Hey there,
Is anyone else experiencing career angst at this juncture, or is it just me? :o
I've been the computer guy forever. I've reached total burnout, and I'm not sure what to do with all this experience. This job is good, benefit wise, but spiritually, I feel like a salty slug, shriveling...
I know, the economy is in the toilet and I should just stay put. But I'm restless, and starting to hate coming to this place everyday...thoughts?
no advise, but I am right there with you - except I don't even think my job is all that great - benefit wise
I am going to ride it out until the economy changes
or the jacket hires me as tour support
or I win the lottery.........
quit your job and start a band.
While that sounds fantastic, I have several problems.
1. Unless the world needs another Morphine, I'm outta luck. I've been trying to learn the guitar for longer than I care to remember...and no matter how hard I try, it seems I'm destined to 5th grade band class and the baritone saxaphone. Sigh. Can't rock out too hard on the bari sax.
2. Quitting my job sounds keen, but the mortgage don't get paid with dreams...as my dad once said, "you can wish in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first"...I guess that made him a pessimist by nature. ;)
3. I already had a band in high school, and we sucked. BAD. Somewhere out there in the world exists the only tape ever made of us playing...my friend John on drums, my friend Jeff playing my guitar that I got for Christmas, and me, with a broomstick posing as a microphone...wailing away drunk assed pontifications about school sucking, beer, getting more weed, bongs, sex with the neighbor's daughter/wife...the usual high school stoner fare. We were called "Bloody Semen" and you can see why we didn't continue, mainly because even our friends laughed at that name.
With that behind me, I don't see a career as a fledgling performer. :-[
But, I do see a future in Public Relations with somebody in the music industry. Maybe someday...
i'm in the same boat john, we just got offerred a separation package that is very tempting. i'm still thinking about it long and hard. i need to figure out what i wanna do outside of IT first. i have til nov. 14 to decide whether i should take the money or not.
???
What is it with IT people lately. Seems like alot of my other friends in IT have been wanting to change careers lately. Is it IT work in general or are you not getting to do anything new at work?
I think you'd change your mind once you were away for awhile. I was laid off twice. First time I was out of work for 2 months and the second for 8 months. It comepletely changed my view of work and everything else. I went through a series of jobs that were not really what I wanted to be doing but they paid the bills. Now i'm back to a real sys admin position and its great. I get to work on good projects and keep learning new stuff.
That was kinda rambling but hope it makes sense
plank, you're probably right. i might just move internally within the company once everything is settled.
john, you might wanna think about getting a horn section together and tour with the jacket. ;D
being in a band is like my second job. but its a fun job where i get to work on it when i want except the days i HAVE to go to practice...which isnt so bad considering. but i dont think i would really WANT it to be my job. that would suck. then there would be pressure and all this other shit that would just make it no fun. i already have a job job, i dont need two. of course i might have to get another job job soon since i hemmorhage so much money into my band. :P
Al of you guys should be happy to have a job. Already for three months, I'm looking for a job but I don't find anything. And I haven't been invited for an interview yet. It's horrible when you have nothing interesting to do that makes money. On the other hand, I'm still enjoying my extended vacation, but nevertheless I hope I find something soon otherwise I can't pay my bills anymore.
But I can understand your point of view too. When you don't have any time to eat or to relax, it's also frustrating.
Al of you guys should be happy to have a job. Already for three months, I'm looking for a job but I don't find anything. And I haven't been invited for an interview yet. It's horrible when you have nothing interesting to do that makes money. On the other hand, I'm still enjoying my extended vacation, but nevertheless I hope I find something soon otherwise I can't pay my bills anymore.
But I can understand your point of view too. When you don't have any time to eat or to relax, it's also frustrating.
Belive me, I am thrilled to be working. It's just that I could be working, doing something else, something completely different.
Sorry bout your job problems; where are you in the world, exactly?
Hey nothing you can do about it.
I am from Belgium. For the moment not the place to be if you are looking for a job. Ford just fired 3000 people who are now flooding the labourmarket. And besides that the european economy sucks bigtime.
They say american economy is doing great with good growth rates, but I don't think this will last forever,because a huge deficit is coming america's way. So I think the whole world will be in a dip for another half a year or a year.
It's funny that anyone thinks America is in recovery...not so. Really short term stuff, but nothing long term.
No one understands that jobs=recovery. No amount of tax cutting or short term gains on Wall Street are going to equal a recovery-if you're not working, you're not eating out, buying CD's, etc.
I'm sorry for your troubles, that sucks. Hmmm, I've thought of opening the world's first MMJ commune in Montreal...maybe you could come along! ;D
Yeah I sure would if I have the money to come over. ;D
Then we can listen to the jacket and other music while philosophysing which way to go with the economy. All day doing nothing, drinking beer, no career angst anymore. And no more worries for not finding a job.
