Unemployed?

Question

UNEMPLOYED

Hey there to all. I would like to tell you a story.

Okay. So, I am unemployed. This is by choice. I could be working right now but I chose to leave my job. This is a story about why I left my job, and an amazing reality in which many people probably stay in situations such as mine and do absolutely nothing. Did I do the right thing? Judge for yourself.

HOW ABOUT THIS?
You work in an office, no physical labour, no work to do – ok you answer the phone and transfer calls – but there are hardly any calls, you work 8 hours a day, no one to talk to, but you have people check up on you once in a while to make sure that your not goofing off for example: reading a book, listening to music…etc. Anyways, you go home at night feeling unfulfilled, like you accomplished absolutely nothing and that you feel like your life is meaningless, and you honestly question why you are on this earth.
STORY BEGINS
I had a job working in an office like this. At first I didn’t want the job, I had a bad feeling about it. I should have not taken the job, but out of desperation I did. I stayed for about 7 months and then decided that it wasn’t for me, for my own reasons, good ones that it would be better for my mental health to leave.
This is what a typical day entailed:
•Get to work, check the fax, check the email, get the mail
•Start my computer, if it even gets used
•Answer the phone the way the boss so distinctly preferred, i.e.: Like a robot/answering machine, then transfer the call (by the way the phone hardly rang)
•Clean my office (just for something to do)
•Wait
•Wait
•Wait
•Oh and go on the internet (which was only accessible on a computer in a separate room) and check the job bank about 10 million times a day – so I could get the HELL out of this place!

Let’s put it this way my job was sooo monotonous that I literally would sit there by myself and wander into my own mind…oh what a dangerous place. I had no one to talk to because my office was secluded and I was not aloud to leave my office because I would get into trouble. I had to be by the phone at all times (in case it rang). I asked for things to do during the day even though I would try to find things on my own but that was kind of hard at times and as always my requests fell flat. My boss treated me like I was dumb, he picked at everything I did……and I didn’t do much, the job description was pretty bleak. Like I wasn’t answering the phone the right way - the 2 minute long intro that I had to say which every caller interrupted – I would try to shorten it, he didn’t like that even though I explained to him why I shortened it; I wasn’t picking up the mail early enough in the morning – even though he was hardly ever there and it was usually at times where there were meetings so of course I was unable to pick it up right away; I wasn’t stamping the ‘received date stamp’ on the mail in the right spot – even though you could still see it and it was just a stamp that said when the mail was received and sometimes I would miss stamping a piece of mail by accident and he literally said that he was thinking of firing me before my three months probationary period were up, during an evaluation the one day ALL because I missed stamping the ‘received date stamp’ on a piece of mail a couple of times and it would be a piece of mail so stupid like a flyer. I found that to be pretty damn petty. He was anal though. In any case, I did what he asked, improved my errors and sucked up and kissed ***, but for whatever reason I just didn’t hit his radar in the way the other girl in the office did who I feel was favoured.

THE OTHER GIRL
The other girl in the office who started the same time as me had a more advanced job in the office, one that I too was capable of doing but with brief training because I am at the entry level. Her office was conjoined, so she was able to socialize with other people during the day and she was always somewhat busy because she actually had work that needed to be done, even though all she did all day was talk either on the phone or to other people. Me, I was down the hall in what I call my ‘prison’ office, alone with nothing to do. Anyway, the other girl was more liked, and I think it was because she was older (30) she was a loud mouth, bossy and chatty, her job was more ‘important’ and NEVER repeat NEVER did she get into trouble for talking even though that was all she did all day with the boss’s son. While I would sit in my office, listening to them chatting and laughing down the hall, all I could think was ‘damn, if that were me, the boss would be having a **** fit and he would pull me into his office and have the talk’ – like he had already done to me before. But no, he liked her, she could do no wrong. I still can’t figure it out.

Anyway….continuing…..
I think that because I am young, quiet, short, skinny, pretty, blonde I was considered a dumb, ditzy blonde, in which I was paid no respect. I am however, smart, have education, experience and many skills to offer in the administrative field. Working at this place made me feel like I was good for nothing and would be better off pouring coffee - at least I would feel like I had accomplished something during the day!

