How do you deal with your coworkers? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

surferlove007 · 03-25-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

In case you missed it:

Either find another job (which it sounds like what you're going to do) or tough this one out. You should realize that as an employer, I'd wonder why you bounced from job to job. Also, leaving an office job to go be a lifeguard during nonsummer months looks questionable. If you were lucky enough to make it into a face-to-face interview, I would have several questions. If your answer was anything like this thread, that's going to be a black mark against you because it makes it appear that you don't do well in an office environment.

The office environment you're in now is a minor annoyance. Keep your eyes on the prize - the office job you want down the road.

GG - you and I have had our moments, but I think by now I only think highly of you. This is free advice, and maybe it's worth what you're paying for it, but I think you need to tough this out, realize that Jan's not there to order you around, and just focus on what your job really is. Future employers are going to be much more interested in your actual office job (even if it is fluffed up bullshit like this one) than any lifeguarding (unless you are managing several lifeguards, scheduling, etc.). You're going to be an architect, and that means that you're going to have to deal with the architectual version of me. When I interview folks straight out of college (which I do all the time since I rarely look for folks with experience), I look for folks that will fit with our office culture and won't cause problems. A work history that looks like a revolving door is a deal killer, but it makes me wonder what happened. Office work is ALWAYS going to look better to a future employer (assuming you're applying for office work) than not, so my advice continues to be to suck it up, deal until the end of the semester/quarter, then go on your merry way remembering that she's stuck fetching coffee while you're off doing something much more exciting. Eyes on the prize, baby.

I'm going to say something that might be misconstrued as rude...however I will say it. Lifeguarding is a REAL job no matter what you might like to think of it. I worked damn hard to get my 5 certifications to become a lifeguard. I've been a lifeguard going on 5 years. The training is hard and you have to be able to perform saves as well as know the material to pass the 200 question test. I'm also a WSI. I have saved over 40 childrens lives from the water when their parents weren't paying attention. So you cannot tell me that a lifeguarding job looks worse than an office job. I worked 13 hour days in 110 degrees in the sun. I worked my ass off in those jobs and thats why I worked at the same pool three summers in a row consectutive. I've managed a pool and I've been named the head lifeguard of more than one pools. Lifeguarding is much more relevant to expertise level. The office job is helpful and I am greatful that I've learned some new skills, however lifeguarding has given me real life experiences such as dealing with people, social skills, and management skills as well as saving lives.
I'm not going to be an architect anyone either btw. I like to sleep, I don't want to die at 45 because my job stresses me out to the max.

I'm already planning to stay until the end of the semester. (6 weeks)
I believe Jan is on a power-trip, she complains often even though she does nothing truly productive.

I don't like it when people down on lifeguards, its not as easy as people think.

vanblah · 03-25-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghoastgirl1

I don't like it when people down on lifeguards, its not as easy as people think.

If you've ever had your life saved by a life-guard you know that it's not an easy job.

If you ever watched a life-guard at a public pool with a dozen kids PRETENDING to drown ... you know that it's not easy.

Glory's Sun · 03-25-2008, 10:58 AM

every job is a real job. every job has some value, but to think that some jobs just don't <i>appear</i> better than others (whether they are or not) is a bit naive. it just happens.

how to deal with coworkers is easy. treat them as coworkers..nothing more, nothing less. some will be rude, some will be nice, but as long as you do your job and focus on that.. then there's nothing to worry about. you'll have some stresses but it's life.. life is full of stress.

vanblah · 03-25-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghoastgirl1

I don't like it when people down on lifeguards, its not as easy as people think.

If you've ever had your life saved by a life-guard you know that it's not an easy job.

If you ever watched a life-guard at a public pool with a dozen kids PRETENDING to drown ... you know that it's not easy.

I was almost certified life-guard back in high-school ... too much work.

The_Jazz · 03-25-2008, 11:10 AM

GG - I take no offense at all. I was certified was a life guard too, back in the dark ages when all the men's suits had shoulder straps and I had a handlebar mustache (ok, maybe not that long ago but you get the idea). I know it's actually work, and it's important work.

That said, I lump it together with bagging groceries, working at McDonalds or being a camp counselor when I look at new hire resumes. It's good to see that you're employable (and from a hiring standpoint, that's not necessarily a negative), but it's not really anything like what I (as the employer) would expect you to be doing. The reason that I think it is important for you to tough this out is that its actual office work, even if it is fluff office work. You can make it look great on a resume, and it's a lot closer to what you're going to actually be hired to do than lifeguarding.

It's a good thing that I'm 1) kind of fat now and 2) not planning on swimming in the greater College Station area in the near future. If you recognized me, you might let me drown. Only my natural buoyancy would save me.

surferlove007 · 04-10-2008, 06:55 AM

Hey Guys...update on the job situation.

