Print This
Email ThisMost of us end up hating our entry-level jobs. But I sometimes wonder, is it really the job that we hate or something else?
It was only a year ago when I first stepped into the corporate world. Like any optimistic twentysomething, I walked into my first day and gave my new responsibilities undivided focus and attention, trying to learn the ropes and taking every chance to prove myself.
As the weeks went by, my frustrations grew. I became not such a go-getter. I just got through the days. I came to the only conclusion I could–my job sucked.
But all of my friends were complaining about their jobs, too. It was definitely the job–not just me. So I started searching online for better career options, while plugging away from 9 to 5 every day.
Right before I gave up on finding another job, in came the offer to start Brazen Careerist. After considering my options – either stay at a job I hated or try something new – I decided to take a leap. It’s been a rollercoaster ride that’s taught me the most valuable lesson of all: I never really hated my corporate job. Instead, I now know that I just hated the transition I was making into the real world.
What I’ve learned is that entrepreneurship is hard, more stressful than cubicle life ever was, and a hell of a lot more emotionally trying than anything I’ve ever experienced. So despite layoffs and all the offbeat training sessions, the corporate world is a pretty comfortable place. You get to go to a place every day and get told exactly what it is you need to get done. If you want to do more, you can. But if you don’t, that’s pretty much alright too.
A steady paycheck, paid vacations, health insurance – so easy to take for granted when you don’t know what it’s like to not have them. All the BS you put up with might be worth it when you’re looking at things from the outside in.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d never encourage someone to stay in the corporate world who has always dreamed of something more. And I’m glad I decided to leave. But before you make a decision you might someday regret, decide whether you really hate your current situation or if it might be just the transition that we all go through that’s got you down.
More often than not, I think it’s just the transition that eats at us. So make sure you’re putting the blame exactly where it belongs and don’t make a decision based on the fact that we’re all finally growing up.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles, subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
I. Completely. Agree.
I think that the transition from college life to the real world is difficult no matter what. I mean, here we are, most of us having been in school for as long as we can remember and then all of the sudden it just stops and we’re expected to completely alter our lives. Not to mention this is often accompanied by other life changing factors: maybe a demographic relocation, maybe being on your own financially for the first time…it’s different for everyone, but it’s definitely a drastic change. Plus you often have to start doing menial tasks in an entry level position, which means you’re not getting to do the cool things you were prepared for…yet.
This is why I feel that internships are very important. It should help ease the transition as well as give you some good experience on your resume. In the IT field, internships are one of the best avenues to land that job because most of them turn into a job. There are some hard lessons to learn when you reach the corp world. Most of your life up until then is spent with people mainly in your age group and that are similar to you. The corp world throws you a whole new realm of personalities and age groups. Sometimes that’s the hardest part.
It’s not the growing up that’s the problem for me. I’ve wanted to get out of school and into the real world for as long as I can remember. I think I qualify as disliking my job for the right reasons.
I can understand the issue of the transition. Being that I started in my ‘cube straight from high school, I had different expectations than most. However, I think a lot of it has to do with the ‘paying your dues’ idea. While the arguement can be made that we shouldn’t ‘have’ to, it still remains that most of my college education doesn’t translate into my actual job at all.
Matt,
I’m not sure if internships ease the transition. I had a few while in college, but the responsibility aspect wasn’t there until post-graduation.
Maybe you’re right though, if you spend time in that environment before you graduate, the transition is likely to be easier.
Norcross,
The ‘paying your dues’ thing is always a difficult thing to tackle for an entry level. It has a lot to do with how hard it is too. But more often than not I think twentysomethings are kidding themselves if they think they’re ready for the responsibility their managers have.
Maybe we use ‘paying your dues’ as another excuse for why our jobs suck, when really it’s just easing into adulthood that sucks.
I can confirm that easing into adulthood sucks, because so much more of adulthood sucks than college-hood. Not everything, but just more of it than before.
Ryan,
This is true, especially in IT the interns are usually tasked with the stuff no one else wants to do so the full effect of what the job is won’t be there. Good Point. But it will hopefully allow you to get a feel for how the environments operate. I think a big factor for someone coming out of college into cubicle land is that they get beaten down by the status quo - they are eager when they arrive and everyone else is like “Calm down, you’re too ambitious”.
Ryan,
You say - “So despite layoffs and all the offbeat training sessions, the corporate world is a pretty comfortable place. You get to go to a place every day and get told exactly what it is you need to get done. If you want to do more, you can. But if you don’t, that’s pretty much alright too.”
I would say you’re correct for the first year of employment depending on the company and your job function. However after the first year the company is going to expect more from you even though you’ve been able to get by with the minimum in that first year. If you want to continue to slide by in your company, that’s exactly what your career is going to do relative to the rest of your colleagues in your profession in the corporate world.
I also believe your management would be doing you a great disservice by telling you exactly what needs to be done (hold your hand and lead you around like a kid - so to speak) even though it does happen thanks to unskilled managers. I had a manager like that (micro managing) in my first job - it was his style and he did it with the rest of the department. He was a nice person but it didn’t make me happy and it made me critical of his style and the company. Oh well, live and learn.
