First Real Job [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

led37zep

10-01-2009, 06:04 AM

I've been freelance my entire post college life. Going from gig to gig as a hired gun for 7 years with no idea when or where my next job was coming from. (April 08 to April 09 I was on 52 flights, that should give you some hint about the unconventional nature of my job) I think the longest time I've ever spent going to one office was 6 weeks.

I've been offered a real Grown Up job here in the lovely city of New York which I accepted yesterday. So at the age of 31 I will have my first "real job".

Having never dealt with office politics, routine or a schedule I'm looking for some advice or tips.

So whats the best advice you have to help me make this transition into the real world?

Drunky McBetidont

10-01-2009, 06:09 AM

I've been freelance my entire post college life. Going from gig to gig as a hired gun for 7 years with no idea when or where my next job was coming from. (April 08 to April 09 I was on 52 flights, that should give you some hint about the unconventional nature of my job) I think the longest time I've ever spent going to one office was 6 weeks.

I've been offered a real Grown Up job here in the lovely city of New York which I accepted yesterday. So at the age of 31 I will have my first "real job".

Having never dealt with office politics, routine or a schedule I'm looking for some advice or tips.

So whats the best advice you have to help me make this transition into the real world?

over dress and smile at everyone all the time.

RhinoinMN

10-01-2009, 06:09 AM

Congratulations!

I have nothing to offer. My office workplace is the most unorthodox thing you could imagine

I drink beer, look at porn, and post on message boards. I'm am the worst person to ask for advice.

Chigworthy

10-01-2009, 06:11 AM

One super important piece of advice:

Don't work in an office. Quit immediately.

Jughead

10-01-2009, 06:16 AM

led37zep

10-01-2009, 06:18 AM

biggestmexi

10-01-2009, 06:26 AM

keep to your self.

use whatever you can to make yourself go higher.

dont make friends. they are all back stabbers.

Gossip is normal.

Dont talk to anyone other than who you report to. (kiss his ass too)

Freitag

10-01-2009, 06:29 AM

Office politics and drama vary from job to job.

I'd recommend the following -

1) Don't offer up too much about your personal life when you're first there.

2) If you find a co-worker attractive, keep it to yourself.

3) Don't get involved in the drama, and if someone brings drama to you, just smile, nod, and keep your head down.

4) The person who could smile at you could be reporting you to HR. So don't get too comfortable with co-workers until you have a really firm grasp on what they are about.

led37zep

10-01-2009, 06:31 AM

Office politics and drama vary from job to job.

I'd recommend the following -

1) Don't offer up too much about your personal life when you're first there.

2) If you find a co-worker attractive, keep it to yourself.

3) Don't get involved in the drama, and if someone brings drama to you, just smile, nod, and keep your head down.

4) The person who could smile at you could be reporting you to HR. So don't get too comfortable with co-workers until you have a really firm grasp on what they are about.

I should take this moment to mention I work with ALL women. Your advice is probably more true than you realize.

Freitag

10-01-2009, 06:31 AM

keep to your self.

use whatever you can to make yourself go higher.

dont make friends. they are all back stabbers.

Gossip is normal.

Dont talk to anyone other than who you report to. (kiss his ass too)

I bolded this - this is a very important point. I've been yelled at because I don't go to happy hours nor socialize that much with co-workers. I told my boss that I already spend 8 hours a day with people - I don't need to spend more time than that when I have a wife and a 46" HDTV at home.

But definitely keep to yourself. That's huge.

Freitag

10-01-2009, 06:32 AM

I should take this moment to mention I work with ALL women. Your advice is probably more true than you realize.

I also work with a large majority of women, so I'm very familiar.

angrymissy

10-01-2009, 06:54 AM

I am super nice to everyone and never complain.

This makes it nearly impossible for people to be nasty to me.

It also increases the impact when I actually do complain or get snippy. The last time I got snippy with someone asking me to do a project that I did not have time for and was not from someone I report to, I ended up with a $250 gift certificate because they felt so bad.

debit

10-01-2009, 06:57 AM

- Be fair to everyone.
- When you make an office enemy, occasionally do something really nice for him / her. It confuses the shit out of them.
- Women tend to make work very dramatic with petty disputes. Don't try to get involved or 'fix' things.
- Don't use company email for personal use, ever. I have had this backfire on me.
- Don't use company internet for personal use until you know what is considered acceptable.
- Don't comment on how hot the women look or dress. Just jerk off at home. If someone else comments, just nod.

