I can't take it any longer.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I cannot keep a job.

I interviewed for a job last week. The employment agent told me I scored high with them, but they had to interview two other people before they made a decision. Yesterday morning he called and said I had it and would start “tomorrow”, meaning today. It was to be a temp-to-perm position, meaning I was needed for a month, and at the end of that time if they liked me, I would become permanent staff.

I went in this morning, and they put me to work filing. Now, I was determined not to repeat past mistakes that have gotten me dismissed. I vowed to let them know the minute I was finished with a task, and keep asking people until someone came up with something for me to do, and to ask often if I was doing the current task properly.

The second filing task they gave me seemed so easy (sorting invoices by date, and they came in clumps) that I was fooled. I did ask, the one time I could find a supervisor outside of a meeting, if I was doing it properly, but apparently they didn’t take me seriously. I thought I must be expected to go through each individual sheet, or it wouldn’t be a task they needed an extra person to do, so I did.

At 3:40 I was finished. My supervisors were in a meeting. They continued to be in a meeting until, and past, 5 pm. During this time, I repeatedly asked the other Dilberts if I could do anything for them, and stressed that I was not idle by choice. They had nothing for me, and suggested, kindly of course, that I simply leave. I responded that if I did that, I wouldn’t be allowed back. Finally, at 5, when no one had dismissed me, I got permission from the receptionist and knocked on the conference room door. One supervisor didn’t acknowledge me at all; the other was taken aback at this reminder of my existence. She asked, “How are you coming along?” I replied, “Well I’ve finished.” She (I can’t remember the exact dialogue) told me to come back tomorrow.

The agent just called and said that he knew it was unfair, but they didn’t want to give me even the chance of another day. The supervisor had complained that the filing should not have taken until 3:40. Of course, it’s my fault that they weren’t there to ask. It’s my fault that they didn’t leave me with further instructions. It’s my fault that they decided to start “training” me on a day when they would be in meetings almost non-stop.

I really can’t take this any more. I can’t take any more of these jobs where I’m supposed to be perfectly in synch with a business I know nothing about. I can’t take any more of these false hopes. I can’t even afford to get my car fixed, and when it goes, I won’t be able to go to any job. I’m just going to go back to Pittsburgh and work in my MIL’s restaurant. Or I’ll live in a box under the freeway. Or I’ll jump off the freeway.

2

Im really sorry to hear about this, its definitely not fair. I regularly bring in extra help and am hiring a half timer for next year. I know how I hate to sit around doing nothing and I always make sure that they have lots to do and give really detailed instructions as well as popping in to check to see if there is anything they need. If I have to go to a meeting, I tell them that if they finish up early they can always ask a specific person for work, that way they don’t have to feel like they have to run around asking everyone.

I worked temp for a while and I hated it. It seemed that I always got the crappy jobs and that there was no respect at all. The attitude appeared to be that if you were working temp, then you couldnt do a full time job. Definitely not true. I got hired permanently from having a good reputation as a temp.

Hang in there hon, things will get better.

3

I temped for years, and boy, do I know what you’re talking about. I could tell you stories…

But I won’t, because your situation is about ten times more aggravating than anything I ever ran into. How rotten and unfair of them! Most of them aren’t that bad, or at least that’s been my experience; the worst thing is that you’re bored (which is bad enough). But the genuine jerks are rare. Just remember, you don’t want to work for people like that anyway, right? I do hope things get better.

Catrandom

4

Aw honey, hang in there! Something good will happen, you just weren’t meant to work for a such an obvious bunch of idiots.

(Hey Zotti! We need a HUG icon!!!)

5

God, how frustrating! It was totally their fault that they did not provide you with proper supervision. I temped on and off for a few years, so I can sympathize. You go in there, not knowing anything about the environment there and are expected to just jump right in.

I’ve been in that place of feeling like nothing ever goes right, and wondering whether you’ll be able to survive. A few years ago, I had just moved back to the area where I grew up, and was in dire straits financially, and my truck almost got repossessed on my birthday. Talk about shitty. So don’t feel alone, you’re not. Sometimes you have to make choices that aren’t ideal, but you truly never know what might be coming down the road a ways, and there might be something good for you after all.

Hang in there!

6

See, this has happened before: a company expects me to know everything about their system and do everything perfectly, with little to no training. When I was let go from a job I liked (on Valentine’s Day!), I was told that “We’d just rather work with someone who already knows the job.” Well, someone had to train those people, right?

They may feel justified as far as my taking an hour instead of a few minutes to do the task, but if they didn’t explain it properly…

I think, from here on in, I should introduce myself with a short speech to the effect that, “Gee, widgets sound really fascinating…but I’ve never done this before. What exactly do you expect?” But I fear I’ll lose jobs just as easily that way, with people saying, “We’re not going to hold your hand for you! Are you qualified or not?”

