are jobs REALLY that horrible?

[Sir Pinkleton]

Now, I'm not at an age where I can get a job (1.5 more months to go), but when I tell someone I, literally, can't wait to get a job so I can get some income, they tell me I'll reconsider saying that later when I hate my job. I've also heard something along these lines in other places (mainly the t.v.). I can't help but feel like Jurgis from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, but I think that that only applies to people who don't work that hard. When I go to school, it's hard work, but I MAKE it fun. I feel that it would carry on to my job as well. I'm kinda one of those "working is fun" types I suppose.

So I ask, are all jobs this way? What if my attitude carried over to my job, would it still be bad?

And additionally, what do you do to make your boring/annoying/frustrating job fun?

[Azisien]

No, jobs are not that horrible. People like to bitch. It's some kind of effect becomes the cause relation.

If jobs are truly bad, you find out pretty quickly, and you quit. But otherwise, it's income, and it's something to do other than sit and surf forums. Blast!

[Mike McC]

Yeah, it really depends on the particular place you work. Some are great work enviroments (I loved the restraunt I worked in), some are horrid (I hated the Walmart I worked in). Don't let the stories discourage you, because haveing extra pocket money is a definate plus.

[subreci]

Jobs aren't bad at all. Find someplace you will enjoy working for one reason or another, whether it be because its something you enjoy doing, or because you just like the people who work there. Remember, if you absolutely hate working at one place, you can always go someplace else. Some people find a job perfect for them the first time around, but for some people it takes awhile. There will always be someplace to work that you will find enjoyable, it's just a matter of knowing where.

EDIT: Grammatical error

[Long-Haired Narcissist]

Yeah, it really depends on the particular place you work. Some are great work enviroments (I loved the restraunt I worked in), some are horrid (I hated the Walmart I worked in). Don't let the stories discourage you, because haveing extra pocket money is a definate plus.
That is exactly what I was about to say about the restuarant and walmart I used to work at (for the love of God, Allah, Buddha, Shiva, Jesus, Tom Cruise, or whatever you believe in, don't work at Walmart FBM!!!).

But I'm gonna see about getting a job with a friend of mine that unloads musical equipment and sets up stages for local bands and I have a passion for music so I think I'll enjoy that job.

[gurusloth]

If you're going to work because you'd like some spending money, and that money is not essential to your life, then it's no big deal. You can find a job you like, who cares if it pays crappy, and you only work 25 hours a week, and you get no benefits. All you want is some gas money and a new CD.

On the other hand, if you have to pay bills, and make rent, and feed people other than yourself who now rely on you for their daily bread, and your credit card is maxed, and oh crap, what's that pain in my tooth, I sure hope I have good dental...well, then your job can sometimes be a cause for anger because you're stuck there, you can't just up and quit whenever you want to.

[Chipper173]

Yeah, I gotta agree with what the others said. It's not that bad.

Also, you brought up The Jungle. Don't worry, most jobs don't have a chance of killing you and packing you into beef. That's just not a concern in general when you don't work in a slaughterhouse circa the turn of the century.

[Shishio]

No, they're not.

They're worse.

Unless you're doing something you love.

[BlackMageGirl!]

No, they're not.

They're worse.

Unless you're doing something you love.
'cept not, honestly.

Like the others said, it REALLY depends on the job and what you tend to like doing. It doesn't have to be something you "love" doing.

'course, some places have higher stress level than the others (ie fast food restaurants) it all just boils down to what you don't mind doing.

[Krylo]

The thing to remember here is free time.

No, work doesn't suck as much as they say (most of the time, sometimes it's worse). However, if you have a social life and you plan on working and going to school at the same time? Be prepared to either give up on that or give up all your alone time. Like staying up all night playing video games? Gonna have to give that up too... and no days off. Part time jobs for students always have you work full shifts on the weekends.

It's not so much that work sucks, it's that not having time to do what YOU want to do sucks.

[Rhycore]

Kid - with that attitude, you'll be fine. Just don't let the negs get you down

[P-Sleazy]

I say it depends on the job and what part of what Krylo said. If you're getting a job and continuing school, then be prepared to make alot of sacrifices in your personal time if you work atleast 3 days a week.

