Scott Adams does it again!

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

He describes how many (most?) of us feel about our jobs everyday, in 3 frames...- DSM

Labels: Career, Life, Work

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ThE DonGSteRs at |9:53 PM|

Looking out for myself

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Some people can be such a joke at times that I don't know if I should laugh or be piss off with them...classic one example my boss. I have been temping for the past 4 months (initially suppose to be a 2 months assignment and it got extended..best part I don't know till when!) and just today she called me in and told me if I would like to do a 6 months contract with them...its a good opportunity right? Let me continue, when the 2 months were up, she told me she hasn't decide what to do with my position and just told me she would extend my period assignment..fair enough so I am still working there till today....however past events make me realise that I have to look out for myself and since I'm a temp staff so why not? So I started to look out for permanent opportunities and I had a few meet ups and because of these meet ups, the consultants wanted to do reference checking (here is very onz about reference checking) and apparently one of them emailed her asking about me. She got a "shock", claimed I should tell her that I had put her down as one of my referees and then told me about the 6 months offer. What the %%^^&&?? Because I acted to secure a better career future then suddenly turned around and offered me a contract? I told her that I'm currently happy with the arrangement and yes, I'm looking out for permanent opportunites...its too bad then because she's not even sincere about the offer at all...looks like I'll just have to wait and see how the situation goes - DSA

Labels: Career

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ThE DonGSteRs at |9:54 PM|

Work to live...or live to work?

Saturday, May 19, 2007

The email I sent to Angie about the HP employee who died really got me thinking about working, or more accurately, working back in SG. I remember one 5 month period while at my old job that was pretty much like what she described in her blog: 12-hour days (and those were the good days), hounded for tasks repeatedly on a daily basis, huge workload (that should be done by 3 people in 3 totally different positions), lack of support, burnt weekends, worrying about work while on leave, bargaining down 2-day MCs to 1 day due to the fear of what my in-tray will look like after I return from a 2 day absence, and due to my privileged position as an "executive" (sarcasm intended), not getting a single cent of OT in return.

And I wonder: why?

Why do we do it? For money? Professionalism? Fear of being marked off as incompetent, or a slacker? Work experience? For our family to have a better life?

I've often wondered this, during and after that episode I previously described. Why do we sacrifice our health, family and personal well-being to work like that? Is it worth it? Is it worth sacrificing health, time with our loved ones and having a more well-rounded life, for that day (which may never come, by the way) where we supposedly get to "enjoy the fruits of our labour"? Personally, to me, I don't think so. I would rather do it now, to spend more time with the ones I love, doing the things I love, at the cost of leaving slightly more work back at the office. If it means I'll get a bad performance review for being unwilling to put in 12-hour days, if it hinders my promotions, get a little less raise, so be it. I'm happy with my choice. Its worth staying alive and healthy for.

A wise man once said, "I've never met a man who, on his deathbed, said he wished he had spent more time at the office"

Labels: Career, Life, Work

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ThE DonGSteRs at |10:57 PM|