Why are jobs so hard?

[Summerstorm]

There's the jobs you like that don't pay well at all (like Indie game development) and jobs that pay well but aren't very fun (nurse I appear to have soiled myself).

And don't forget the biggest category: Jobs which don't pay well, and are stressful, terrible and/or complicated or where you are yelled at for no reason.

Also don't forget the unfairness of it all...

I recently learned that some woman in my company (Well a few higher ups as well of course) is "earning" four times my salary. (I get 1500? before taxes, she gets 6000?... SIX THOUSAND - Insanity)

She is regarded (as i have read in her recommendation) as competent and vital to the company as well as well liked.

Now if you ask the people: She is regarded as incompetent, aloof and a bit slow and known for pushing her work onto people working under/for her.

YAY fairness. Fucking hate this...

 

[Xarathox]

Who am I to talk. I'm making $8/hour as a janitor, but I get free food and awesome coworkers. Sure I've made more money but I do find myself saying how much I love this job. It's at a mall and the customers that come through tend to be dicks, but better than being unemployed. I'm sure 50 people would gladly take that job if I didn't have it.

A week ago I ran into a guy who was telling me that he had 3 kids and a wife to take care of. He was UNEMPLOYED! I was so happy not to be in his shoes. I'm sure I've got the potential to become something more, but maybe I'm happy just being a simple worker. I just want to make enough to live on and come home and watch TV or surf the internet and fill my belly.

I don't think I'm asking to much?

Edit: I wanted/want to learn how to code, but coding is quite difficult. That might be my dream job. What if I get it and I hate doing it? I'd rather make 15k/yr and love my job than make 50k/yr and loath everyday I have to work.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I've been a carpenter by trade as well as sheet metal fabricator and welder. I've worked in factories and restaurants, carwashes and a whole bunch of other fields. Hell, you name it I've probably done it for a living (minus office work) and I loved most of the jobs I had over the years or, at the very least, I was content.

The only real regret I have is how much of my life I've worked away. I never needed to work 6-7 days a week, 10+ hours a day, but I did. Because, money. It was instilled into me by my family, and it took me way too long to figure out that they only did it because they were in debt, something I never became. So now at the age of 33, I work part time at a grocery store stocking shelves at night, which allows me to have time for myself and those I care about.

 

[Miyenne]

Purchased Read the first few pages of the first book, I like it, sucked me in rather nicely.

You are a wonderful person and I love you.

Really, thank you.

I should be putting as much time an energy into promoting my book as I do writing it, but that's a job I don't want to do. I don't know how, for one, and two, I seem like an asshole if I go around the internet spamming "Read my book!".

Writing isn't even fun when my characters don't nag at me and tell me what to do, but when I try and tell them what to do they do their own damn thing anyways and I get so lost.

 

[KOMega]

Ya my job isn't a walk in the park either and it is not difficult in any sense.

But at the end of the day I go "well, at least I'm getting paid." and I can then buy what I want with my money.

I don't really have a dream job, I just want to get by really.
Once I got that going on, I can do some personal projects/hobbies that I actually like doing.

If I'm lucky I can do that stuff at my job too.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

Purchased Read the first few pages of the first book, I like it, sucked me in rather nicely.

You are a wonderful person and I love you.

Really, thank you.

I should be putting as much time an energy into promoting my book as I do writing it, but that's a job I don't want to do. I don't know how, for one, and two, I seem like an asshole if I go around the internet spamming "Read my book!".

Writing isn't even fun when my characters don't nag at me and tell me what to do, but when I try and tell them what to do they do their own damn thing anyways and I get so lost.

And its extra hard when some sites (like the Escapist) have rules against advertising. Maybe you should ask a friend or something to help spread word of it. I told my friend about it last night and he said he might give it a buy. Word of mouth is a great advertisement tool.

I'm also surprised that it was only $0.99, why'd you price it so low?

Good luck with the rest of the series, I'll probably buy them at the rate I'm enjoying the first book.

 

[Miyenne]

And its extra hard when some sites (like the Escapist) have rules against advertising. Maybe you should ask a friend or something to help spread word of it. I told my friend about it last night and he said he might give it a buy. Word of mouth is a great advertisement tool.

