the working room: I Hate Corporate America

I Hate Corporate America
Thursday, January 3, 2008

I love to work, especially when I get to use my brain power. I love figuring out puzzles, following clues and solving problems. I'm all for intellectual inquiry and resolving obscure issues.

What I don't like is working for corporate America. I've hated working for that soul draining monster, since I left college. I wasn't overly fond of college either, but at least I saw the results of my work: decent, unbiased grades.

I've stayed jobs over the years, misconstruing that the problem was with the individual company. Well, after the enthusiasm wears off, be it the third week, month or year one thing becomes apparent: it's the same all over.

I've run out of interest in it all.

There is no difference between a career and a job. People show up to a job because they work to live. People who have a career live to work. No matter which way it's played out, people are trading in their time - a precious commodity - for dollars.

I'm angry at myself, because I feel I've been conned, yoked and suckered after so many years. I had hoped that of the years I've worked at a company, any company, there would be some satisfaction for a job well done.

Hah!

I enjoy being busy, at a good, interesting, well thought out, and methodical task. Yet, there were times when work was slow or non-existent. Yeah, try and find your manager for something to do. Would you believe most of the work I ever did, I gave to myself? I mostly created all of my own projects.

Those dead work times were the most stressful for me. It's limbo time. I've been told that the project will start, or continue, as soon as so and so signs off on the budget. Or head honcho Chief Doubletalker is over in Europe and we must wait for his return. Or it could be the case that the manager is in over her / his head and is frozen into inaction. Name the scenario, I've been there.

It happens everywhere, and it happens all the time.

Now, I'm someone who doesn't care for much of the niceties of socializing at the job. I'm not a water cooler plant. It's like mingling with the cattle as we're about to be slaughtered.

I feel that after spending 12 LONG hours a day with these people, I don't want to see you after I leave the building. No offense. Nothing personal. I just want to keep separation between corporate church and state, which is my life.

Ever really read any of those career advice columns?

I used to, until I realized that it was never about competence. It could never be. These articles have been and always will pertain to how to be the best brown nosing ass-kissing suck-up at the office.

The fact is if you are attractive, which almost anyone can achieve these days, you will get ahead. If you are a phoney, unpleasant, non-compliant, take-credit-for-other-people's-work cretin, and a two-faced backstabbing liar at the job, that's the way up the corporate ladder.

But what if you aren't a sociopath?

If one can find a way to make a living, and not head off to the jail-cubicles of corporate America, make a run for it and don't look back. You'll be happier person for it.

As for me, these people can keep their damn jobs. I've had enough.

Labels: college, corporate America, jobs, work

posted by GoldenAh

Comments on I Hate Corporate America