Job opportunity versus enjoying what you do. (Page 3/4)
TheDigitalAlchemist DEC 05, 03:28 AM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

update

**** you and have a nice day.



Ugh, all of that sounds rough. So sorry, man.

Offling a bunch of CEOS won't do a thing to change anything.


I don't see the future being too bright for the worker bees.

good luck getting to the weekend.
cliffw DEC 05, 09:42 AM

quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:
I was reassigned to report to a new Sr Manager, ok good with that. The first week he threatened to fire everyone on the team and replace them. I yelled back, we yelled some more and came to an understanding. I thought everything was good. Forth red flag?



I am proud of you. I once had a new manager whose manager had him tell us we would not be able to take our days off for a short time. I yelled better than he could because I had better ground to argue upon. I told him being a manager works both ways. He also needs to take our opinions to upper management.

Interesting story how that worked out.
rbell2915 DEC 08, 09:18 PM
Usually a promotion results in about 30% more work for 15% more pay.

I too am getting sick and tired of my job as well. I'm tired of driving 35 mins to work, sitting in a box, moving pixels on a screen, then driving 35 mins home.

Thinking about joining the Air Force, Coast Guard, or maybe the Border Patrol. I need some excitement back in my life again.
Jake_Dragon JUN 19, 01:48 PM
Well they keep promoting me, is that a good thing
I enjoy working with the team and helping people. I still work on the fix **** when its broke side of the Role so I'm happy enough.
Cut backs are hard, 2 years ago I had 14 people now I have 6.
The worst part is delivering bad news. One of our long time employees has a lot of health issues, its not going well at all and I have to deliver some bad news to the team.
End of the day today will be rough. All I will say is keep up with those you care about while you can.
maryjane JUN 20, 07:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by rbell2915:

Usually a promotion results in about 30% more work for 15% more pay.

I too am getting sick and tired of my job as well. I'm tired of driving 35 mins to work, sitting in a box, moving pixels on a screen, then driving 35 mins home.

Thinking about joining the Air Force, Coast Guard, or maybe the Border Patrol. I need some excitement back in my life again.



As someone that has been there myself long long ago, let me explain something to you my Brother...

You've been to the mountaintop. The line from the movie says it pretty clearly.
"These are great days we're living bros. We're jolly green giants walkng the Earth, with guns' .

Being One of the Few, the Proud does have a downside. The change is forever. You may achieve a lot going forward, yet still in your young life and I sincerely hope you do, but you will never ever again quite have what you did. Much of that, will remain with you forever but trying to find it again in totality is a lesson in futility.

Jake_Dragon JUN 20, 12:47 PM
Truth be told, I miss practicing geometry and math using a hammer and fire. Gone are the days when a gentle tap from a 3 pounder makes everything work better.
Hitting a computer with the 3 pounder is satisfying but its short lived.
cvxjet JUN 20, 11:31 PM
I will tell you my "Work" story; After the Navy, and then 6 months at Atari, I started working at NARF Alameda- Aircraft rework, mainly S-3s but also A-6s, and once a P-3...Absolutely hated the job- Bosses just yelling at us, shortages of parts, etc...Could not ever tell the bosses if there was a problem "Shut up and do your job- don't wanna hear of about any problems!!!"

Around 1990, the Navy decided to implement the TQM process (Total Quality Management- the quality system an AMERICAN had taught the Japanese!)...Basically, it is a negative feed-back system- the bosses should look at their employees as Eyes and Ears on the line.

Within 6 months everything changed- I actually started enjoying the job, and we were putting out >>Zero-Defect<< aircraft (First Aircraft line in history to do this)..

Then, I was up for a pay raise, to Work-Leader....

And then I bought a house....

They heard about all of this back in DC, and so "We can't let him have all of that- lets shut the base down!!!"

So, the rest is history...(After, I was able to get picked up at Coast Guard Airstation SFO as a Hazmat/Fuel tester/Parts chaser- I complained about the job EVERY DAY- so they did not close that base!
CoolBlue87GT JUN 20, 11:33 PM
1976, My first "real" job was for an electronics company called DENRO Labs. Worked on a production line assembling components and soldering, building air traffic control products used the the FAA & the military. Started working while I was in 12th grade, I had enough school credits that let me take one class, then go to work for the rest of the day. Work there for 3 years.

