What's the worst job you ever had?

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justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 31, 2013 10:44 AM
Automatik;1378302 wrote:Commercial debt collector, call center. It was so terrible.

I've been called every insult in the book....and then some.
But none of those names cut as deep as those from COA, amirite? :)
Jan 31, 2013 10:44am
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Jan 31, 2013 10:47 AM
hasbeen;1378281 wrote:Which Outback?
The one in crosspointe.
Jan 31, 2013 10:47am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 31, 2013 10:50 AM
justincredible;1378303 wrote:100 years old. And some of the runs were a quarter mile long.

And that makes it much worse. We never dug up 100 year old pipes, so I can only imagine what those looked like. We were constantly replacing 50 year old though.
Jan 31, 2013 10:50am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 31, 2013 10:53 AM
GoChiefs;1378315 wrote:And that makes it much worse. We never dug up 100 year old pipes, so I can only imagine what those looked like. We were constantly replacing 50 year old though.
They weren't in terrible shape. And one of the benefits of being underground is that they were extremely cool, temperature wise, which was awesome in the summer.
Jan 31, 2013 10:53am
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

Dirty White Boy

3,394 posts
Jan 31, 2013 10:57 AM
Automatik;1378302 wrote:Commercial debt collector, call center. It was so terrible.

I've been called every insult in the book....and then some.
I've done a few call center/customer service jobs and I can honestly say that I will never do collections, even for $1M an hour. People who do collections and enjoy it are fucked up individuals.

I had a dispatch job for an expedited freight company.....3rd shift (10 pm - 8 am) that I was at for a year. Technically it was a sales/customer service/dispatch job which meant that I had to deal with asshole truck drivers, wake customers up at 3 am and give them bad news, and on top of that try to meet sales goals (i.e. # of loads booked). It was a high stress environment that was only made worst by the constant infighting amongst employees. Awful memories of that place
Jan 31, 2013 10:57am
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:00 AM
Got a few:

Right after college I got temp job at this place in Berea called Safety Sign. It was a screen printing company for safety signs (GET IT? LULZ!). Work staff was terrible, boss was terrible. I got yelled at for using too many gloves when using Mineral Spirits (boss told me I need to learn how to use it without gloves......yeahhhhh FUUUUUUUUCK that). Next day brought in own gloves, that pissed him off royally. Last straw was he asked me to go cut some fiberglass signs for printing. I asked him if he had a "Hey go cut me some fiberglass signs mask, suit and training"? He started telling me to just go in there quickly and cut them fast and get out before the dust came up. I quit on the spot.

Worked for a XRay medical film company in the summer where on any given day I would sit for 8+ hours and do nothing but fold card board boxes the size of a pizza box which the film would go into. Talk about fucking boring, hands would cramp up and get dry as shit.

Worked as an Assembler right after I moved back from Florida before I was heading to the East Coast (needed save a few dollars). I was building bikes, grills, and furniture outside in Cleveland during the winter. Work schedule would flucuate but I was mostly working 2:30 to 11:30/midnight Thursday-Monday. Try and have a social life with that schedule. Worst was when they'd schedule me 2:30 to 11:30 on Sunday then turn around and give a 7 AM shift thinking they were doing me some big favor. It fucking sucked and made the move when I finally got the fuck out of Ohio all the sweeter.

My current job is up there as well. Horrible management, long hours, and have to work most weekends. I'm salaried exempt but after my second 70 hour week I told either start paying me for OT or I quit (Salaried).

/QQ
Jan 31, 2013 11:00am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:01 AM
Mohican00;1378334 wrote:I've done a few call center/customer service jobs and I can honestly say that I will never do collections, even for $1M an hour.
$1M could make me do a lot. Hell, I'd clean out Honey Boo Boo's mom's neck crust for $1M an hour
Jan 31, 2013 11:01am
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

Senior Member

14,632 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:01 AM
Mohican00;1378334 wrote:I've done a few call center/customer service jobs and I can honestly say that I will never do collections, even for $1M an hour. People who do collections and enjoy it are fucked up individuals.

I had a dispatch job for an expedited freight company.....3rd shift (10 pm - 8 am) that I was at for a year. Technically it was a sales/customer service/dispatch job which meant that I had to deal with asshole truck drivers, wake customers up at 3 am and give them bad news, and on top of that try to meet sales goals (i.e. # of loads booked). It was a high stress environment that was only made worst by the constant infighting amongst employees. Awful memories of that place
I was completely burnt out after 3-4 months. It made me mean and crazy. I found myself not even giving a shit if I got a payment because I knew it wasn't coming. Instead I would pass the time by keeping the caller on the phone and acting like a condescending asshole. It was mentally unhealthy.

