Archive for Work

Work Day!

{ May 23, 2008 @ 10:28 pm } · { Work }
{ } · { Leave a Comment }

I’m happy with work—everyone is super nice except the head boss who I can’t quite figure out. He’s not really irascible—just set in his ways and hard to read. He’s rough around the edges, has a funny sense of humor, and knows what he wants. Noemy–the woman who solely runs the accounting department–is the person I work with in a separated office all day. I like her a lot—she’s friendly, stylish, thorough, extremely organized, but doesn’t carry tasks through all the way, mostly because she’s so busy. She’s from Mexico where most of her family lives and has two children, one 12, the other 6 1/2.

I’m worried because she isn’t giving me a lot to do and sometimes she explains tasks in ways that make sense to her because she’s been doing it for a long time. But it’s Greek to me and it takes time to settle in. I hope I don’t make an obvious mistake!! *I already have and hope it won’t come up….XD

It’s a very nice business and I like the hours. The only problem is this dichotomy b/t briskly professional and casually loose. My schedule is set—8-2 every day. But lunch is flexible (1/2 an hr) and no breaks are required. Part of the problem is that I wasn’t given a very thorough introduction. I don’t know what holidays I’m allotted. But I’m part time so most of it doesn’t apply anyway.

So far I’ve sorted through the sea of paperwork that Noemy has had to contend with and sideline.  Invoices from last summer had to be sorted and put in books. I have my own desk and computer in front of hers and the side office is a collection of empty rooms and the president’s office (but he isn’t there most of the time). It’s a bit run down but homey. And there’s no danger of gossip or having too much fun because everyone is a lot older than me (my parent’s age mostly) and the boss is always walking around. People come in and out of the office to chat (mostly because it’s a chance to take a break XP) but it’s just casual banter like talking about travel and current events.

Adam, Noemy, and…Karen? took me out to lunch. That was really sweet—I like the atmosphere a lot. I hope I don’t disappoint them!

Point of working

{ April 25, 2008 @ 11:06 pm } · { Personal, Work }
{ } · { Leave a Comment }

I really need a steady job, and I’m beginning to realize that it’s not just for the money either, even though that’s a crucial factor. I really want the security, and the absence of constant stress worrying about what position to take and following up on dozens of phone calls about interviews. After a year and a 1/2 doing the temporary thing I’m just tired of bouncing from one place to the next. I know I shouldn’t be so choosy and face the reality that I need to work, no matter where and for how long. But I stress easily, a bad habit, and I’m aching for the security of not having to worry about money. Every purchase is painful–I get over it better than I used to, but even not worrying when I know I should is painful.

Then again, an 8-5 job mon. thru fri. ate up a sizable chunk of my free time but I need to learn to handle it. I need to face reality but I want the stability of permanent employment. Doing something fun is just a bonus–but I’m also tired of having a droll job that I shuffle through just to get through the day. You can’t constantly be on alert for another opportunity within the company if you’re faced with that tedious monotony every day–it just saps you of strength, energy, and vitality. That’s why I didn’t get anywhere at Google or perservere in min. wage jobs in highschool. Your job has to have meaning and you need to feel good about what you’re doing. You also have to feel that you’re doing your job the best you can because it’s personally satisfying and makes you feel good about work. That’s what I’ve learned through all these jobs–it’s the afterglow at the end of a long day that serves as a signal about how your job is fitting into your life. A job is a job, working for others, but never neglect the pivotal fact that a business is based on people, and you’re one of them.