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Job Burnout

I don't know where to start or what to do anymore. Job security feels like an alien concept to me now. I'm terribly anxious about my future that I can't function right. Contract workers are human beings too, why are they treated like this? Why are companies like this? What do I do at this point?

I've been in this contract job for 6 months then boom! I'm let go, no warnings, feedback, nor communication from higher management ever since I got hired. I liked the job and my coworkers, I was a good fit for that particular group work environment, it's the higher management that treat contract workers like s***. The lay off was so sudden that the manager and the group that were running our workplace didn't get any communication from the higher ups beforehand. Manager said they have mentioned my performance is a little low, but it was already happening 2 months before I was let go. That's an easy fix if they warned me! Why prolong my contract then? My manager also believes it's probably due to the shortage of work and budget cuts that the newest member gets cut most of the time and when they decide to do, it is out of his hands. He sounded like he really didn't know what was going on so I believed him. I left the place with a heavy heart, confused and shock.

I didn't get to mourn after that layoff.

The next day, I got a job offer from another recruiter for another contract job. The new job is more corporate and based on my experience with bigger corporations, I expect it to have a toxic work culture, and office politics which I hate. I wasn't serious when they interviewed me but I passed the interview and got the job. It's both a blessing and a curse. I was right about the toxic work culture and office politics, the managers are all gossipy, fake, and two-faced white people. There are at least 12 other contract workers there, and worst part is, my onboarding was a complete mess. Nothing is streamlined in a way that place is being run that's why there's a high turnover. Oh, and my contract got terminated after 3 days but this time, it was completely my fault. I lost the company laptop on public transit on the way home but quickly filed a lost item report. This was at the end of 2nd day after we got info dumped in training plus I was sleep deprived, and completely drained from the training but I take full responsibility of the lost item. Next day, I told the manager and they said they have no spare laptop (it's a huge ass company btw, they have a floor dedicated for tech people that provides laptops), and since I'm under contract, they said they can't directly make any decision but they sent me home, sneakily took my badge ID, and sneakily escorted me out of the building without an official word from my recruiter yet. Their body language says it all, they kept pushing me to leave, and couldn't look me straight in the eye when they're talking to me. The manager already decided to "offboard" me before my recruiter officially contacted me, I heard them gossiping in the hallway about it before the escorting happened (they claimed they didn't escort me out, like please 🙄) Recruiter called, this company didn't want to continue working with me anymore because "I don't look enthusiastic enough" and that's based on the 2 days I was there during onboarding/training. You can't evaluate someone in that short span of time, you barely worked with them, and it's ridiculous how these companies would make excuses just to get rid of you. And also, I was with the other trainer the whole day on 2nd day, our manager only toured us and barely helped us out on our 1st day onboarding (what kind of manager of 33 years not tech savvy to help you when you're in an office environment, right?) This is exactly why I hate working for big corporate companies, the people in higher positions are incompetent plus they are all fake, and dead inside like people on retail jobs. This job is not a blessing, it was definitely curse set up by a thing called bad luck.

Right now, I find myself staring into space while crying, asking myself: "What's the point of all this? Why is life playing me like this?" Then comes the suicidal thoughts but I've been trying my hardest to brush it off. I don't know what to feel anymore. Confusion? anxiety? sadness? devastation? I'm mourning but what do I mourn at this point? I just don't feel valued as a human being at all, I feel like a worthless piece of s***. I can't catch a break and I don't deserve to live. I just want to have a job without all the bulls*** to move out and survive, why can't things just be normal? I need to get away from people as far away as possible and stay inside my room for days. My body is already breaking down and I can't do anything about it.
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HoeBag · 51-55, F
What you are going through sounds normal no matter who we are talking about.

Close to 40, it is typical to be burnt out and anxious about the future.

We are brought up to believe we should be rich or at least well off by age 30, which typically does not happen. Then close to 40 when we are still trying to find our way, find a dream that doesn't even exist, we get all kinds of negative emotions.

Some would call it a mid-life crisis and that it happens between 40 and 60, but it seems to happen sooner.

For work or jobs, unless we are working for ourselves, one should see any job as temporary. If we are working today, it means we have a job today. Tomorrow it may be over. D3ad-beat jobs like retail typically last as long as we want to stay but the pay is low.

As far as feeling worthless, we have to be important to ourselves and not weigh our self-worth based on what others think.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Reality is that contract jobs exist so they can fire you at will when market or corporate financial situations change, business strategies change, tech (increasingly AI) learns how to do your job, whatever. The MBA's convinced most corporations back in the last century that the former patriarchal workforce -- where longevity and loyalty were rewarded -- left employers too vulnerable with high fixed overhead for pensions, benefits, etc. There was some truth to that, but as usual the pendulum swung too much to the opposite poll and now they wonder how come there is so little loyalty among the workers, a lack of organizational memory, etc.

