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Tyler McAdams · 09:34 PM

6 years of work for a company you might know as "blue". 12 hour shifts, working weekends, 3+ years on night shift... always working E-team so when it snows or we have a hurricane I've got to be there with a handfull of people to work the phones and servers. Then after they trim out the "regulars" I somehow regain a job in development doing nothing but simulation and countless hours of monotonous firmware and driver updates, patches and system installs. And, yes, I can *do* that work for you... when I'm paid, working with good people and have the proper tools to do it with. But guess what fokes? I'm burnt out with this. I'm tired of power hunrgy people looking over my shoulder and judging me solely on the stats they see. They came to me and asked if I could work "harder" for them. I said "no... I can't"

Why? I'm 31 years old and believe it or not, while most people where out having fun as a kid I was working all my life, and even when I was having "fun" I was playing tournament level golf, tennis, and table tennis. I know how to bust my @$$. But I'm just not going to do that so they can simpley see it with their own eyes... ever heard of faith? Had you even opened your eyes and looked just a little past the skin you could have seen that we could have been better off with me calling a few shots... hey, just now and then.

But no... it's about power and stepping all over people to get to the top and noboddy will ever be satisifed with where they are untill they've got some money which somehow proves that they are the best. What is the game plan today? It's cut costs by cutting regulars jobs, contract out, remove all the internal benifits, take the plants to China for cheaper labor, sell out the technology that we have now... and all for what? So that the stock price looks good? I'm sorry but that's not making REAL profit. That's saving your own CEO @SS so that it looks like you know how to run a company when the ask what is the bottom line. And even then it's always about the bottom line and to hell with how it got that way. Screw how it looks! ...fsck the "it's all in the presnetation". If it's all in the presentation them move out of your house, give it to me, put up a prop of a mansion in front of your cardboard box that you'll be living in from now on.

So now I'm out and looking fo anther job... but guess what? I'm just really not looking that hard. Why? I've been through it all. Making sure I knew my job better... being more loyal, working where others refused to work. And now I'm right there beside those people again with nothing to show for it. So I'm taking unemployment for 6 months and regaining my sanity. My home is a wreak from never having time to clean anything up. I'm out of shape from sitting behind a desk all day and night. And worst of all I'm out of touch with those who's opinions really do matter because I've got to be behind a computer to make any money these days.

I've got a bad back, arthritis, tendinitis, a ripped rotor cuff, my eyes are going and I need glasses... all at 31. How? From HARD WORK!

And don't even get me started about the whole security scam thing going on.... Open your eyes!!! Who's got the technology? China. Need proof? Where did your TV set come from the last 20 years? You can't fight that war... and then at the same time try to cut costs and move everything there and expect them to somehow build the technology for you but magically not know how it works?!!!!

Somebody up there needs to get a clue... don't bother calling me when you get it either. I'm already long gone and finished trying to fight this thing by my lonesome.

So yeah, I'm hard as hell, grumpier than your grandpa and people don't want to work with me because I know how to do everthing the right way.

And then I've got the whole "I'm a white male so I must be loaded with money" sterotype working against me. Look, I'm middle class and even though I'm white... you're really just not going to believe this... I've *earned* my way every step. How can you tell? Because I just don't kiss any @$$. Everything I've got... hey it was PAID for and EARNED by your's truly. All the software on my computer? PAID FOR out of my pay check... no downloads. (Yes, even Quick Time Pro)

So if anybody wants to get with somebody REAL or want's to see what happens to somebody who's been through the mill at the very least twice then give me a shout in 6 months or so... I'm out!

memory-minus · Apr 22, 2006, 09:06 PM

I put in over 3 years at "blue" (in RTP, actually, which is where I'm assuming you are) before getting fed up and taking a cushy government job.

Tyler McAdams · 09:35 PM

Good move. I guess then that you know all about the "restructuring" that really isn't happening but... uh, yeah... it's happening. No vestige anymore either.

(And yes, that's where I'm @)

villalobos · Apr 22, 2006, 09:36 PM

I know somebody who worked there. He did not last long, and got out scarred for life... I am sorrry for you guys.

Tyler McAdams · Apr 22, 2006, 10:01 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. I am not scarred though. I worked hard for them and delivered for them... and to be quite honest you could say "I got mine". But I'm just a wee bit tried of playing along with the rules there that do more to put you in harm's way than help you.

But when a manger or team lead about half your age, still in college starts bithcing to your contract agency that you need to work harder.... AND THEY LISTEN... well there's something just wrong there. Granted they can not relate at their age and since they were not there as long as I was nor worked the things I did it's still just a game to them. Too bad for them I say.