THE BREAKING POINT
The one day the boss asked me to make travel arrangements. I had never traveled myself, nor had I made travel arrangements for anyone else in any of my previous jobs. So, I told him that, and asked him how he would like me to make his travel arrangements. He told me through ‘Travelocity’. I was not familiar with ‘Travelocity’ then (even though I use it now and think it is awesome). So I told him that I was unfamiliar with ‘Travelocity’ and asked him if he could go over with me for the first time making his travel arrangements just because I had never done it before. He took one disgusting look at me (shaking his head and furrowing his eyebrows) and said, “SO, you don’t know how to use a computer then. I see.” ME, dumb founded, my jaw dropped, I wanted to pulverize this *******. I had 3 interviews that were each 1 hour long, it took them 5 weeks to hire me, during each interview I was asked the same questions over and over again, and I was even given tests. Never in my life have I went through so much ******** for an interview for a job that a monkey could do or a good answering machine JUST to answer a god damn phone…SO what is the point that I am trying to get at here…WELL on MY resume and during MY interviews with this jackass I told him and he read for himself about all of my computer expertise, programming experience etcetera AND that I created and designed a website ALL BY MYSELF for the first company I worked for. NOW, DO YOU THINK THAT I CAN’T USE A COMPUTER **** FACE!!! That was what I wanted to say. But instead I took it, he was the boss right!!! And that was just one of a number of times that this mofo insulted me and my intelligence. Finally, one day I had had enough of the ******** and called him on it, hoping that he would just fire me because quitting at this point in my financial state would have made it easier, for him to just fire me rather than me quit. The one day he insulted me about my math skills, because I couldn’t do this one math equation in my head and he is very good in math. So anyway, he insulted me, I took it, he walked away and I cried to myself (literally, I quietly bawled by myself in my office, he made me feel that stupid and that small and worthless). It was at this point that I decided to speak up. I knew that from this point on that speaking up and standing up for myself to him was something that I had to do but I also knew that it would make things awkward, however I had to do it. So when he came back into my office to get something I made myself distant with him, he asked me if there was something wrong and I told him. I said, “You made me feel very humiliated and ashamed of myself because I couldn’t do that equation in my head. I just want you to know that I am not stupid and that because I am slower at doing something it doesn’t mean that I can’t do it. You really offended me, and it wasn’t just what you said it was how you said it, if you really feel that I am not performing up to par and that I am incompetent then maybe I should get another job because right now at this point, I feel that you don’t want me working here and that I am not doing a good job, and frankly if this is the way its going to be I would rather work at KFC.” Though, this move however courageous or stupid, it made me feel better, but unfortunately it didn’t quite change the situation. The awkwardness became worse and he still picked at me. I felt like I was walking on egg shells around him, and sticking up for myself really didn’t make anything better. SO, I gave up and left the job.

YOU BE THE JUDGE
Many of you may think that I am an overly sensitive person, and that I should have stayed at the job, and not taken anything personally. Believe me being unemployed right now without work, knowing that my EI is about to end, I definitely think about that and question my actions. What you also don’t know is each and every moment that occurred in the 1200 hours out of the 7 months that I spent working there, there were many things like the files that the other girl found (or as I call snooped for) about our interviews and how she had nothing but check marks beside the questions they asked her and mine had question marks, and then beside the project on my resume ‘designed and created website’ it had a note: Call this employer to make sure that she actually made a website. This FLOORED me! Not only that but also she bragged that she only had a 15 minute interview and was hired the next day and me well you know (3) - 1 hour interviews and 5 weeks. Now you may be one of those people rooting for me saying ‘You go girl!’ But I just want to say that I have a great sense of humor, I can take a joke and I can also take constructive criticism, heck I welcome it, what I can’t take is direct digs from someone that insults my integrity and intelligence. The point I am trying to make here is that if you are doing something that is making you unhappy to the point that on the way home from work you hope someone hits you or you run into a tree then you need to make some changes. I am not mentally ill, nor have I ever been. I will be honest, I have had a tough road growing up, but I am an educated person with commonsense and an intelligent human being with feelings. I don’t think anyone could have stayed where I was for much longer. I guess what I am trying to do is convince myself that it was okay to quit a job even though society will judge me and may not understand what I did. I don’t think it is good to regret decisions you make or actions you take, I do think it is right to analyze them later on, but what you do at the time you usually do because it felt right at the time. I quit for my mental health reasons. My doctor even said that anyone being alone for 8 hours a day with nothing to do, with someone picking at them is not a healthy situation. I know that I did the right thing, but sitting at home, waiting for the perfect job and taking a factory job in the mean time I found not necessarily worse than where I came from but pretty damn equal, which seems to ask the question of myself, did I do the right thing? I know I did, but of course I am human and that is why I question it.

You be the judge, what do you think? I welcome your comments. Not that it will change how I feel, what happened or what I have done – but I am curious to see other peoples’ opinions.

Answer 1

Well, I am not going to say that what you did was right or wrong, since that would be making a value judgment about you, which I don't believe that anyone but you is qualified to do. However, given the situation as you have described it, frankly I can't understand why you waited so long to leave!

No one needs to undergo the type of humiliating treatment you were subjected to. Obviously your boss is some kind of supercilious idiot with a very big ego, who thinks that he is "better" than others. I think he's insecure if he had to take out his frustrations picking on a lower level employee in such a manner and is not someone fit for management. Atleast not people management. Unfortunately, it seems to be these types who are always in management, doesn't it?

I think you have to follow your own path, whatever that may be. I try not to make judgments about people who are not the same as me. Being on unemployment, being unemployed does not make one less than one who is. Employment is not what creates the value of a person. Treating others as you would like to be treated however, certainly does.

