I thought being able to keep a job was a *good* thing....

[Food Lady]

I'm putting this here because I feel our customers point out our longevity at the company in a mocking way.

Last year, I think--right in front of me--two SCs went on and on about my coworker while I was ringing them up. I had to bite my tongue as they derided her for having been with they company since they were in high school. They all but called her a loser, and the disdain was palpable. It was disgusting. She happens to like her position, and if it works for her, what business is it of theirs? And what cowards to talk about her behind her back.

Fast forward to today. I had two girls in front of me, one of which was familiar somehow. She piped up suddenly with "You've been here a long time!" Now, I knew where this was going, but decided to play dumb. I answered, "I've been here--*look at clock*--about 15 minutes." She explained that no, I'd been with the company several years; I was there when she was a temporary holiday cashier. (I think I may have trained her.) On her way out she slid away with a "Well, congratulations." Whether that was a sarcastic dig at my longevity or she mistakenly thought I was pregnant (and we all know how often that happens), it was in a slightly snarky tone. No wonder she didn't last.

ETA: I ran into this today: http://www.customerssuck.com/board/s...63#post1136463

[Aislin]

I have been with my company since I was 16. I am 34 now. People make comments about it. I make more than they do, I go to school, I have a flexible schedule. I have a great life. I have worked most of the positions in my store. I pay my bills on time, I owe only my tuition. People should be proud to say they haVe never been fired for something frivolous like calling off or stealing like a lot of my coworkers.

[NateTheChops]

Way back when, one of my middle school English teachers used to poke fun at the idea that kids who didn't do the required reading would wind up in a job where they'd have to ask, "Do you want fries with that?"

Then I remember in Job Corps and of course places where a number of other "professionals" in the job training field who would share their opinion as to whether or not they felt you were a success if you were still working, what they considered, to be a low profile "career".

Now I am 30 and fresh out of rat's ass to give over whether or not anyone approves that I'm a cart jockey again. I live in what was once the richest city in America and a town that is known for people making themselves from nothing.

Hell, just over the bridge from where I live is a current contestent on American Idol. I'm pretty happy with my job and what it allows me to do at the moment.

[Food Lady]

And we do appreciate our cart people. I'm certified to do it, and have done it, but can't do it anymore physically. I have respect for that position.

[Racket_Man]

I used to live in the white collar world of business (Ya know the dress slacks, dress shirt, dress shoes, tie and jacket crowd).

I got really tired of all of the BS and crap and hassel that I had to tolerate. Plus it seemed that I had a very limited shelf life in those types of positions for some reason. Yes the salary was great but I could not handle it anymore.

I have been a pizza delivery driver for over 8 years now and I still like my job. It pays the bills, gives me a simple but nice exsistance with money left over for a few extravagances and indulgences.

[Pixilated]

When I got into journalism, all I ever wanted to be was a reporter -- but even at that time (three decades ago) there was already a disdain in the industry for people who didn't want to climb to the dizzying heights of management. Once I'd been a reporter for 10 years (and in a weekly, no less -- oh, the shame!) I had effectively written myself out of ever being considered for a job as a reporter on a daily (yes, I did get to a daily newspaper ... but as an editor. Hated it. Thank goodness it was a lame position where I really had no authority!)

I never understood that. I liked talking to people and writing up their stories. I liked not having to ride herd on other staff members and not having to deal with the ones who weren't working out. I've never, ever had a desire to be management. Right now I'm looking for something that echoes what people here have already said: a job that I like and that will pay my bills. Status isn't even on the list.

[Ree]

With my current company, I have been with them almost 26 years.

I know what you mean about people pointing out longevity in a customer service job as if it's a bad thing, or we have wasted our lives.
Instead of people saying. "WOW. That's great. Congratulations. You must be really good at what you do," it is pointed out more as, "You've been around here for a long time," in an almost mocking tone.

I remember quite a few years ago, when I first started working retail, one of my high school English teachers came through my cash.
It was just after the start of a new school semester.
She asked me why I wasn't gone off to higher learning.
She was almost disgusted that I was working as a cashier instead of being in college or university.

She said, "I really hate to see you wasted here. You should be in school."

I explained that I was going to keep working for a year or two and get a little money ahead.
She said, "I've heard that before. You won't go back. They never do."

OK...she was right.
I never did go back.

Still, I have worked very hard and I am very good at my job.
And, while it frustrates the hell out of me that I am not appreciated nearly as much as I should be, considering that, if I were to leave my job right now, they would be so screwed for months, because there is nobody else in the place who does what I do, there is a bit of pride in that fact as well.

[PepperElf]

I'm reminded of a radio show I was listening to, sometime back in the early 90s... I'm not even sure what the topic was exactly, but the man they were interviewing left a fancy think-tank position because he was sick of the politics and ... went into motorcycle repair.

IIRC many of his former associates boggled at his choice, even looked down their noses at him. ... but he was happier with what he did, and with his life.

Not all jobs are lush and sparkly, but... if it's work you're content with, and a job you can hold on to... then that matters much much more.


(not to mention I somewhat suspect there's more stability these days in motorcycle repair jobs than bureaucratic think-tank jobs)

[EricKei]

Hey, as long as you can pay the bills, doing the job you want to do -- or even just one you can tolerate and you're good at (I've had several of the latter) -- screw what anyone else thinks.

[Seshat]

As you all know, I trained as a computer geek. Reasonably high profile. My husband, D, is also a computer geek; and has been management on the IT side. (IE: the interface between the geeks and the managers, while also doing the overall design of the software and supervising the geeks.)

Right now, my husband is doing one of the most underpaid and underappreciated jobs in society: caring for the disabled. Me, and our best friend A. He gets a pension for it; and in fact, his pension is less than ours! (And HE is working!)

Despite all that, he's happy. And happier in his work than in some of his higher-profile programming work. Certainly happier than when he was doing managerial work.

[Sheldonrs]

Not sure of the exact quote but I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Screw 'em. If you like your job and are happy, you're way up past the ones who can only be happy making others feel bad.

[BrenDAnn]

People like that are the ones that hand in their application with one to three months worked per job, then wonder why no one wants to hire them. No really. I've been with C-Store eleven years between the two locations, and I've seen that happen so many times. I'd rather have longevity with a job, than to look like I'm a flake who can't hold a job! Also, I second what Sheldon said. They can't have the power to make you feel inferior, if you don't give it to them, so don't.

[pollywog]

Before I ended up on disability I had been at my job for 12 years. I actually think that is one of the reasons that I got approved relatively quickly. I had proven that I was a reliable worker so I didn't look like a scammer.

I had people make comments about how long I had worked at the bent staple, but I would always tell them "I make decent money, I have decent insurance, I have a 401K and I have worked here long enough to get the shift that I want. Why would I leave?"

At the end I was making comparable to many office jobs that people deemed "acceptable", but most of those jobs didn't have as good of benefits.

[KellyHabersham]

I've been at the library for over ten years, so sometimes I do get people commenting on that.....although it gets frustrating having to explain that while it may be a "steady" job, I would really prefer something which was full-time, had benefits, and was more intellectually stimulating. (not saying that my job position is entirely boring, but it often can be)

[roxtar]

Been with my current firm for 9 years... went from a junior level test specialist to a senior level systems engineer.
with greater position comes greater responsibility and more stress. I was never as stressed out as I am now when I was a few rungs further down the ladder.

it's all well and good to seek advancement, but sometimes that position just isn't worth the headaches that come along with it.