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My first job burnout

niki.zone

81–90 of 92 posts

Re: My first job burnout

#81
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"And they are crybabies, also." Funny thing I've discovered in life, understanding and compassion are free. They don't cost a thing, but they're still some of the hardest things to get out of a person. Have you talked to the people who got burned out? What do they say about it? Your post doesn't sound so much like a "kids these days!" post as, to be frank, an "I'm an asshole" post.

Well sorry for the Louis CK style commenting :) It hits a nerve because part of it is true :) Further down is a funny post about youngsters "understanding" that you don't actually have to work ("So while you think it's OK to slave away, work for free and abuse the State sponsored drug, they don't.") for life to be good. Sure, if somebody wipes your behind and burps you regularly. Well I work, my life is good, I'm not…

So... you're still calling people crybabies, but I'd still like to know: did you ever talk to these people about their burnout? Did you try to understand what was going on with them?

Do you have any curiosity at all about the people you're judging?

Re: My first job burnout

#82
post #4

> After spending a few weeks away from work catching up with movies, I started feeling better. Once I got my thoughts back, I decided to quit. By that time I didn’t like my job at all, I couldn’t imagine going back not even for a day. If I knew it was a burnout at that time, and if I got help in time, I might have been still at the bank working as a branch manager :) This is one of those interesting "stay vs leave" s…

yeah, agreed. Sometimes it's best to not make it work and to move on, no matter the reason that makes you leave.

Re: My first job burnout

#83
The article seems curiously devoid of explanation as to what caused the burnout. As a result there is no reasoning in it really as to how to avoid burnout. ( besides "take a break when you need it" )

It seems to imply that burnout is a failing of the employee not of the employer. I disagree with this notion entirely, as I think management has a duty to care for and protect their employees from burnout. That is why there is always a chain of responsibility, so that this can occur at all places on the chain.

A properly functioning corporation will help their employees avoid burnout and not make demands of them that inevitably cause it.

Re: My first job burnout

#84

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but a burnout is something you better not blog about or write about on facebook or speak about in any way that can be traced back to your real name, if you ever want to find another job again. Potential employers will google the names of applicants before an interview, and if the first thing that comes up is your name and photo on a story about your first job burnout, you're goi…

I agree with this very strongly. Be very careful what you post about yourself online that is associated with your easily searchable name that you put on job applications. Burnout may be a real problem, but stating you think burnout is somewhat normal and that you will occasionally need time off to recover ( like op seems to state in article ) is not going to win you any high stakes high reward positions.

Agreed also it important to have continuous work listings on your resume. "I was laid off and it took a bit of time to find a good position" is usually the easiest excuse for <3 months of time off.

Re: My first job burnout

#85
post #11

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but a burnout is something you better not blog about or write about on facebook or speak about in any way that can be traced back to your real name, if you ever want to find another job again. Potential employers will google the names of applicants before an interview, and if the first thing that comes up is your name and photo on a story about your first job burnout, you're goi…

No, no, a thousand times no. Not talking about things like this, keeping it secret, or (as you just did) encouraging a social prohibition on hiding this information is what leads to a burnout culture. It's the same social taboo that prevents people from talking about their suicidal tendencies, even if talking about it can lead to help. And in a weaker sense, it's similar to the taboo in many private companies in the…

I've worked for multiple companies that intentionally burn out their workers. I even posted negative reviews on glassdoor with my real name. The companies just had glassdoor remove the reviews to appear positive. There is nothing you can really do about bad employers except try to avoid them or escape from them if you end up in one.

Re: My first job burnout

#86

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but a burnout is something you better not blog about or write about on facebook or speak about in any way that can be traced back to your real name, if you ever want to find another job again. Potential employers will google the names of applicants before an interview, and if the first thing that comes up is your name and photo on a story about your first job burnout, you're goi…

"Potential employers will google the names of applicants before an interview" I would love for this to happen, but this never ever happens. I would love it if, at some point, employers looked at my Github account before the job interview, or if they read some of my comments on Hacker News (I put my Hacker News account on my resume, but they still don't read it), or if they read a few of my better known essays, so I c…

You imply that because the people who did talk to you did not google you, that no one does. It is more likely that the people who do google you do not give you an interview.

Re: My first job burnout

#87
post #10

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but a burnout is something you better not blog about or write about on facebook or speak about in any way that can be traced back to your real name, if you ever want to find another job again. Potential employers will google the names of applicants before an interview, and if the first thing that comes up is your name and photo on a story about your first job burnout, you're goi…

Lying on your CV is probably fraud and is almost always a very bad idea. Lying about mental health only contributes to the stigma and discrimination that some people experience. It also removes some of the legal protections you have[1]. It's probably better to be honest - "I had time off for a common illness. I got treatment and I now have some advanced techniques and some protective measures, although noone expects…

Please put "Will tell the truth in all situations regardless of the effects" on your resume. Let us know how that goes for you.

Re: My first job burnout

#88
post #50
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fainted at your desk, what caused that? Lack of sleep? Not eating?

Yes, that's right. Lack of sleep, poor eating. All mixed up with a lot of overnight work during a chaotic migration project. The day before that happened I had a sign that I should have taken seriously. I arrived at home, opened the front door, and felt on the floor. I had no strength at all in my legs. I started to cry without any apparent reason. Could not control myself and that never happened to me before.

That's why you should sleep at your desk if you are tired; it is much healthier than getting sick and fainting. Plus; you can wake up if anyone makes enough noise and quickly get back to pretending you are working.

Re: My first job burnout

#89

Sorry for the kids today! post... I find it weird that so many young people get burnt out, in relatively simple jobs with no responsibilities (on the job or with kids/family). A couple of people at my office have had to take a couple months of sick leave because burnout. And they had simple responsibilities and no overtime etc. I myself have worked normal "IT days" for over 15 years, sometimes it's hectic and sometim…

Why the mistrust? The author did an entire career change after suffering her burnout. That's not a decision to take lightly and surely isn't emblematic of someone who is faking it. Furthermore, she indicated she was putting in 11 hours or so a day in her banking job. That's not a schedule which is lightly endured by anyone, no matter how spirited or strong-willed the individual may appear.

Seems like a great candidate to hire onto a job where you intentionally burn people out. She is willing to work 11 hour days, get burned out, and not blame the employer. Lets hire this person. Surely we can get a good year of overwork before the next burnout. Then maybe a cool "The 2nd time I got burned out" article.

Re: My first job burnout

#90
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, no, a thousand times no. Not talking about things like this, keeping it secret, or (as you just did) encouraging a social prohibition on hiding this information is what leads to a burnout culture. It's the same social taboo that prevents people from talking about their suicidal tendencies, even if talking about it can lead to help. And in a weaker sense, it's similar to the taboo in many private companies in the…

All well and good, but why talk about it in a way that's linked with your real name?

As I commented elsewhere in this thread, "anonymous reports are often dismissed on grounds that they are anonymous, which lets the person making the report lie, exaggerate, and otherwise make things up without fear of consequences."
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