PS.Why do you want to open it in Canada? (besides the reason being a beautiful country) Tired of Louisville?
Hoorah! its not just me that hates going to work! I run a club in Liverpool, England, and I'm really starting to hate coming in every day, I play in a band too but couldn't afford to just quit my job and play, plus we use the club as our rehearsal space which makes us really lucky I guess.
John...I'm not sure if I know you but I feel your pain...I've been making the same rant for a few years. I too am in the IT business, and it sucks!!! It seemed like the logical progression from my unmarketable liberal arts education. I thought it would be exciting to work in a technical field, but I was so wrong. It's pretty interesting how many people hate it. Part of my theory is the fact that as the industry has progressed and as you advance, your job becomes more administrative and less technical and that is fucking boring. I don't know if this is your experience but I find myself sitting in meetings listening to what people should or shouldn't do with their computers more than I fix stuff these days. Anyway, working in an office sucks. I hear people who do manual labor bitch at me about how they'd love to trade places, but this cubicle is nothing more than a stairway to hell. I think that working in an office is worse for your soul than watching Carrot Top do comedy. Get the fuck out of there...train yourself to do something else...you're obviously a smart guy if you've learned to do all the things that allow your job to be secure. After you have done this, please tell me how nice it is so I can vicariously live through your experiences as I will no doubt pussy out on my goals of finding something new.
cmon dtrain. just DO it!! pack up that hobo sack and that lovely wife and hop a freight to san fransisco and then hop that steamer to hiwaii. there you will teach mainlanders how to ride on the northshore while you and the wifey live in a grass hut on the beach.
wow man, I know what you mean...so many meetings where I find myself drifting away to the beach, the mountains, the desert...some other place I'd been to, just anywhere except there!
You are absolutely right. I need to find a new direction, and fast.
Well, I'm turning 21 in about 2 weeks and I'm studying Dutch literature at the moment. If I do it all well, I can be finished with that in 2 years. I'll be 23 and I'm going to have to find a job. And I'm telling you, I'm gonna try anything I can to delay it. I definitely don't wanna reach that moment. I wanna be a student for at least 3 or 4 years... That moment is the scariest moment I can think of.
Stay in school as long as you can, Mr. Stipe...you have the right idea...anyone who thinks the career life (oxymoron) is exciting has been served too many sitcoms and processed foods.
i dropped out 3 years in. no, im not gonna get a mil a year job or anything. but i get by. AND im happy. and i dont have to worry about getting my carreer going and sittin pretty and then turning 50 and getting "layed off" or "downsized" because i have an awesome degree and tons of experience and they can hire two new kids out of college and pay them less than they are paying one me.
basically, if your not happy you need to be. life is too short for a shitty job. or a shitty life. or to be miserable all the time. etc etc etc. money aint gonna solve yer problems. but a job that doesnt suck just might.
Well after six months of unemployment, I finally found a job, woohooo. So maybe, within 20 years I also post a similar topic (Sorry John if I estimated your age wrongly, no offense ;) ) I dunno, but anyway, I'm totally full of energy and ready to start now.
Mean old world, here I come, beware...
Congrats! Hope it goes really well for you.
QuoteWell after six months of unemployment, I finally found a job, woohooo. So maybe, within 20 years I also post a similar topic (Sorry John if I estimated your age wrongly, no offense ;) ) I dunno, but anyway, I'm totally full of energy and ready to start now.
Mean old world, here I come, beware...
Hey, congrats! I haven't been at this nearly that long, but some days it sure feels it! ;D
Congratulations, Ifish! As long as you stay in touch with yer rock 'n roll side, I'm sure you'll be alright, mate... :)
Congrats. being out of work is horrid. i was out for 8 months once.
Thx for the congrats! Feels great!
QuoteCongratulations, Ifish! As long as you stay in touch with yer rock 'n roll side, I'm sure you'll be alright, mate...
Well I can answer this one really fast. Does mmj plays rock'n roll?
Music is my life, life is music and you always have to enjoy good things in life.
I'm sure I still hang out on the forum, spread some thoughts and help the guitar players with some mmj tunes, ...
greetz
QuoteWell I can answer this one really fast. Does mmj plays rock'n roll?
If ever there were a dictionary definition of rock n' roll, it would have an 7x10 glossy photo of the boys right next to it!
Amen to that John!
P.S.--Your dad has an, err, interesting philosophy of life--interesting and amusing...
I know personally it sucks being between jobs but I think it sucks as much doing something you don't necessarily want to anymore. About 5 years ago I took a chance with my present company and I still love it. Sometimes you can be surprised when you least expect it. Good luck!
A fitting tale (as told by Fr. Dan of St. Paul in Lexington, KY):
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish. About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?"
"Well, you can get bigger nets and cathc more fish!" was the buisnessman's answer.