I am glad that you stood up for yourself to this boss. You are human and deserve to be treated with dignity by your employer. He doesn't sound like the kind of person who will ever change though and it is not your mission in life to change him.

Good luck finding a job that you can feel satisfied in!

Sending love, light and blessings to you!

Answer 2

The truly unemployment fee is presently (March, honestly) simply over 20%. The Clinton Administration modified the way in which unemployment records (and customer costs and others) had been calculated again in 1993 to make it seem like they had been doing a larger process of "developing jobs" after the 1990-ninety one recession. Pure political determination without a mathematical justification for the difference. So! Continue utilising the common technique which used to be used for I-do not-expertise-many a long time. Then you'll reliably evaluate the information through the years. Results? Real unemployment fee is over 20%, no longer the wacko eight.five% said within the mainstream press. Note that this system does NOT incorporate new entrants & re-entrants to the staff as "unemployed" -- you have got to have labored, as good as be actively searching for paintings. Therefore, you're no longer by myself. Nowhere close as by myself as the govt. could love to have you ever suppose. And the process marketplace is a entire lot worse than so much men and women suspect. In reality, the fee at which unemployment is growing tracks amazingly carefully with that of 1929-1932, simply reasonably bigger and reasonably quicker. With an natural of @one thousand packages in keeping with process establishing, you have got to play the numbers sport and ship out l-o-t-s of packages to a much broader discipline than you could like. Keep at it. At least there are a couple of areas nonetheless hiring. In the Depression, jobs dried up wholly and no person employed any person at occupied with years.

Answer 3

You did the right thing in leaving your job. I don't think you are doing the right thing now. I think you should seek some counseling to deal with the depression that was created in your circumstances. From there, I think you need to carefully assess what your interests and strengths are to determine a good career for you. For starters, you obviously need a great deal more interaction with people. Concentrate on making yourself healthy, happy, and functional again. As for the differences in interview experience, she could be making up her experience or someone in the company may have known more about her than they knew about you. Unfortunately more and more people embellish their resumes to the point of outright lying, so I don't think it was out of line for the company to verify your claims. As for the Travelocity incident, take it from a hospitality professional, third-party sites like that are pretty much worthless. A user pays about the same rate to Travelocity as they could have obtained from the company itself, plus a service fee for using Travelocity.

Answer 4

the real unemployment fee is at present (March, certainly) in basic terms over 20%. The Clinton administration replaced the way unemployment information (and client expenditures and others) have been calculated returned in 1993 to make it look like they have been doing an stronger job of "arising jobs" after the 1990-ninety one recession. organic political decision without mathematical justification for the substitute. So! proceed making use of the unique technique which became into used for I-do no longer-comprehend-how-many many years. then you definately can reliably evaluate the information over the years. outcomes? real unemployment fee is over 20%, no longer the wacko 8.5% stated in the mainstream press. notice that this gadget would not contain new entrants & re-entrants to the paintings rigidity as "unemployed" -- you will possibly desire to have labored, besides as be actively searching for paintings. subsequently, you're no longer on my own. Nowhere close to as on my own because of the fact the government.might % to have you ever think of. And the job industry is a superb purchase worse than maximum individuals suspect. in certainty, the cost at which unemployment is increasing tracks amazingly heavily with that of 1929-1932, in basic terms somewhat greater and somewhat speedier. With an undemanding of @1000 purposes consistent with job commencing, you will possibly desire to play the numbers pastime and deliver out l-o-t-s of purposes to a lots wider section than you like. save at it. a minimum of there are some places nonetheless hiring. in the melancholy, jobs dried up entirely and no person employed all individuals at involved in years.

Answer 5

There is only so much a person can take...I think you did the right thing, there are bosses and then there are a~~ holes---which actually you had neither..mind as well put you in asylum...I am glad to hear you are out of there just chalk it up as one of those life exp life throws at you to make you stronger and more wise. Best of luck

Answer 6

Iv been in a similar situation but a different reason and I quit the job last week after 4 months at work. Now I'm looking for jobs. It's sometimes difficult for others to perceive it positively and it irritates to answer silly questions and suggestions people give which obviously we thought before quitting.

Answer 7

You did the right thing! Why don't you do volunteer work in the meantime. Spend some time interacting with others in different facets of life.
Good for you! Take care and good luck!

Answer 8

I hope you feel better getting all of that off your chest. No one should work at a job where they are constantly humiliated and made to feel stupid. I'm sure you will find something else that you will like much better.

Answer 9

As long as you can afford to take the time off go for it. I probably would have stuck it out until something else came along but we're all different. About wanting more to do or more responsibility, watch what you wish for, you might get it.

Answer 10

yes, you did the right thing. There is no way that I would be able to handle all of that b/s. That is probably why their postal people out their. Its not heatlhy to be stuck in a room with no social connection.