My first "real" job [Archive] - Zophar's Message Domain

Octocrook

01-22-2004, 08:09 PM

Went to an interview today. Was nervous as hell leading up to the interview, especially when I got fucking lost trying to find the place, but was calm as hell during the interview. I think if a guy were interviewing me, it probably would have been a little harder. Anyways, after applying to only 3 jobs, 1 of which I almost knew I wouldn't get, I got a job. $11 an hour full time data entry for a real estate appraisal company.

My mom's gonna shit a brick when I tell her it's full time though, because that of course means I'll be limiting myself to part-time college. Bitch thinks she can control my life, so I can already see how she'll be screaming my head off, but I truly need this job to move the fuck out of here.

On a half-good, half-bad note, visited my dad today after he had a 2nd surgery. Although he's doing well, not hurting too much or anything (most important to me), he can barely talk, and when me and my brother visited and talked with him, we could barely make out anything he was saying, and he's someone that normally talks a lot, so I know he has to feel a little bad about that. I went there in my interview clothes and told him about the job, and he was very happy to hear about that. That's all I'm gonna say, cuz I'm hungry as hell...haven't eaten since 5 last night.

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Fla Flash

01-22-2004, 08:11 PM

Sorry to hear about your dad, but on the job, Congratulations Crooky.
I hope you like it.

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shawn

01-22-2004, 08:56 PM

Damn, this isn't about oral sex! lol
Congrats on the job bud and best wishes to your dad. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

Isildur

01-23-2004, 02:59 AM

Nice going with the job.<img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

I wish your father the best of health.

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Octocrook

01-23-2004, 10:05 AM

> My mom's gonna shit a brick when I tell her it's full time
> though, because that of course means I'll be limiting myself
> to part-time college. Bitch thinks she can control my life,
> so I can already see how she'll be screaming my head off,
> but I truly need this job to move the fuck out of here.

Damn I was so right. She came back from a weeklong trip to Vegas tonight, and so I told her about the interview, and then told her that this was for a full-time job. It turned into a discussion that lasted for 2 hours (12:30 to 2:30 am for fucks sake) and is "on hold" until tomorrow, when her super-duper bf can back up her sentiment that cutting down to part-time college means I'm quitting college. My brother, sister, and dad fully support me in my decision, knowing that I should be able to live my life how I want to, but as I expected, my mom still craves full control of my life like a fucking drug. She has absolutely no confidence in me whatsoever. She thinks I can't do a damn thing on my own, and she's never given me a chance to, and it's led to this.

The worst part of this conversation we had is that here I am now, with a split mind. Part of it is the old Steven...little Steven that always does as mommy tells him to do without a thought, little Steven that has no confidence in himself because mommy never treated him as anything but a little baby in diapers, little Steven that trembles like a leaf at the thought of independence. The other part is the grown up me, which has shown flashes now and then over the last few years, but is now roaring like a lion in a zoo, waiting to get out and flourish. The part of me that was able to stand up to my mom tonight in a conversation where I'm sure she thought I'd have nothing to say but "I have to get out of here." The part of me that was calm and cool as shit during the first interview of his life, that didn't even flinch in answering to the interviewer why he was 21 and only had 1 previous job (when old little Steven would have gotten extremely nervous at that point). The part of me that knows that when I'm determined to do something, no matter what, I do it and do it better than almost anyone.

My sister, brother, and father, god bless their souls...they see this part of me, they know it's in me, and they know that for years upon years, it's been waiting to get out. Mom not only doesn't see this part of me, but she tries to belittle me and control as much of my life as she can so that she'll never see this part of me. My father of all people, the man who knows more than anyone the value of a degree and how badly not having one can hurt, congratulated me on getting this job. He could barely talk, I could hardly make out anything he said during that whole visit, but that "congratulations" will be something I'll never forget, because he knows that I would never put 3 and a half years of college to waste in not finishing getting the degree. I better go to bed...I'm crying like mad now. What a fucked up year this has been so far, and February hasn't even come yet. <img src=smilies/errrr.gif>

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shawn

01-23-2004, 04:57 PM

> because he knows that I would never put 3 and a half
> years of college to waste in not finishing getting the
> degree.

