How do you like your job?

[tongueriver]

I liked my job very well for 28 years. My co-workers and my supervisor and I made a team and all was smoooooth. Then the boss from hell arrived. He was an acknowledged thief and liar, which is bad enough, but he was also a very stupid man and loved to give unbelievably stupid orders. I retired early after it became a stress issue that was really putting me down. And I never looked back. Fourteen years later and I am a happy (usually) boy.

[Railsplitter]

I'm currently serving my 29th year with my current employer and generally speaking, I'm content. If I'm being honest, I've never had a job that I actually liked but this one is tolerable most of the time.

I've had a whole slew of bosses over the years but the boss I've had since 2010 is a really good guy. He's a down to earth type of guy with good common sense and very easy to work with.

It can sometimes be hard to admit it but deep down inside I know I'm fortunate to work for the people that I work for.

[treefarmer]

I did 35 years at the county school district, worked for 7 different elected superintendents, some for a couple of 4 year terms. The 1st 10 years I was a maintenance man involved in every phase, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, locksmith, grounds and stadium work, fabricating steel light poles, hand rails (welding), boiler work and endless ADA issues. Then for the next 25, I was the foreman of the above mess and many more unbelievable projects! The 1st 20 years as foreman were quite enjoyable, fish fry or venison fry every couple of weeks on Fridays, one big happy family then some political issues created tension, jealousy in the crew and by the time I got to 35 years, I was glad to retire. This job allowed me to place my children with the teachers of our choice all through elementary school. That was probably the greatest benefit of that job. We worked during the school year from 7:30-3:30 which allowed me time for my farming and hunting vices. Summer time we went to a 4 day work week, about the time you got used to it, school was about to start and back to the 5 day schedule. There were a lot of night call outs because of vandalism. The sheriff's office would call our home phone and we would have to respond, being on a salary, there was no monetary compensation for after hour emergencies.
I liked the job enough to realize it was steady and there was a state retirement at the end of the rainbow.
Treefarmer

[edge213]

I went on the Fire Dept when I was 21. 34 years later (this year) I retired.
I loved the job. Can't imagine spending my life doing anything else.
That is except being retired.

[btrwtr]

I once had a section supervisor that was raised far past the level of his competency. I had several conversations with him trying to explain some very basic functions of equipment he was the organizational owner of. At the end of these conversations my head didn't explode but it was close.

[JohnR]

Been a line auto mechanic since 1976 and I absolutely detest it, hopefully only another year or 2. My horrible profession has no benefits, no pension, no nothing, wish I had put the effort into another career choice. It's gotten really bad over the last several years as most of the customer complaints have to do with their cell phone not doing this or that with their new over technology built vehicles, does not sit well with me as I believe you should hang your damn phone up while you are driving.

[Dinadan]

I have been retired for almost two years and I like this job fine!!

Most of my life I worked at a couple of land survey companies. I actually enjoyed a lot of the work. Generally I was a crew chief with two or three other men with me. Compared to a lot of jobs mine was great.

Regarding bosses, I have told a few of the fellows that worked with me that they needed to be smarter than their boss. Even with a decent boss, sometimes, maybe a lot of times, the boss will tell someone how to do a project that is either impossible or just a lot harder than it needs to be. The man in the field needs to be smart enough to figure out how to do the project in the most efficient fashion without actually violating his marching orders!

[New_Windsor_NY]

I retired in July 2014 after 40 years with Ma Bell. I was an outside technician for the last 34 of those years. Bosses came and went, I stayed. I liked what I did but technology was moving ahead quickly and I decided to let it move on without me. I haven't had a "real" job since, but that is why I retired.

[rexstubbins]

Is it possible to love it and hate it at the same time?

I love what I do. I get to fix things and make things work that weren't working and I take a lot of pride in that part of the job.

The thing I don't like is the forced time schedule and micro managing of our District Manager. My District Tech is great he doesn't micro manage but the DM.... Oh Boy watch out.