During those three days, you'll either be overwhelmed with homework and have to push it off to other days that you don't work, or you'll do it right after school or right after work and striaght to sleep and then back to school, where you'll either sleep in class depending on how late you stayed up last night doing said homework, or being frantic trying to catch up with the rest of class. Assuming you're not already behind in class.

Also, just a tip, try to get a job with a lot of flexibility in the days you work each week. This way, if you ever find yourself behind in class or have huge projects to do or lots of studying to do for exams and such, you can always take a week or two off. Hell, my job at a grocery store let me take a month off not once, but twice. Once cause I was going on vacation with my family over christmas break, and again most of april through the first half of May so I could study for exams.

And lastly, if you don't like the job and you can't seem to find a way to make it fun, and you aren't desperate for money, QUIT and look for a job somewhere else. You now have one occupation you know you don't want to do.

[dposse]

The whole "getting a job that will make going to work fun" thing you always hear is true, because who wants to work in a boring old office or something?

[Mesden]

Well, hey, Fair share of bitching comes from me. Just try to stay out of retail if you hate idiots.

There're plenty of 'em! =D

And naw, it's not so bad. You may think it's REALLY bad during work sometimes, and right after, but it's not too hard to get over in, like, an hour afterwards.

[Azisien]

The thing to remember here is free time.

No, work doesn't suck as much as they say (most of the time, sometimes it's worse). However, if you have a social life and you plan on working and going to school at the same time? Be prepared to either give up on that or give up all your alone time. Like staying up all night playing video games? Gonna have to give that up too... and no days off. Part time jobs for students always have you work full shifts on the weekends.

True that. Especially the all-nighter one. I haven't done one of those in about...five months? Whenever the start of summer was. I could barely afford to do it during summer, since I was working full-time. But working full-time is MUCH EASIER than working full-time student, part-time job. And fuck anyone who thinks otherwise.

[Ribal]

Oh hell no. Retail bad in England.

Yeah, I got myself a job over last summer. Thought I get myself a little bit of money.

What do I get?

Old people talk only about the weather.
Young people talk only about Big Brother or X-Factor or some other reality-tv related crap.

I could've stabbed myself on several occasions. Emo, I was.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

Work can be fun if you have co-workers and employers who don;t treat you like shit. I've had that but now I have a better job. Keep a posiitve attitude and things go well.

[POS Industries]

Young people talk only about Big Brother or X-Factor or some other reality-tv related crap.

Wait, what?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f0/X-factor1.png/398px-X-factor1.png

(Witty humor has been replaced here by a predictable Bobby Drake/Chilltown cross-reference. Our apologies.)

Moving on, my current job is actually pretty cool. I work for the same company as Mesden, but in a totally different part of the country and, furthermore, a totally different department where all I have to do is stand around by myself for a few hours a night and make sure that the fruits and vegetables stay fairly stocked.

People rarely talk to me and I've never been happier.

EDIT: Okay, I've never been happier with a crappy, dead-end job. I mean, there are other things that have made me way happier, but they don't at all relate to any of this, dig?

[Muffin Mage]

The key is whether or not your sacrifice of time and happiness is worth your monetary reward.

And for God's sake, don't get a job so you can pay for a car so you can drive to work! That's the most ridiculously idiotic catch-22 a high schooler can get stuck in. Look for jobs within reach of public transportation or walking distance.

[ZERO.]

You know what the weird thing is?

I wan't to get a job at Wal-Mart just so I can see the amounts of stupid people that walk in.

Maybe count them, or make a game out of it.

[Sir Pinkleton]

Sounds like fun, ZERO...

Anyway, I'm probably going to get a job at a grocery store of some sort, maybe freddies. I'm not sure yet cuz' i'm moving soon and I don't know what companies are there, but it's... kinda close to freddies. I think the funnest part would be talking to people, wether they be co-workers who could become my friends or customers for there ignorant remarks...(MUAHAHAHAHAHA! I feel evil...)

[Mirai Gen]

Work only sucks if it's not a job you want.

