I just started working at a fast food restaurant and am really just blown away by how much rewarding it is that my last job working at a social welfare agency “helping people.” There is almost ALWAYS something to do AND my work can be objectively measured, two things untrue of my last job.

I’m trying to figure out what I want out of life, and work, and career, and I think this is really important to me: I actually need to be DOING something, something that I have direct control over, and something that I don’t NEED to say, “Look what a good job I did” because it is transparent.

Part of the reason I think this is important to me is if these requirements are NOT met, then the job is essentially convincing OTHERS that you are good at your job and/or that they like you. If what you do is opaque, unclear, or hard to measure, you have to constantly be policing the social narrative around yourself and your work–two things I have absolutely no interest (or ability?) in doing.

What’s been your experience?

  • schipelblorp@sh.itjust.worksOP
    2·
    21 days ago

    Update: My start date coincided with the general manager’s vacation. Things are very different when she’s on. People who once adapted to the situation and communicated become little mind control ants doing whatever she said as she sits in the middle of the area barking out orders, sometimes incorrect ones. She started yelling at me that I needed to do the drinks while I take the drivethrough orders, despite the system actually being quite screwed up, me being new, and the soda machine malfunctioning so that you baically have to devote 12 seconds of dedicated time to each cup. It was not fun and I got obviously enough annoyed at her that she asked me if I were ok (read: submit to my abuse with good cheer and do not talk back.)

    Actually answered the phone after my shift tonight because I expected to get fired, but it was a spam caller (thankfully?).

    Still, I prefer this stupidity to my last job, and I think with our schedules, we’re not on together too much.

    • ArgentRaven@lemmy.world
      1·
      20 days ago

      I might be too proud now, but I would never take abuse from a supervisor/manager again. I quit my previous job after shabby treatment and was unemployed a few months in 2023. Luckily I had a safety net built up that allowed me to do it.

      There’s nothing more pathetic than a low level manager trying to flex what little authority they have to make themselves feel important. I’d laugh in their face and ignore them. They can fire me if it’s that important. It never is. You won’t get promoted or a raise that way. But in this economy I don’t expect that anyway.

      Good luck and protect your sanity!