Farmer Dave

10-01-2009, 04:06 PM

If one of them coughs, give them a shot of penicillin.

If a bunch are coughing, medicated the water.

Remove the dead in a timely manner.

Humanely dispatch of runts or the lame that wont make it to market.

Make sure building ventilation is appropriate for the size of pig.

This is how I manage my hog herd. How much different could that office be?

jauble

10-01-2009, 04:32 PM

don`t kill the coffee

GregoryJoseph

10-01-2009, 04:43 PM

Be yourself.

Don't go into ANYTHING in life with a "gameplan" and putting on an act.

They hired YOU, not an actor.

epo

10-01-2009, 04:49 PM

See that person with the Stephen Covey book in their office?

They are not to be trusted.

Hottub

10-01-2009, 05:25 PM

Find out who's in charge of IT and befriend them. Streaming the show sucks up bandwidth.

When posting, always use tabs. Keep .net in one and an industry journal site in another.
It also helps to keep a spreadsheet or something minimized so you can pop it up real quick.

If you don't have your own office, see if earbuds are an option. (Ronnie's F-bombs tend to turn heads)

If it says NSFW, don't open it.

If a chick wants to blow you, take it out of the office.

Kevin

10-01-2009, 05:39 PM

Congratulations!

I have nothing to offer. My office workplace is the most unorthodox thing you could imagine

I drink beer, look at porn, and post on message boards. I'm am the worst person to ask for advice.

You work from home?

Contra

10-01-2009, 05:42 PM

I've been freelance my entire post college life. Going from gig to gig as a hired gun for 7 years with no idea when or where my next job was coming from. (April 08 to April 09 I was on 52 flights, that should give you some hint about the unconventional nature of my job) I think the longest time I've ever spent going to one office was 6 weeks.

I've been offered a real Grown Up job here in the lovely city of New York which I accepted yesterday. So at the age of 31 I will have my first "real job".

Having never dealt with office politics, routine or a schedule I'm looking for some advice or tips.

So whats the best advice you have to help me make this transition into the real world?

You can act like a man!

spoon

10-01-2009, 05:46 PM

See that person with the Stephen Covey book in their office?

They are not to be trusted.

Hey, first things first....DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYTHING TENBATS OR MEXI wrote. Jesus Christ are you two just insane or that messed up?

spoon

10-01-2009, 05:46 PM

keep to your self.

use whatever you can to make yourself go higher.

dont make friends. they are all back stabbers.

Gossip is normal.

Dont talk to anyone other than who you report to. (kiss his ass too)

Office politics and drama vary from job to job.

I'd recommend the following -

1) Don't offer up too much about your personal life when you're first there.

2) If you find a co-worker attractive, keep it to yourself.

3) Don't get involved in the drama, and if someone brings drama to you, just smile, nod, and keep your head down.

4) The person who could smile at you could be reporting you to HR. So don't get too comfortable with co-workers until you have a really firm grasp on what they are about.

Really? Jesus Christ.

spoon

10-01-2009, 05:48 PM

Be yourself.

Don't go into ANYTHING in life with a "gameplan" and putting on an act.

They hired YOU, not an actor.

Finally, some real advice. I was going to say be the guy who was in and out of gigs here just the same. To be able to fit into constantly changing environments surely shows you have skill here, don't stress over it. If anything, use this thread mainly as a what NOT to do.

biggestmexi

10-01-2009, 05:55 PM

Really? Jesus Christ.

fuck everyone.

this is my job to make my life better(money), not theirs.

If they offer me nothing in return there is no point to make "like" with them.

If they can do things for me then i use them (aka befriend)

Tenbatsuzen

10-01-2009, 06:16 PM

Hey, first things first....DO NOT LISTEN TO ANYTHING TENBATS OR MEXI wrote. Jesus Christ are you two just insane or that messed up?

Really? Jesus Christ.

Enlighten me. What exactly is wrong with keeping your head down and not getting involved in the drama?

I went from working in a high testosterone environment to a high estrogen environment. The working situation is insanely different, and 90 percent of the shit I got away with in the old job wouldn't fly at all where I was now.

And secondly, Gvac doesn't work in an office environment nor does he work with a lot of women, so his experience doesn't apply as much, ESPECIALLY since his job is sales, the very definition of putting on an act.

sailor

10-01-2009, 07:05 PM

(April 08 to April 09 I was on 52 flights, that should give you some hint about the unconventional nature of my job)

coke mule?

led37zep

10-01-2009, 07:24 PM

coke mule?

The real money is in Heroin.

