What is wrong with middle aged people?

[buckeyefarmer]

I sort of did once.

I don't recall if I was 17 or maybe 18... but I was driving town the road, about 30 minutes from my home. Saw a help wanted sign in the front of a machine shop. Being somewhat mechanically inclined, that caught my attention so I stopped.... spoke with the owner.... and was told to report to work the next day which happened to be a Friday.

I show up and of course, I was starting at the bottom of the pile verses on the CNC machines, that's certainly fair. I get that.

So spent the bulk of the first day being shown the ropes and some of the products they produced.... got a chance to machine some kind of widget.

Got numerous metal splinters in my otherwise young, soft, unworked hands.....

Over the weekend of pulling various splinters out of my hands, I realized that wasn't my right path so, Monday, I simply didn't show up.

Never got a paycheck for that (full) day's work either but I figured that was a fair tradeoff since I never went back.

For years after, I always felt "guilty" (to use a strong word) driving by there, as though they'd see me coming down the road and all come racing out to yell at me or something... (or even remember who I am!!)


Even today, if I were to drive by that location, I look to see if they're still there (I don't think they are)

So that 'stunt' left a long lasting impact on me.

Lol, reminds me of my wifes first job right after we got married.

She answered a flyer in the mail, to work for arbitron, the tv ratings company. We only had 1 vehicle at the time, so i drove her to work. First week was training. When i picked her up that evening, she said. "I'm not going back", and she didn't. They paid her for the one day.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am glad that I reached retirement age when I did. I sure would not want to start a career with my former engineering/construction company (I spent 40 years with them). I see most of my fellow workers are also with other companies now. What used to be the best place to work is now just barely hanging on with few projects to put workers on. They would expect managers to give 2 weeks notice but rarely gave anyone more than a couple hours notice of layoff. 40 years ago, even a laborer would be given a transfer to another job when wrapping up a project and they could take it or look for something else. The last few years I worked for them, upper managers were all that got transferred. Also no more standby time (full pay to set home while they looked to place you on a project), now they expect you to set home with no pay and wait for them to call you.
I agree with most others here that in todays market, workers don't owe the company anything since the companies don't feel obligated in the least to the employee.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Lol, reminds me of my wifes first job right after we got married.

She answered a flyer in the mail, to work for arbitron, the tv ratings company. We only had 1 vehicle at the time, so i drove her to work. First week was training. When i picked her up that evening, she said. "I'm not going back", and she didn't. They paid her for the one day.

Been there, done that. I reported to a job for training; they weren't too clear on what the job would be, but knew it was a door to door thing. After about the third day, I found out it was selling encyclopedias and yoru pay was based on commission. On that day, I turned in my materials and told them "no thanks". They were guaranteeing something like $75 dollars a week; found out later some of the guys had to sue them to get their guarantee.

 

[goeduck]

I reported to a job for training; they weren't too clear on what the job would be, but knew it was a door to door thing. After about the third day, I found out it was selling encyclopedias .

Sooooo,,,, what we’re you telling your customers you were selling on the first and second day?

 

[Jstpssng]

Been there, done that. I reported to a job for training; they weren't too clear on what the job would be, but knew it was a door to door thing. After about the third day, I found out it was selling encyclopedias and yoru pay was based on commission. On that day, I turned in my materials and told them "no thanks". They were guaranteeing something like $75 dollars a week; found out later some of the guys had to sue them to get their guarantee.

We middle aged workers are probably the only people who have ever seen an encyclopedia; let alone actually used a set.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Sooooo,,,, what we’re you telling your customers you were selling on the first and second day?

We had a three day (unpaid) orientation. It was sometime the second day I learned it was selling encyclopedias. I should have know after the first day it was a scam, but I was a young, country bumpkin trying to make enough money to pay my first semester's college tuition. I finally decided checking groceries was more my style.

 

[YLee Kioti]

We middle aged workers are probably the only people who have ever seen an encyclopedia; let alone actually used a set.

I actually miss my set and regret getting rid of it.
In today's climate of PC even well known old facts that no longer line up with the gate keepers are getting scrubbed.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I've noticed that, also. Besides, every search you make is recorded to use later for an attempt to sell you something.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I had a nice encyclopedia set that I got rid of 46 years ago since my wife knows everything.
I worked for Paktron in early 70s, I was a mechanic working on the pneumatic machines that made capacitors. The noise level was beyond deafening and I quit after a week. Not just the noise but after figuring out how those complex machines worked it was repetitious.
It would be like repairing one specific model lawnmower, every day all day. Same thing, no challenge.

 

[Sigarms]

I sort of did once.

I don't recall if I was 17 or maybe 18... but I was driving town the road, about 30 minutes from my home. Saw a help wanted sign in the front of a machine shop. Being somewhat mechanically inclined, that caught my attention so I stopped.... spoke with the owner.... and was told to report to work the next day which happened to be a Friday.

I show up and of course, I was starting at the bottom of the pile verses on the CNC machines, that's certainly fair. I get that.

So spent the bulk of the first day being shown the ropes and some of the products they produced.... got a chance to machine some kind of widget.

Got numerous metal splinters in my otherwise young, soft, unworked hands.....

Over the weekend of pulling various splinters out of my hands, I realized that wasn't my right path so, Monday, I simply didn't show up.

Never got a paycheck for that (full) day's work either but I figured that was a fair tradeoff since I never went back.

For years after, I always felt "guilty" (to use a strong word) driving by there, as though they'd see me coming down the road and all come racing out to yell at me or something... (or even remember who I am!!)


Even today, if I were to drive by that location, I look to see if they're still there (I don't think they are)

So that 'stunt' left a long lasting impact on me.

As I mentioned, I expect that kind of behavior with "young people". Goes with part of the territory in learning and growing up IMO.

That said, I heard about this new employee from my supervisor, who is a VP, and although this wasn't what I would consider a high level job, it wasn't bad paying added he had experience when he moved into NC and he didn't have to look for a job.

I get people look around for other work, may have more pans in the fire, just that if you're in your 50's and you take a job in a new state you're moving to, you don't work one day, meet everyone, then text the day that it was your last IMO. To myself, it means either my company or the new employee did a horrible job on knowing what they wanted and what they were getting into.