Toughing out a hated job for 2 months...

December 10, 2005 11:09 AM

HatedJobFilter: How do you deal with toughing out a job you hate for a couple of months?

I work as an associate in an office and I hate everything about working here. As the company has been going through a lot of changes there has been little supervision, no interesting projects, and some people have become a little manipulative.

I have applied for a transfer but how do I tough out the next couple of months and maintain good relations with co-workers for future references?

posted by toftflin to work & money (18 comments total)

keep your head down. be pleasent. get stuff done.

Just dont be a jerk really. focus on the money and the fact that you'll be outta there soon.
posted by lemonfridge at 11:19 AM on December 10, 2005

I don't know how to describe it, but I'm able to put my mind in a state that is aware of the external suck, but it isn't affected by it. Then, I just carry on doing my business to the best of my ability.

If nothing is inherently interesting about your current projects, try experimenting with organizational or productivity enhancement techniques.

Maybe you could find out if Getting Things Done applies to you, or if it's just hype. There's been lots of mention of a method where you get a timer so you work for ten minutes, and then do not work for two minutes. Now would be a great time to find out if that works for you.

I don't know what field you work in, but there are probably a bunch of field-specific examples of the same sorts of thing.

For me, these types of things help pass negative times far more than money.
posted by I Love Tacos at 11:25 AM on December 10, 2005

Whatever you do, don't burn bridges. It truly is a small world out there and there's a good chance you will have to work with some of these same people again. Seriously.

Be pleasant, stick to yourself. Don't get caught up in politics.
posted by 6:1 at 11:27 AM on December 10, 2005

what everyone else said - i'm currently in a similar situation (was let go, but it was ultimately a question of whether who quits first; have till end of the year at the company), and while I don't like some people there, it's best to just hunker down, do your work so as nobody could accuse you from not doing stuff, and be patient.
posted by slater at 11:29 AM on December 10, 2005

Been there. Bad situation. The most significant help I had was a friend who was willing to listen to a good bitch on a regular basis. We had a deal - I would buy the drinks and try to be as amusing as possible while I spewed the bile. This meant that I was also able to distance myself from the workplace a bit as while I was there going through it I was asking how it would become a good story.
posted by anglophiliated at 11:32 AM on December 10, 2005

It's only a couple of months and there's a firm (?) end-date. Suck it up, stay pleasant, and when jerks get under your skin just remind yourself "only xx more days of this bs and I'm out".

Good luck.
posted by PurplePorpoise at 11:32 AM on December 10, 2005

If you can afford it, schedule a couple of massage appointments. Bad work situations can have a lot of negative effects on your body. Be extra good to yourself.
posted by letitrain at 11:54 AM on December 10, 2005

distance is right--stop being emotionally invested in things there--don't gossip, always take lunch outside and not with people from the dept, etc--but don't be mean about it.
posted by amberglow at 12:37 PM on December 10, 2005

What everyone else said about being polite and doing your work. Basically, to use a lame sports metaphor, you're ahead now and just have to run out the clock without making any big mistakes. 2 other possible suggestions.:

1. Contact the people at the place you're moving to, and start preparing for a soft landing there. Email them any questions you have. If they're nearby, go out to lunch with some future co-workers to talk about it. Etc. Basically, try to replace your dread of your current job with excitement at your future one. And maybe they'll work to fast-track your transfer if they know you're really interested.
2. Put a beer (or yoohoo or Stewart's™ Cream Soda) in your fridge for each day that remains at your current job, and drink one after each day. It's nice to have a concrete physical reminder that there's a limited time there.

posted by boaz at 1:50 PM on December 10, 2005

When forced to take a job I dislike I spend every cent I can on gifts for myself. The joy of new toys really helps me get through the day.
posted by oddman at 3:57 PM on December 10, 2005

People work at jobs they hate for their entire lives, a couple months isn't a big deal. Just keep telling yourself that.
posted by my sock puppet account at 4:13 PM on December 10, 2005

Bring in candy or do simple, random, nice things to lighten up the atmosphere and make people (and yourself) a little happier. Not (specifically) so they'll be better references when the time comes, but because sometimes a little cheer and camaraderie makes sucky jobs a bit less unpleasant.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:03 PM on December 10, 2005

Cheesy as this sounds, when I've been really eager to get out of a job, I've blocked out the time on a calendar at home - X out all the weekends, any holidays or vacations, so you are just looking at that finite number of boxes, and every morning check off another one. Watching my remaining time visually grow smaller kept me on an even keel.

