Running on empty: a saga of terrible jobs.

As I begin the last week of yet another terrible job, I think to myself: is there such a thing as a good job? Where are they and how do I get one?

According to job/career happiness studies in 2015, there are many different positions that people find enjoyable and fulfilling. Often included on these lists are: teacher, school principal, gardener, engineer, and executive chef. I’m sorry, but no thanks to any of these.

I’ve had jobs that have stripped me of myself, made me question who I am, made me meek and second guess myself, exhausted me so much that I have lost my intelligence and control over my emotions. And what has this all been for?

Here is my saga of terrible jobs; these jobs are in order of holding them, though there were a few non-crappy ones in between.

1. Starbucks
   Starbucks might not be the worst place ever, but the location I worked in was close to a safe shoot-up site. When I refused to take the garbage out after finding needles in it, I was unpleasantly nicknamed “Princess” and ridiculed constantly by my coworkers. I told them that AIDS was too high a risk for minimum wage.
2. Salaried Server
   I thought, wow, this is great, a contracted guarantee of 40 hours per week and paid vacation! Reality: yes it was a 40 hour week contract, but actual working hours were closer to 50-60 per week at all hours of the day yet we were paid for 40. Another deal breaker was all of our tips went to management.
3. Café Server
   After job #2 on this list, I was under the impression that ANY job would be an improvement. I was right for about three months until I felt the familiar sting of minimum wage in a large, expensive city, the pressure from management to do more work with less staff without any direct support from them. The clientele at this particular place was also a joy; while string at my chest, one man ordered a “Breast-fast Basket” from me rather than a Breakfast basket. Just lovely. This job is where I experienced my first and second anxiety attacks.
4. Theatre Bartender
   My co-workers and immediate supervisor at this job were fucking superstars, but we put up with long hours, perpetual lack of staff, lack of supplies, and a lack of food to serve. To top it off we had a totally absent manager; the sexual harassment allegations levied against him were never properly investigated. Also the tips were awful.
5. General/Ridiculous Office Job
   I was excited to finally have a job where I was sitting down, making more than minimum wage. Besides the discovery that I am NOT a cubicle person, I logged some of the longest shifts of my life here on a regular basis. Exhausting.

So how do you break away from the poor pay, long hours, unappreciative or absent managers, mandatory volunteer hours, and responsibilities well above your pay scale? I guess the short answer is be a shitty employee – but if you’re like me, then it’s hard to justify getting paid for doing a crappy job (or not working at all as some people enjoy). As an educated, hardworking and fairly competent person, I ask myself this question on a daily basis. I must admit that I am afflicted with the millennial condition of thinking I’m special and therefore deserve to be recognized as such. And, I’m sorry to do this for a second but, why not? I busted my ass in school and university, and I’ve been living in self-imposed poverty for three years trying to pay back my loans.

As a non-parent with no desire as of yet to buy a house or have real responsibilities, I have made the decision that my happiness is much more important than a paycheque. It saddens me that many people don’t have the option to pick the path of workplace happiness.

Check out my previous posts to find out how travel IS POSSIBLE for YOU!
Long Term Travel: ABSOLUTELY IN YOUR REACH
(https://steemit.com/travel/@alana.lori/long-term-travel-absolutely-in-your-reach)
How to: Travel AND Work!
(https://steemit.com/travel/@alana.lori/how-to-travel-and-work)

This post originally written for TheFeminismProject.com