The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: Artemesia's Garden on August 21, 2021, 02:26:49 PM

Title: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on August 21, 2021, 02:26:49 PM

And why... I think I may be about to beat my record of four months!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: SpacePinto on August 21, 2021, 03:03:12 PM

I have only ever been hired as an intern or on probation, I've never actually been a regular contractual employee anywhere.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Heelys on August 21, 2021, 03:05:30 PM

My older brother once realized his job at Jimmy Johns was no good by the end of the week.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: BlackCurtains on August 21, 2021, 03:56:47 PM

Probably two weeks? It was at a privately owned pet store. I was hired to clean cages and do things around the store like make sure products were neat on shelves and dusting, vacuuming, etc. I said on my application that I had no experience with cash registers and in my previous jobs at pet stores never rang up customers except for feeders because they had their own buttons on the register.

Anyway, my first day I cleaned all the rodents and bird cages. The next day my boss says I didn't clean the jumbo rat cages. Yes, yes I did. There were only two 20 gallon long aquariums and each had like 10 rats in them :huh: Waaaay too many for that small a space. So they got it dirty quick. A few more days go by. Then my boss asks me to work behind the counter helping customers. A few days later she has another employee train me to use the register. Then my job was stuck behind the counter working the register and I was completely abandoned at the front of the store.

I hated it.

Also, my boss was suspicious. She had exotic pets in the back room, including a wallaby (he was soooo sweet and loved giving hugs) but I don't think she actually had a license to sell them. She also had some ridiculous rules, like not giving the rodents things to chew on because they "pee all over it". Like... rodents NEED to chew on stuff. But her excuse was they didn't last long in the store so it was okay. She also had the small birds drinking out of bottles and didn't give them open water to bathe in. The bigger birds? Were aggressive as heck. There was always dead fish in the tanks every morning that she had people scoop out before we opened.

All in all, it was a bad place to work, and the animals suffered. When I quit, I called Fish & Wildlife and told them about the wallaby. He was such a sweet animal and was kept in a dog crate in a dimly lit area. I let him out on a leash once (that's when he hugged me) because I never saw him out of the cage and felt so sorry for him. The other employee that was there that day promised she wouldn't tell the boss, and I don't think she ever did.

I hope the animals were confiscated and my boss fined but I don't actually know what came of my phone call. A couple of years later the place closed.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Loa on August 21, 2021, 06:14:30 PM

I've worked a few temp jobs through agencies and stuff, but I think 6 months?

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Beth3346 on August 21, 2021, 06:30:16 PM

if you're seeing warning signs now run.

Spoiler

i stayed at a job for 2 years. looking back now the owners were pretty abusive. it was my first real web developer job and it was the only decent offer i had. i ended up staying because i really liked my colleagues but one of the owners was horrible. we had to work on projects for his side businesses. the deadlines and expectations were always unreasonable. and during one of these projects he told us that he didn't care if we required IVs to stay awake and work he wanted the project done. he also pretty much told another employee that i wasn't a "real" developer. he didn't say it to my face but he was in the doorway of the room i worked in and i was the only one in the room so he knew i could hear. i only stayed then because i was just waiting on a job referral to go through. a few months after i left the other owners found out he had embezzled millions of dollars from the company. and that doesn't include money he owed for work on his side projects. the company ended up shutting down. i'm not sure if they ever got any money back. everyone who worked there is still pretty scarred from all the drama there.

my shortest is another company where i saw warning signs quickly. it was a contract to hire position and after about 3 months they gave me a lowball full-time offer. which i turned down after they wouldn't negotiate a higher salary. the offer was much less than i was making at the job i left in order to take the contract to hire. the recruiter lied about the full-time salaries. then after about a month they ended the contract. i was hurt and angry but mostly relieved. the job wasn't at all what they told me it would be when i was hired and i was stressed all the time. i got some much needed time off and ended up finding a better position.

but my experiences at both of these companies really scarred me. if you already see warning signs and are able to leave then leave. bad situations and jobs don't usually get better. and the longer you stay the harder it can be to leave.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Taffeta on August 22, 2021, 03:53:38 AM

Nine days :)

After graduating, I took a christmas job at a toy store while looking for something permanent.