Getting out of a crummy job often makes you feel like you just wasted a bunch of time. My last job was not so bad, but I was eager to get out, but I decided to instead of slacking my way out, to take the high road and go the extra mile. I worked a little harder to have things set up well for the person coming in after me, and to make the transition easier for my coworkers. At the end I felt better, everything was very pleasant and smooth, and I'm confident of a good reference if I need one later. It also kept my mind occupied and made the time go faster.

Hang tough; it will be over before you know it, and you'll never regret taking the high road.
posted by nanojath at 9:22 PM on December 10, 2005

Do you have internet access? Can you spend your time taking free online courses that were related to your career?
posted by snickerdoodle at 12:17 AM on December 11, 2005

Even in a terrible job, you can do something satisfying. Instead of hunkering down and enduring the awfulness, think about getting the best out of yourself and helping your colleagues do better.

Be a source of information -- the one people call when they can't think of a solution, because they know that you know where to look, or exactly whom to get in touch with.

Be a facilitator -- the one who finds the way around obstacles.

Be a shoulder to cry on.

Each of these will be useful -- even essential -- in your new job. They can't be learned overnight. Start now, and make your mistakes in a job you'll be leaving.
posted by KRS at 8:31 AM on December 11, 2005

Hell, it's only two months for God's sake. Just zone out, do the bare minimum, enjoy yourself in the evenings and enjoy the fact that you already have a light at the end of this very short tunnel. Two months is nothing. Try being stuck in a job you hate for years.
posted by Decani at 11:49 AM on December 11, 2005

A. You have to know why you're doing this. If it's a means to an end you care about, focus on that. It is what it is. It's not your entire life and lot and worth.

B. Have something else that you *do* love queued up to do next, and focus on getting to that.

I find that once people stop focusing on a hated job as their primary reason for being on this planet, they are able to get through it much more easily. If it's just a job it's no big deal. If you are a person who considers your career an important part of who you are and what you're doing with your life, a shitty job can really get to you. Be sure you have at least a *direction* to something better, and you will have an easier time in the short term dealing with something sub-optimal.

Good luck. And remember that no matter what, you don't want to flameout and leave in shame. There's no excuse for that. Keep your head up. Be courteous. Do your job. It's the only honorable way to be.
posted by scarabic at 2:26 PM on December 11, 2005

Caveat: When this happened to me, it was a rotten summer job (9 to 5, but I knew exactly when I left at the end of the season). YMMV with a real job.

If it's people you don't like, make fun of them. Viciously. But -- here's the tricky part -- privately. The best way to do it is in some kind of offline document on your home computer. Or set up a blog somewhere and don't pimp it at all, and (obviously) don't include any identifying details, and don't go to it at work. This way, you get out all your anger, and if you try to make it all as scathingly funny as possible, you have some good routines ("So-and-so looks like a bug!") rather than rants ("And then so-and-so, this huge asshole, for the fifth time that day...").

Can you afford to get yourself a treat? My awful experience was my first proper job, and to reward myself with putting up with their shit all summer, I bought myself a permanent LJ account. It worked for me, although you might like something better or more useful -- an exercise machine, something for your house/apartment -- anything you can really enjoy and will look forward to.

Speaking of anticipating, do you know the exact date you're leaving? How about a nice calendar you can make big red Xs across? This should, obviously, not be kept at your work -- but how about the entrance to your home, where you can X off the day the moment you stagger in exhausted?

There really isn't a way to fix boring tasks and mean coworkers. You just have to find ways to make the rest of your life bearable while you're waiting to get out. It sucks, but tough it out for the few months you have left; these are just tips to make toughing it out a bit easier.
posted by booksandlibretti at 4:46 PM on December 11, 2005