And I swear at least 1%, tops, has the job they absolutely want and love.

[Azisien]

I wouldn't say jobs immediately remove happiness (time, yes). Obviously you don't have a very good job, OR you have a bad attitude. Retail generally seems to be lousy, unless you really like dealing with people (including the stupid ones), so try to find something else.

I've gone through a couple phases at my current workplace, been there for a little over two years now. At first it's good because I was new, then I got bored of the work but had to force myself to go anyway, because I needed a job. Eventually, I wasn't so much bored or pissed at the work as I was so used to it in routine it didn't bug me anymore, and by that time I had made pretty good friends with my co-workers, and work has become a fun place to be. Most of the time.

[CelesJessa]

I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said already, I'm just adding in my chip to the pile about finding a job that you like. Try to make sure sure your coworkers and managers are people who are consistant and easy to work with. Don't be like me and get in a job where they will write you up for messing up on the cleaning behind a random cart we never use, but when it comes to setting out the food (I worked in a deli), it's perfectly fine, and encouraged, to put out potato salad that is past it's expiration date. (Bleh. that's disgusting)

Also, unless you really like to, try not to get a job somewhere where you are going to work alone. My high school job, I was the ONLY person in the deli, which was often bad because if there was a problem, I either had to figure it out myself, or call a manager. Or if I was getting heavy stuff out of the freezer and I was about an inch from having stuff topple down on me(as in, the only thing keeping it from falling is my hand propping it up, but not being able to safely let it down or push it back up), there was no way for me to get help.

[DavidG]

I can't really imagine a job being anything better than "bearable", but apparently I'm in the minority. :sweatdrop

All I can suggest is thinking of things you enjoy doing, then trying to figure out jobs involving those things.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

And for God's sake, don't get a job so you can pay for a car so you can drive to work! That's the most ridiculously idiotic catch-22 a high schooler can get stuck in. Look for jobs within reach of public transportation or walking distance.

Quoted for fucking emphasis. When you get a job, make sure you earn enough to pay for car stuffs (insurance, gas, payments etc) and have enough to blow on yourself. I walked down that path before and I was ready to shoot myself.

[Snook]

Quoted for fucking emphasis. When you get a job, make sure you earn enough to pay for car stuffs (insurance, gas, payments etc) and have enough to blow on yourself. I walked down that path before and I was ready to shoot myself.

I'll agree with that. Ride your bike to work, if you can; I don't know how it is where you are, but over here we have excellent accomadations for bikers (eg myself) as well as a top notch bus system. I'm spoilt in that respect; I'm 17 and haven't had to use my license once since I've gotten it.

On another note, sometimes you can end up enjoying a job for a while, but in the end you generally hate it. :p I worked at a fast food joint making pitas (Pita Pit represent) and managed to become a manager a few months after turning 17; unfortunately, not many of the people we hired after that would respect my authoritah [/cartman] and inevitably, I'd end up having to do *everything* in the store myself to make sure it was done. Not exactly what $8/hr entails. I now work as a busser at a locally owned restaurant (I only *got* the job because I was a regular anyway) and on top of earning more I also have to do less work.

I'd reccomend getting a restaurant gig if you can; has much more potential for improvement (promoted to waiter, etc) and you can make a killing if you're good.

Overall, jobs aren't always as bad as some may make them out to be. But sometimes they suck.

[Magus]

Yeah, just to drill it into your head, if your only option is fast food, you're probably better off waiting until you're older and can get something better. I worked at McDonald's for a summer my senior year and I hated it desperately. Wal-Mart is much better, but only in comparison to how bad that job was, really. But you're at the age where it's like, if you don't like a job you can just quit, so jobs aren't going to be horrible for you.