My advice, for what it's worth: Don't take it personal. Look at it as a way to build a varied skill set and resume. As you already saw, there frequently is another contract job waiting for you to become available. And at some juncture there may come marriage of interests leading to a regular job. Until then, have a SEP IRA and pile as much as you can into it for life after work.
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@dancingtongue @dancingtongue I've been contracting since 2021. I've lost count how many resumes I've already submitted for permanent positions since then. I just want a job that's stable and don't have to deal with office politics bullshit or else my body is going to breakdown anytime soon
GerOttman · 70-79, M
I might suppose some contract work may be just a line item in a budget. Not really well connected to you specifically. I could see some benefit to being exposed to different work environments.

I recommend bringing a Fight Me / F0ck It attitude to any job. Both are more internal, don't actually punch anyone! People treat you how you let them, or so I've heard. Bear in mind toxic people expect a reaction, if they don't get it it spoils their fun.

I'm good at what I do, don't really care what it is I'll be fine. So if I'm doing my usual good job, F0ck It.. Haters gonna hate Yo. Sounds like a them problem to me!

Would you understand if I observed you seem to have some anger energy? Sometimes it can help to dissipate some of that energy. Something as simple as going out for some loud music or, one of my favorites, go axe throwing. Something where you can vent a little.

Live long and prosper
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@GerOttman You're right, I do have a lot of anger energy. I have a lot of baggage that I can't fix no matter what and this job security is one of them. I do unwind on my free time but there is no quick fix to this unfortunately.
GerOttman · 70-79, M
@bittersweethermit quick fixes are bad fixes. Think long term, work for the long game.
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@GerOttman I want to so bad! I want everything to work that's why I keep planning but nothing ever works man. My body is at a breaking point already
The money can be really good working contract, but there's no job security. It's great for entry level and/or if you need extra money; otherwise, I highly suggest you look for a permanent position instead.
@bittersweethermit Yes, contract very seldom becomes permanent. Those are just false promises.

And with all the contract work it sounds like you have, you do have experience.

Fix up the resume and start applying to permanent positions. Once you have 2 or 3 contract positions to put on the resume, this is what you should be doing. If you have more than 3 contract positions, that's going to be detrimental on a resume. Don't wait too long.
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@Magicianzini You're right, I have more that 3 contract jobs on my resume but that's because that's all I can get. I can't leave a gap on my resume because they get suspicious. Trust me, I have applied for permanent jobs everywhere here, the city I live in doesn't have a lot of opportunities for careers either
@bittersweethermit Try omitting the first 1, 2, 3, etc. and just include the most recent 3. I agree - you can't have a gap, but too many contract positions are going to get your resume ditched almost every single time.

Also, see what certifications you could be working on to improve your chances of being considered. You can put those on your resume as soon as you're pursuing them. You don't have to wait until you achieve it. Just be certain to specify. I don't know what your educational background is .. but the certs always increase your ability to be hired. It also improves your knowledge and skills. Keeps you busy while you wait. Works on improvement.

And be certain to include all relevant technology you have a grasp of in your skills section.

A lot of times it's simply the resume that needs work. If you're not being invited to interviews, it's the resume 99% of the time.
ShenaniganFoodie · 36-40, M
Unfair Dismissal Criteria For Casuals

A casual may access unfair dismissal if they:

Have been employed for the minimum employment period (generally 6 months, or 12 months for a small business);
Worked on a regular and systematic basis; and
Had a reasonable expectation of continuing employment.

If those criteria are met, the Fair Work Commission will consider whether the dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable, including the factors in section 387 of the Fair Work Act (for example, whether a valid reason was given, and whether the employee had an opportunity to respond).

The Fair Work Act is very specific about what outcomes the Commission can order.

A company found guilty of unjust or unfair dismissal can & will face a penalty of $500,000 &/or 12/18 months jail.
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@ShenaniganFoodie Companies have workarounds on this. It's not worth the energy but I guess I'll just take it as a lesson for now and maybe leave a bad review about them online
ShenaniganFoodie · 36-40, M
@bittersweethermit No workaround in my country,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, it's LAW
BuzzedLightyear · 61-69, M
This life will never make sense without God, friend.
bittersweethermit · 36-40, F
@BuzzedLightyear I turned to God for that last job. God's playing tricks on me
BuzzedLightyear · 61-69, M
@bittersweethermit only seems that way at the moment. keep the faith.
AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F
Take a small break and draw unemployment. While you look.

 
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