Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The OP describes the typical Federal or government worker. Now you know why things don't move very much in government. There is very little oversight or disciplinary action against lazy government workers as long as they show up a few days a week.
My current job is as an Account Manager for a tech company. Despite having been here for almost 9 months I feel as if I’ve barely moved an inch most days. What’s funnier, I accomplished much more in 8 months as an intern in a different role in IT just last year.
I realize that I need a little bit more in terms of action throughout the days and in my life. I’m
probably gonna go back to school for pre-med in the fall.
His assigned work there each week was something which he was easily able to complete before lunch on Monday. For the rest of the time he had zero to do and zero access to anything to learn more, because he was only allowed access to that part of the system to do his work. Management didn't seem to care he didn't have much to do. He ended up taking 2 hour lunches and spending time walking around department stores during work hours after lunch.
He said he hated it there and started having health problems with his stomach because of the stress of this. Getting up early in the morning, putting on a suit to go hang out in the office with no real work to do for most of the time there. Not even meetings.
He found another job that kept him very busy, but he said he was so much happier. He told me he realized the dream of a cushy job was entirely misguided.
That was very foolish. During his down time he could have been taking courses over the internet, working on new certifications, or even just browsing city-data forums. Rule number one is get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable. Too little work can easily be compensated for as above.
I love my cushy job. Hell, I feel I've earned it after working hard for the past 25+ years. Less stress. Minimal overtime (one day a year), no on-call so I'm not taking my job home with me.
It isn't always cushy, though. I've been busting my hump on a couple of projects for the past 2 years. Now I'm in between projects so not much is going on. Enjoying the downtime until the next one starts up.
That was very foolish. During his down time he could have been taking courses over the internet, working on new certifications, or even just browsing city-data forums. Rule number one is get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable. Too little work can easily be compensated for as above.
I think MSchemist80 has put it best: Get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable.
If you have it too easy at work and never enough to do, then suck it up and deal with it. Better than too much to do and the risk not being able to keep up, and management on your back screaming "Is your project done yet?" and "Are you going to meet your deadline?"
I think MSchemist80 has put it best: Get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable.
If you have it too easy at work and never enough to do, then suck it up and deal with it. Better than too much to do and the risk not being able to keep up, and management on your back screaming "Is your project done yet?" and "Are you going to meet your deadline?"
Can't emphasize these guys wisdom enough - BusinessMan and MSChem. Stability and lack of stress are metrics we too often overlook when considering a job. Once we get older and survive or not survive a few layoffs, a lot of people will see the real value in stability. These characteristics can be worth more than a huge salary. Oh yeah, since our jobs are often tied to healthcare, you will also learn to appreciate these things more if you develop chronic conditions (most people do after 40 or so) and become a permanent fixture in our glorious healthcare system. You definitely want stable healthcare. And then there's ageism. You can avoid ageism if.... you have a stable job that can last. Those are rare, but do exist.
That was very foolish. During his down time he could have been taking courses over the internet, working on new certifications, or even just browsing city-data forums. Rule number one is get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable. Too little work can easily be compensated for as above.
That is fine temporarily, but that isn't a long-term solution for a career.
I think MSchemist80 has put it best: Get a job that is stable, well paying, and tolerable.
If you have it too easy at work and never enough to do, then suck it up and deal with it. Better than too much to do and the risk not being able to keep up, and management on your back screaming "Is your project done yet?" and "Are you going to meet your deadline?"
This is like someone complaining their arm is broken and it really hurts, and to reply "Suck it up and deal with it. At least you don't have cancer, so don't complain".
It isn't one extreme or the other. You have to consider a long-term career and what is going to make you happy. You only work 4 hours a week at best doing the exact same thing, you can't be surprised when they have a layoff, you have no real work experience to continue your career. What chance of promotion is there going to be and to do more interesting work if you are stuck doing nothing for 35 hours a week, each week.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.