I can’t help being frustrated, though. I’m thirty years old, and just once, I’d like a job that I can keep. Just once, I’d like to move on when I’m ready to move on. And of course, when I heard I was hired, visions of paid bills and car repairs danced in my head, and now I’m back in the gutter.

I know life is unfair, and the world doesn’t owe me a living, and yadda yadda. But I honestly can’t take another of these teases. I’m very very close to giving up. Please don’t think I fail to appreciate the support that’s already been given; that’s just how I feel. Either hire me or don’t.

7

Oh wow, that is really crummy! I’m sorry that you had such a rotten experience, and I hate to echo advice, but * it was great, after all. *** Catrandom ** hit the right note, you wouldn’t have been happy with people like that, right? They were unfair immediately, so can you just imagine what they would have been like later??

Hang in there, and keep your chin up, okay? There’s a boss that is going to sound as good as Canadian Sue, you just have to keep trying. But, I KNOW they will be worth it in the end, because it will be the kind of job whose management appreciates you! :slight_smile:

8

True, Anti, and as I said to Mr. Rilch at the time, “It’s not like I said, ‘Oh boy, trash hauling! I wanna break into that field!’.” But I did like the idea of earning $11 an hour…

9

Rilch, your profile says that you’re a student. A student in what? Maybe some of our LA Dopers can help you out. (Hell, if you’re going to school for a CPA, my hubby can help you out!) Somebody in LA has to know of a job, c’mon Dopers!!!

What about an internship, is that feasable?

Maybe another temp agency? They shouldn’t have you interview for temp jobs, they should just farm you out based on your skills.

Shit Honey, I’m sorry you’re going through this crap.

10

Oh, I haven’t updated my profile (except my password and e-mail link) since I first registered on this board. I’m trained in “computerized accounting”, which means I’m qualified for the average temp job. I was going to train for my CPA, but I have to earn enough to pay for classes, so that’s on hold.

An internship would not be feasible, because I have to earn more than minimum wage to survive.

I’m registered with four temp agencies. I’ve had plenty of jobs where the agency’s word was all the employer needed, as with my recent IRS gig. But this particular job was, as I said, a “temp to perm”, where they were looking for someone to groom for a permanent position while they were getting their pound of flesh from the temp duties. That’s why the interview, and that’s why I think they must have been smoking something in that conference room. The agreement was that they would train me.

FTR, I live in the Valley and have a car. I’m trained in Word, Access, Excel, Peachtree, and, obviously, Internet. I type 55 WPM and do 8000 10-keystrokes an hour. And as attendees of the SoCal Doper gathering can attest, I’m easy on the eyes, but not to the point of distraction. I’m organized, focused, and, as I told these people, I don’t like to be idle. You’d think that would set some toes a-tappin’…

11

The problem wasnt you, but sure sounds like they are disorganized. What company wouldnt want to take advantage of a person with initiative and skills. Its their loss!! But keep your chin up, you will find the position thats perfect for you.

12

You could work for gateway… Their techs suck.

13

My analysis: Rilchiam is pulling your legs. Her writing skills are good, she has computer savvy = she is not slow, she’s not a druggie, she’s not a punk.

Analyze the other side. Supervisors do not fire people because they take too long to complete jobs. They should first check to find out why. It is a major hassle to hire and fire people, it’s less stressful to keep someone who’s halfway decent. If you keep firing people for no reason, the temp agency will look at you funny and not work with you next time. Worse, your supervisors and co-workers will label you with a Napoleon complex and shun you.

But Pittsburg has a bright side, nepotism works.

14

It sure doesn’t appear to me as if you have done anything wrong. I don’t understand the companies short-sightedness at not giving you more time on the job. I don’t quite understand what the deal is with it taking till 3:40 anyway since they had nothing to do for you after that and you just sat till 5:00. I mean if you finished 2 minutes after you started it seems to me you would have sat till 5:00 since they were in a meeting and couldn’t give you more work. I mean they were obligated to at least pay you for 8 hours weren’t they?

But I guess all that talk isn’t helping you figure out what to do is it? Have you used any online job places? I work as a computer consultant which is basically a high-tech temp and I have gotten almost all my jobs the past several years from online recuiting companies. I don’t know what places would be appropriate for you, but I got my referals from monster.com for the last two jobs, so these places work.

I would suggest you use your search engine tool and look for “online jobs” or “temporary employment” or something like that. http://www.metacrawler.com is a very good search engine if you don’t have a better one.

Good luck dear soul and don’t give up. :slight_smile:

15

Although I do feel for you Rilchiam, I almost laughed my neck off. You’ve discovered what it is to be a temp. I temped for 2 years from company to company before I finally landed a gig that lasted 11 months(although I went from office temp to what we call “Perma-temp”, which sucks almost as bad).

Once, I finally got my “Big break”(Har-har), I ended spending the day doing work on a computer printing the invoices you were filing. I was stuck inside a regular sized cubicle(which is too small for one person), and I had to share it with the admin whose cube it was.