3 1/2 years, is there any way you can do this job part time and go to college also???? A lot of employers are VERY flexible when it comes to college, especially when you only need another 6 months and some will actually pay for part of it for you, you should check with human resources at the place and see what thier policy is. Some places will pay for it if you sign a contract to stay with them for a set period after you graduate which mean steady income for you and a college grad that won't quit for them. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

blackize

01-23-2004, 10:43 PM

I salute you for working full time and attending college. As a full time worker myself, I know that if I had to juggle between the 40+ I pull a week and school, I'd fucking collapse and then implode. It's just a huge drain on the body, physically and mentally. If you can pull it off, you fucking rule.

Octocrook

01-24-2004, 12:00 AM

> 3 1/2 years, is there any way you can do this job part time
> and go to college also???? A lot of employers are VERY
> flexible when it comes to college, especially when you only
> need another 6 months *snip*

Actually, I have about a year and a half left. I didn't decide until the end of year 2 that I wanted to major in math, and unfortunately, the transfer requirements for doing that forced me to stay another year at the CC before transferring, plus one bad semester once I got to the university in which I had 2 Fs...I have 37 units left to go, and for sure I'm never taking 15 units in a semester ever again after the 2 F semester (15 units was fine when the classes were easy, but lo and behold, upper level math and programming are not easy, lol).

> and some will actually pay for part of
> it for you, you should check with human resources at the
> place and see what thier policy is. Some places will pay for
> it if you sign a contract to stay with them for a set period
> after you graduate which mean steady income for you and a
college grad that won't quit for them.

That's something I should definitely check out. I wound up not having enough time to come up with these questions before the interview, so I didn't get a chance to ask her about it.

<img src=http://www.crooky.us/csig.jpg>
<a href=http://www.crooky.us/mp3.htm>Download "End of the World" here</a>

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SivakDrac

01-24-2004, 05:45 PM

Well, at least you have reasonable-seeming employment. Heck, I have a degree and have had it since August and am still working in retail at $5.80/hour. Only reason I have stayed on for 2.5 years is cause I didn't feel like looking for any other similar, crappy work.

Kudos to you, buddy. Good luck with the situation of your parents. <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

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shawn

01-24-2004, 06:05 PM

> Well, at least you have reasonable-seeming employment.
> Heck, I have a degree and have had it since August and am
> still working in retail at $5.80/hour. Only reason I have
> stayed on for 2.5 years is cause I didn't feel like looking
> for any other similar, crappy work.

That's all you make! You're an intelligent guy, get off your butt and get a job that allows you to use your skills, hell you should be making a minimum of at least $10-12/hr. Now get motivated and get out there and make some real money because $5.80./hr is an insult and garbagemen and fastfood workers make more so get out and check with family and friends who make good money and see if they can help, contacts and good recommendations are absolutely essencial nowadays to get into a good paying job. We all know you can easily do better than you are now, so be like a NIKE commercial and JUST DO IT. <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

Dark Macc

01-24-2004, 06:30 PM

> Now get motivated and get out there and make some real money
> because $5.80./hr is an insult and garbagemen and fastfood
> workers make more

Depending on where you are. Most people I know in Fast Food are making $5 - $5.25. I was making $5.50 when I was working fast food, but I know people working at Burger joins for $4.75 as well.

shawn

01-24-2004, 06:44 PM

> Depending on where you are. Most people I know in Fast Food
> are making $5 - $5.25. I was making $5.50 when I was working
> fast food, but I know people working at Burger joins for
> $4.75 as well.

I started at Wendy's at $6.75/hr but I put down $8.50/hr to start. If you put negotiable they're gonna give you the shaft most of the time. I find a little bullshitting helps also. Act like you can manage the place and can do all the jobs even if you have never worked in that field because most retail and fastfood jobs can be done easily with a 10th grade education. They're looking more for confidence, someone who will show up for work when schedueled, and someone who will take innitiative to get the job done and someone like that is worth 4 regular workers since they don't have to be watched constantly by someone making $40k a years and they're willing to pay more for those kind of employees. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

Dark Macc

01-24-2004, 07:39 PM

> they're willing to pay more for those kind of
> employees.