The truth is I'm so burnt out, if my job was to spend all day surfing the web for a million dollars an hour that same lead would still be complaining to them asking can I open more tabs or drink more Moutain Dew... Guess what? I couldn't.

Spliff · Apr 22, 2006, 11:43 PM

Originally Posted by Tyler McAdams

6 years of work for a company you might know as "blue".

"Blue" = IBM?

jasonsRX7 · Apr 23, 2006, 12:48 AM

What's up RTP guys... sorry to hear about how big blue has treated you. My few trips to the RTP offices (sales demos and tech briefings) always made me think highly of them, but I have a couple of ex-IBMer friends that have some stories of their own to share.

Maybe you could try SAS, or EMC.

Salty · Apr 23, 2006, 01:02 AM

That's too bad... I always get annoyed when bosses try and make the hard working ones work harder even though they're not getting paid anymore if they do, and they're certainly fulfilling their job requirements. And they're certainly being some of the best workers out there.

Tyler McAdams · Apr 23, 2006, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

That's too bad... I always get annoyed when bosses try and make the hard working ones work harder even though they're not getting paid anymore if they do, and they're certainly fulfilling their job requirements. And they're certainly being some of the best workers out there.

Well, I think the problem here was more of a perception issue than anything... Like I said, I'm hard and people hate me because I know how to do things the right way. People don't want to do things the right way these days... if it's not fast and makes them more money then it must be broke is how it's done today. That really cuts the possible effectiveness and usfullness of my work.

And since I've always done things the hard long way all my life I'm getting burned out these days... then they want me to somehow still do the work *they* call work... the problem is they can not relate. Kind of like you can use a spray painter to paint your house or you can do it by hand... well I've always done it by hand. In this case it's easy to see that you would get burned out faster when you paint by hand.

Tyler McAdams · Apr 23, 2006, 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by Spliff

"Blue" = IBM?

right.

JoshuaZ · Apr 23, 2006, 02:04 AM

Maybe you need to find a more rewarding job. Something where you feel like you're accomplishing something. Seriously. Maybe a career change is something you should look into.

Doofy · Apr 23, 2006, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Tyler McAdams

So if anybody wants to get with somebody REAL or want's to see what happens to somebody who's been through the mill at the very least twice then give me a shout in 6 months or so... I'm out!

Noted.

the_glassman · Apr 23, 2006, 12:44 PM

I worked 60 hours a week@"Blue" including 13 out of 14 days. Until I was laid off, which was a relief.

Tyler McAdams · Apr 23, 2006, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Maybe you need to find a more rewarding job. Something where you feel like you're accomplishing something. Seriously. Maybe a career change is something you should look into.

I've been thinking about becoming a minister... maybe a "Father". I don't know yet.

Todd Madson · Apr 24, 2006, 04:54 PM

Take a break.

Take some time to recharge your batteries and maybe learn some new skills,
something you'd like to do.

Maybe even something totally different from what you did before.

You need some time off before you get hip deep in the garbage again.

I did this in 2004 and it was almost a year and I almost couldn't afford it but
I really couldn't have afforded not to and stay sane.

Go for it.

::maroma:: · Apr 24, 2006, 05:25 PM

I gave 5 long years of my life to a company we'll just call "Swoosh". I started at the bottom hoping to work my way up the ladder. Well 5 years later and I was about 1 rung up the ladder, and the rest of the way up was blocked off.

I had a laundry list of issues that came up between me and my employer. And as time went on the list just kept getting longer. I realized that almost every single company that is as large as say "Blue" or "Swoosh" is going to have the same issues. And I realized then that those things that I thought the company was doing wrong, maybe it wasn't the company. Maybe it was just me and the way I handle things in life just didn't get along with that type of environment. The big business corporate environment. I know my values, both in my personal and professional life. I know when I feel rewarded in my work and when I don't. I just wasn't feeling rewarded there no matter what I did. Not only by my tiny paycheck, but also just the feeling I would get when I'd go home each day.

I too took 6 months off of work, collected unemployment and just chilled out for a while. I slowly started looking for work during that time, and actually rejected quite a few offers that came my way. I eventually found the job I'm at now at a nice small design firm that suits me perfectly.

I don't regret doing that one bit. I'm actually happy that I got to experience working in an environment such as the one at Swoosh. It taught me exactly what I didn't want to do for the rest of my life. It taught me exactly what to look for (and what not to look for) when I look for a job. And it makes me appreciate the job I have now a lot more.

So take your experience at Blue and use it to your advantage. Learn from it and improve yourself with it. Its real easy, and hey at least you'll be getting the last laugh on those basturds.