Office work
musicismylife78
Posts: 6,116
I am a big fan of movies like Clerks or Reality Bites, Office Space as well, movies that seem to critique modern society and modern jobs and how almost useless they are.
For anyone who has worked at an office or for an investment bank or some other place, are these portrayals accurate?
For anyone who has worked at an office or for an investment bank or some other place, are these portrayals accurate?
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Yea they suck but it beats digging a ditch....also the pay is nice.
I do not think modern office jobs are useless, however.
What do you do for work?
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Do you know how many "modern jobs" it took to allow you to see Clerks, Reality Bites, or Office Space?
Edit: Where does this rank in the list of greatest posts ever?
So far my whole "working life" (which it is 8 years) has been in an office, I believe that Space Office (have not seen Clerks) is a caricature of the reality. There are ups and downs whenever you work for an organization/firm, whatevere you want to call it. I wouldn't consider any job useless...
However, I don't see the issue related to the fact that I have to do my job in an office (couldn't do it anywhere else), it has to do with whether you like what you do or not. Me, I believe my job is not useless at all, I like a lot the organization I work for, and I also like a lot my work (i.e. my daily tasks)
For me, it all seems so absurd. My generation has this to look forward to as we step into the workplace:
Rising U.S. debt in the trillions
Global warming
Minimum wage
War
No future
OK, but you can do very important and interesting work revolving such topics from a PC. For example (I don't know what you are studying) if you were to become a researcher in a social science, chances are you'll do at least some (if not most) of the work in an office...
Wel first off you need to stop crying.
Rising U.S debt= were america...well figure it out.
Glbal warming= thats like 100 years down the line. You will be dead by then. Stop crying
Mininum wage= You're a student. If you only make mininum wage with a college degree you should kill yourself.
War= been around since the beginning of time. it sucks but thats life.
No future= well what do you want to do with your life?
Sometimes it takes a while to figure that out. I didn't figure it out until i was in my late 20's. Instead of having it in your head that you are doomed to a life of boredom and unfulfillment, why not figure out the best way to use your interests and abilities. Both of those will probably change, but guess what, you can change where and who you choose to work for. You know, you actually have free will and blaming circumstances and other people for your (not you specifically, you haven't had the opportunity yet, speaking generally) unwillingness to pursue your goals because it's difficult is what most people choose.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Sounds like you're convincing yourself that you're doomed. Self-fullfilling prophecy. My kids are just the opposite. They see tons of opportunity ahead for themselves.
Bush will be gone it 2 years and the dems have promised to cut porkbarrel spending (bullshit, but at least they're talking about it). We'll recover from this reckless spending just as we have in the past.
The earths temperature is rising at a constant rate. No need to buy into the fear the left is selling. Just do your part.
I do agree that the minimum wage is a problem. We really should get rid of it
As has been said, we've always seen wars somewhere in modern times. They have become a fact of life. We don't have to like it, but they aren't going to lead to your destruction.
The "no future" item is the biggest pile of bullshit on your list. There is always a future, and that future is what you make it. So keep talking like that and keep focusing on that minimum wage and you'll defintely set yourself up for a shitty life. Or, buckle down. Focus on some goals. Do well in school. Get a good job (yes, get a job, I know that's a dirty word for you).
You'll be fine. Quit buying into the doom and gloom.
Ah, jesus, you had to mention that. Cue Ahnimus and his tired bullshit. Here it comes....
Don't be afraid to switch gears!!
doesn't feel that way right now. That's the hopeful
idea . . . Hope didn't get much applause . . .
Hope! Hope is the underdog!"
-- EV, Live at the Showbox
The other day, some lady came by and said, "Ooops, I thought this was the storage room." Turns out she wasn't really looking for the storage room. It's humiliating as all hell, but it's how I pay the bills now.
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
THis is a VERY good point. I think lots of people are afraid because they think they are too old. They think they are too old when they are 27? Seriously? It's so short sighted.
One of the most influential things i've ever heard was from this old guy i was golfing with once: "i wish i could go back in time and do (whatever it is he wanted to do)" you can't be afraid to try even though you think everyone in the world thinks you're crazy.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
In the sense of how people will perceive you, it is kind of old. I am speaking from experience. I get asked during interviews about my age. I get asked at work about my age. If you're in your late 20's and just starting out in a career, people will think you are some kind of degenerate loser. I've experienced this discrimination first hand on many, many occasions.
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
If you want the job, and think you are right for it, you can look the interviewer in the eye and convince them that you are the right person for the job, if you truly want it. But my main point is...is that i think people are focused on age and impose self-limitations. "I'm 30 so i couldn't possibly do this." "I'm married and have a kid, I can't do this." These are crutches that we use to make ourselves feel better about choosing the easier but less fullfilling path.
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
holy drama queen batman!
I had a job earlier this year in a dept. with a bunch of mid-20's fresh college grads. After about a couple of weeks, I was asked about my age. I was asked 2-3 more times by other people in the dept. over the next couple of months.