So wait, are you fourteen or sixteen then? To tell you the real, God's honest truth, just wait until you graduate to get a job, or your senior year when you don't have to worry about it as much (I'm not saying just up and quit doing anything like some dumbasses, but anyone who's been through high school can agree with me that we all did as little as possible our senior year, unless you're one of those overachievers). I'm serious. Your life will be far more enjoyable if you have time to enjoy it. Sure, the extra money is wonderful, and working while you live at home allows you to save up an a nice big wad of it, too, but seriously, just skip the part-time job stuff if you are only fourteen or sixteen. The reason that people working full-time isn't often as bad for them is that that's all they're doing. Those eight hours you spend at work are only really replacing the gap where school used to be spent, you see, so their free time to spend with friends and family isn't affected. So my advice to you is unless the job isn't too hard and doesn't interfere with your time, is just to skip it at this stage in your life. You'd probably just end up spending that money on video games or movies you won't have any time to watch or racing seats for the car you drive to the McDonalds, or at best on women, and we all know how much of a drag the ones you actually have to date are. B^)

[Sir Pinkleton]

Yeah, just to drill it into your head,

Ow! stop it!

Yeah, I'm 15 years old (but only 1 month and 10 days until i'm 16), so waiting would probably be a good idear'. Ya'see, My tall friend from Ukraine has a part-time job as a lifeguard, and he gets around 700 dollars a month (or so he tells me). Seeing as how I get all of my money from birthday's, christmas's, and hard labor (which I don't usually get the option to do in the first place), and seeing how much money michael had, I thought it'd be a good idea. I'm also told that it 'looks good' on my record or something of that sort.

I agree with your thoughts on the "taking up the time I used to be at school with work" thing, I feel it deeply during summer. the best thing to happen to me would probably be a part time job in the summer.

[Long-Haired Narcissist]

I'd reccomend getting a restaurant gig if you can; has much more potential for improvement (promoted to waiter, etc) and you can make a killing if you're good.
I agree, working at a restuarant, I earned about $300 a week (because servers tipped out busboys where I worked) just working 4 or 5 days a week, got to meet lots of cool people (including some nice women that want to do things with me that I can't say without probably getting warned or banned), and learned where all the cool parties were.

[PipBoy]

...If you have free time now, do something other than getting a crappy job to fill that time up. You're not an adult yet. You should have no bills and some free time, and you're in an age group where the world is set up to give you advantages you won't have as an adult. If you have time and energy to spare as well as good grades, you should be looking into setting it up so you can be taking post secondary classes, if you're really that much of a go getter. If you don't already have great grades, well, screw the job then. The last you thing you need is more stress in those circumstances, you should be working on school. Frankly, I'd suggest doing volunteer work or extracurriculars over getting the sort of job that'll take someone under 18 who hasn't graduated yet.

Or I guess you could just do what I do; meditate all the time and make just enough cash to cover essentials plus cable internet. I suppose most people'd find that boring, but it works for me. Plus, I get to laugh when my old roommate compains about his 70 hour no-overtime-'cuz-he's-management workweek. That's always fun.

Either way, there's always something better to do than a low paying job that does little to get you ahead.

[Myst]

This has already been really heavily covered, but I'll go into my experience with work.

1) If you can manage to swing a government job, do so! These jobs pay well, have good benefits, and generally aren't incredibly difficult. The only downsides are that they tend to require working a normal schedule (8-5 kinda thing) so they aren't good for students (like myself), and they tend to be somewhat boring.

2) Don't expect to go into a job and have it be fun. The first part of most jobs is training, and that thoroughly sucks. Then there's the process of discovering how closely your boss/manager/whatever expects you to follow the rules, as well as how often they're around. Once that's out of the way however...

3) Make your job fun. This can be anything from creating games to play with your customers (be careful with this one, it can get you in trouble >.<) to creating reciept roller bowling or bringing in a radio to keep behind the counter.

4) If your job is incredibly horrible, do find another one. The only thing I can advise here is make sure you have a replacement job, if needed, before giving your notice. I was out of work for almost 6 months after leaving one job, and it was rather tough.

[Sir Pinkleton]

Holy Damn! I didn't think this thread would be so lively! Anyway, I think I get the general idea, so thanks to all that responded so far.

Also, PipBoy, you get paid for meditating?

EDIT: And another thing, going to a low paying job DOES get me ahead. With that money, I could buy a nintendo wii (Weeeeeee!) or something else I want. I also am the president of a video game club at our school, and there is only one person (my best friend) who donates (ie: gets donuts, and club T-shirts), and I want to help.

