Corporate SlogsI saw this post by another person: What is it that turns some people into corporate slogs? Let me give an example of what I mean by that. I have a friend. When I met her 9 years ago, she was a 24 y.o who hadonly ever worked as a waitress and used car saleswoman. When she movedhere, she started as a receptionist and worked in different offices eventually doing administrative assistant work. SHe got a temp job thatgot her into a pharmaceutical company and she' s been there 6 years andis now making about 60K. She' s thrilled with it and I' m happy she grewin her career and income. But she changed. She now talks and thinks everything corporate. Even our conversations, she' s lost this spark ofindependence. She' s quite robotic. I have worked with people like that and am in fact now. They "buy the party line" and live the corporate world. I don' t get it. Why do some lose their individuality because of just a corporate job? Though, I' m not all that concerned about how she lost her individuality, but I' m more wondering. How in the WORLD did she get the 60K a year dollar amount, when a person like me has only been working at no more than 30K a year? Her entire year she worked in ' Flunkie' type jobs Waitress, Receptionist, admin assist (P.C. word for secretary) Then she got a temp job, and now is working at 60K a year? How did that happen? I' ve been seeing people here in these forums that just hop from temp job to temp job Temp jobs, as far as I knew, were just jobs that made you "get by" to pay the bills, and most people hop from temp job to temp job. Unless it' s one of those "Temp to Hire" type jobs....I dunno. Perhaps someone could elaborate how this woman made it, and I (and others on here) am still doing mostly temp type jobs. I know some people who have expected to "move forward" OUT of a temp job, only to STAY In a temp job forever, and passed over when internal positions opened up. Alot of temp workers get promises about "Oh, you' ll be here a few months, and then you' ll probably get on permanenta nd then it never happens. Maybe it' s one of those "If it' s meant to be, it' s meant to be" kind of things? ...these kind of people remind me of Kramer on Seinfeld. "Have sex without dating, fall arse backwards into money, and sit around the house watching TV all day" Or somethign to that affect. Honestly? Some people have a plan and stick to it one step at a time. Some people work their way up within an organization that rewards competence; they do this by learning the organizations products, culture, customers, and processes. Some people go to the right schools and have the right parents (George Bush comes to mind). Some people lie, cheat, perform immoral acts. Frankly, some people just get lucky. My career has been a combination of 2 and 5. But believe me I started out working low level jobs barely life sustaining wages for years. Finally I found a company and a mentor who showed me what I was capable of and pushed me to return to school and complete my education in something other than the soft skills that I so loved (Philosophy, Sociology, Literature, etc). My mentor also pushed me to pay attention to work and career as something more than a means of putting food on the table, she didn' t tell me I had to give up my spirit to work or my personality only that there could be more if I simply paid attention. Then I got a break that I never looked for 20 years ago and that was the introduction to some new technology that would soon take over the market, I was on the cutting edge and 5 years later when it really hit I was there - SAP. The other part of your question, I don' t know how to answer. I do see it all the time and I think that some people just give their essence over to work. It isn' t necessary but many don' t understand that. I am still me. I have been able to be successful in a career that is not always kind to women without giving my core self up. Matter of fact I am the opposite of what most people often expect of a Director in a consulting practice, so I succeed despite my "personality" quirks. I think fear drives some people to become "slogs". Fear drives people to try to fit in. Most of us want to be liked or loved by others; we want to be part of the in crowd and to do this we dress, talk, walk like they do. We are willing to risk our inner life to be accepted. I never have been willing to do that. I say what I think and while over the years I have learned to temper this somewhat based upon my audience I tend to be fearless most of the time. CEO' s are really no different from the Admin Assistant at the end of the day; what makes them different is the power the wield and their paychecks. But really they generally aren' t better, smarter, more moral, or in any way "better" than us or more deserving than us so why shouldn' t they hear the truth now and then? Might actually make them better people. Dean...check this out: Many companies do the temp to hire. They get totry a person out without a commitment. Doing a direct hire has risksand can be quite costly if the person fails. Yes, she never imagined she would be where she is. She consideredherself "trailer trash" and now she has 60K with some of the bestbenefits out there (including full tuition reimbursement). FYI, admins in the corporate world are not considered entry level.There are some that end up being managers of other admin staff and somethat make as much as 90K. I know of a lot of this in pharma companies. But just because you' ve got bills to pay, why should the workchange who you are, make you lose your identity? Frankly, ourfriendship is over and I find it sad. I can' t find anything interestingin her. Our conversations are like business talks, not friendly chats. I' ve got bills too, I never let my work make me lose "me". Her friend went from "Rags to Riches" and now she can' t stand to be with her as a friend anymore, that is pretty weird. Dean, could you explain the whole "business talks" thing? If you' re talking to your friends, and it sounds too "business-like" could you give me an example? Seriously, I wish I could wind up like that woman (minus the whole ' attitude' )...man...going straight from min. wage to that kind of cash per year....simply amazing. I just interviewed for such a position (but temp to hire for the Federal Govt). How does one move out of a temp job (or any other entry-level sort of position)? 