I'm also surprised that it was only $0.99, why'd you price it so low?

Good luck with the rest of the series, I'll probably buy them at the rate I'm enjoying the first book.

Yeah I don't want to get in trouble either for it.

My friends and family aren't readers except for my sister, all said they'd buy it but none have. Everyone expresses interest when they hear I wrote a book, but they won't even take the time to read it. Kinda disappointing.

I priced it low so more people would be tempted to buy it, and if by some grace of any god in existence (if there even are such things) if it got popular I could raise the price of the next ones.

And now today instead of working on it I waited for the maintenance people to unclog all our showers and toilets (dunno what happened there) then did a big grocery trip, and then ate lunch and suddenly fell asleep. And now I'm here instead of working. Ugh.

Thank you much for your support though. It really does mean a lot to me for people not related to me to say it's good.

Captcha agrees, it says bless you.

 

[Beffudled Sheep_v1legacy]

And its extra hard when some sites (like the Escapist) have rules against advertising. Maybe you should ask a friend or something to help spread word of it. I told my friend about it last night and he said he might give it a buy. Word of mouth is a great advertisement tool.

I'm also surprised that it was only $0.99, why'd you price it so low?

Good luck with the rest of the series, I'll probably buy them at the rate I'm enjoying the first book.

Yeah I don't want to get in trouble either for it.

My friends and family aren't readers except for my sister, all said they'd buy it but none have. Everyone expresses interest when they hear I wrote a book, but they won't even take the time to read it. Kinda disappointing.

I priced it low so more people would be tempted to buy it, and if by some grace of any god in existence (if there even are such things) if it got popular I could raise the price of the next ones.

And now today instead of working on it I waited for the maintenance people to unclog all our showers and toilets (dunno what happened there) then did a big grocery trip, and then ate lunch and suddenly fell asleep. And now I'm here instead of working. Ugh.

Thank you much for your support though. It really does mean a lot to me for people not related to me to say it's good.

Captcha agrees, it says bless you.

Wow, its almost like god is trying to keep you away from working on them. Well good luck again. I'll keep trying to get my literate friends to pick it up, especially since its so cheap. Good luck in your progress

 

[Snowbell]

All I want, and it's ultimately a simple request, is a job where, on the way there, I feel like this;

... but as it stands I just have no idea what the hell that could be.

Oh God why did you have to use a gif of Alan Rickman as Snape in drag! Why did the directors feel the need to make him look like an extremely unattractive old lady in the film with the most heart wrenching scene?? I dare not watch that film because of how terrible he looks!

Um...am I offtopic? One moment!

I work in a bakery at the moment. It's not the job I want to do for the rest of my life (not enough hours, minimum wage) but the work is easy and the customers and nice, sometimes I get compliments ^_^ It will certainly do for the summer

 

[Loop Stricken]

Oh God why did you have to use a gif of Alan Rickman as Snape in drag!

Because; I hear the song in my head every time, and it's amusing. Glad to hear about your job. Sounds nice.
=====


Update, BTW. Had a bit of an anxiety attack or something at work. Literally could not move for about 40 minutes. Nobody noticed, no idea what caused it either.
Not sure what's going to happen now.

 

[Loop Stricken]

*Looks back over the thread*

But another thing that's not really talked about is fatigue levels - if you've spent time on benefits, you don't really do much physically and mentally and work sure as the Pope's a Catholic changes that. You now find yourself tired, pessimistic and generally rueing the situation you are in - but keep at it.

If the work is something you truly cannot stomache, like your boss is a real sadistic arsehole / cow who threatens you with violence etc like one of mine did - then by all means quit. While I spent another two years desperately seeking a new job after that - it's not a decision that I come to regret. (She did make me vomit with nerves every day I had to go to work there, so I think I made the right decision.)

Keep your chin up, fella. You're just merely tired from going between a world of benefits and a world of work.
Should you wish to PM me, I'd be happy to lend you an ear.