[Eltargrim]

FBM, just a note: If you're planning, at all, to be a lifeguard, you better start getting your certs now. In Canada, at least, you need Bronze Cross, SFA (Covered by AEC), plus NLS-Pool to lifeguard in most pools. There is also NLS-Waterpark (An extension of Pool), NLS-Waterfront (As in lakes), and NLS-Surf (As in ocean). This eats up a big chunk of time.

To make it even more difficult, you need to be sixteen to take NLS.

Fun fun.

I'd second the volunteering option, especially if it's at a place where they also hire. I volunteer teaching swimming at my local Y, and I'll have my NLS cert pretty soon. Lifeguards aren't hired all that often, but volunteers are always in demand, so it's an easy way to get a foot in the door; plus, it looks good on uni apps too. Community service and all that.

[Magus]

lol no, Pipboy is what is called a hippie, they only work when they have to. B^)

Nothing wrong with that really, though, since it only affects that person. I can definitely see the appeal of just doing odd jobs to get by but I would probably wander the world if I was going to that. Unless you've somehow found a job that lets them work when they want to?! Tell us please what it is! I wanna know!

[PipBoy]

...I work regular hours. Just not very many. I eat, I have internet, and I have health insurance (barely). It depends on what you value. I don't value much. So I don't need much to be happy.

[Lightguy]

I'm a part time retail monkey at the moment, but I love my job. The customers are nice, I get on with all the staff, and it's excellent pay. I do get the feeling I'm the exception to the rule though, as all of my friends have expressed some degree of dissatisfaction with their part time work.

[PipBoy]

Retail can be a bit of a mixed bag, since there's a few positions where customers can make life real interesting for you occasionally. For example, my sister works as a photo tech and clerk at the electronics department at the local Shopko, a pretty easy job if you're thorough and not afraid to read up on product announcements. Only problem there is that she gets more than her fair share of extremely computer illiterate people asking impossibly vague questions about software and electronics, or horribly mangling their digital photos at home and expecting her to magically fix their irreperable data. Basically, the more ways a customer can screw themselves over before you can even help them, the more likely you'll have to deal with the occasional raging madman. My brother who works general sales floor at the same store, on the other hand, doesn't have to put up with even half the hostile encounters, yet my sister is ranked higher in customer service reviews.

[Sufimoru Schnabatder]

I work as a photo tech for Walgreens, although I occassionally also do checkout and working on the floor. I think I can give some insight about why people complain so much, with a personal anecdote.

I love working photo. The good customers far outweigh the bad, and usually the worst problem I ever have is the language barrier (I don't speak Puerto Rican or Spanish, and I live in Orlando, Florida. Apparently, this is a problem).

I hate working checkout, though. They give unrealistic expectations of what you're to do (Ex: Fill the shelves at the register. Leave no blank spaces. This requires you to go all around the store getting the products. However, Loss Prevention says the checkout worker can't leave the front area. What?). The system is always messing up prices somehow and customers always get annoyed with it. Checkout represents the worst of beauracracy in retail.

But the worst part is: I hate, hate, HATE my managers. Especially the executive assistant manager, who makes the schedules. In March, when I joined the company, I worked three days a week, all in photo. When I graduated in May, I asked for more hours, hoping I could work full time. I was told I would get them, but they may not all be working photo. Nothing happened. In June, I was ASKED if I wanted more hours. I agreed, happily. I didn't get more hours. Instead, my three days in photo became three days in checkout. Always the weekend, always night shift. Sometimes, I would only get two days a week. This continued until July, when I informed the manager that if I couldn't get more hours, I would have to get a second job. I began looking for one, but every part time job I found required weekends available, which mine were not. I finally began looking for another store within the company to transfer to. I did find one, but they didn't want me to transfer. They just wanted me to work both stores. So, I did this. They began having me every Monday and Wednesday night, which I was happy with. Now, at the original store, I'm consistently being scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, although I am getting photo hours again.

