Wednesday 12 September 2012

My job

My job sucks.

There's not really much else there is to say about it. Oh wait, yeah there is...it really sucks.

So basically after having the pressure piled on me to just take any job, rather than continuing spending time trying to get the job I really wanted, I really took their advice to heart and took any job.

I work for a medical agency that basically organises the medicals that people need to have when they've had car accidents and the like and are wanting to claim compensation. The solicitors contact us, we find an expert, arrange  the appointment, deal with the medical report. In a nutshell that is the basic job.

Sounds simple enough. And it is, don't get me wrong, this job isn't massively taxing for the most part - it's a case of learning the processes and logging the right things in the right ways, which isn't always as clear as you would think, but it isn't intellectually challenging.

But boy am I in a different world  to the happy cosy joyful world of the Third Sector, where we all love one another and are just trying to make a difference. This is the cold, hard world of the private sector. And not even the bit of the private sector where the wages are higher than public/Third sector wages - this is the scrag end of the private sector where people are commodities and cheap ones at that.

It's a truly miserable working environment, that's essentially a call centre set up (although thank the lord we're not a call centre, thank heavens for small mercies). People are paid a crap wage and worked as hard as possible.

I have to literally account for every minute of my day. Literally.

The tasks I undertake are allocated a certain number of minutes. For example when I make a call, I get 3 minutes for that call - whether the call was a quick 30 second job or a 5 minute tirade from a client/solicitor/medical expert. So there are 430 minutes in a working day and I am expected to make sure I've logged 430 minutes of work.

Actually because I'm a new starter my goal is small - I'm only expected to get 60% productivity for my first month. I'm currently about 83% so I'm well above target but boy is that a different environment to the one I'm used to. No getting up and having a chat with the person in the next office to you, no going for a cup of tea when you fancy it, the pressure is on and I swear at times I can actually hear a clock ticking.

Now before the solicitors (if there are any reading) pipe up and say "We have to do the same thing" let me nod and say,

"Yes you do. But I'm betting you get paid more than £13,000 a year to account for every minute of your day."

People are low paid, there are literally no incentives to do well, (other than that you have to do well to keep your job) and thus you are left with a workforce that is evenly split in two - people who have been there for years and years (how someone can stay in that job when there is no chance of progression is beyond me) and new starters. People who've been there for a long time don't make any effort to talk to new starters and make them feel part of the team - why would they, the turnover of staff is incredible - and you're left with bitter long-term employees who feel hard done by and new starters who want to hang themselves from the nearest rafters.

And the best thing about this new job? It's absolutely, 100%, nowhere near where I live. So my commute consists of a walk to the train station in Preston, a train journey and another walk to my work. All in all I walk 5.5 miles every day and pay £85 a month for a train journey that last 11 minutes each way.

And. As predicted by yours truly. I'm knackered at the end of each day and have no energy to put into finding the job I really want to do. Which is how people end up trapped in this cycle.

Told you my job sucked.


10 comments:

  1. Augh Girl, it's awful! I feel your pain as I've been there myself. I don't know why the idea of The Private Sector makes people think of fat bankers in suits because, what? 95%? of people in the private sector are being treated like (your words were good) commodities, and not very valuable ones at that. And being paid a pittance for the privilege.

    On the plus side - being in a job you absolutely hate which pays next to nothing is a really good incentive for finding something else. I'm currently in a job I saw as a pitstop, but it's OK and it pays pretty well ... and I've just woken up and wondered where the last six years have gone :(

    Keep positive though, keep smiling. It's amazing how much your own negative attitude can drag you down (I'm not having a go here, just telling you what I've been telling myself lately). You'll get there xx

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  2. Sadly most people's jobs suck and you've already hit on the reason so many people get trapped for years in the same job, especially when you have a mortgage to pay - you have to have a job, any job and there aren't many nice jobs out there.

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  3. Oh that's dreadful :( I had no idea it was that bad. The time thing would destroy me - I get less and less productive the more I'm pinned to a timetable.

    Hope something better and closer appears soon.

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  4. That is quite simply horrible. I'm not surprised you are feeling like this. When I first came back from Indonesia, my Mum was on at me to get a job instantly, whilst I tried to find what I wanted- she said, Tescos, anything. But I had the same feeling as you, and luckily I got some temping work (being near London, this was easier) and then finally, I managed to get a really nice job that I wanted slightly by means of nepotism since my field was saturated. I remain in no doubt that I would have been searching for a long time otherwise or stuck in something like you, otherwise. I really sympathise with your situation.

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  5. It really does suck. So how do we get ourselves out of here?

    I mean this situation that we both share. Fear not, I'm not one of your colleagues in disguise...

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  6. This does sound rubbish. BUT! Keep at it and keep trying! You have an income, try to save some (if poss) and keep your chin up. See this as a mere blip and if you know you're going somewhere (you're not going to settle in and stay) keep looking and planning the escape routes whenever you feel up to it. You will get there in the end if you don't give up - promise. I was unhappy for a long time and I hope/think I am better now...! It just can take a while. xxx

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  7. :-( I'm very lucky that I love my job. That doesn't help. I did however have a job I really hated prior to this, and would cry on a Sunday night at the thought of Monday morning, so there is hope. Keep looking - something will come up.

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  8. That sounds awful.

    We're told that being employed is meant to make us more employable (although I have always thoroughly doubted this fact) but when it takes up this much time and energy, it makes it almost impossible to even try.

    Hope you find something better soon.

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  9. Yes, I am going to say something....you know what...I'd rather stack shelves in the aforementioned Tesco....at least those girls get to talk to their colleages...I do hope you get something more rewarding both financially and otherwise soon....or...you could come 'home' to good old Norn Iron!! I hear your 'defintely not' !!!!

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