It was horrible.

I couldn't navigate the store, I was stuck in the storeroom mostly, and one of my supervisors took offence at the fact I had a degree and so did whatever she could to make my life miserable, including trying to make me miss my bus.

The manager and asst manager were fine but yeah. It was not a good experience.

The next job I got was the one at my ref library. I was there 7 years, till it closed, so I never regretted leaving the toy store.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Koudoawaia on August 22, 2021, 06:38:54 AM

A day and a half. That's how quick they were to decide I couldn't keep up fast enough which I still feel was unfair and they should've given me more of a chance.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Shystar06 on August 24, 2021, 09:45:02 AM

A single day.

I realized in time that the 'job' was a 1099, commission-only junk job and only stayed long enough to get the names of the recruiters to post on Glassdoor so I could warn others.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: pinkkittywinks on August 24, 2021, 01:36:42 PM

One day.

Love pkw xxx

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Harmonie on August 24, 2021, 06:34:49 PM

I've only worked two jobs before and the second job I worked quite a bit less time than the first - just over a year and a half. It's a wonder I made it that long because my chronic illness was causing me immense pain and making my productivity terrible.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: tikibirds on August 30, 2021, 02:51:23 AM

I worked at Subway for about a month.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Marshie on August 30, 2021, 05:03:09 AM

I tend to stay at jobs for a couple of years for the most part (I’ve only had 5 jobs since I was 15!) but the shortest for me was about a month and a few days. I started work at Amazon over a summer and when I asked about their “flexible scheduling” (I was going back to college in August) they wouldn’t work with me and change my hours around. Had no choice but to quit. Was a trash job anyways

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on August 31, 2021, 10:04:42 AM

Our manager has just brought in an additional shift that I wasn't expecting. My husband works from 6 till 2 and I have iether been working 6 till 2 as well or a later 8 till 4 shift which is what I was doing in my old job. I'll now be working from 10 till 6 on a regular basis as well. We normally get up at 5 and go to bed at 9pm. Given that we have spent so much time together during lockdown it feels hard. I took a 20% pay cut when I changed jobs so that I could live nearer home. However, it's a world away from where I was before. I'm used to project managing and having staff and reporting etc. But now I'm just a robot. It has dawned on me that there's not much that my manager can or will teach me so I will be stuck. There are also safety concerns like lone working in the early mornings on an isolated site. I'm so depressed today. However, I do have a job interview tomorrow and I'm thinking of jumping ship. I don't want to start a probationary period again though. I recently found out that we don't get sick pay during probation. I know that things are different all over the world so I apologise if this sounds like 'luxury problems'. It's been a bit of a shock.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: slyons on September 05, 2021, 09:29:11 PM

1 year exactly working in the office of a dental lab... they had me driving deliveries instead of learning the office stuff I was hired for...sayonara!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: MouseCardinal on September 06, 2021, 09:44:10 AM

I've only ever worked at one place thus far, but my shortest duration of actual "work" was for two months in the summer of 2020 at Chuck E. Cheese  :P

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: starrynights on September 06, 2021, 03:34:53 PM

One day. I quit the first day.
I have done this twice.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on September 10, 2021, 11:18:07 PM

I still haven't actually quit. I've applied for three serious jobs this week, aiming for two per week until I can get outta there!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: TickledPink on October 13, 2021, 05:53:35 PM

a little past a month. It was at a frame shop and my boss and coworkers were AWFUL.

Title: Re: WHat\\\'s the shortest time you\\\'ve ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on October 13, 2021, 11:44:23 PM

It's good to hear everyone's stories, I don't feel so bad now! I found a new job by the way and I'm starting on 1st November. It's more similar to my old job and luckily it's permanent. I do get the feeling that so much is down to the people and circumstances. Essentially for the first few days/months it's like being a guest in someone's house. If they can't be a good host then why move in permanently? Incidentally, I got a lot of good feedback from my applications and had a choice at the end. So if anyone wants me to check an application in English please let me know and I'll try to help. Replies will be in UK English though.

