COMMUNITIES

FUN & GAMES

LIBRARY

SITE INFO

OFFSITE LINKS

SoapZone Community Message Board

Subject:

You are absolutely right...

From: Wahoo Find all posts by Wahoo View Wahoo's profile Send private message to Wahoo
Date: Mon, 17-Feb-2025 7:24:04 AM PST
Where: SoapZone Community Message Board
In topic: WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10, 2025 POTPOURRI POST posted by Wahoo
In reply to: Being a keyholder is a good step though... posted by Jenners97
It shows you can be trusted with "company objectives" and if you're looking for an office manager or an administrative role, it's a good first step.

That it does!

Speaking of, since you don't want to go back into manufacturuing, have you thought about maybe volunteering for office stuff a few days a week? When I moved to LA to do PR, I bartended and then volunteered my days for free to show I had what it took (aka getting used to their systems, etc). I know in MKE (which I have to think is similar to Cleveland), they're always looking for office help at the VA, humane society, non-profits, etc. They don't pay you for the hours, but they do teach you project management software (like monday.com, basecamp, etc) and bookkeeping stuff. If you have both on your resume, it helps a lot.

I actually wouldn't be opposed to going back to manufacturing. It's steady hours, better pay and it gives me a sense of purpose. If I could find something not terribly fast-paced that would allow me to sit for the majority of the day, I'd be OK with it. I was thinking recently about how my current job is the most "useless" job I've ever had. In my teens, I babysat on occasion, providing parents much needed time to themselves while also being responsible for keeping kids safe while their parents were gone. I VERY briefly worked at a summer camp, helping kids learn to swim (very useful) and working with them on arts and crafts (a little less useful but again, keeping kids safe and occupied). At the bindery, I helped preserve vital information future generations needed to succeed in life. Once, after hearing bff brag for the 1000th time about being a nurse and how that's sooooo important (and it is), I gently reminded her that I bound some of the books that she studied to learn how to be a nurse and help people. After the bindery closed, I helped build systems that provided better drinking water, which promoted better health. Some of our systems went to impoverished countries with areas in need of clean water to drink. Whenever I got to really hating what I was doing at that job, I thought about how we were possibly saving lives by providing safe water to people.

And now I sell overpriced clothes to rich ladies who constantly tell me how they don't need another thing in their closet *sigh*.

Anyways, the suggestion to volunteer in an office is a good one. I've been unsure how to go about learning the computer systems I would need to know (I've watched a few YouTube videos so far...that's it) but maybe a non-profit would be willing to teach me.

I think the mistake most of us have fallen into is that we will like our jobs. That's not true for like 90% of us. I'm in my chosen field (grown up Jenni would not have chosen this field btw, 19 year old Jenni was seduced by things grown Jenni no longer cares about) and if I could peace out tomorrow, I would. And that's okay -- it pays for what I need it to pay for and I it allows me to do things that do make me happy. But yeah, when I think about it, I'm still ticked that I was led to believe "you can do anything you put your mind to" and to "find the job that makes you happy."

A million times YES to all this! I'm unsure whether to be proud of younger generations for holding out for the "perfect" job (high pay, fewer hours, happiness-producing) or thinking it's an unrealistic goal. I've never self-identified by what I do; I know to some people, it's very important that the world knows, and celebrates, that they're a doctor or lawyer or teacher...or nurse <g> but I don't care. I've never expected to do a job where I'm happy all, or even most, of the time. I just want to not be miserable and not be hurting by the end of the day, and I'd like to get back to a point where I'm not sweating over every dollar I spend.

Once I forgave myself for 19 year old Jenni's choices, and current Jenni's inablity to be happy with various jobs that were supposed to make me happy, I started feeling better and it was easier for me to project what the company expected of me. And let's be honest, 90% of working is how you're being perceived. I hated being a keyhold, but it did teach me how to manage people in a way being an associate didn't. And just remember, if you hate it, you can always leave. Like, you have the retail experience now and it'll be easier for you to move around too.

Very true--thank you! I still sometimes have to remind myself that nothing is forever, and I could leave tomorrow if it gets *really* bad because I have a better safety net than most.


No replies, 25 views
generated page in 0.020 seconds using 8 database requests (no reply links)