The whole debt collecting structure is fucked in my experience. They lure you in w/ low goals and big bonuses. They increase your goals to an unobtainable level.
Jan 31, 2013 11:01am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:03 AM
justincredible;1378323 wrote:They weren't in terrible shape. And one of the benefits of being underground is that they were extremely cool, temperature wise, which was awesome in the summer.

Yep, that was one of the benefits of being a pipefitter on my crew. The holes were cool in the summer, but kept ya warm in the winter. I was on a main line replacement crew in Cincinnati and Middletown. Just went around digging up old plastic or steel mains and converting them to the new yellow pipe. Probably my favorite job. (Spin off thread idea Ernest!)
Jan 31, 2013 11:03am
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

Dirty White Boy

3,394 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:11 AM
gorocks99;1378344 wrote:$1M could make me do a lot. Hell, I'd clean out Honey Boo Boo's mom's neck crust for $1M an hour
heh, I'd clean neck crust for a million an hour, easy. Debt collection is a little more nasty than that

Automatik;1378346 wrote:I was completely burnt out after 3-4 months. It made me mean and crazy. I found myself not even giving a shit if I got a payment because I knew it wasn't coming. Instead I would pass the time by keeping the caller on the phone and acting like a condescending asshole. It was mentally unhealthy.

The whole debt collecting structure is fucked in my experience. They lure you in w/ low goals and big bonuses. They increase your goals to an unobtainable level.
Yeah, I've been on the good side of debt collectors (sending them after accounts in arrears) and still I can't imagine knowing someone IRL who does it for a living. Probably not a gem of a person to know.
Jan 31, 2013 11:11am
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:13 AM
Commander of Awesome;1378343 wrote:My current job is up there as well. Horrible management, long hours, and have to work most weekends. I'm salaried exempt but after my second 70 hour week I told either start paying me for OT or I quit (Salaried).

/QQ
I feel you there. Even if its an amazing job (great benefits, good pay, etc) horrible management can make your job shitty. The management in my current office sucks ass. Bunch of petty micromanagers. Shit is annoying. I can't complain though, because most of my other offices have been great, so I guess I will just roll with the punches here. I know if/when I am at the management level, I will NOT be like them.
Jan 31, 2013 11:13am
derek bomar's avatar

derek bomar

Senior Member

3,722 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:15 AM
I worked at a Rallys in Grove City when I was in high school. Just totally gross. People were disgusting, and I quit when my "boss" wouldn't let me drive 5 minutes to go pick my mom up (who had just given birth a few months prior to my little brother) so that she could use my car. She wound up walking a mile with bro in a stroller and showed up at my work. I told the boss he could suck my dick and to mail my last check.

Also, I was fat in high school, and the tight purple shirt was a fan favorite of my friends. Got called Barney a lot.
Jan 31, 2013 11:15am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:31 AM
Automatik;1378302 wrote:Commercial debt collector, call center. It was so terrible.

I've been called every insult in the book....and then some.
I did extended warranty renewals over the phone. Not the same, but call centers blow.
Jan 31, 2013 11:31am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 31, 2013 11:48 AM
Gblock;1378255 wrote:1991 summer job 19 years old working for columbia gas..painted a chain 7 ft high link fence about 1 square mile long w aluminum paint. with rollers at that. me on one side and my buddy on the other. 100 degrees and covered head to toe in aluminum paint everyday because the paint suit was too hot. when we finished that we dug ditches and such.

it was however at the time my highest paying job ever at like 11.88 an hour so i was pretty stoked and didnt complain and they gave us our own truck to drive around in
My freshman year in High School the football coach got me this job with the school system
I painted just like you did, chain link fence around school play ground ... every day in the summer
I was alone however ... Same here I dumped that suit, I put on alot of suntan lotion and was able with paint thinner wipe off the aluminum paint... at the end of the day.

When it rained I when to the gym when the coach where an help refinish basketball floors..

