Wednesday, August 29, 2007

resolved

I hate Corporate America. I hate having to be at work the same time every day and do the same exact thing. I hate having to wear a suit or other "professional" attire while I sit in front of a computer all day. When someone asks what I do, I hate giving some generic meaningless answer like "product manager" or "facilities associate." Those words mean nothing to nobody.

As you can guess, I've stopped looking for a job. I feel it was a very rational decision. Not that I enjoy staying home alone all day. But after we move I'll cruise the new 'hood and find a job in a boutique or other small retail store. (Though I might consider working for the Barnes & Noble on 7th.) There are lots of little clothing shops, flower shops, and other interesting places that would make me a lot happier than some nameless faceless job in Midtown or the Financial District.

I've said it before: I'm just not cut out for an office job. The longest job I ever had (5 & 1/2 years) was at a retail store, and I only left after management went crazy and started "coercing" people to retire or quit. I was fine with the retail part even though I had to deal with asshole customers. But asshole customers are much better than idiot coworkers, and besides - most customers won't be assholes when they are coming into buy something they want (rather than something they need, like in my old store).

I just want something enjoyable. I'm not in it to get rich, I just want to pay my bills and maybe have health insurance (which would be a moot point if I could be on *someone's* insurance through work). I'd rather have an erratic schedule than do the same thing at the same time every day for the rest of my life. Sure, maybe I'll miss out on the occasional fun because I have to work, but that's going to happen no matter what; I can't make it to all the fun all the time.

So I'll let you know how it goes when I start pounding the pavement in a coupla weeks.

16 comments:

Count Mockula said...

"most customers won't be assholes when they are coming into buy something they want (rather than something they need, like in my old store)."

I wouldn't count on it. I worked a lot of retail in book and music stores, and people's assholiness is rampant everywhere. If you don't have the latest Oprah book, or can't recognize a title from a vague-ass description of the cover, you are an unhelpful moron.

Not that I don't support your decision, just make sure you're going into it with realistic expectations, i.e., that people are assholes.

super des said...

Oh I know that they will still be assholes, but just not as much as when I worked in a pharmacy and the assholes were either sick or injured, thus amplifying the asshole-itism by tenfold.
After handling that for years, I can handle book people or whatever.

mar said...

you'll hardly miss any fun. even having never 'met' you, i'm sure you bring the fun wherever you go.
i must say that working at the bakery my senior year in college was probably more fun than this, but i can't sneeze at the pay/insurance at the hospital where i work now. of course, i also don't have 'someone's' insurance to be on either. i hear ya.

Rebecca said...

best of luck - and I think I would rather work in a frock shop than in an office staring at a computer all day. And remember asshole customers give you something to laugh about.....and in a dress shop I bet there's plenty of opportunity for covert revenge.

Working Girl said...

I just don't want to work. I want to play but still get paid. Do you know about any opportunities for that?

Alex Elliot said...

Sounds like a good plan. You're going to need to take some time when you move to get settled in anyhow.

super des said...

mar - you're so sweet.And insurance is the issue, but if I am having a good work tie, I won't need it right?

rebecca - you are so right. And I do loves me some revenge.

wg - I'm looking for that too, but still haven't found it.

ae - yeah my current unemployment actually came in handy!

Suzanne said...

I think this plan makes a lot of sense for you. I am glad to hear it. Go with what you enjoy. Life's way too short.

super des said...

yay

Anonymous said...

The best job I ever had was being the costumed bear for children's parties at a pizza place. So I hear ya! Good for you in accepting what would make you happy. Your job search just seemed to make you more and more glum. :-(

On the insurance, well before we were married, my husband was on mine. All we had to do was sign a form that didn't even look legally binding stating we were common law married and they had to let me put him on. A state law or something. Not sure whether it applies in NY...

super des said...

yay.

I've thought about the commonlaw thing, but I don't know what it is in NY. Ca it's like 7 years or something of co-habitation.

Cherann said...

Good luck! I can't do retail. It hurts my feet.

Sudiegirl said...

Sounds like you're making the right decision. Office work has its good and bad sides...I'm just the opposite of you, I prefer office work to retail, but that's me.

You have a good head on da shoulders, kid, and "asshole-itism" is a great word.

super des said...

Comfy shoes are key.

And thanks, Sudie.

Erika Jurney said...

Congratulations on your revelation, and good luck in your new search.

(Oh, and California doesn't have common law marriage, and it looks like NY doesn't either :(

super des said...

Hi Erika!
Yeah, I looked up commonlaw marriage too. CA will recognize old ones but they won't enact new ones. Doesn't matter anyway since I'm not in CA.

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