Fez4PrezN2008

10-01-2009, 07:55 PM

Be yourself.

Don't go into ANYTHING in life with a "gameplan" and putting on an act.

They hired YOU, not an actor.
Gvac, I gotta call Bravo Sierra on this ^^^^

You cannot be "you" at work, or at least the same you as in your living room or playing basket ball with the guys etc... They want the perception, not the reality.

My advice is trust no one but yourself, and don't think for a minute there is any loyalty. Sorry, that's the cold hard truth (bomb).

TripleSkeet

10-01-2009, 08:59 PM

Your going from freelance work where you were your own boss to the corporate lifestyle and working in an office? Good luck. I give you 6 months before you quit.

biggirl

10-01-2009, 09:23 PM

I worked in an office for a corporation for 5 years before having kids. It really depends who you are working for. I loved this place. Everyone was very nice and accommodating. I learned to be friends with everyone, higher ups and also the factory workers. I never gossiped. I took the breaks I was allowed and did all of my personal matters at those times, otherwise I did my work.

All of my bosses were men. I worked with a few women in accounting that could be bitchy. I just would make a joke and then they laughed.

My advice is do your work, be nice, join in once in awhile after hours. Trust me, my old coworkers still miss me! Haha!

Oh, and since you are working with mostly women, learn their monthly schedules so you can have chocolate around at the right times. :wink:

GregoryJoseph

10-02-2009, 02:05 AM

And secondly, Gvac doesn't work in an office environment nor does he work with a lot of women, so his experience doesn't apply as much, ESPECIALLY since his job is sales, the very definition of putting on an act.

You couldn't be more hopelessly wrong.

GregoryJoseph

10-02-2009, 02:08 AM

Gvac, I gotta call Bravo Sierra on this ^^^^

You cannot be "you" at work, or at least the same you as in your living room or playing basket ball with the guys etc... They want the perception, not the reality.

Do you mean not cursing and speaking vulgarly?

Of course you can't do that in an office setting like you could hanging out playing sports with your friends. But to basically be the exact same person, not putting on airs, is not only possible, it's the only way.

For example, if I was hanging with friends I might say "That's bullshit. You're a fucking liar."

In the office I would say "You're not being honest."

I'm still calling out the liar, whether it's the janitor, the head of Accounting, or the owner.

That's what I'm saying.

biggestmexi

10-02-2009, 03:37 AM

My advice is trust no one but yourself, and don't think for a minute there is any loyalty. Sorry, that's the cold hard truth (bomb).

true and true.

They hired the persona you put on in the interview. Your always the "go-getter" in the interview. Your always "yes,sir", "sure thing" in the interview.

Be that person that you got the job with.

Just be that person to your boss and your self.

CountryBob

10-02-2009, 04:30 AM

Take a long time to observe your new co-workers habits, personalities etc... Especially your boss. I live by the rule of trying your best not to divulge your personal life with your co-workers. If they knew how I acted outside of work - they would cut me quick. I like to drink...alot. I do not do Facebook - but the other day I had a woman that works down the hall come to me saying she saw me on Facebook at a party playing guitar and completely wasted. Multiple times in pics when I was really fucked up. Sucks now - my cover has been blown

sailor

10-02-2009, 04:47 AM

i can't imagine not being friendly with co-workers. what a sad life.

biggestmexi

10-02-2009, 04:51 AM

i can't imagine not being friendly with co-workers. what a sad life.

if your life revolves that closely to your work "friends", that's a sad life.

sailor

10-02-2009, 04:54 AM

if your life revolves that closely to your work "friends", that's a sad life.

you're there a third of your day. it's moronic not to be sociable. hell, even if you're saying to use people to get ahead, being friendly with them (never said friends) is the way to do it.

biggestmexi

10-02-2009, 05:00 AM

If they can do things for me then i use them (aka befriend)
^^^^^
you're there a third of your day. it's moronic not to be sociable. hell, even if you're saying to use people to get ahead, being friendly with them (never said friends) is the way to do it.

I try not to be sociable. If some one talks with me all respond. I rarely engage anyone other than my boss in conversations.(for the most part)

I also forgot to mention i with union guys

Freitag

10-02-2009, 06:37 AM

You couldn't be more hopelessly wrong.

About sales being an act or you not working in an office or with women?

For point 1, that's my opinion. I work with sales people too, and if you don't think sales is putting on an act, or similar, you're deluding yourself.

As for you working in an office or with women, you constantly talk about being on routes and dealing with auto parts managers. So I figured you don't work primarily in an office and you deal mainly with men as auto parts is traditionally a male-dominated industry.