"and then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!"
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a litte irritated with the fisherman's questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.
The buisnessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing right now?"
Nice tale, but who knows, maybe the fisherman already followed up the businessman's advice?
It's a beautifull story with a some thruth in it,(once in a while you have to take it easy and do not let the stress take over) but you can't deny that most of the people would rather be the businessman than the fisherman. Greed is one of man's many sins. Alas....
Everyone want to have the certainty that his kids will have a good life, that they are safe and well. But to obtain this you need money, and you don't make money by fishing all day.... Or is this just a to narrow point of view?
Agreed, though I find truth in the tale, I also find fault in it. A little rest and relaxation is a good thing, but I don't think it should be a lifestyle. Work is part of who we are. I think man has a desire to accomplish things, and that's a good thing. I mean, hell, imagine if Jim was content sitting in his bathroom at home singing to himself instead of touring insanely for us. We should share our talents everyone to make the world better. And if this guy has kids, he's a horrible parent/provider. I think these kind of stories are meant to put our outlook on life in perspective but not change it. We need money to get by; that's just the way it goes now.
amen!
I woulda never thunk it that this thread would turn up three pages of replies! Sweet....
Well if we continue like this we might end up with four pages of post-depression talk
Surely not?
Yeah I mean it... :-X
I don't believe you, 1fish, convince me.....
If post depression talk is what people need, then I'm all for it. Ramble on dudes :)
I mean, we're not dragging this out to hit 4 pages are we? Really? Its important to know.
I'm really looking for support for this......
No support and no 4th page. Bummer
It looks like we're all sorted...for now ;)
Cos if we weren't all soretd, and happy, we'd keep posting.
QuoteCos if we weren't all soretd, and happy, we'd keep posting.
Should have said 'sorted' of course. Silly me.
I think the 4th page is around the corner
you all have my support
seriously
Sorry for the late reply greggy, but didn't had the time to check the mmj site in the last few days. But I'll promise I'll make it up to you by hitting the fith page ;D
Hey CC,
What do you do on the forum with crap-filled pages ?
Will they be preserved or ,on the contrary, lost for human mankind?
QuoteHey CC,
What do you do on the forum with crap-filled pages ?
Will they be preserved or ,on the contrary, lost for human mankind?
Hey, I started this thread!
Quote
Hey, I started this thread!
no thread started by conaway will be lost, no-a-way ;D
Going slightly against the grain, I'm doing a job I enjoy. I've been doing it for about 15 years. Its the other grown-ups that get in the way. If they leave me alone to get on with whatever I choose to do, I'm fine.
I work with young people and they are fine, its the others that get in the way.
Suppose this is the same for most of us.
Onwards to page 5.
Quote
no thread started by conaway will be lost, no-a-way ;D
8) Now that is a compliment, Mr. Riny...
Well this seems to have been missplaced.
Say hello to our old rambling friend the Career Angst thread ;D
QuoteIs anyone else experiencing career angst at this juncture, or is it just me? :o
How is it now JC?
Is it rolling Bob?
meh, i'm on autopilot now...still lookin' for somethin' better
Fingers crossed for you JC
Yeah, John, good luck.
Thanks mates.
Funny thing-just now got off of the phone with a good lead. The only thing is the job is 100 miles away. Sounds like a massive commute...but if the $$$ is good...(scratches chin thoughtfully...where the goatee used to be)
Ah, why shave off goatees? I never quite understood that.
Yeah a cheep ok, but a goat?
You weird americans ;)
QuoteAh, why shave off goatees? I never quite understood that.
Well, since it was the wispiest, thinnest goatee in all of goatee history, it was more emabarrasing than cool. Kinda looked like I had fishing line coming out of head.
I'd post a pic of someone with a bad goatee, but a search only shows gay porn...
Sounds like you have the same kind of beard as me... :(
QuoteSounds like you have the same kind of beard as me... :(
About 10 years ago, yes. I've been smoother than Carmen Electra's heiney since then...
(go ahead Greggy, read into that ;))
I've got a new job. Interviewed yesterday (combined with a visit to the lovely Mr G :D). Start September. Shorter hours. Less responsibility. Less stress. (Hopefully)
Hope all goes well for you John (and anyone else needing a change of direction)
PS What's a heiney?
an American term for:
butt
bottom
gluteus maximus
etc.
Greggy will have a field day with this!
Quotean American term for:
butt
bottom
gluteus maximus
etc.
Thanks John, but isn't one of those the guy from Gladiator?
More interested in Carmen Electra's butt, JC!
Quote
Greggy will have a field day with this!
I am keeping notes.
QuoteMore interested in Carmen Electra's butt, JC!
Well, I mean...come on!
Quote
I am keeping notes.
Hey, I don't disguise my overwhelming butt fetish. I really don't. ;)