![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on April 1, 2013, at 0:48:15
I have to get a better job. It's really great that I keep getting promoted, but it's not really much better.
First of all, I'm getting "promoted" but it's without a raise, just more work. Second of all, the higher up I get, the more I see how unethical this place is and I don't want to work for a place like this.
This is not me! I don't want to be associated with this place, and their management style. I don't believe it even works, everything I've researched says that this "sweatshop" type management style is counterproductive! It's the opposite of productive, it makes us all miserable and less productive!
Unfortunately I still have zero power really because the owners have an iron grip on everything. I don't blame them at all for freaking out when they are not making money and profits are either down or non-existent, but it does not help things to rule with iron fists!
The entire culture of fear and punishment must change first. The way to get employees to go above and beyond is not through fear and punishment, but by inspiring them to be the best they can be and encouraging the development of their intrinsic motivation.
What this company I work for now stands for is the complete opposite of who I am. I believe in results and I believe productivity is extremely important, but when the owners go on and on with their punishment and fear and fail over and over again without learning anything, something has to give.
I really think this company is going to go down and it's really all their doing. Unfortunately the owners cannot control their emotions and cannot use evidence based business practices. They seem not to deal well with stress at all, often resulting in just yelling at whomever was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
I need a new job. If anyone has any leads for me that would be great. I'm willing to re-locate if the pay is a liveable wage.
Any job related advice or just well wishers would be great as well.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 1, 2013, at 1:04:44
In reply to I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by Deneb on April 1, 2013, at 0:48:15
apply apply apply!
i found something on a university website about putting 10 hours per week into looking for work. i don't know what the website databases are that are relevant for your geographical location but start putting in an hour or two every day or every second day...
to start with applications will take a while. eventually you will have different versions for different things and they won't take too much tweaking to send out another one.
i think part of the key is to get into the spirit of applying... just enough time into each one to get you some interviews... it is a time consuming business. don't get overly attached to any one.
one thing i'm learning is that often you won't get NOT because you couldn't do it competently, but they had another applicant who fit better. so... it really isn't personal. especially once you realize that half of the jobs you apply for you probably don't really want anyway...
if you get the applications out there then one of them will come through for you eventually. but it helps to MAKE it happen rather than sitting back and waiting for stuff to fall in your lap (sometimes life works like that but mostly not)
Posted by Deneb on April 1, 2013, at 1:16:09
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by alexandra_k on April 1, 2013, at 1:04:44
Thanks Alex!
That was fast lol.
I think getting into the habit of applying all the time by default will help a lot. I've fallen into the trap of just staying where I am because it's bearable for the moment.
I'm wondering whether or not I should use my new people skills to also just do some cold calling and informal informational interviewers with higher up employees. I need to be more proactive about things. It's really tough to get a job now. It's a lot about networking now. I think I need to do that.
> apply apply apply!
>
> i found something on a university website about putting 10 hours per week into looking for work. i don't know what the website databases are that are relevant for your geographical location but start putting in an hour or two every day or every second day...
>
> to start with applications will take a while. eventually you will have different versions for different things and they won't take too much tweaking to send out another one.
>
> i think part of the key is to get into the spirit of applying... just enough time into each one to get you some interviews... it is a time consuming business. don't get overly attached to any one.
>
> one thing i'm learning is that often you won't get NOT because you couldn't do it competently, but they had another applicant who fit better. so... it really isn't personal. especially once you realize that half of the jobs you apply for you probably don't really want anyway...
>
> if you get the applications out there then one of them will come through for you eventually. but it helps to MAKE it happen rather than sitting back and waiting for stuff to fall in your lap (sometimes life works like that but mostly not)
Posted by Twinleaf on April 1, 2013, at 11:24:14
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by Deneb on April 1, 2013, at 1:16:09
What fields/ types of jobs are you interested in? Something scientific?
Posted by Deneb on April 2, 2013, at 21:36:18
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help? » Deneb, posted by Twinleaf on April 1, 2013, at 11:24:14
> What fields/ types of jobs are you interested in? Something scientific?
I really don't have credentials or skills to go into something scientific right away.
Right now I'm kind of an HR assistant at work. I never thought that I would be doing HR work, but here I am.
I seem to have developed a lot of social skills along the way. I'm OK with public speaking now. I train groups of people.
The main things I have going for me are reliability, loyalty, my new social skills, a very confident phone voice, willingness to go above and beyond, empathy, and willingness to work with whatever crap is thrown at me and take it all with a smile and good attitude. I guess I'm pretty good with stress and I'm always thinking of ways to improve. I like thinking of ways to improve the structure/culture and organization at my place of work.
