#employment stuff

[expatesque]

does a career in finance feel meaningful to you? what do you do, exactly?

I'm an equity analyst at a long only fund. In short, I pick stocks. The long answer is here (this is a little out of date, I'm no longer industry agnostic and I now look globally, not just in Europe).

Meaningful is an interesting question. I guess my answer is no but that doesn't impact my enjoyment of it. My job lets me learn things for money, which is pretty much ideal for me. I get set an industry or a space within an industry to look at, I learn loads about it, then I come back with a report after a few weeks. It's pretty much perfect for me.

I've never been particularly interested in my work being meaningful - work needs to provide me with (1) the finances to live the lifestyle I want, (2) intellectual stimulation, and (3) ideally a pleasant atmosphere. Meaningful doesn't really come into it for me.

That said, my fund is a unique in that our largest shareholder is a charitable foundation -- when our founder passed away, he donated his shares to this foundation. In practice, that means that a portion of the money we as a fund earn goes to supporting charitable causes. And we the staff get to pick the charities that the foundation supports. The grants are pretty substantial in size and can make a really big difference to the charities we support. So all that's to say: there is a meaningful component to my work, even if it's not a primary attraction of my job to me.

[mrkida-art]

Just a little guy from Ravenhill

[somsonsomsoff]

headcanons for the employers have somehow turned into a crossover with de skills

[faragonart]

HEY our studio is unionizing and I couldn't be more anxious and excited!! So proud of my fellow employees for taking the big leap together!!

PUTTING THE "POWER" IN POWERHOUSE!!!

[dailydivergent]

Literally the only difference between someone thinking I'm lazy & unmotivated vs. someone thinking I'm highly ambitious & focused is if they understand ADHD or not.

[your-resident-boat-person]

Time for a new autism post. It is extremely frustrating looking for a job that will not just completely eviscerate me. Like, I do research online for jobs that are good for autistic people, and all I can find are things that require degrees or extensive levels of study. Like computer programming, mechanic, laboratory technician, Video game designer, statistician, accountant, animator, engineer, things like that. Meanwhile I'm just looking for a job that won't make me want to kill myself while I'm in college. Is every single entry level job really just customer service? I worked as a cashier at a grocery store for a year, and the experience was deeply traumatic for me. I just want a way to make money that plays to my strengths, or at the very least suits my needs.

[worstloki]

Mu Qing ascending is objectively so funny considering Feng Xin and Xie Lian also do. Out of the people in your kingdom who accomplished immortality there’s this guy who used to be your servant but is now on equal rank to you and he‘s super rude now and also thinks you hate him because he remembers when you were 18 and lacked socioeconomic-interpersonal awareness

[bamsara]

I'm going to have to break up with my tax lady, aren't I? :(

[bothpartiesarebad]

(via (72) Pinterest)

[amphibianaday]

day 1246

[expatesque]

Do you have any advice as to how to find your first office job? Feeling quite hopeless, as I've only worked in a warehouse and now work in a call centre. I'm attending part-time university, but it still doesn't feel enough to get one as I keep getting rejected.

So my first piece of advice is that getting rejected, and getting rejected lots, is normal. It's awful and it's stressful but I don't know very many people that skated into their first job stress-free, no matter their academic credentials. So hopefully that gives you a little comfort, keep it mind when you're feeling really down about the process.

It's hard to be specific without knowing more and things would work well in one area might not work well in another. So without the specifics, my best advice is to (1) try to build up a narrative and fit the potential role into your narrative, (2) think about alternative routes or going above and beyond, and (3) think about where you're applying.

On (1): You've worked in a warehouse and now in a call center. So one approach could be to fit the things you learned in those roles into a narrative and make the job you're appluing for the natural conclusion of this path. So if you were applying for secretarial roles, you could spin something along the lines of 'Working in the warehouse taught me to be organized and efficient, but I wanted more interaction with people so I moved over to call center X. And while that was nice from an interaction perspective, I've realized that I want to help people in a more consistent way, not just once on the phone, which is why I think being a secretary would be a great match, utilising my people skills and my organizational skills.' Don't be afraid to draw on non-traditional job experiences either. Weekends spent babysitting your three young cousins? Multi tasking. Running a weekly D&D session? Reliability, event planning, organization.

The idea here is you're building up a narrative and you're showing how your skills (wherever attained) fit and why the natural conclusion of all this is that you should get the job. It's much more storytelling than list making, particularly when you don't have the most natural experience. And make sure everything you submit is grammar and spelling perfect (have a friend or family member or even a friendly local librarian check).

On (2): this is going to be location and, to an extent, industry specific but think about if there's anything slightly alternative or above and beyond you could do. For example, in Chicago if you were applying for a role in a small business, coming around the office to drop off your application in person would go down really well (maybe call first to check people are in the office in the days of hybrid working). In the UK, there are apprenticeship programs available that might be a good fit (my company does them! You'd be surprised how many there are). It's hard to be too specific here, but things that show you're dedicated and committed can help. And going along with that...

(3): Think about where you're applying. If you have a slightly more alternative background, it can be easier to get your foot in the door in companies that are more flexible. Small businesses are generally your friend here, they're often looking for a person who's a good fit rather than the exact right experience. A big law firm is less likely to hire someone without relevant experience than a local high street lawyer, so consider concentrating your efforts. And if you do live in a smaller, tighter knit community, going around (dressed professionally) to local businesses and explaining who you are, handing out CVs and asking them to keep you in mind if they need any help might be a good idea.

