Now, I don't ever get why one would want to ignore the temp they hire on purpose. You're paying someone the minimum wage to catch up for the work that you - or people who work for you /you work with- slacked for; or as a replacement for someone who didn't show up; or whatever the reason it might be... Temps are the bottom of the food chain. They have no way to compete for anybody's title. They're just like that one type of fish you put in your aquarium who cleans up all the seaweed that grows on your aquarium glass.
As you might be able to tell, that has happened to me. Actually it was worse. But it's okay. Somebody else's mistake taught me a lesson.
When I own my own company, I will make sure to get to know the interns as well as the temps- whomever is working on the premises. Sometimes, the least important people also need some appreciation, beyond the minimum wage. That's the least one can do- to acknowledge the existance, a basic human respect.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Intern vs The Temp
You know what is soooo weird?
When you are an intern, you are treated so well that you are thinking, "man, they will hire me". Then, they don't. You're disappointed.
Months later, someone else hires you for the minimum wage and those figure, they can torture the life out of you, since you're getting paid. Even the interns around you see themselves as a kings and queens, at that point... The funny thing is that the interns probably know less than you- the one with a Master's degree and gazillion prior internship experience... But still, you're getting paid, hence it justifies you getting pushed around, doing the crappiest of the jobs.
The intern vs the temp differentiation is not only in the attitude, but also in the tasks they are given. When I was an intern at many of my internships, I actually was given serious projects to carry on. There was a sense of accomplishment at the end. When I became a temp (the duration of the assignment was just as long), I spent more time photocopying, filing, lifting boxes and cleaning work-spaces (and otherwise) than ever in my lifetime. Again, justifying my point of, paying you must mean "owning your soul", right?
As I said, I find all this very awkward. The hierarchy doesn't really have a logic. All is can say is "tough economic times, man"...That's how I justify why I do this type of work. No shame in my game.
When I have my own company, I am going to spare 30 minutes to meet every intern and temp -if they wish to meet me- to let me ask me any work-related questions they want. I want to make sure I acknowledge their existance and show them I appreciate the work they do for me. After all, I don't want to spend hours photocopying while I can do something better with my life, like having lunch meetings and going out to social events, right?
When you are an intern, you are treated so well that you are thinking, "man, they will hire me". Then, they don't. You're disappointed.
Months later, someone else hires you for the minimum wage and those figure, they can torture the life out of you, since you're getting paid. Even the interns around you see themselves as a kings and queens, at that point... The funny thing is that the interns probably know less than you- the one with a Master's degree and gazillion prior internship experience... But still, you're getting paid, hence it justifies you getting pushed around, doing the crappiest of the jobs.
The intern vs the temp differentiation is not only in the attitude, but also in the tasks they are given. When I was an intern at many of my internships, I actually was given serious projects to carry on. There was a sense of accomplishment at the end. When I became a temp (the duration of the assignment was just as long), I spent more time photocopying, filing, lifting boxes and cleaning work-spaces (and otherwise) than ever in my lifetime. Again, justifying my point of, paying you must mean "owning your soul", right?
As I said, I find all this very awkward. The hierarchy doesn't really have a logic. All is can say is "tough economic times, man"...That's how I justify why I do this type of work. No shame in my game.
When I have my own company, I am going to spare 30 minutes to meet every intern and temp -if they wish to meet me- to let me ask me any work-related questions they want. I want to make sure I acknowledge their existance and show them I appreciate the work they do for me. After all, I don't want to spend hours photocopying while I can do something better with my life, like having lunch meetings and going out to social events, right?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why Blog? Why now?
Why Blog? I must remember what I have been through to appreciate where I end up.
Why now? This is just the beginning. The journey will be long and hopefully worth it.
I have recently graduated with my Master's from a relatively prestigious school and am currently looking for a full-time position that will make me feel like all the time, money and the effort that has gone into my multiple degrees have been worth it. Is it a dream to find that job? Thus far, it seems so! But I am still hopeful.
This blog is my journey to get to that point: the full-time position and then some.
I am not sure which is worse: to be umemployed with a master's degree or to be overqualified for every short assignment I end up taking... Either way, I fit into both these categories... I have recently taken up an assignment where everyone in the company were as pleasant as one could ever want. So pleasant that the -insert your adjective- things you are asked to do ( washing the dishes, cleaning/stocking the kitchen, running the errands...etc) seem bearable. Have I mentioned I have a master's?
But then, I ran into one person in the same company who, in-between-the-lines, spoke: "slave the girl, that's what we're paying her for." Suddenly, all the good things I was thinking came to an end. Not that I care much about what she said, since I was only there for a few days. But really now, who wants to be underpaid and be pushed around at the same time, when you KNOW you can do so much better?
So, in short, I once again understood how well to treat people working beneath me. I always have been kind, but from now on, I will make sure to be extra kind. Cause you never know who's working for you...
Why now? This is just the beginning. The journey will be long and hopefully worth it.
I have recently graduated with my Master's from a relatively prestigious school and am currently looking for a full-time position that will make me feel like all the time, money and the effort that has gone into my multiple degrees have been worth it. Is it a dream to find that job? Thus far, it seems so! But I am still hopeful.
This blog is my journey to get to that point: the full-time position and then some.
I am not sure which is worse: to be umemployed with a master's degree or to be overqualified for every short assignment I end up taking... Either way, I fit into both these categories... I have recently taken up an assignment where everyone in the company were as pleasant as one could ever want. So pleasant that the -insert your adjective- things you are asked to do ( washing the dishes, cleaning/stocking the kitchen, running the errands...etc) seem bearable. Have I mentioned I have a master's?
But then, I ran into one person in the same company who, in-between-the-lines, spoke: "slave the girl, that's what we're paying her for." Suddenly, all the good things I was thinking came to an end. Not that I care much about what she said, since I was only there for a few days. But really now, who wants to be underpaid and be pushed around at the same time, when you KNOW you can do so much better?
So, in short, I once again understood how well to treat people working beneath me. I always have been kind, but from now on, I will make sure to be extra kind. Cause you never know who's working for you...
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