Thing is, I transitioned between "bed at 6am, wake at 4pm" to a normal working schedule ridiculously easily. And there's nothing technically WRONG with this place I'm at... but I dread every day, and see the post above RE having a bit of a panic attack.

I'm as baffled as anyone else.

 

[Retsam19]

Oh God why did you have to use a gif of Alan Rickman as Snape in drag!

Because; I hear the song in my head every time, and it's amusing. Glad to hear about your job. Sounds nice.
=====


Update, BTW. Had a bit of an anxiety attack or something at work. Literally could not move for about 40 minutes. Nobody noticed, no idea what caused it either.
Not sure what's going to happen now.

I know this probably isn't the sort of thing you want to hear, but honestly, I think you should seek some counselling, either for career advice, to help you figure out what you want to do with your life, or at least to help you manage your anxiety over your current job. (It's just like asking the internet, except that they know what they're talking about)

 

[Syntax Error]

Confucius said that if you do something you love, then you will not have to work a day for the rest of your life. But there comes the rub: that thing that you love doing? Attach income to it and responsibility will follow not long after. At that point, it stops becoming fun and begins to feel like work, and you're back at square one. See, there are a very FEW "fun" things that can be converted into a lucrative enterprise. I know some people who love to dance and have taken up being dance instructors. Although the hours are nice (they get to choose WHEN they would go to "work"), it just doesn't pay enough to get by. So they look for other avenues.

Others still, get enslaved by their degree. Thinking that since "I GRADUATED FROM WITH HONORS" then that's the career path they should follow. Their pride gets in the way of their own personal progress. Guess what, I've been working in the IT Industry (as a BI consultant) for three years now and I can say that all I needed to do my job, I learned at work. Not saying my college education was redundant though, I just have this feeling that to hold on to a good job, it isn't required.

And yes, I feel you OP. I have the same problem. There are just some times where the ungodly hours, the brain drain, the office politics and the unhealthy diet (you're pretty much forced to go fast food if you don't prepare your meals) get the better of your patience. But you just have to grit your teeth and bear it. I know I'm not long for office work anyway (really considering resigning now), since I started a great home-based operation (I make time for it) that allows me to earn some green at the comfort of my living room.

 

[gyroscopeboy]

I was working at a shitty printing job for 5 years after dropping out of a university degree i wasn't interested in finishing. Finally I decided to follow one of my longtime dreams to become a graphic designer. So I enrolled in a 1 year college course part time, so i could continue working to support myself.

After graduating I found a dream job within 4 weeks (interesting clients, lots of down-time, beers at the office, half-day pub fridays, etc.), and now i'm kicking myself for not having made the life change sooner.


There are always ways to get to where you want to go, you just need to think creatively.

 

[aelreth]

Do what you love and find a way to be paid enough to live on for it. Make sure you find the task rewarding.

 

[Gunner 51]

*Looks back over the thread*

But another thing that's not really talked about is fatigue levels - if you've spent time on benefits, you don't really do much physically and mentally and work sure as the Pope's a Catholic changes that. You now find yourself tired, pessimistic and generally rueing the situation you are in - but keep at it.

If the work is something you truly cannot stomache, like your boss is a real sadistic arsehole / cow who threatens you with violence etc like one of mine did - then by all means quit. While I spent another two years desperately seeking a new job after that - it's not a decision that I come to regret. (She did make me vomit with nerves every day I had to go to work there, so I think I made the right decision.)

Keep your chin up, fella. You're just merely tired from going between a world of benefits and a world of work.
Should you wish to PM me, I'd be happy to lend you an ear.

Thing is, I transitioned between "bed at 6am, wake at 4pm" to a normal working schedule ridiculously easily. And there's nothing technically WRONG with this place I'm at... but I dread every day, and see the post above RE having a bit of a panic attack.

I'm as baffled as anyone else.

This sounds rather psychological in nature, have you considered counselling. (You can pop into your GP and ask them about this.) It's not something to be ashamed of at all people go there for all sorts of reasons, you don't have to be suicidal or mentally ill or anything - but it sounds like you've hit a mental block.

Failing that, you can always send out a few discreet CVs and applications and use this job as a springboard to greener pastures.

Either way, I hope things go well for you.