A few weeks later, the manager that hired me walked from her office down the hall and into the dept I was in just to say, "You're 29? I thought you were 26."
I actually never lived my age down until I was fired for made up bullshit reasons a few months later. I forgot to mention that a couple of months before I was fired, a guy in my dept. who was 31 and just out of the army was getting the same treatment.
Before I found that job, I had been to interviews at 4 different firms. Each interviewer asked me how old I was. To them, it's a matter of some guy who finally got his degree at age 28 vs. a fired up youngin' who has been focused on his goals since day 1. It was the interviewer who assumed my age rather than asking about it that decided I was worth hiring.
At the job I have now, I've been asked my age by two different people and I've only been working there for a few weeks.
So, I wouldn't say that I use my age as a crutch. If I had things my way, it would never be brought up. I don't believe my age has anything to do with my abilities, but the problem is that I'm apparently the only person who thinks that.
http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
I was out of work for 6 months a few years back. I was 32 years old. I kept getting turned down by Employers and even fucking agencies. One time a girl in an employment agency offered me a job on the spot after glancing at my C.V. The next day she lied to me and fobbed me off with some bullshit excuse. I KNEW that it was because of my age.
I then decided to knock 5 years of my age when applying for work. I look younger than I am anyway - and often act younger than I am. From that point on I received positive responses to EVERY job I applied for. Within a month I had a good job.
Go figure!
Eventually I swallowed my pride and got a bog-standard office job, and as boring as it was, at least I was earning and putting ye olde brain to good use. I'm somewhere else now and it's slightly more enjoyable, secure and better paid, but I'm still unsure about what I want to do with my life. I'm only 20, but I feel the exact same way as I did when I was 15.
Like Byrnzie said, a job's a job. It's a job while you're looking for another job. And even if not, that's what beer is for
I will move country again in August. I know exactly what I want to do and I will make sure I will do it. About office life I can only say "Never, ever, ever again."
But then again, never say never.
Sorry, bit of office humour there
I'm discarding all thought
I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
I'm like an opening band for the sun
Also, if you've never heard of the Nature Conservancy, it's one of those great (IMO) organizations that continue to do incredible work, even in the face of all the doom and gloom. They make a difference.
http://www.nature.org/careers/index.html
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Here's my 2 cents....for what its worth anyway.
The 9-5 working world is a facade. 40 hr/ wk. office and factory jobs are not useless because they are necessary to keep the world running. However, I will always believe in the motto "all in moderation". These people invest 40 hrs each week to their job and many times take them on as another family----but then what happens to their personal life and family at home? Many people have alot of trouble trying to balance work life with the home life and in many cases, it just doesn't work. Unless of course your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse works with you or you've worked out some way to include the family in your work.
I feel that many people can get burnt out on the traditional standards of a work week. It may have worked for our grandparents--- but they also still valued the importance of the housewife to help alleviate the stress of the husband----a notion that is unfortunately overlooked in this day and age. Most couples are so concerned with maintaining a 2-income family to gain more money, that they lose sight of their quality of life---meaning that they never have enough time for everything and everyone is always too stressed out. The little important things get overlooked and their children get neglected in many subtle ways.
So, I guess what I'm getting at is that you should try to build a career that is flexible--like working from home or being your own boss or put two different part time jobs together. This is what I've found to work for me so far. Good luck to ya, Cheguevara6.
You are so right. I work 40 hours a week which is enough to kill most of my brain cells eventually. On top of that, there's the commuting, so make that a 55 hour week. My partner is a teacher, and has to do a lot of work at home. It's far from great. So that's why we're moving. To a place where the hours will be better and life nicer. Also I'm going to make sure my work will make a difference. Pushing paper is not my life ambition
I'm discarding all thought
I'll dry up, leaving puddles on the ground
I'm like an opening band for the sun
man, 55 hours sounds so nice to me. im going to be a lawyer. lawyers at firms in chicago put in a minimum of 60 per week, oftentimes getting up to 80. im not going to last long.
im 24 and work 45 hrs a week in a cubicle. I dont mind it but when friday is here im ready to throw a victory party that i made it through the week.
I worked for Metlife for about 2 years and we where located in one of those corporate parks. It exactly like on Office Space. We had a Ruby Tuesday's across the street and a TGI Fridays down the street. The interior of the office complex was the same. One giant space divided into little cubicals.All that was missing was the water feeder in each cube so that we could look exactly like hamsters scurring along in our cage. I didn't have a boss like Bill Lumberg, but I was Peter Gibbons.
Just so you know, it's actually illegal for an interviewer to ask you your age.
That's a lot of work.
I work about 50 hours a week normally, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. If you include my short travel time to and from as the last person did it goes to about 54 hours a week at least.
I don't consider that a ton, 60-80 hours would be a lot. The most I can do regualrly is about 55 hours a week, I start to get way underproductive after too lnog anyhow.