harder to smile and "fake it" all day. I come home drained and disgusted.
I just wondered if anyone else is in the same boat, or has been. I'm afraid I'm going to mouth off to someone. Should I just try to get some nerve pills? If you deal with the general public in your job, how do you deal with it?
I poke them with a needle... gently. Okay, I just draw blood when I have to >.> It's the only time I deal with the public outside of educating them.
Can you just not support the college kids? They aren't exactly kids anymore either. Sure, you can provide them with a roof and feed them, but stop giving them money? They can figure out how to get spending money/college money if they really want it.
By supporting them, I mean keeping a roof over their heads while they are still in school. They pay for their own food, gas, clothing, etc....
I guess my point was that I can't just quit or really take a chance striking out and doing something else right now due to my responsibilities and the fact that I support myself as a single full-time working person. Just trying to see if others have the same issues of burnout dealing with the public in their jobs, and asking how they cope.
Oh lord yes, I am so sick of dealing with customers. They are far more demanding over insignificant things than they were just 10 years ago. Don't know whether it's the growing number of millennials in the workforce who lack basic social skills ( they demand everything and throw a fit if they don't get it) or the percentage of inexperienced people getting promoted ahead of their skills and think that because they have a certain job, they are experts on everything.
I only needed a few years in customer service to give me a true appreciation for how crappy it is. The memories of "the public" kept me highly motivated to work hard throughout college. I'm so glad I never have to go back to that again.
If there are other threads or posts on this subject, please direct me.
However, I am getting absolutely sick and tired of dealing with the public all day.
I don't know if I am getting older and less tolerant, I don't think that's what it is.
I am just so sick of stupid, needy, lazy, or obnoxious people, and it' getting harder to smile and "fake it" all day. I come home drained and disgusted. ...If you deal with the general public in your job, how do you deal with it?
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You answered your own question - you are getting older and less tolerant.
It happens to everyone, when the age goes up the patience goes down. Customer Facing jobs have a shelf life and most people cannot do it all day everyday for many, many years. Plus as you point out, customers change so they act differently and you still act the same.
I deal with clients in my job and while I am friendly and cordial most of the time if I hear something that offends me I will not hesitate to call that person on it. I would have never done that even 10 years ago.
Hitting the "reset" button is required every few days, months or years for all of us.
What helps me is the reminder that "the customer is the most important person" mantra.
They're your paycheck, and the only reason the business exists - while that may not help, it does help me when I then turn my attitude to gratitude and remember it's a good thing they don't all act like the ones that drive me crazy.
I appreciate all of your responses. They really have helped me put things into a better perspective. My job, and subsequent paycheck, really would not exist without the customers. I witness daily that there are people in far worse situations job wise than I am. I do need to be more grateful for my job and not take it for granted.
The fact that someone mentioned that as you get older your patience goes down really is spot on. What's surprising is that I always assumed that as you got older you acquired more patience, but that certainly has NOT been true in my case. I have much less tolerance for nonsense and general stupidity than I ever had when I was younger.
We have an economy where most job are service related, thereby requiring dealing with a customer base in some way. I just need to find a way to better handle it mentally - or go to the doctor and try to get on some good nerve medication!
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