Hi Mark,
All good points. But my goal wasn’t to say that the corporate landscape is a cushy world where you don’t have to try as hard to succeed. Sure, it is a lot more comfortable than say owning your own business, but you still have to work hard if you want to get to the top.
The real point here lies in the fact that entry-level employees find themselves in their first jobs and hate it so much that they make rash decisions to try and make things better. Only problem is, those decisions aren’t going to change the fact that being a quarter-lifer is a tough transition.
Thanks for commenting.
-RP
I had a conversation with my dad not too long ago - I was a year into my SECOND job out of college, and as equally miserable as I had been at my first (though the miseries were different). I told him I finally realized that I don’t think it’s me, I think working just sucks if it’s not your passion. My dad replied, “A job is a job is a job.”
My two cents is that it’s definitely the transition into the working world, more than anything else.
That said, entry level jobs are no fun - but more work, responsibility, accountabilty, and time come with more senior positions - so it’s definitely a trade off.
-kate
So, speaking as one who’s changed careers a few times, and just into her 40s, I’ll say that I often wonder what would have happened if I’d built up the courage to follow my passion early on, instead of going with something “safe” in Corporate America.
I wanted to study psychology, but I did a business undergrad. I wanted to get my first MA in Psychology, but I got an MBA, thinking it would be a “key” to open a lot of doors. I knocked myself out in management consulting and marketing jobs for nearly 17 years before FINALLY studying my first-love, psychology, and applying it to the world of work.
Of course, things I learned in the corporate world help me now, like discipline and knowing how to create systems and processes. But my creativity suffered. For example, I had to unlearn the craft of writing stuffy business memos. Ugh.
Now, I’m a big believer in following your passion as soon as you can. You can make mistakes for a lifetime. Why not make them doing something you enjoy? Then, the learning is fun, and is “on purpose” in your life.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Ryan,
I’m actually in my 2nd career and 3rd job out of college (I’m 27) and couldn’t disagree with you more.
I’ve had 2 managers I literally saw twice per year and one who I have absolutely no respect for because (despite her holding an MBA) has no knowledge of how the real world works when it comes to business.
Transition to the real world was nonexistant to me because in college (even though I had no job) I was doing all the things responsible adults do. The only difference now is I don’t have homework at night and can actually relax.
I sit at my computer all day and do nothing because my boss has hamstringed the employees by not letting them do their job. We’re in a proactive role and have been reduced to a reactive role. All people in my department (small company, so this only applies to a few people), despite experience or degree, make the same amount of money after a recent reorganization of the pay structure.
We have little micromanagement reports that are due weekly that says what we’ve done. We sit around a table and say what we’ve done. No input. No feedback. Just an, “I just really think we should kick butt this week.”
Turnover is extremely high and everyone in one department (3/3) and almost everyone in another (3/5) are actively looking for new employment. Yet the company does pretty good work and has been around for 20 years. The only people who seem to really enjoy the job are the ones who get paid way more than the rest of us and are illegals who get paid a decent wage–even the owner seems miserable.
So that tells me 1) I hate my job for the right reason 2) A remotely decent manager is hard to come by.
I would love to be the owner of the company–because I know I could do a better job. And that’s not overconfidence–that’s because a monkey could do a better job. And not one of those Shakesperian monkies that types Hamlet on a typewriter. I’m talking a full-on poo-flinging monkey.
Thanks for letting me get that out, it’s been eating me up inside…
Susan,
I agree with you 100 percent. And if you’re really doing something because you have a passion for doing it, then more power to you.
However I do believe that young people like myself make rash decisions before we even realize where our true frustrations lie. And sometimes, those rash decisions make things even worse.
Sure, we’ll all end up okay in the end, and we will learn from our mistakes, but I’ve always been one to try to avoid mistakes to begin with, even though some our inevitable.
Thanks for commenting.
Anony Miss,
First off, I understand your anonymity because it truly does sound like you hate your job. And I don’t think leaving would be a mistake.
Your company sounds like it’s in shambles. I can’t imagine that it’s a place that anyone in their right mind would want to be.
Good luck finding something new and thanks for the last paragraph of your comment (poo-flinging monkey). It made me laugh out loud.
-RP
Ryan,
Thanks. I appreciate it. Unfortunately my company has an amazing vibe that really resonates with people when they first walk in the door. Most people fall for the facade–myself included.
All of my coworkers feel the same way: I love what I do, I love the customers that I do it for, I love who I do it with, I just can’t love who I work for.
I’ve got an interview Monday after work, and I had an informal interview a few weeks ago where I got along really well with the interviewer and asked great questions but was told to “talk to my boss, get some measurable goals, and come back in 6th months with results.” So now the fact that I’ve got a horrible job is keeping me from getting a better one.
I’m sure many who read my comments will think I’m the problem, but I just want a new chance at a decent company.
Oh and glad you liked the poo-flinging monkey comment.
Just in case anyone’s hanging off the edge of their seat on this one (the interview I had on Monday after work):
I got the job!
It’s with a company that’s consistantly on the Most Admired Companies list and other similar lists.
It’s not shouting it from a mountian top, but it feels just about as good!
Hey! Congrats!