JohnCharles

10-02-2009, 06:40 AM

Good luck!

I'm sure that at some point I will be able to post something relevant in this thread.

However, I need to stop going to and back to school first.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 06:43 AM

i can't imagine not being friendly with co-workers. what a sad life.

I didn't say "not be friendly" - I'm very friendly with my co-workers. But it's basically small talk. Talk about the game, current events, etc. I just don't intend to spend any extra time with them, especially since as you said - you spend a third of your time there. I already give the job enough of my time... why should I spend it more with people off the clock?

I don't want to hear people complain about their jobs, because that only leads to problems. Adding alcohol to that mix makes it even worse.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 06:55 AM

As a clarifcation to my earlier comments - there's a difference between being friendly and sharing too much. That was my main point.

Good:

"Hey, did you see the Jets game? Yeah, Sanchez was great."

Bad:

"Hey, did you see the Jets game? Yeah, Sanchez was great. But I didn't cover the over/under. I'm so screwed, my bookie's gonna kill me."

Or:

Complaining about other co-workers in earshot of other co-workers, talking about personal finances, etc. etc. All bad things.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 06:58 AM

Do you mean not cursing and speaking vulgarly?

Of course you can't do that in an office setting like you could hanging out playing sports with your friends. But to basically be the exact same person, not putting on airs, is not only possible, it's the only way.

For example, if I was hanging with friends I might say "That's bullshit. You're a fucking liar."

In the office I would say "You're not being honest."

I'm still calling out the liar, whether it's the janitor, the head of Accounting, or the owner.

That's what I'm saying.

Uh-huh. But you're still calling out, which can be construed as creating a hostile work environment and having a fun little trip down to HR.

More often than not, saying someone is "not honest" would immediately create the response "Are you calling me a liar?" and immediately elevating the situation.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 07:13 AM

Back on topic:

Another piece of advice I can give, especially since you were freelancing out of college, is start contributing to your 401k. If your employer has a match, that's good too, but you have to start contributing.

A lot of people are wary about saving for retirement because they think it will be affected by how the Dow flucuates, which isn't entirely true. I know of several people who protected their retirement savings with bonds and money market when the market dumped last year.

led37zep

10-02-2009, 09:16 AM

Back on topic:

Another piece of advice I can give, especially since you were freelancing out of college, is start contributing to your 401k. If your employer has a match, that's good too, but you have to start contributing.

A lot of people are wary about saving for retirement because they think it will be affected by how the Dow flucuates, which isn't entirely true. I know of several people who protected their retirement savings with bonds and money market when the market dumped last year.

Ya, this is the first thing my wife and I talked about. We've worked out how much we're going to put away (and there is a match from the company). I'm going to be cautiously aggressive with this since I'm about 10 years behind most people.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 10:53 AM

Ya, this is the first thing my wife and I talked about. We've worked out how much we're going to put away (and there is a match from the company). I'm going to be cautiously aggressive with this since I'm about 10 years behind most people.

I would recommend a Roth IRA to catch up too. Also look into lifecycle funds.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 11:24 AM

Ya, this is the first thing my wife and I talked about. We've worked out how much we're going to put away (and there is a match from the company). I'm going to be cautiously aggressive with this since I'm about 10 years behind most people.

If it makes you feel better, at 31, you're not 10 years behind, more about 5. Also, with the market crapping out last year, you're in line with your contemporaries. I think a pre-tax and post-tax vehicle will help you.

Dude!

10-02-2009, 11:35 AM

don't ever let anyone bitch to you
about another person
politely turn them aside:
"I really don't feel comfortable talking about this;
How about those Yankees?"

if you get caught up in this
it will bite you in the ass

TripleSkeet

10-02-2009, 12:14 PM

Gvac, I gotta call Bravo Sierra on this ^^^^

You cannot be "you" at work, or at least the same you as in your living room or playing basket ball with the guys etc... They want the perception, not the reality.

My advice is trust no one but yourself, and don't think for a minute there is any loyalty. Sorry, that's the cold hard truth (bomb).

This is total truth. Its also why I could never work in a corporate office. Even working my part time gigs at corporate run bars makes me no friends because I just cant be a phony at work. And believe me that world youre entering is FILLED with them.

To me trying to fake my way through work 8 hours a day and kissing up to know nothing management was harder work then the job itself. I dont know how people do it day after day.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 12:51 PM

This is total truth. Its also why I could never work in a corporate office. Even working my part time gigs at corporate run bars makes me no friends because I just cant be a phony at work. And believe me that world youre entering is FILLED with them.