Note: That was one of my best summer with picking up girls .... at the play ground :D
Jan 31, 2013 11:48am
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jan 31, 2013 12:13 PM
Belly35;1378428 wrote:
Note: That was one of my best summer with picking up girls .... at the play ground :D
CCrunner's dad?
Jan 31, 2013 12:13pm
G

Gblock

Jan 31, 2013 12:19 PM
Belly35;1378428 wrote:My freshman year in High School the football coach got me this job with the school system
I painted just like you did, chain link fence around school play ground ... every day in the summer
I was alone however ... Same here I dumped that suit, I put on alot of suntan lotion and was able with paint thinner wipe off the aluminum paint... at the end of the day.

When it rained I when to the gym when the coach where an help refinish basketball floors..

Note: That was one of my best summer with picking up girls .... at the play ground :D
\
wish i would have thought of the suntan lotion idea...dang
Jan 31, 2013 12:19pm
imex99's avatar

imex99

Senior Member

4,927 posts
Jan 31, 2013 12:22 PM
Worked at anomatic in college during Christmas break.... Only worked there one Christmas break bc it sucked! Line assembly work, putting lipstick and flashlights on passing conveyor belts faster than you should be able to move your hands, stand in one spot all day putting these metal items in the conveyor to be painted on needle size sleeves. Job sucked and pay sucked.
Jan 31, 2013 12:22pm
S

Sonofanump

Jan 31, 2013 12:23 PM
Gblock;1378255 wrote:stoked
I have not heard that word in quite some time.
Jan 31, 2013 12:23pm
G

Gblock

Jan 31, 2013 12:25 PM
Sonofanump;1378495 wrote:I have not heard that word in quite some time.
i had a flashback to 1991
Jan 31, 2013 12:25pm
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Jan 31, 2013 12:29 PM
Repo man. Listening to deadbeats with their excuses, getting chased by dogs and periodically being threatened with a gun or baseball bat was always fun. It did help prepare me for my career though. Once had to do a collection call on a dude who legitimately had a "baby arm", and I'm not talking the Lee Corso variety. Strangest thing I've ever seen.
Jan 31, 2013 12:29pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 31, 2013 12:38 PM
Have only worked two jobs, and cant complain really.

First was fast food in high school (KFC). Fast food and usually understaffed because the owner was a tight ass, but that is expected. Made some life long friends there working for 2 years, including some back up connections in case I ever need them. Was flexible allowing me to play sports and work on the weekends.

Second job was road construction. Worked 70-80 weeks during the summer. Work was long, and sucked; especially when I got stuck being on crew with POS's from the union hall. Low point was having to cut up galvanized posts into hundreds of smaller pieces with no mask. But cant complain again, because I made enough money in the summer to live comfortably during the school year (including rent and bills). Also made emergency back up connections there in case I am ever in need. Owner was also flexible with me when need be when I had stuff for school to tend to.

A job is a job. They all have parts that suck and all can have their perks if you care enough.
Jan 31, 2013 12:38pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jan 31, 2013 12:40 PM
Evenings at Safelite Autoglass call center for a summer. They paid $12 per hour part-time. I've never heard people get so worked up over a small rock chip before I worked there.

I'll take working in the clay factory at Columbus Clay and working apartment maint in the hood again over working in a call center again
Jan 31, 2013 12:40pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 31, 2013 1:38 PM
Gblock;1378490 wrote:\
wish i would have thought of the suntan lotion idea...dang
Paint thinner burns like hell on the face...
Jan 31, 2013 1:38pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Jan 31, 2013 1:42 PM
justincredible;1378305 wrote:But none of those names cut as deep as those from COA, amirite? :)

There's no doubt.
Jan 31, 2013 1:42pm
T

that_guy

Senior Member

439 posts
Jan 31, 2013 1:43 PM
My first job ever was my worst job.
I was in 7th grade, and gathered eggs for a local farmer. He paid $.02 for each flat of eggs (30) gathered. This usually translated to ~$100 a month for 1-2 hours of work a day.
The worst part of the job was that this guy was very lazy about cleaning out the pits under the chicken cages, so they would overflow regularly, which would result in having to push the egg cart through a few inches of chicken shit each day. There were four aisles in the chicken coop, and for each aisle I'd have to stop 3-4 times to scrape the chicken shit off the wheels so that the cart would roll. There were maggots everywhere, the occasional huge rat and I smelled like chicken feces after being done with work each day. All for a few bucks which I blew entirely on baseball cards (mid-90's baseball cards, which are now worth $0)...
Jan 31, 2013 1:43pm