Dead End Jobs: Are You Suffering from Stockholm Syndrome?

Post by p0nce » Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 6:39 AM UTC

sophacles wrote: post #44

jakevoytko wrote: post #16

I just left a job that afflicts Stockholm Syndrome on employees. Thankfully as a systems programmer in a research firm, I avoided the worst of it, but most people weren't so lucky. Here are some management behaviors that were effective: Never thank people for finishing something on time, on budget, and to the project specifications. Instead, heap attention on those who finish in an all-nighter that ends in the final…

A couple others I've witnessed: Ideas only go down When employees tell you of actually useful innovations to a product do NOT agree it is a good idea. Mention that it is cute they are trying, and pretend to forget about it. In 3-6 months have a VP flash brilliance and push that innovation down from the top. All employee protests of "I have been pushing for this for months" are to be stonewalled, possibly with discipl…

Post by stagas » Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 8:56 AM UTC

Post by MrFoof » Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 2:25 PM UTC

westicle wrote: post #107

MrFoof wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I've done it when it wasn't prudent either. People who look at my salary history tend to have their jaw hit the floor when they look at the first 8-to-9 years. I used to have my own bosses tell me every day that I was "getting screwed". We're talking 25-33% of market rate, which traps you into slightly less crappy paychecks going forward and initially being typecast as an idiot. That was my fault for being a door…

Just a question out of interest - how/why are people looking at your salary history?

Post by wheaties » Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 3:37 PM UTC

throwaway_plat wrote: post #82

SandB0x wrote: post #12

Dead end jobs destroy transferable technical skills. I've witnessed miserable scenes. Many people are stuck maintaining large pieces of poorly written software. They forget how to actually program because their work involves very little development, and becomes all about knowing how the specific piece of software works (and the company's admin procedures) so that they can fight fires and make minor changes. Escape in…

This assessment is spot on. I'm in this situation now. While I haven't forgotten how to program, my skills have plateaued and have been at this level for far longer than I'd like to admit. I eventually realized that I needed to get out. I've sent out my resume and interviewed, but have had little success. I really had no idea how bad off I was until I started interviewing at other companies. I can't overstate the val…

Post by dominostars » Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 6:37 PM UTC

MrFoof wrote: post #61

dominostars wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"* Fear of failure is a great motivator. When you quit without having another opportunity already lined up, you have a lot of obvious motivation to find a new job since your income is $0. I've found it easier than lulling myself into complacency by continuing to get my income from the source I hate" Just remember that you are a more desired candidate if you are actively employed, and that other available jobs might b…

>Just remember that you are a more desired candidate if you are actively employed This doesn't apply in all industries. >and that other available jobs might be just as bad or worse than your current one This also only applies if you aren't the one in control. I could get a substantially better job, and I knew it, not fearful if I could get any job at all.