1. They choose the right temp job. One in which they are determined to do well, and one in which the company really does intend to hire stellar performers (or in the case of a entry-level job, one that really does have an upward career path of some sort, or at least leads to internal job postings in an upward direction). 2. They do really well. They don' t create problems or drama, they' re always willing to do a little more, be a little nicer while doing it, learn a little more, get all of their work done on time, get all of their work done correctly, understand the company culture and etiquette and respect the chain of command, don' t argue with the boss, don' t argue with others (even when they' re right), don' t come off with "attitude" and a million other soft skills that might be hard to define in a list but are critical in the workplace. 3. They watch for opportunities and go after them at the right time. You don' t put your name in for a promotion a month after you get a job. You wait until you' ve been there the "right" amount of time for the company, then go for it. 4. You work WITH your boss instead of against them. You discuss your interest in moving up and ask for their advice and guidance on doing so. When you see a posting you' re interested in, you ask them if they think you' d be a good candidate and if not, why not. You LISTEN to what they say, do that, then go after it. 5. You know when to move on to another company and when to stay put. Know when to hold ' em, know when to fold ' em. Read the messages properly. 6. You act like a professional, salaried employee, even when you' re "just" a flunky temp or entry-level drone. You act like you care if the work gets done and you act like you care if it gets done well. 7. You increase your knowledge, take whatever classes they offer, whenever they offer them. Take classes and read info on your own time and your own dime. Invest in yourself and show them that you' re worth investing in. There are probably more, but that' s a good start. I think when you refer to Business Talks what is being referenced is the fact that her friend no longer has a life outside of her work and thus no longer has interests outside of what she does. For a person to be whole and complete there has to be more to them than how they earn money. This is simply what we do to put bread on the table and a roof over our head - it emphatically is not who we are - not what defines us; at least it should not be. Our friendships, especially those of long-standing are made up of shared experiences; our history. Generally they thrive because we have trust and we value the internal life of the other person, who that person is under the cover of what they show to the world. Our families, our hurts, our triumphs, our failures, our joys; all the things that make us who we are inside are the things we share with those closest to us. When we stop having an internal life then our friendships whither through mishandling and lack of care. Certainly when we talk to our friends we talk about our work, it is part of what we are and what makes up our day; but only part. If it is the only thing we talk about then slowly our friends will fall away from us because we have nothing else to share with them. I think that is what is meant. By the way I think it is a great advice so I am not going to add anything. There is your answer! In the not to distant past I had the misfortune to deal with enough of a cross section of these people (over two hundred in one year) that I saw a pattern forming in ALL pharm reps. If they are female the T&A factor places first over all. If it has T&A it' s hired no matter how bimbonic, self medicated or just plain screwed up. If she is even a little awake she will become a manager (read that at 150,000 per yr). If they are male, Two sub catagories are prevalent: Super Studly male model type. Arrogant, demeaning, self impressed, demanding. OR Gay, fleeting gay, submissive sissy boy. This way they can cover all the doctors wants. Also, being able to peg the ##### meter is the very first requirement. I am unfortunately related to one and he fits the above description to a tee. If we want a family gathering to not last too long, we make sure he is present! Ability needed for this occupation?.......none. Just see above. I am NOT kidding! The real sad part is to see the older women. They are all lypo-sucked, tupperware titted, face stretched, hemorrhoid liped, pathetic, arrogant, self medicated weirdos you will ever meet. The average age is very early twenties to early thirties. The older ones are fighting for their lives! Good Luck out there! Matches our health care system. Money motivated. Period. Yeah, I think I know what you' re getting at.....I think I' ve seen MySpace accounts with these women in Pharmeceuticals (sp?) Or typically "Sales girls" in general, doesn' t have to be drugs necessarily. I worked in a wastewater plant, and they had sales reps coming over, and they were hot little numbers. Selling work/office supplies, etc. I was at a hotel convention area one time, and there was this one woman sitting behind a desk selling "Timeshares" She was wearing a business coat and skirt....with major cleavage showing. lol Cheerleaders in Pharm I just Googled "Women in Pharmec." I just noticed alot of sales women were mostly hotties A list of ONLY (6) things from tmsmalley? And a million other "soft" skills along with all the the "hard" skills $100k of an education can buy for what? A simple move from temp to perm? Thanks for the right for my firstborn! It's mostly about who you know.
HELLO !!!!!!!!!!!! She bought the party line. Thats what she wants, and she is living the life she wants and your not. | |
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