A recent Wall Street Journal article, by Joann S. Lublin, raised the question: ”What won’t you do for a Job?“ Which got me thinking about what are those things I wouldn’t do for a job. First, I had to set some parameters around the question:
1. Not just any job (I can get any job) but a really good job. You know the one: your career
Camelot – great pay, benefits, work, boss, co-workers – plus you’re out by 4pm everyday!
2. Also, I can’t go to prison for what I would do – I’m short and soft – meaning, I’m fairly certain I would end up someone’s wife in prison.
With the parameters set the question really set me free to think about what I wouldn’t do for the “perfect” career opportunity. So, I’ll give you the short list:
- I won’t kill anyone in my immediate family (wife and 3 sons) – everyone else is open season.
- (probably goes back to the prison thing – I’m soft, plus my grandma would hate it).
- I won’t eat bugs or cauliflower (yes, I consider them the same food group).
- I won’t work for free – everyone has a price and mine is above “Free”
- I won’t stay past 5pm (or any other arbitrary time) just because my boss stays past 5pm because he doesn’t have a life and thinks everyone should stay past 5 or their not dedicated or hard working.
- I won’t allow my opinions to be squelched by the man! (oh wait, yes I will, but it will cost them!)
7. I won’t allow myself to be chased around my desk and sexually harassed by my attractive, much younger, opposite sex, boss (ok, I might, but only if my benefits pay for divorce).
So, what won’t you do for a job? Send me a comment and let me know…
OK – I’m way more hirable than you….
1. I would eat bugs and cauliflower – I won’t eat poo, that’s about it, and maybe really hot kimchee, oh and that Filipino dish Balute (the fermented, fertile duck egg) I definitely wouldn’t eat that.
2. I would work after 5pm, if I’m working by the hour and/or paid reaaaaaly well, my family values material things above my time! But I’m done working extra for free – did that, no fun.
3. I will allow my opinions to be squelched, but I’d like to at least voice them. They can laugh or ignore me, but I need them to be released from my brain to avoid overload.
Most bugs aren’t bad if you add mustard.
But for me:
My voice needs to be heard. (second the overload principle)
I won’t work for free. (nearly doing that now)
I won’t allow my personal time to be invaded by work. (unless the office is currently on fire, there’s nothing I can really do until tomorrow)
Melissa,
I’ll work after 5pm – and do almost everyday, I just won’t do it because the boss is staying past 5pm – that mentality drives me crazy. I’ve worked for companies where the culture was, you don’t leave until your supervisors did. It was comical to watch the office doors and lights go off and people herding to the parking lot the moment the boss left!
Thanks for the comments – I had fun with this post!
Tim
I will work for almost free
I will eat cauliflower
I will work past 5 pm
I will give blood
I will watch your kids for free
Vicky,
UR Hired!
I wonder how you put all of that on your resume and still sound professional?!
Tim