Quote:
Originally Posted by Will29
Hi everyone do you find it difficult to hold down a job? I do. I'm intelligent, I have qualifications and I work hard but that doesn't seem to be enough. My Managers always seem to have a problem with my attitude. I am pleasant to everyone and always try to be nice but I'm shy and very melancholy. My quiet and less than happy demenour always seems to be the problem. I find it very hard to get involved with the office banter because of my anxiety. I think if I just keep my head down and work as hard as I can I'll be ok. I never say anything to upset anyone, it seems that just my presence alone is enough to make my colleagues and managers want to get rid of me. It's so disheartening because I can control how hard I work but I feel like I cannot control my personality. I'm applying for another job now but, deep down inside, I feel like what is the point. When I'm searching the internet for jobs, instead of thinking about what the work entails and weather I can do it, I'm just worrying about how much social interaction there will be. Does anyone else experience anything like this?
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I work because I have to; it doesn't matter how sick I am. As far as what you are describing, it depends on the workplace. Some workplaces place very high value on grinning, giggling, oh, boy, aren't we having fun-fun-fun attitudes. Most of this stuff is promoted by people who either don't have enough real work to do or this IS their real work. I've worked in this kind of place and I think they're pathetic. But I've worked at other places where you weren't allowed to talk at all unless it was a work-related question (and after you were trained you were not supposed to have any questions) and you were not allowed to leave the room unless it was break time, which everyone took at once.
If you are looking for another job, you might try to gauge the 'climate' of the place you are thinking about by visiting their website; reading about any stories about the company online or in the newspaper, and talking to people who are working there or have worked there--all before you apply.
The next time your manager makes a comment about your demeanor, ask for specifics. Not kidding around with coworkers should not be held against you, and you shouldn't have to put up with being made the office scapegoat.
As far as what the point is, in my present job the point is it pays the bills. I no longer look at it as a career and because of the way this place treats people, they shouldn't expect me to. I'm polite and I work hard and know my job description doesn't say "must eat dirt as boss deposits it."
It would be perfectly all right to ask potential employers to characterize the workplace; because you enjoy working quietly. They should be able to tell you if Happy Hour comes every afternoon at 4 o'clock or if the boss likes to throw parties every Friday or if it gets very loud, etc. Good luck with your job hunt.