I should say that my bosses know I'm not working in my passion field, and they've been pretty good about setting me up with projects that get me excited - or at least are challenging enough that I won't sulk and look for jobs. That's as much to keep me from quitting than anything, but it does make my work life much…

When I was little, I would play with Legos and my family (sans my dad) would say, "Oh, look, you're going to be an engineer, just like your dad!" As I was growing up, I would build cool stuff on the cheap (when possible - sometimes the budget got a bit high for what I was doing), and I thought to myself, "I should do…

No one has been fired, but people have suddenly found themselves insecure and resentful after being rebuked. I wonder how many people leave a job within, say, 6 months of being turned down after a self-requested raise? Just from people I know the number is close to 100%.

That's pretty generic, and in most cases I would agree with you: one person can turn a screwdriver, update an excel file, etc, just as well as anyone else. However, I work for a plant, so more or less apart from our corporate team, but under the umbrella of a corporation none-the-less. I can think of about 10 people…

For what it's worth, I highly suggest working for a satellite or extension of a large company. I work in a plant as an engineer, and even though we all work for a Fortune 60 company, most of our problems are handled at the plant level. It creates a small-company feel with the resources of a large company. I know that…

I've recently started using "Mailbox" for my iPhone, which has really helped me maintain a worthwhile inbox - now I treat my personal email more like a to-do, with only important stuff that requires an action showing. Everything else gets archived. Also, rather than using Unroll, I've simply set up filters to either…

This is a little off-topic, but do you think you applied to the same job more than once due to using different methods? I saved my coverletters and resumes based on req number, but I'm pretty sure I applied to the same job more than once on a few occasions.

In my senior year of college, I was still interning with a company (for the third year) and they had mentioned that I would "probably" have a full-time job waiting. Since I was engaged to be married the week after I graduated, I felt pretty good about it. About three months before I graduated, they announced layoffs…

That's well said, and I agree that seeing a payscale based on job descriptions is a good thing. However, seeing a payscale is vastly different from knowing actual numbers. I know my company's payscales may vary by several thousands of dollars from the top to the bottom. So, going full circle, that brings back the…

When I was an engineering co-op working in a plant, I had a couple of operators explicitly ask me what I was making. I never answered, beyond "It's a paid co-op," simply because nothing good could possibly come from it. I declined to tell my supervisor for very similar reasons - I was there to get experience, the pay…

I totally agree with you. Nothing good comes from it in the private sector. If you want to maximize awkwardness and minimize team support, by all means post your paystub to your door/ cube. Further, from what I've noticed, the only people that have asked me what I make are the ones that I don't feel pull weight. The…

So what would your solution be? Have everyone's salary posted at the water-cooler announcement board? I know I'm being a bit facetious, but even if you know what your coworkers are getting paid, what would be the next step? Go in and fight for more money? If your company is underpaying you, it wouldn't be a difficult…

I've never been given the choice of not taking a promotion. More often than not, it's a "Hey, we're going to move you into [insert role] because you'll be a good fit." It hasn't really bitten me yet, but it does cause me some concern for the future. Any advice for pushing back a little without causing an uproar? I…

What's your position on letting your current employer know that you are seeking a new position? How open should you be?

I'll be honest, that did worry me, but the entire reason they want to keep me is based on customer review, so I felt a little better about it.

I actually just turned down a job a few weeks ago, and it's turned out to be a blessing. I was given an offer that was fair and a little bit of a raise, but my current company caught wind due to loose lips of one of my references. They told me they wanted to keep me and gave me a counter offer. We worked on a few…

I'd say it's entirely dependent on industry. I've had "senior" managers give notice and leave (forcefully or otherwise) the same day in my current industry, but in my previous industry that would be a fast-track to getting blackballed from every company in the sector.

It's in my employment contract that I _have_ to give two weeks notice or face reprisals, and I know it's the same for others at my company.

The one thing that I would advise is if you live below someone in an apartment, make sure someone is in the unit above you while you're doing your walk through.