It's so obvious you don't live in Michigan <img src=smilies/laff.gif>

shawn

01-24-2004, 08:49 PM

> It's so obvious you don't live in Michigan
>
Worse, NH and I'm in a tourist area that has had once been mostly manufacturing area which has more or less retail as the backbone in the winter with some manufacturing and only some and almost no tourism since it isn't summer. We have more people on welfare and unemployment than in manufacturing at this moment, since Bush took office the economy in my state has taken a nosedive into the shitter. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

type_x

01-25-2004, 05:33 AM

> > because $5.80./hr is an insult and garbagemen and fastfood
>
> > workers make more

> Depending on where you are. Most people I know in Fast Food
> are making $5 - $5.25. I was making $5.50 when I was working
> fast food, but I know people working at Burger joins for
> $4.75 as well.

Fuck, there is something wrong with this world. How can any human being POSSIBLY live on pennies like that?! I do think it's wrong that some employers pay so little, and I don't like to see good people willingly work for such wages (unless some disability prevents them from being able to perform work in a better position). Anyone with a good head and some motivation can earn a decent income if they put themselves up to it. I don't have a college degree, nor do I have any formal training or even intermediate computer skills. Granted, I occasionally work 60 hours in a week and being in sales can induce vein-exploding stress (December....<img src=smilies/errrr.gif>), but it's worth it. I'm earning in a month now what some people make in a year. You can do it too, my advice is to get into a sales position that pays a salary plus commission. Don't bother with low profit margin industries such as auto sales. Find something good and profitable... I recommend working sales in high-end/ custom car audio or industrial electronics/ components, because the margins (mark-ups) are incredibly high and it's a lot of fun. Dedicate yourself to it and give it some time, before long $30k/ yr. will become $60k, and if you're really good it just keeps growing and growing. I got started in sales about eight years ago when I was 17, and I remember thinking "I'm not cut out for sales". That's bullshit. It's a matter of whether you're cut out for money!<img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>

Not that sales is the only way, just the way I found. Motivation breeds success whichever path you take.

Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.

SivakDrac

01-25-2004, 04:50 PM

> Depending on where you are. Most people I know in Fast Food
> are making $5 - $5.25. I was making $5.50 when I was working
> fast food, but I know people working at Burger joins for
> $4.75 as well.
>

What? You mean I'm actually making MORE than someone? <img src=smilies/retard.gif>

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Octocrook

01-25-2004, 07:59 PM

> Well, at least you have reasonable-seeming employment. Heck, I
> have a degree and have had it since August and am still working
> in retail at $5.80/hour. Only reason I have stayed on for 2.5
> years is cause I didn't feel like looking for any other similar,
> crappy work.

Keep in mind, I live in California. $11 an hour is like maybe $8 an hour in most areas in the Mid-West, if that. So it's decent but not super. I'm hoping for two things...that I get regular raises if I do well and that I might get the opportunity to become a programmer in this company, since they are sort of a software company. You having a degree should help you beyond what you make. Try to get ANY sort of computer job, even like what I have. At the very least, you'll have experience in some computer job to put on your resume, and depending on what company you work for, you can learn other skills. Heck, I might wind up learning a lot about real estate appraisals in this job and I'll probably be doing the must gruntly of work in the company. I'm guessing that's how a lot of people start.

> Kudos to you, buddy. Good luck with the situation of your
> parents.

That turned out really well actually. Sometimes I'm really glad my mom has her bf to talk some fucking sense into her, because even though she told me that he had said "That's the worst thing he could do" when he first heard about me getting the FT job, I think he knew that the best thing to do was not to try to chew me out into staying in full-time college and only getting part-time work, but to support me in whatever my decision is. So the talk we three had yesterday was a pretty good talk. They were helping me figure out what all the expenses are that I would need to make room in my budget for. I mean I'm not even moving out for another half year at least, but I do need to sort this shit out before I move out and then get overwhelmed. So I'm glad that even though they both disagree with my path, they're going to be on my side and help me reach my goals. My mom might finally be realizing that I'm grown up.