1979, My second job was with Fairchild Space & electronics, I worked on the production line for the A10 Warthog airplane. We built various electronics parts.. I was promoted to the production control department supporting the A10 production line. Worked there 5 years. (Got married while working there.)

1984, I changed professions, worked in IT, company called CACI. Worked as a computer operator, then was promoted to a programmer to the accounting department. I made very good money with all the overtime.The company installed a watts line and a dumb terminal at my house (this was before the internet existed) The line was so I could be on call 24 / 7 supported the company which had offices across the US & over seas. I would create & run many programs that would provide various reports need by the accountants Worked there 5 years

Moved to FL in 1998

Started working for RadioShack as a sales person. I found it easy to sell products to customers, I was very familiar with the product line, as I spent a lot of time in Radioshack when I was a kid. I was promoted to assistant manager after two years, then was promoted to my own store as a manager. I was very successful, had many great guys working with me. I had one promoted to his own store. I was with "The Shack" for 18 years.

2017, started working at Walgreens as a lead. I soon found I liked working in the pharmacy, I took all the training an became a licensed pharmacy tech. The pay is good, the customers - for the most part are okay, we do get some grumpy ones. It's funny, I do have some customers that remember me from the Radioshack days.

July of 2024, I started taking SS, and I'm still working at Walgreens. I'm making more per month with the SS check than my Walgreens check. When I decide to stop working, I'll be okay

Over the years I invested, I made a nice nest egg, I was able to buy my home outright, so my only expenses are food & insurance for house & cars. (and whatever toys I buy) I have health insurance through work.

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 06-21-2025).]

maryjane JUN 21, 09:39 AM

quote
Originally posted by CoolBlue87GT:

I was able to buy my home outright, so my only expenses are food & insurance for house & cars. (and whatever toys I buy)



Health insurance....?
Jake_Dragon JUN 21, 06:53 PM
One of the down sides of being a manager is dealing with people.
It's not all negative but when it hits, it can hit hard.

When I joined the team we had a team lead, Doug. Nice guy, well mannered and stayed calm during crisis. As we got busy he was put back into the on call rotation and had to start working on tickets.
He did great at on call but sucked at doing day to day tickets. Just couldn't get started each morning. So when I was made manager I started having morning chats with Doug. He had a lot of experience, but just couldn't get started. We worked on this and he shared some medical challenges with me that explained a lot. But he was making progress, even went back to his doctor and got put on different medication. Doug started working on more tickets and was making progress. Got new glasses so he could see better. Putting in the work, I give him all the credit for this, all I did was provide an ear and kind word. Being on the opposite sides of the country we didn't get much of a chance to talk but we chatted each morning.

Now you may ask why would I share that, there doesn't seem to be a down side.

End of last year Doug got sick, won't get into it but it was bad. He went to the hospital for 2 weeks. Got released and was home for 2 days before going back to the hospital. I did get to chat with him but we missed our chance at an actual phone call.
Couple of days later Doug's wife Bobbie called me, Doug was in ICU and on a ventilator and they were going to put him in a coma to let his body fight the infection.
Things went how you would expect for the next couple of months, he wasn't losing ground but he wasn't getting better. I got to know Bobbie through text message of Doug's progress and supported her by helping communicate with HR and benefits. I helped with the paperwork to protect his benefits and hopefully hold on to his job until he could come back.
Around April Doug started making some good progress, they moved him to a regular room and started looking for a long term rehab facility. He even went outside for a couple of hours. Things were looking up.
Bobbie kept us updated as best she could, making progress, still looking for long term rehab hospital that could make room for Doug. 3 weeks ago Doug had a setback and was back in the ICU and back on the respirator.

Last thursday Bobbie called me, she was crying and upset. The doctors had done all they could and she had to make a decision that none of us should have to make.
Doug was going to be removed from life support. I shared this with some of the people at work that were close to Doug and my Sr. Manager and Director. Also the HR person who was always there to answer my questions.
We were all hoping for a miracle. Bobbie texted me late thursday night that Doug had passed.
Friday I got to break the news to the team. We shared our stories about Doug and said our goodbyes.