To me trying to fake my way through work 8 hours a day and kissing up to know nothing management was harder work then the job itself. I dont know how people do it day after day.

Well, slow down a bit.

There's a difference between "being a phony" and "keeping to yourself". I don't "fake through my work", nor do I kiss up. I do the job that is asked of me, and I do it the best way I can.

Is there politics? yes. Is there drama? Yes. I just advocated staying out of it, by being civil but not overly social.

GregoryJoseph

10-02-2009, 12:52 PM

About sales being an act or you not working in an office or with women?

For point 1, that's my opinion. I work with sales people too, and if you don't think sales is putting on an act, or similar, you're deluding yourself.

There are salesmen who do indeed put on an act.

I don't.

Never have, never will.

I've also never promised anything I can't deliver.

I don't sell the product (which they can buy from 3 other distributors in the state) I sell myself.

I've never played the game of buying gifts or lunches for clients or taking them to strip clubs and things like that. Plenty of other sales people do, but I refuse.

I merely give them the best service possible and they know I'm always a phone call away and will rectify any problem they ever have.

Freitag

10-02-2009, 12:53 PM

don't ever let anyone bitch to you
about another person
politely turn them aside:
"I really don't feel comfortable talking about this;
How about those Yankees?"

if you get caught up in this
it will bite you in the ass

I just nod and say "I know, I know. Sorry." and then change the subject

Freitag

10-02-2009, 01:00 PM

There are salesmen who do indeed put on an act.

I don't.

Never have, never will.

I've also never promised anything I can't deliver.

I don't sell the product (which they can buy from 3 other distributors in the state) I sell myself.

I've never played the game of buying gifts or lunches for clients or taking them to strip clubs and things like that. Plenty of other sales people do, but I refuse.

I merely give them the best service possible and they know I'm always a phone call away and will rectify any problem they ever have.

So if Matty's Auto Parts needed some brake pads, even though you didn't like the guy, would you still try to sell to him?

TripleSkeet

10-02-2009, 01:40 PM

Well, slow down a bit.

There's a difference between "being a phony" and "keeping to yourself". I don't "fake through my work", nor do I kiss up. I do the job that is asked of me, and I do it the best way I can.

Is there politics? yes. Is there drama? Yes. I just advocated staying out of it, by being civil but not overly social.

I wasnt referring to the "keep to yourself" comment. I was talking more about the fact that in corporate style workplaces "being yourself" is usually not a good idea unless yourself is a complete douchebag. Workplaces like that arent usually comfortable with free thinking. Management would rather hear how brilliant every idea they have is and how excited you are to get to work on their next project. Thats where it would usually hit the wall for me. Because I have this bad habit of answering questions honestly when Im asked them, rather then being able to tell someone what they want to hear.

Ive been places where all I wanted to do was do my job, make my money and go home. Alot of time that isnt enough for management.

Fez4PrezN2008

10-03-2009, 08:17 AM

There are salesmen who do indeed put on an act.

I don't.

Never have, never will.

I've also never promised anything I can't deliver.

I don't sell the product (which they can buy from 3 other distributors in the state) I sell myself.

I've never played the game of buying gifts or lunches for clients or taking them to strip clubs and things like that. Plenty of other sales people do, but I refuse.

I merely give them the best service possible and they know I'm always a phone call away and will rectify any problem they ever have.
There's the big difference in your situation and mine. I work in Finance and there's no real benefit from being very sociable, in fact probably more downside to it if anything. You on the other hand have to be social to get your job done. If I left, I could walk without a second thought and on the co. side, most people would forget my name 3 weeks after I was gone anyway. Maybe I should just be a hermit, but that doesn't pay too well.

So, going back to the OP, I guess you have to guage the proper level of being social with these gals that you are going to be working with, but I would say estimate that level you think is appropriate and then pull it back 20%. Less is more in this case. Impossible to be "friends" with females at work.

led37zep

10-04-2009, 06:33 PM

So to sum up the lessons I've learned in this thread its....

Be myself.

Don't be Myself.

Be social with co-workers, but not too social.

Buy Brakes from Matty even though Gvac hates him.

Jack off to chicks I work with at home.

Get a job with Rhino.

and

Don't talk about Mark Sanchez

Tomorrow should go great!

Thanks for the advice guys, I've been in offices before but never more than a few weeks. This should be an interesting little experiment but I'm stoked to finally be in the city full time.