Let me start off by saying that, Yes, I am lucky to have a 9 to 5, weekend-off job that pays well and has good benefits, especially in the current economy.
That being said, I hate my job. It’s tedious and un-important. There are so many rules and regulations governing what I can and cannot do, that I essentially operate in a box of limitations. It makes for one boring, bull-shit job that makes absolutely no difference to anyone. I’m not rewarded for using my brain, trying to be innovative, or introducing new methods to stream-line processes or improve organization.
All of this might be bearable if I wasn’t surrounded by lazy, self-important drones who do the minimum of what is required of them and pass all shit tasks on to me simply because I’m the youngest.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I work for a government department. I will completely argee with people who say that MANY government employees are lazy and have it good. I have it good. But I HATE IT! I’m not an idiot, I’m not going to leave. I need to pay my bills. All I want is for some mental stimulation, some challenging tasks, and for everyone to stop using catch-phrases like ‘support structure’, ‘transition period’ and ‘integrated approach’.
—Just Another Government Lackey
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2009.
You said “I’m not an idiot, I’m not going to leave.”
Yes you are an idiot. Plain and simple.
Quitting his job while he has bills to pay would make him an idiot, idiot.
OB, since you’re not willing to take on the risks of quitting and finding a job you love then find something you are passionate about to do on the side if you havn’t already. Find something that fills what your job is lacking. And none of that “I have no time” bullshit, if it’s going to keep you from going batshit one day it’s worth making time for.
Your good job enables you to do what you enjoy when you are not working.
As well, it gives you the luxury of taking your time to find the perfect job while you take it easy and get paid at this one.
Not every government department is the way you described. I had very positive experiences working with the provincial government. My colleagues were hard working and passionate about their jobs. You can stay within government, retain your seniority and benefits and find another job in another department that will be more challenging and enjoyable. Good luck OP, life is too short to spend 8 hours a day doing something you hate.
It’s perfectly normal to hate your job, even if it has good pay or benefits – it’s your brain’s way of getting you to excel to your fullest potential. I personally have the impression most gov’t workers have it pretty easy – apart from the military of course whom I don’t envy in the slightest.
Been there, done that before bolting to the private sector. I never had problems with the employees – it was the fucking brain-dead managers who bring anal retentiveness to an art form that honked me off.
I don’t work for the government, I frequently work with people that do. I totally sympathize – most of the gov’t meetings I have to attend make me want to pound nails into my forehead. At one of them today, a bunch of folks spent about five minutes arguing about the best way to document a process for closing minutes action items, and opening new ones…and then spent a few more minutes arguing about who owned the action item related to documenting that process. Finally a brave manager agreed to take ownership, with a promise to delegate the actual work to someone and report back.
It was pretty surreal.
It’s not just government work that can be bureaucratic and lifeless, trust me. It does have a higher likelihood though. Just go to school for a trade or something, you might like it.
I got nothing.
some people live to work while others work to live…sometimes we can’t have our pick which that will be
“You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.” ~ Dr. Suess
OP, I sympathize, having spent many years with the province, and now in a new job where I still have to deal with the bureaucracy at times. In terms of challenging work, the feds are the worst in my experience, followed by the province and then local government, though HRM rivals the feds for having a huge, lifeless and unresponsive bureaucracy.
All I can advise (other than “get out” — easier than it sounds I know) is to try and find a niche outside of the main bureaucracy. It can be a special project, a partnership with the private sector on something, a secondment, anything that is different and outside the mainstream of government operations. Do a few of those over time and you will become much more rounded and marketable, and find it far more satisfying. I can only speak in regard to the province when I say that their recent influx of MPA grads has had the same, if not worse, effect on management there as does the influx of MBA types into a business. It becomes all about the planning and measuring (i.e. process) and less about the result (i.e. doing). And, of course, those MxA types always ensure that they make themselves look as good as possible regardless of what actually happened, and usually don’t care about the people who have to deal with the damage they caused.
Start working the bare minimum too 9 to 5, and pursue a hobby that you are passionate about that you can think about even while at work. Don’t do anything for anyone unless they force you into some sort of ultimatum situation. If you like a sport – go play or do it everyday, if you like art or working with your hands take a course that starts at 5 or 6 so you force yourself out of the workplace on time. My understanding is that once you are a permanent government employee it’s almost like getting tenure as a prof – so treat it how tenured profs treat their jobs. Don’t do any real work and pursue hobbies you are passionate about. Who knows – perhaps a hobby could become your new career?
I spent a year in the government, OP, and decided that was enough for me…I’ll do it for a few more years if I have to because yeah it pays wonderfully and I’m up to my ass in studen debt, but the toll it does take on your mental health isn’t worth it long term — have you met many “lifers” in the government that were happy human beings? Or were most of them snarky and….kinda bat shit? I’m sure they didn’t start out that way.
You, OP, have basically summed up my opinion on why I can’t make a “career” out of the government…it’s like I could’ve written this bitch myself.
I rank this pretty low. So you’re paid well, but you feel as if intelligently you’re dying inside at your job? Wow. So where does this place people in soul sucking jobs that pay them squat? Are they ahead of you in the queue to complain or does your position, education, the fact you work for the government trump their grips? Not happy? Do something real about it. Change. You have means of exposure and opportunity at your hands. Reevaluate your environment, job, lifestyle, get a stimulating hobby.
At least you have a fucking job! Stupid economy… or stupid me?
I too worked for government once so I can understand where you’re coming from and how tedious, mundane, petty, and just plaing boring it can be. However, looking back now, at least I had a job then which is better than what I’m doing now, which is nothing, unless posting on the Coast counts as something.
I’m not collecting any government benefits by the way as I’m living on my own savings.
If you don’t like it, I know people who would line up for a government 9-5 job in this economy