Job minutiae
Like Jenny's (DC '07) dad (LAW '7?), I have a weird habit of listening to one song on repeat, many many times in a row. In the car, it's been The Beatles' "Across the Universe" for the past few days. On my iTunes, it's still stupid "Move Along." I have to take a few days off every now and then when it starts to get really old. But then I come back and it's as foot-stomping head-nodding good as it was the first time I heard it. My ears are still ringing from this most recent listening bloc. (I can't write with music on.)
My job is so boring I can barely bring myself to write about it. It's been improving steadily, though--or maybe it's just that I'm getting used to it. Whichever it is, my distaste is gradually declining, which means that I'll probably be able to tough it out for the month-long duration of the project.
In case it's not clear what my job is, here's a synopsis: This bi-weekly business publication in the New Haven area puts together a business reference guide once a year. The guide consists of ranked lists of various types of businesses (i.e., hotels, body shops, sports equipment stores, etc.). I've been assigned to compile information for twelve of the lists that will be included in the guide. (In case you're wondering, my lists are: auto dealerships, charter bus companies, executive placement firms, engineering firms, health and fitness centers, health and beauty spas, limousine companies, printers-quick/instant, residential real estate agents, telephone equipment companies, temp agencies, and web design companies.) The information I'm seeking varies from list to list, but it usually has to do with the size of each operation (i.e., "how many limos are owned by the limo companies," and "how many technicians are employed by the telephone equipment companies"). Step one in obtaining the information is sending a survey via fax. If a week goes by with no fax response, then I have got to call the companies. The calling is the nasty part. Most of the time the people I'm talking to have no idea what I'm talking about, or they think I'm trying to sell them something. And then once I've finally broken through, I have to go and ask them fairly intrusive questions about their businesses (I dread the lists where I'm going to have to ask for the annual revenue of a company).
I get the sense that it's not too cool to use the computers at work for casual internet surfing. (And I've been paranoid since a friend of mine told me about his job as an IT guy, in which he has the power to print out reports of what people have viewed in their web browsers.) I've tried to sneak peeks into cubicles to see if I can catch a little recreational internet use, but haven't really noticed any. Another problem is that while my desk is pretty well separated from the rest of the workers in the office, it's right along the path to the bathroom. It wouldn't take much for someone to glance over and catch me--oh, I don't know--scouring message boards for the latest buzz on Snakes on a Plane. (There, I've done it. I mean, every relevant blog needs its one obligatory SoaP reference, right?)
Another odd feature of having a desk on the Toilet Trail is that I get to see everyone in the office at least once a day, but in a context that's hardly conducive to striking up conversation. Think about it: who wants to chat it up with the new guy (or really anyone) on the way in or out of the bathroom? I've tried to catch a few people by prepping conversation starters in advance, but without much success. (I'll say something like, "Boy, I wish this computer would stop crashing on me," as the ad sales guy brushes by purposefully, and I'll only catch a few mumbled syllables as he disappears into the restroom vestibule. On his way out, he'll avoid eye contact as he shakes his hands dry.) So, I've gotten to know a lot of people by their bathroom habits--the research director hits up the john once after lunch, the publisher's secretary goes in for twenty minutes at a time, ad sales guy is in there at least five times a day but I think it's mainly to straighten out his tie--but that's just about all I know about any of my new co-workers.
How's that for a few work-related anecdotes? That may have to last for a couple days (but watch out for a surreptitious from-work post sometime soon).
My job is so boring I can barely bring myself to write about it. It's been improving steadily, though--or maybe it's just that I'm getting used to it. Whichever it is, my distaste is gradually declining, which means that I'll probably be able to tough it out for the month-long duration of the project.
In case it's not clear what my job is, here's a synopsis: This bi-weekly business publication in the New Haven area puts together a business reference guide once a year. The guide consists of ranked lists of various types of businesses (i.e., hotels, body shops, sports equipment stores, etc.). I've been assigned to compile information for twelve of the lists that will be included in the guide. (In case you're wondering, my lists are: auto dealerships, charter bus companies, executive placement firms, engineering firms, health and fitness centers, health and beauty spas, limousine companies, printers-quick/instant, residential real estate agents, telephone equipment companies, temp agencies, and web design companies.) The information I'm seeking varies from list to list, but it usually has to do with the size of each operation (i.e., "how many limos are owned by the limo companies," and "how many technicians are employed by the telephone equipment companies"). Step one in obtaining the information is sending a survey via fax. If a week goes by with no fax response, then I have got to call the companies. The calling is the nasty part. Most of the time the people I'm talking to have no idea what I'm talking about, or they think I'm trying to sell them something. And then once I've finally broken through, I have to go and ask them fairly intrusive questions about their businesses (I dread the lists where I'm going to have to ask for the annual revenue of a company).
I get the sense that it's not too cool to use the computers at work for casual internet surfing. (And I've been paranoid since a friend of mine told me about his job as an IT guy, in which he has the power to print out reports of what people have viewed in their web browsers.) I've tried to sneak peeks into cubicles to see if I can catch a little recreational internet use, but haven't really noticed any. Another problem is that while my desk is pretty well separated from the rest of the workers in the office, it's right along the path to the bathroom. It wouldn't take much for someone to glance over and catch me--oh, I don't know--scouring message boards for the latest buzz on Snakes on a Plane. (There, I've done it. I mean, every relevant blog needs its one obligatory SoaP reference, right?)
Another odd feature of having a desk on the Toilet Trail is that I get to see everyone in the office at least once a day, but in a context that's hardly conducive to striking up conversation. Think about it: who wants to chat it up with the new guy (or really anyone) on the way in or out of the bathroom? I've tried to catch a few people by prepping conversation starters in advance, but without much success. (I'll say something like, "Boy, I wish this computer would stop crashing on me," as the ad sales guy brushes by purposefully, and I'll only catch a few mumbled syllables as he disappears into the restroom vestibule. On his way out, he'll avoid eye contact as he shakes his hands dry.) So, I've gotten to know a lot of people by their bathroom habits--the research director hits up the john once after lunch, the publisher's secretary goes in for twenty minutes at a time, ad sales guy is in there at least five times a day but I think it's mainly to straighten out his tie--but that's just about all I know about any of my new co-workers.
How's that for a few work-related anecdotes? That may have to last for a couple days (but watch out for a surreptitious from-work post sometime soon).
posted by temporarily unemployed at 19:22
3 Comments:
KvH does that too! (The song thing.) It used to weird me out a little when we lived together. I think it's the kind of thing where people who don't do it can't really understand (like how my mother finds it inconceivable that I would want to read the same book more than once, which I guess is sort of similar).
I know that IT friend of yours...I am SO proud.
~C
PS: fun last night!
I'll show some repeat-song-listening solidarity here. I've been somewhat notorious for listening to a song that matches my mood (or more often cheers me up) 5-10x in a row. I'm glad I've never had roommates - I imagine I'd drive them nuts.
My recent solution to maybe make this behavior a bit healthier was to take the 15 or so songs that I most often put on repeat to put me in a good mood & burned them all on one CD (my brother designed the cover - it's a big happyface - maybe you've seen it?). Anyway, I bust that baby out & within 3 songs, I'm good. I highly recommend it. The caveat is you have to pick songs you're SURE you won't get sick of, otherwise you'll have to skip past that one song every time you put it in.
Hope things are well in CT. You still have to come up to MA sometime. I'll prob. make it down to the Have at least once this summer, though...
<3, L
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