Quote:
Originally Posted by Open Eyes
In both temp work and substitute teaching these jobs don’t really come with much power or social recognition because it’s so short term. Many years ago I did temp work and I noticed that, yet I found it interesting in that it gave me a chance to move around and observe different work environments.
It sounds like you are expecting more status then you experience and that doesn’t really happen with temp jobs. It’s similar as being cast as an extra in a play or movie where you just fill a space an no one sees you as anything more than that. For example these two young guys who interact with each other that use undesirable language. These guys are not even acknowledging your presence. I can see how that can be triggering, yet that’s how people can be.
Temp work is mostly just a pay check and being just a filler, an extra that is not really considered part of. There is no true power of presence or identity. That’s what temp work is, a paycheck.
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I appreciate your insight, Open Eyes. And you're right about the two young men...to them, I'm just invisible since I'm a seat filler for the next few weeks while the receptionist is on medical leave. Their dismissive behavior towards me was very, very triggering. It hurt my feelings. I may be a temp, but I am still human. I should still be treated with respect despite the circumstances.
Esp. the lack of transparency and the lack of communication from them. I think that is the most triggering of all for me. I'm very transparent and always express my intentions with people. I realize not everyone communicates like I do, yet that shouldn't excuse people from treating me like crap.
I love your analogy about being cast as an extra in a play or movie, where you just fill a space, and are never seen, because it aptly describes contract work.
I have been trapped in that hamster wheel of contract work for a decade and I can't stand it. And whenever I see an opportunity to move forward into something full-time, I take the opportunity to no avail.
Like today. I emailed my certificate's program director and a professor asking them if they could serve as a reference for me for a full-time job that I applied for.
Their silence, their non-response, was their actual response. A "no" without directly telling me no. That was very emotionally disappointing to experience.
How am I supposed to advance forward if no one will be my reference, or give me an opportunity to shine.