Office work

musicismylife78

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?

miller8966

Cheguevara6 wrote:

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?

Yea they suck but it beats digging a ditch....also the pay is nice.

know1

Like any good entertainment, there's a vein of truth, but then that vein is exaggerated or taken to the extreme.

I do not think modern office jobs are useless, however.

What do you do for work?

farfromglorified

Cheguevara6 wrote:

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.

Do you know how many "modern jobs" it took to allow you to see Clerks, Reality Bites, or Office Space?

Byrnzie

Most jobs suck. This is why God granted us beer.

Edit: Where does this rank in the list of greatest posts ever?

CaterinaA

Cheguevara6 wrote:

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?

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)

musicismylife78

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in life.
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

CaterinaA

Cheguevara6 wrote:

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in life.
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...

miller8966

Cheguevara6 wrote:

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in life.
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

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?

Purple Hawk

Cheguevara6 wrote:

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in 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.

jeffbr

Cheguevara6 wrote:

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in life.
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

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 , but no worries. If you do well in school and set some goals the minimum wage is the last thing you should worry about.

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.

jeffbr

Purple Hawk wrote:

You know, you actually have free will

Ah, jesus, you had to mention that. Cue Ahnimus and his tired bullshit. Here it comes....

Hope&Anger

Purple Hawk wrote:

Sometimes it takes a while to figure that out. I didn't figure it out until i was in my late 20's.

Well, that was lucky. I had one career from my mid-20's to the age of 30, when I shifted gears. And now, 15 years later, I'm tired of what I'm doing now and am thinking of switching again.

Don't be afraid to switch gears!!

sponger

I'm actually living the real-life "guy in the basement" scenario from Office Space at the place I'm working at right now. They stuck a computer in one of the conference rooms and told me to call it home. I just sit there and turn in reports all day. The pay is doo-doo too.

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.

Purple Hawk

Hope&Anger wrote:

Well, that was lucky. I had one career from my mid-20's to the age of 30, when I shifted gears. And now, 15 years later, I'm tired of what I'm doing now and am thinking of switching again.

Don't be afraid to switch gears!!

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.

Ahnimus

Cubicles suck and Lumberg is every boss of every office. Ye... except mine.

sponger

Purple Hawk wrote:

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.

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.

Purple Hawk

sponger wrote:

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.

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.

soulsinging

Cheguevara6 wrote:

I am a student, getting ready to figure out what I want to do in life.
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

holy drama queen batman!

sponger

Purple Hawk wrote:

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.

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.

Byrnzie

sponger wrote:

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.

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!