Toyomafia - The Clubhouse. 151.880

That is a good one. I my regular fall winter rotation

 

My response to that question would likely be along the lines of "Well, I'm fully capably of being sociable at work, having a good time doing the job, but I'm not here to be social. I'm here to earn money so I can live my life outside of work. That said, I don't tell a joke without knowing my audience and where the lines lie. Once I get to know you better and know what I can and cannot say I'll share my humor."

 

I remember once setting in the office with the owner. We were looking at résumé’s, looking to hire a couple superintendents. I saw this one, tremendous background, lots of really top companies, and said, wow, this guy looks great! The owner scanned it for about 20 seconds and said, “this is a huge red flag. If he was any good he would never have had so many jobs.”

 

I’m a sucker for adobe

who are you kidding!!!

 

It's a potential red flag for sure. The only counterpoint to that is the fact that most people see the biggest increases in pay by changing their job, either within the company, or going to a new employer. The long list of jobs can just indicate somebody who has initiative. Which is a bigger red flag: the list of several top companies or the guy who has been working the exact same position for 15 years?

 

I try to keep work and life separate. I don't hang out with co workers outside of work. I like my job, I like the team I work with, and we do crack jokes of many varieties, BUT it doesn't leave work. When I'm not on the clock I don't care what is happening there because I don't live to work. At work I will give my all and do a good job. I will be sociable and friendly. I will cover shifts and I will help out to be good to the people I work with, but we aren't friends. There isn't anything personal there. I love that we can toss around some dark humor or off color jokes to help lighten up the office, but we only do it because we are paid.

 

I hear that.
I try to be a lot of those things while I’m at work; but it gets super hard to do my job with a smile on my face, with the family favoritism that gets brushed off like it doesn’t exist; at a state job.
I really like my job as well, but the weird unprofessional family dynamic makes it difficult. It would be one thing if it was hidden in the shadows, but it’s all out there for everyone to be slapped in the face with. I have no problem riding out the shit storm, the seas will calm soon enough.

 

Exactly. Being stable and not changing jobs can be a sign of a dedicated employee, or somebody with zero drive or ambition who is going to be stagnant. Boon or bust. I think the same can be said for the resume that has lots of jobs. Maybe they can't keep it together and are flighty, or maybe they are constantly driven to go further and need to be able to grow.

It would depend on the job they stayed at and the jobs they bounced from, too. A new job every few months is sketchy, but if they hold a job for 2-5 years before moving on then they might just be outgrowing positions. If they have been a warehouse stocker at a freight company for 15 years and never moved up or gained anything with the company, they might be a lazy bum.

Either one can be a good or bad sign. That's what the interviews help you determine.

 

I hear you there. I have similar issues at work. Double standards suck.

 

its even better if you age it and have it on a summer's night outside by a fire.
I mean, I heard it is…

 

I take it you haven't seen The Boondock Saints?

 

My son just called me by my real name…….
I like Papa, better

 

Is he in bed now?

 

"I guess I'll take a coke'" ?
Love that film.

Also like my job. Lol!

 

Haha hell no! You know how he rolls! He’s giving mom tips on video games that are far past his ability!

 

Miss that kid! You need to send me that pic of him stacking bags on my head - I can’t find it.

 

He needs to come hang with the drag boat pit crew kids - he would fit right it.

 

This isn't aimed at you but more a general tip: I heard you're not supposed to show up too early for an interview.

 

I thought about what you said.
If I’m hiring and the guy is going to shop himself after I’ve invested in training and more, that’s not really any better than incompetence as far as I can see. No loyalty equals no worth

 

All this talk about job interviews has me thinking back in time and laughing my ass off. I've been lucky enough to have only had to endure two of them in my life which is great, because I really suck at them. Straight out of High School I worked for my Fathers company which is convenient, but really puts a strain on the family unit if you know what I mean. One of the best jobs after I set out on my own and before working for Mazda was set up by a friend who told me the money was great and no experience was needed. He gave me the address and it ended up being the home of this shady Russian guy who owned his own shipping company. I spent the next nine years working with some of the greatest, craziest bastards on the planet, most of them ex Russian Military. To this day one of them is still my best friend, he was a Submariner on a remote base he said you'll never find on a map. Great times, glad I was single back then, or I'd probably be divorced by now.

 

Reading the thread tonight made me feel VERY blessed.

Although I've been gainfully employed with one job or another since I was 16 (1978), none of my early jobs were careers.
My 1st job (technically 2nd) was Dairy Queen in Garland.

I always had one job lined up, if I were to quit another.
I've only had 5 jobs/employers in my entire life (6 if you count the contract labor washing aloe leaves at 14)..

I haven't had a job interview since February of 1986.

In 1986 my employer was hurting for drivers.
Texas had just received the rights to ship packages within the state from the railroad commission..
Before that in-state deliveries had to ship out of state, and back in.
Just 1 example; Mary Kay (shipping out of Dallas) would have ship all their Texas packages to a warehouse in Shreveport, and then back into Texas.

Anyway, Feb 1986, my BF was already working there.
He set up an interview for me with a guy named Larry Pink.
I was 24, an idiot, a stoner, living with my parents, but a dedicated worker.

He hired me and I've been there going on 35 years, 36 in March.
I think I have 7 to go to retire..

I remember calling Mr. Pink from a payphone at a 7/11 in Dallas (Walnut Hill and Audelia Rd) when he told me I got the job.
I quit the neighborhood Mom & Pop Affiliated food store I worked for 7 years and then on to my current employer.

I'll go ahead and say my current employer turned my life around.
No more all night all 7 days a week partying, finally moved out of my parent's house into my own apartment, finally paying all my own bills, I finally grew up..


I cannot even imagine having to go thru an interview process for a job.

 

The guys skipping around due to drive will stay "loyal" if they have some path of upward mobility. I speak from experience. I generally get itchy about needing to "upgrade" every 3-5 years. If I can make those upgrades within the company, great. If not, I don't feel bad about moving on.

I've been with my current company for a bit over 11 years, but I've worked to be upwardly mobile. Started as a warehouse worker, learned, built experience, busted my ass, but the pay scale was running out. So, I seized the opportunity to get my CDL and started at the bottom of a new pay scale. Worked hard and got treated like sh*t, and saw it happen worse to others. Did that for a few years, and then made a move to a completely different part of the company with a way way better pay scale where I've been for about 3 years. I'm starting to get the itch to improve/move though. If I can pull off some training and maybe get some credentials for the analyst side of the department I would love to stay. Not because I'm loyal to the company at all, but because I love where I live and this pays my bills really well.

Speaking of loyalty, how loyal the company is matters, too. It's reciprocal, and a company paying me doesn't mean I need to be loyal. You cannot buy my loyalty, but you can earn it. My current company has done dirty things to myself and others I worked with, swept terrible management issues under the rug, and even kept on a Veteran hating micromanaging sack of cow ooze. I am as "loyal" to them as they are to me. If they could automate my job tomorrow I would be on my ass without so much as a thank you for over a decade of hard work.

 

Loyalty goes both ways - and most companies nowadays don’t give it out. I’d love to stay at a job for more than a few years, but that’s just not how it works in the current market, at least in IT. New blood comes in and makes 25% more than someone who has been there for years. I don’t blame anyone for bouncing around. Unless it’s less than year-long increments.