Oh yeah and there is no opportunity for advancement. That part stinks.

And pay sucks for what I do for them.

[glennbad]

I probably have another 15-20 years until retirement. I wouldn't say I love my job, but I don't hate it either. My co-workers are decent, my bosses are thoughtful and generous. It can be very stressful at times, but it keeps me on my toes.

[Airborne 1]

24 yrs Army and out ,HVAC for another 20 and out. Loved them both . Retired and fish all I can . Pay sucks but the hours are great !

[fergusontd]

Goodyear 38 yrs. retired, schoolbus driver 29 yrs., still driving cars for Chrysler dealer. Navy 4 yrs. ftd

[BWT]

Four years in the USAF, best job I ever had. Still have my wife to kick me every now and then for getting out! Two years in a factory, thirty years truck driving till 2007, seven years in security, retired August 1 2014. Being a truck driver as long as you made deliveries on time and polite with customers never had any problems with any management. No tickets and no wrecks for thirty years also helped. Love being retired, found knife accumulating a year after I retired, really occupies some of my time. Fished almost my whole life and haven't been one time since I retired,go figure

[Meridian_Mike]

How do I like my job?

Well, it's a job...... and it pays me weekly so I can keep food on the table, the lights on and my butt warm in the winter.
Would I rather have a different job?.... not really.
I am just a very few years from retirement so I think I can put up with the new idiots that have come and and put themselves in charge over me.
I'll just do what they tell me, bide my time and then wave happily as I leave this hell hole on my last day of work.

Does that tell you anything?....LOL.

Mike

[djknife13]

Four years in the Air Force, five in collage getting a teachers degree in Industrial education and 40 some years building and remodeling houses just until I get a teaching job. I retired 9 years ago but liked building more than not building so I'm still building houses until I get that teaching job. I wonder if my teaching degree is still valid. All I know for sure is that the kids coming out of our public schools don't know how to hang a picture frame, much less build anything and any computer they try to look up how to build something, if it has any sense, would tell them "call someone that has his own hammer and knows which end to hit the nail with". I think my job is secure as long as I can drive my old truck full of tools, at least until I get that stupid teaching job. ___Dave

[philco]

Dave I'd be glad for you to use me as a reference when you apply for that teaching job.

[jlw257]

Was a Farmer during the 70s and 80s till low grain prices force me to find something the would provide a better living for myself my wife and 4 kids. I took a job as a commission salesman for a local company which built Logging Trailers. As Sales grew and my salary grew the owners thought I was making to much so before taking a cut in pay I left that job and took my customers with me to another Log Trailer builder. Life was good for a few years with the new company and again as my salary grew the owners again said I was making more than their Son who was the Shop Foreman, I took a substantial cut in pay and kept working because there wasn’t many places a older guy to get a job. Things got worse when grandchildren started working and it looked like another pay cut was coming. The other salesman and myself quit in May of this year and ventured out on our on. With the help of the good Lord and a great Banker we established a company that has taken off with sales going through the roof. I feel like I’m 40 again and love coming to work.

[treefarmer]

Larry, it would be interesting to know what effect your moving to another company had on those who thought you were making too much money. I've known salesmen who changed companies several times and since they treated the school district well and were straight shooters, I chose to stay with them because of their personal reputations and they were offering the same products at a better price. These instances were related to electrical and plumbing supplies and at times the monthly invoices were substantial. A good, friendly, reliable sales rep should be cherished by the company he represents!
Treefarmer

[Mumbleypeg]

I'm "retired" to the ranch now. Only bosses are my wife (who is my CFO and book keeper), and the bank. I try to have as few dealings as possible with the latter.