I like organizing things and planning for things. The problem now is that I don't have any power to make decisions.
I don't know what kind of career would be best for me. I think I might be OK with a lot of things. I don't like physical work though. Working in a fast paced coffee shop was not for me. It was horrible. I have a terrible tremor in my hands that makes me ill suited for that kind of work.
I like helping people. I want to work for the forces of good. I would like my work to make some difference in people's lives. I'm thinking about looking in not for profit organizations.
I guess I'm not really looking for a specific type of job. It's more I'm looking for the right work environment. I like hard working people. I want to work with interesting people and I want to work in an environment that lets me make decisions and gives me the autonomy to do things the way I want to do them.
I hate micro-management. I want to work in an environment that is not ruled by fear.
I don't know...maybe I should aim to get into a company with this sort of culture. Perhaps I can put my cold calling skills to work here. Or use my new social skills to ask powerful people out for informational lunches or something.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 3, 2013, at 2:25:22
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by Deneb on April 2, 2013, at 21:36:18
good. that is all good.
i don't know what job websites you have....
we have one called `indeed' that is a database that gives hits from a few different job websites. so i can basically search ALL jobs from a certain geographical location (that i can bike to, for instance) and it will tell me all of them. of course there are LOTS of hits - which is why it takes hours to trawl them and think (briefly!) about applying. all kinds of things!!! often they want certain SKILLS rather than people who have done precisely that kind of work before / you can be fairly creative about interpreting the skills you have so they fit the job description.
they seem to come in batches, too. or maybe it is just that a certain kind of job appeals to me in certain kinds of moods...
you don't know about the feel until you get the interview... and even then you don't really know until you start...
i think of them like sowing seeds... it isn't about investing in one or two bulbs it is about sowing seeds widely - though not quite as indiscriminately as the ocean.
i've heard...
that applying for jobs is something that one should ALWAYS be doing. moving up... staying in synch with how to present oneself for the current job market etc etc etc. what is the alternative? hrm.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 3, 2013, at 2:27:56
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by alexandra_k on April 3, 2013, at 2:25:22
but then i don't have a job ahahaha.
but i have had a few interviews lately. and i decided from interview that i didn't really want the job. i was honest about my situation and it was obvious to the employer that i wasn't the fit they were looking for.
on the one hand i probably should practice just doing whatever to see if i actually get offers (I can of course turn the job down)
on the other hand i think i owe it to them to be honest...
i've just applied for a job i think will be PERFECT for me right now - and i told them that. i probably won't even get interviewed for it lolz. i offered to work as a volunteer for up to 2 weeks to prove myself lmfao!!!
Posted by Twinleaf on April 3, 2013, at 6:31:08
In reply to I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by Deneb on April 1, 2013, at 0:48:15
It sounds like you have great management/leadership skills. You might really enjoy a non-profit, especially one with overseas commitments - provided it is big enough to offer real advancement and a chance to lead eventually.
How disappointing to get promotions and more responsibility but no pay increases!
Posted by Deneb on April 4, 2013, at 20:33:32
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help?, posted by alexandra_k on April 3, 2013, at 2:27:56
> but then i don't have a job ahahaha.
>
> but i have had a few interviews lately. and i decided from interview that i didn't really want the job. i was honest about my situation and it was obvious to the employer that i wasn't the fit they were looking for.
>
> on the one hand i probably should practice just doing whatever to see if i actually get offers (I can of course turn the job down)
>
> on the other hand i think i owe it to them to be honest...
>
> i've just applied for a job i think will be PERFECT for me right now - and i told them that. i probably won't even get interviewed for it lolz. i offered to work as a volunteer for up to 2 weeks to prove myself lmfao!!!LOL, I saw a TED talk about how offering to do free work is *the* best way to get your dream job. It's better than an internship because internships are very competitive. Just offering to do free work is unexpected and a lot of people will give you a chance if there isn't much risk to them.
Posted by Deneb on April 4, 2013, at 20:35:03
In reply to Re: I have to get a better job, can anyone help? » Deneb, posted by Twinleaf on April 3, 2013, at 6:31:08
> It sounds like you have great management/leadership skills. You might really enjoy a non-profit, especially one with overseas commitments - provided it is big enough to offer real advancement and a chance to lead eventually.
>
> How disappointing to get promotions and more responsibility but no pay increases!Yeah lol.
Argh, we had a couple of days of calm and I was starting to think this job isn't so bad after all. LOL How quickly I forget....lol. Well, it's back to the crazyiness now. It never ends. lol
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.