All day long, I had to sit back to back with this over-stressed nutbag, and attempt to type with my hands under the desk(I wasn’t much of a typer then). It was miserable, or so I thought.

When I was introduced to the GM of the company, he looked at my earrings(HR said I could wear the damned things if they were small posts), and he looked at me totally aghast!

Suffice it to say, although I had done my damndest, I was “let go”. What’s worse, when I asked to get a reason for the temination, the company refused to provide it to my job counselor.

Such is life my friend. Please don’t give up, your big break will come soon.

Ever tried Customer service? :slight_smile:

16

My take on the subject: while they were in the meeting, someone mentioned that they found someone (friend, relative, acquaintance) that could fill that open position. The person who called the agency the next day was a wuss and was embarassed to say that they made a mistake and didn’t need anyone permanent. Some people are like that - they lie even when they don’t really have to.
I was a temp for a long time…don’t let them discourage you. You’ll find something. Meanwhile, just do job interviews on your own using the classifieds. It can’t hurt. Good luck!

17

Rilch, you didn’t really say if you wanted advice, so if you don’t just skip my post.

Check monsterboard.com and the other job pages on the web and find yourself an entry level technical support job. You have the basic computer skills necessary to do the job, and the vast majority of companies provide OTJ training before they put you on the phone. The pay usually starts at $10-12 an hour, with bennies.

It’s shit work (I should know, I’m doing it for a living right now), but it will get you on your feet, provide you with a solid job history and get you the opportunity to choose a new direction. If you’re a laidback, people person like me, give yourself a year or so in the position before burn out, and have a plan ready for the end of that year.

The nice thing about tech support is that it gives you access to hardware and software the average end-user doesn’t have. You could go in any of a hundred direction - engineer, IS, IT, certification, onsite support, hardware repair, etcetera - all of which pay good money compared to temping.

The other benefit is that with the turnover rate so high and the job market so tight, it’s really, really hard to lose a tech job once you’ve got it.

Good luck, Rilch.

18

lswote and c3: That’s exactly what I was thinking. The agent told me that he’d been asked not to send anyone else over. I got the impression (he’s a wannabe actor, so he’s good at conveying tone) that the supervisor had said this in a tone of world-weariness, like ‘Don’t send us another one of your mouth-breathers’, but if she didn’t have a replacement, she would have given me another chance. So it must be that.

Monsterboard.com? I’ll check that out. The thing is, I’ve tried posting my resume online, and never got a response.

GaWd, I’m not new at this; I’ve been through what you described as well. I was let go from one job, for, among other things, wearing a long skirt. This was allegedly “inappropriate” for a car reposession office. Meanwhile, my supervisor was showing 18 cubic feet of cleavage. That’s something I bet a lot of you have had to deal with: not having the wardrobe your employer demands and not having a paycheck to acquire it. I don’t have cutely casual separates; I have long skirts. Sue me.

Feelgud, I’m not pulling your leg; I wish I were.

Off to update my resume…

19

Rilchiam - oh geez do I know what you are going through. I am writing this email from a temp job. I don’t mean the problem with being released, I just mean not being able to catch a break. I took a two year course to learn journalism, advertising and public relations. With that course came a student loan and of course my ever present car lease. I also have to move. Hmm, that course should’ve prepared me for any number of lucrative positions, and what am I doing? Answering a switchboard, yay me! I should’ve stuffed the course and went in to nursing. I feel like walking in to companies now saying, “I just want a job, I can do the work, just please,please give me a chance.” I know through budgeting I have to make about $1500.00/mth to survive, that’s not much and yet I can’t seem to find it.

20

Having both worked as a temp and employed temps, I really feel for you. Temping, especially general temping, is possibly the worst possible job. The pay is low and the boredom and stress levels are incredibly high. The last company you described sounds like a lot of rat bastards; unfortunately, that’s the norm in Dilbert-land.

Some ways you can improve your lot:

Specialize: Talk to your temp agency and find out what the hot skill is. In my temping days (~15 years ago), it was the IBM DisplayWriter. I was the wizard of the DisplayWriter. I had to turn down temping jobs, and people would actually bribe me to push their work ahead in the queue, because my work was so much better than their regular employees’.

Change Careers: Entry-level tech support is good. Telemarketing is good if you have a thick skin. Food service always needs people, and energy and hustle will more than make up for lack of experience. Be creative! Look in the paper at all the jobs and ask, “Can I do that?” If you think you can, bullshit your way into a job. That’s how I got started programming (with no degree!).

Slack Off: You’re working as a temp. Temps are actually relatively difficult to come by. Go in, do the minimum amount of work and don’t take it personally if they don’t like you. Again, be creative! Find interesting and sneaky ways to slack off and reduce your stress level.

Remember: Free advice is worth what you pay for it.