<img src=http://www.crooky.us/csig.jpg>
<a href=http://www.crooky.us/mp3.htm>Download "End of the World" here</a>

<center><a href=http://www.crooky.us>Crooky.us</a></center>

Octocrook

01-25-2004, 08:07 PM

> Fuck, there is something wrong with this world. How can any
> human being POSSIBLY live on pennies like that?!

You know, to be honest, I would guess that someone in, say, southern California making minimum wage ($6.75 I think here) has a rougher time than someone making $5 in the mid-West. Unless you live in ghettoish areas, apartments here cost no less than $800 (and that's a STUDIO), food here is more expensive, gas here is a LOT more expensive, commuting places even as close as 10 miles away can take over an hour depending on where it is...I mean just about everything is more expensive, probably more than the difference of minimum wages would make you think.

Consider the budget I came up with for instance. The budget is for when I move out, when I'll be roommating with my best friend. I wagered probably a bit high for car insurance and rent ($1000/6 months for car insurance, $600 for half of monthly rent for a 2 bdrm apartment), and probably low for food and gas ($250/month for food and $60/month for gas), and even with my mom paying for my college, I would have to work overtime to stay out of the red each month, and that's with NO saving. If you're working full-time minimum wage here, you have no chance in hell unless you're rooming with likt 5 or 6 people in a 1 bdrm apartment, lol.

<img src=http://www.crooky.us/csig.jpg>
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anti-corporate

01-26-2004, 04:55 AM

> Depending on where you are. Most people I know in Fast Food
> are making $5 - $5.25. I was making $5.50 when I was working
> fast food, but I know people working at Burger joins for
> $4.75 as well.
>

how? the national minimum wage is 5.15

although I know waiters get paid much less an hour, but its because they are expecting tips and there is some other rule about that

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Dark Macc

01-26-2004, 05:28 AM

> how? the national minimum wage is 5.15

Some of the businesses here don't care. I had a friend who was hired at a Chinese place at $4.50 an hour, no tips. The management took the tips frmo the employees. <img src=smilies/headshake.gif>

SivakDrac

01-26-2004, 06:19 AM

> Some of the businesses here don't care. I had a friend who
> was hired at a Chinese place at $4.50 an hour, no tips. The
> management took the tips frmo the employees.

That's why whenever you come across anything like that you say nothing. Any loose change I find in my store, I keep.

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Isildur

01-26-2004, 08:44 AM

> although I know waiters get paid much less an hour, but its
> because they are expecting tips and there is some other rule
> about that
>

I don't think there's any other rule about that-- it's just that some restaurants break the minimum wage laws. I've heard that a certain stylish restaurant near me used to pay waiters absolutely nothing, but people were still very eager to work as waiters there because the tips were extremely good.

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Isildur

01-26-2004, 08:47 AM

> Some of the businesses here don't care. I had a friend who
> was hired at a Chinese place at $4.50 an hour, no tips. The
> management took the tips frmo the employees.
>

What bastards. <img src=smilies/headshake.gif>

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SirDaShadow

01-31-2004, 10:24 PM

> > how? the national minimum wage is 5.15
>
> Some of the businesses here don't care. I had a friend who
> was hired at a Chinese place at $4.50 an hour, no tips. The
> management took the tips frmo the employees.
>
Report them to the goverment. If they are taking the tips they MUST pay the minimum wage. It's a federal law, you know.

type_x

02-01-2004, 06:21 AM

> You know, to be honest, I would guess that someone in, say,
> southern California making minimum wage ($6.75 I think here)
> has a rougher time than someone making $5 in the mid-West.

Yeah, that's very true. I lived in St. Louis briefly when I was 17, and shared a huge (but very old) house with my sister & her boyfriend. Rent was $650/ mo. and it was in a good neighborhood. I was able to pay my share of $200/ mo. easily waiting tables, and still had plenty of cash to throw around. Tips included, I was making around $11-12 per hour. When I moved back to California and went to school in San Francisco, I got a job in sales at CarToys. I started at $12/ hr. without commission (CarToys pays commission only after 3 months of employment) and had no extra money to spend at all, even though I was tapping into my student loan for groceries. Once my commission kicked in, I got some crumb cakes to go with my toilet wine.

Consider the Full Nelson. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, furiously masturbating.