Post Merge: October 13, 2021, 11:46:49 PM

Quote from: MouseCardinal on September 06, 2021, 09:44:10 AM

I've only ever worked at one place thus far, but my shortest duration of actual "work" was for two months in the summer of 2020 at Chuck E. Cheese  :P

I have always been slightly obsessed with the Chuck E. Cheese pony, mainly because it's quite unique being fast-food related but a full-on pony unlike the Maccy D's ones. Did they know that was the only reason you wanted to work there ;)

Post Merge: October 13, 2021, 11:47:52 PM

Quote from: starrynights on September 06, 2021, 03:34:53 PM

One day. I quit the first day.
I have done this twice.

 I wish I'd quit on the first day in that place, but the 6 week's money was still useful.

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: achab1984 on October 27, 2021, 07:00:13 PM

One week! It was for a small crappy motel! I got one day of training and then on my own! I did not even know how to close a till! I left!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on October 30, 2021, 12:00:46 AM

I'm starting my new job on Monday! Fingers crossed this one goes OK!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Beth3346 on October 30, 2021, 10:34:19 AM

Quote from: Artemesia's Garden on October 30, 2021, 12:00:46 AM

I'm starting my new job on Monday! Fingers crossed this one goes OK!

good luck :)

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: pinkkittywinks on November 01, 2021, 08:05:51 AM

Good luck :)

Love pkw xxx

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Pokeyonekenobie on November 01, 2021, 08:15:58 AM

About a month and a half.  I was hired as Holiday Help at the Disney Store.  I basically worked 4 hours a week but still got the 35% employee discount.   :biggrin:

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: northstar3184 on November 09, 2021, 07:39:02 PM

2 days: I was hired by an attorney to be his secretary. I struggled with learning so much so fast and he fired me at the end of my second day. There were so many red flags that made me glad it didn't work out: I found his job ad on Craigslist. When I went into my interview, he told me that one of the reasons he'd chosen me as a candidate was because as a man he could see me as more of an equal than if he were to hire a woman. Mind you, he was married and his wife handled the financial side of the business. A few years after he fired me he was disbarred and moved to the opposite side of the country.

Title: Re: WHat\'s the shortest time you\'ve ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on November 10, 2021, 06:15:55 AM

Quote from: Pokeyonekenobie on November 01, 2021, 08:15:58 AM

About a month and a half.  I was hired as Holiday Help at the Disney Store.  I basically worked 4 hours a week but still got the 35% employee discount.   :biggrin:

Sounds like fun!

Post Merge: November 10, 2021, 06:16:37 AM

Quote from: northstar3184 on November 09, 2021, 07:39:02 PM

2 days: I was hired by an attorney to be his secretary. I struggled with learning so much so fast and he fired me at the end of my second day. There were so many red flags that made me glad it didn't work out: I found his job ad on Craigslist. When I went into my interview, he told me that one of the reasons he'd chosen me as a candidate was because as a man he could see me as more of an equal than if he were to hire a woman. Mind you, he was married and his wife handled the financial side of the business. A few years after he fired me he was disbarred and moved to the opposite side of the country.

Eep! Not someone you want to be associated with  :)

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on December 02, 2021, 11:04:42 PM

So my new (new) job also turned out to be horrors! They were using a restricted organophosphate pesticide in an unauthorised way, basically turning a weak solution of it into steam and letting it permeate an occupied building on a daily basis. Luckily I managed to persuade them they need to stop doing it. Unluckily the affected product makes up 70% of the company's product portfolio and I have no idea whether my persuadings will damage the business and threaten all of our jobs. But you can't make fast and loose with pesticides. I didn't want to work in the building once I found out so I don't expect anyone else to. They have given me a desk elsewhere and speeded up the retirement of the person making the steam. He will now be going in two weeks and hopefully that will be the end of it. He's been acting crazy and I think he might have poisoned himself with it. If they want to start doing it again it will take time to make it safe and legal with the correct engineering controls. I have had a very stressful couple of weeks. I am only 1 month in!

Title: Re: WHat's the shortest time you've ever stayed in a job?
Post by: elvenwine26 on December 03, 2021, 05:28:53 AM

Passed the interview and then left the next day after 2 hours of on the job training. As soon as I realized it was for door to door internet sales I noped out
I'll sell things if you come into a store I work at but that's implied consent to be hustled when you walk into a boutique.  I draw the line on bothering people in their homes.