Good luck pal, I'm rooting for you. This is going to be hard, but you only need one job, and after getting the first one it gets easier. Try not to get too discouraged, keep plugging away and eventually something will come. Good luck!

[stil-lindigo]

I work for a Palestinian man at his small business. It's just me, him, and two others doing env. testing. He is old and has family in the region. I've shown my support already, donated money for medical supplies etc. Do I go on strike, or would causing him problems at this time be counterproductive? I feel like I'm in one of the few situations where I'm behooved not to go on strike for this specific instance.

hi - yes, in this situation, i absolutely agree with you here. I can't imagine what your employer must be feeling right now, and I think if there's anything you can do to minimise his burden, that would be wonderful.

If at all possible this week and if you're in a situation where it's doable, I think it would also be a good idea to try do something nice for him. And, if you feel comfortable about it and his business takes donations, feel free to share a link in the replies.

[buttfrovski]

nah imagine a kyle broflovski pfp emailing you asking for top surgery

[andmaybegayer]

save me tarpipe

[ivettel]

EVERYBODY CLAP AND CHEER I SURVIVED MY FIRST YR OF LAW SCHOOL!!!

[dani-sdiary]

Story: I'm a Method Cashier!

And this was a role I could really sink my teeth into.

Okay, so, first of all, to work at Store there are 2 online applications, an online training course, 3 questionnaires for your references to fill out, 3 interviews (2 alone and 1 group), a background check, an unpaid 4-hr. orientation, a drug test, a pacer test, a polygraph test administered by an F.B.I. agent (and not like the sexy ones on Criminal Minds), a blood oath, and you have to be able to put on lipstick like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club. Jesus, there are less requirements to be elected president. And a cult wouldn't make you jump through this many hoops to join.

My Marketable Skills: I'm a warm body and I'm not an asshole. I'm not going to say "we should hang out outside of work" to my coworkers or mouth off to the customers. Basically, you should hire me because you could do a whole lot worse.

But I couldn't just say that. I couldn't just be honest. It had to be, with tears glistening in my eyes: "It has been my lifelong dream to be a cashier at Store. Cashiering is my passion. I have 3 Ph.D.s in Applied Cashiering, Cashiering Theory, and Experimental Cashiering from Harvard University's School of Cashiering, and I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oxford University's St. Cashier Cashiering College. I have 97 years of experience in the field."

So, I get there, for the first interview, in my silly little outfit, mostly stolen from my mom's closet. I walk in and say excuse me to the first employee I see. She clutches her chest, looks bewildered, and says "excuse me" back.

Daniella, apprehensively: "Hi, I'm here for an interview, could I speak to a manager please?"

Employee #1, startled: "Yeah." She walks off and I assume I'm meant to follow her.

My real name sounds vaguely similar to the name of a character from a classic poem you read the Wikipedia summary of in ninth grade English class. The first five letters are the same, but the character's name ends with an a, and mine with an e. Anyway, while we were walking, we introduced ourselves and she said, and I've never have cause to use the word "chortling" before, but if there was ever a time, it was then, "Well, your mother must have been a big The Poet fan, huh?" (as if I've never heard that one before). I mustered a polite chuckle and said nothing.

Employee #1, sneering: "You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

Daniella, wishing for death: "No, I know the poem."

Employee #1, under her breath: "Big deal."

The rest of the walk is silent. We turn a corner and see a boy about my age. She starts calling his name, he fully makes eye contact with her, and then turns and speedwalks away. She keeps calling after him and picks up the pace to reach him, but he outruns her. No need to watch the documentary through your fingers, the antelope is safe this time. It turns out he wasn't even the manager, because I meet her next. The interview goes okay and I get the second one. I ask a different employee this time. She says into her walkie-talkie, "Anthony, Daniella is here for an interview, do you want to deal with that?"

Anthony comes be-bopping up to me at 1,000 mph. When he's still several aisles away, he calls out "Hi, Friend!!" in an acoustic guitar-playing youth pastor voice. He leads me to the office, racing down the aisles like there's an serial killer revving a chainsaw behind him, and by the time I catch up in my pencil skirt and heels, I'm panting and sweating. Maybe this is part of the interview: seeing if you can keep up metaphorically and literally. The weakest shall be sacrificed.

Tony asks me, not why I want to work at Store, but why I want to work in general, as if earning money to eat is a casual hobby, like knitting. He asks me if I've applied anywhere else, like Store is a jealous girlfriend. Then he asks me if I have any questions, and I know you're supposed to have something, so I pull a couple out my ass. After he answers them, he asks if I have any more, and, thinking I'm out of the woods, I say not for now.

Anthony, ominously: "You sure?" Slowly pan back to Daniella.

Daniella, brightly: "I'm sure I'll have more during orientation if I'm hired, but I think I'm covered for now. Thank you!"

(Beat.) Anthony: "Well, you know, I'm just gonna give you some advice: you really should have more questions. But don't worry, I'm gonna go ahead and tell you a little bit more about how the Store family does things."

45 minutes later, he asks for a third set of questions, and then, believe or not, a fourth. Sir, this is my interview. You're not a celebrity guest on The Fucking Tonight Show. If you're so desperate for me to ask you questions, why don't you apply to this job? Or do like the rest of us and pretend you're on Ricki Lake talking about how brave you are to share the story of your divorce from Tim McGraw and how it inspired your new album, "Warm Regards, Dani," currently topping the country charts while you shampoo your hair.

Three business days later, my email: "Congratulations! You have been selected to join the Store Family! Please report for orientation next Wednesday at noon."

Another day, another dollar.