I turned in my two weeks notice yesterday. Talked to the boss, she said she understood.
Came into the office this morning, minding my own business. Jan asked me to make some copies of letters for someone. She never mentioned that she wanted the letters mailed out. So I gave her the original copies back. She then follows me to my desk and tells me she gave me a job to do and that I need to finish it. I told her she did not specify to mail the letters out but that I would do it...here is where it goes downhill.
She then starts to explain to me how to mail a letter. When I say mail a letter, I mean literally how to mail a letter. She started going through the steps of putting the address in the right place etc. I then said to her, Jan I know how to mail a letter, Thank you. She considered that backtalk and said that my generation doesn't know how to do things like that and that she though I didn't know. I told her, no I do know how to mail a letter, thanks.
She pulls me aside into a room and tells me she knows about my letter of resignation and that I need to stop back talking her or she will talk to Kathy (our boss, Kathy is the only one who cares about what Jan has to say.) I was fed up with her at this point and proceeded to tell her that I will respect her when she treats me like an adult and that it's insulting to me to be treated so poorly. After she threatened to talk to Kathy I replied "Alright, be my guest" and left the room to continue my work.
About 15 minutes later Lindsay (a supervisor over me and the other student workers) pulls me aside and asked me about what happened.
I told her what happened and she asked me if I'd be happier being done today instead of after two more weeks. I told her if that would make the office a better place then yes. I also made a point to tell her how I had felt about Jan and her treatment of the student workers.
Basically, I explained to her my major problems while working there and suggested things they could do to improve the workplace for the next students who work there.
My suggestions:
- Talk to Jan about her treatment of the student works
- Treat the student workers with respect and always say Thank you when they help you with a project.

- Students are only making $6.00/hour, they are already frustrated with their wage, giving them the bitch jobs with no thank you makes them feel unappreciated and keeps the morale low.
- Talk to Jan about her attitude with the students, make it known to her to treat them like adults, not children and that they are smart enough to know how to mail letters.
- Be flexible on our schedules and understanding when things come up
- The last thing I said to her was that working in the office had been a good experience with everyone except with Jan. I thanked her for the time and left at 9. At least Jan gets stuck doing everything today

03-25-2008, 11:10 AM	#45 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	GG - I take no offense at all. I was certified was a life guard too, back in the dark ages when all the men's suits had shoulder straps and I had a handlebar mustache (ok, maybe not that long ago but you get the idea). I know it's actually work, and it's important work. That said, I lump it together with bagging groceries, working at McDonalds or being a camp counselor when I look at new hire resumes. It's good to see that you're employable (and from a hiring standpoint, that's not necessarily a negative), but it's not really anything like what I (as the employer) would expect you to be doing. The reason that I think it is important for you to tough this out is that its actual office work, even if it is fluff office work. You can make it look great on a resume, and it's a lot closer to what you're going to actually be hired to do than lifeguarding. It's a good thing that I'm 1) kind of fat now and 2) not planning on swimming in the greater College Station area in the near future. If you recognized me, you might let me drown. Only my natural buoyancy would save me. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

03-25-2008, 10:58 AM	#43 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	every job is a real job. every job has some value, but to think that some jobs just don't <i>appear</i> better than others (whether they are or not) is a bit naive. it just happens. how to deal with coworkers is easy. treat them as coworkers..nothing more, nothing less. some will be rude, some will be nice, but as long as you do your job and focus on that.. then there's nothing to worry about. you'll have some stresses but it's life.. life is full of stress.

04-10-2008, 06:55 AM	#46 (permalink)
surferlove007 Junkie	Hey Guys...update on the job situation. I turned in my two weeks notice yesterday. Talked to the boss, she said she understood. Came into the office this morning, minding my own business. Jan asked me to make some copies of letters for someone. She never mentioned that she wanted the letters mailed out. So I gave her the original copies back. She then follows me to my desk and tells me she gave me a job to do and that I need to finish it. I told her she did not specify to mail the letters out but that I would do it...here is where it goes downhill. She then starts to explain to me how to mail a letter. When I say mail a letter, I mean literally how to mail a letter. She started going through the steps of putting the address in the right place etc. I then said to her, Jan I know how to mail a letter, Thank you. She considered that backtalk and said that my generation doesn't know how to do things like that and that she though I didn't know. I told her, no I do know how to mail a letter, thanks. She pulls me aside into a room and tells me she knows about my letter of resignation and that I need to stop back talking her or she will talk to Kathy (our boss, Kathy is the only one who cares about what Jan has to say.) I was fed up with her at this point and proceeded to tell her that I will respect her when she treats me like an adult and that it's insulting to me to be treated so poorly. After she threatened to talk to Kathy I replied "Alright, be my guest" and left the room to continue my work. About 15 minutes later Lindsay (a supervisor over me and the other student workers) pulls me aside and asked me about what happened. I told her what happened and she asked me if I'd be happier being done today instead of after two more weeks. I told her if that would make the office a better place then yes. I also made a point to tell her how I had felt about Jan and her treatment of the student workers. Basically, I explained to her my major problems while working there and suggested things they could do to improve the workplace for the next students who work there. My suggestions: - Talk to Jan about her treatment of the student works - Treat the student workers with respect and always say Thank you when they help you with a project. - Students are only making $6.00/hour, they are already frustrated with their wage, giving them the bitch jobs with no thank you makes them feel unappreciated and keeps the morale low. - Talk to Jan about her attitude with the students, make it known to her to treat them like adults, not children and that they are smart enough to know how to mail letters. - Be flexible on our schedules and understanding when things come up - The last thing I said to her was that working in the office had been a good experience with everyone except with Jan. I thanked her for the time and left at 9. At least Jan gets stuck doing everything today