During my 40-year career working for a Fortune 500 company I had several good bosses. The best boss I ever had was a guy who was a former Division 1 college football player and former Marine Corps officer. He was the ultimate delegator and rarely ever told you how to do your job, unless you asked for advice. Everything was operated like a team. He was a walking version of the "One Minute Manager". No waiting until the annual performance review - you got frequent and continual feedback about your results. "Good job!", or "better re-think that next time." But woe be unto you if you did it the same way and failed again! I asked him once if he'd ever read the book The One Minute Manager. He said "No, what's it about?" When I told him he laughed and said "H*ll, I wrote it!" I worked for him several years until he was transferred to another location.

He was replaced by "the boss from Hades". Exact opposite, this guy was a micro-manager. "Do this, and here's how I want you to do it". And when you did it his way and it didn't work, it was your fault, not his. I once advised him that what he wanted to do wouldn't work, and suggested an alternate plan. After some argument he told me if I didn't do it how he wanted it done, he would fire me and get someone else to do it. So we did it his way. It didn't work. The field sales force complained to the V.P. The V.P. told him to change the policy. My boss called me into his office, and said I should have convinced him not to do it! By then I had developed a case of ulcers. Fortunately the company had a re-org and he was transferred (a couple of years later he was terminated). I got promoted to his job. My ulcers went away.

Ken

[tongueriver]

I'm "retired" to the ranch now. Only bosses are my wife (who is my CFO and book keeper), and the bank. I try to have as few dealings as possible with the latter.

During my 40-year career working for a Fortune 500 company I had several good bosses. The best boss I ever had was a guy who was a former Division 1 college football player and former Marine Corps officer. He was the ultimate delegator and rarely ever told you how to do your job, unless you asked for advice. Everything was operated like a team. He was a walking version of the "One Minute Manager". No waiting until the annual performance review - you got frequent and continual feedback about your results. "Good job!", or "better re-think that next time." But woe be unto you if you did it the same way and failed again! I asked him once if he'd ever read the book The One Minute Manager. He said "No, what's it about?" When I told him he laughed and said "H*ll, I wrote it!" I worked for him several years until he was transferred to another location.

He was replaced by "the boss from Hades". Exact opposite, this guy was a micro-manager. "Do this, and here's how I want you to do it". And when you did it his way and it didn't work, it was your fault, not his. I once advised him that what he wanted to do wouldn't work, and suggested an alternate plan. After some argument he told me if I didn't do it how he wanted it done, he would fire me and get someone else to do it. So we did it his way. It didn't work. The field sales force complained to the V.P. The V.P. told him to change the policy. My boss called me into his office, and said I should have convinced him not to do it! By then I had developed a case of ulcers. Fortunately the company had a re-org and he was transferred (a couple of years later he was terminated). I got promoted to his job. My ulcers went away.

Ken

I am loving that story! Sometimes there is justice in this world. Congratulations to all who posted and are/were able to live with their job. After I retired from my day job I was the Field Operations Supervisor for northern Wyoming for a couple years for the 2010 Decennial Census, so I got a taste of being the "boss." I tried very hard to enable my employees and to give them great feedback, helpful answers, and protection from the vagaries of a large governmental idiotic system. I think I was well-liked and my people got er done. It was very satisfying for me, but I would never do it again because of the awful polarization this Country seems to be going through. Then I went to work part time for the YMCA here, which is a GREAT place, which allowed me to make good friends and buy a few knives. I doubt I will ever work for money again, but who knows?

[jlw257]

Larry, it would be interesting to know what effect your moving to another company had on those who thought you were making too much money. I've known salesmen who changed companies several times and since they treated the school district well and were straight shooters, I chose to stay with them because of their personal reputations and they were offering the same products at a better price. These instances were related to electrical and plumbing supplies and at times the monthly invoices were substantial. A good, friendly, reliable sales rep should be cherished by the company he represents!
Treefarmer

Phil, the first company I sold for lasted a year before closing the its doors. The second company who I work 18 years with is still going, but between Gordon and myself took 80% of their business. We ask and got a letter from them stated the all accounts were settle so they won’t be any repercussion. It’s sad to here all the hate they have for anyone that crossed them.