Finally, to add one last way to screw me over, Walgreens did something different and gave a second open enrollment for health insurance this October. Health insurance is only offered to full time workers, who average 30 or more hours a week. Currently, I'm doing 40 hours a week, but because I worked less than that for so long, my average is still at 23 a week. I've just turned 19 this October and since I'm not in school their program no longer covers me. In short, I don't have health insurance, and I am not currently eligible for health insurance because apparently I don't work enough, but if I were to somehow reset these hours, I would be more than eligible. This is because my manager gave me empty promises of more hours and completely screwed over my average. And if he were responsible and just TOLD me from the beginning that he wouldn't be able to give me more, instead of telling me he would and even ASKING IF I WANTED MORE, I would have done something sooner and not be in such a mess now.

Also, I would quit, but because I'm trying to save money for an upcoming move out of state in February, I really don't want the uncertainty of even a short time unemployed. So, I'm stuck.

Fuck. I hate my job.

See? That's why people say it. The work itself isn't so bad, it's assholes like my manager. They'll be there no matter where you go, just some places, like at my store, there are either more of them or they have more authority. Oh, and beauracracy. That's a very bad thing, too.

[Domon]

It all depends on the job. like for me, I wash dishes at a bakery.
IT..... FRIGGEN...... SUCKS......
But, its money and thats all that matters.
an fyi im 17 (be 18 next month).
Oh and the reason that my job sucks is not the people I work with(They are really cool) its that the work is really hard. I've been to tired to play any video games for the past month. even though I just got gamefly. :p
I need energy drinks or ill die.

So yea, "work is what you make it", and some other inspirational quote or something.

[Demetrius]

Bah, I work a fulltime 3rd shift job, a 20 hour a week part time job, take 2 classes, work out and have a social life (ish), on the other hand I sigh in relief when I get called into work on my rare day off so I don't have to figure out what the hell to do with spare time (don't get like that ever!!). Work is as bad as you make it. If you are just barely old enough to get a job find something fun where you don't actually have to deal with customers (retail) and you can have the freedom to act like an as if you want (kitchens are good for tom foolery). First jobs should be fun and enough to get you around with some cash other than that who cares.

Oh and I can't wait to retire to a life of golf and fishing... only 25 years to go!!

[Bells]

i would support the idea that Working dosent suck, HAVING to work sucks...

[Domon]

yeah my job dosnt suck as much as being all sore after I get home. but that couple of hours of soreness sucks. but after that Im cool and I can turn my ps2 on and have some fun.

[Kei-Kun]

I used to referee ice hockey. The pay was nice (Varied from 16-30$ per game....16 for "mite" [like 8 year olds] to 30 for "midget" [guys who didn't make a high school hockey team]) but there were a couple downsides. (This is assuming your two manning it, but I won't go into the whole payment structure because it's annoying :P )

1. You get VERY crappy schedualing until your taken off your evaluation period. This means mites all the time.
2. Games between tournaments are sporadic. But when tourny's hit, I got about 10 games over 2 days (not bad at all)
3. The cold doesn't get to you, it's the ice from the rubber puck that ends up freezing your hands off. It is EXTREMLY frowned upon to wear gloves. Like, a borderline rule. But they let me bend it, 'cause I wore a beanie under my helmit xD
4. You really gotta be in shape for the higher-end games. Buggers are fast
5. You miss 3 games in the span of one year, your pretty much OUT. That's why I don't ref anymore >.>

But there are a few pretty good upsides.

1. Gooooood pay after the first 3-6 months or so...especially since I was like TWELVE (I got in before the age limit was raised to 16) I got 300$ my first month, and it continued to climb.
2. You choose your hours (you can pick your days, whether your available mornings, afternoons, or evenenings.)
3. You can pick up MORE games from people who send an e-mail from the ref's mail list. This is especially helpful for people starting out, since they see your interested and such.
4. When you hit 18, you can take on adult games, and you can work past midnight (overtime). I wasn't old enough for this, but from what I heard you get like 60$ a game (dunno if it was on overtime though)


So I heavily favor first-jobs in sports. It's fun bossing people around for a first job >8D