(Originally posted on Brain Dump on September 22, 2006.)

I'm going to start applying for a new job starting this weekend.

I know what you're thinking. "Karsh, didn't you just get a job?" Why yes, I did. And you know what? I think it was a blessing because I was able to get out of that festering cesspool of redundant policy and retarded co-workers known as "working for the government". But you know…I'm wondering if maybe I jumped the gun a bit.

I say this because I really am starting not to like my new job, I'm still getting a mass silent treatment from folks and it's making me frustrated as hell. Yes, even with Check on Friday™!

Today was hellish. The way that the setup at work goes is that you pull work from a pool which flows in continuously from our sales force. As you pull work, you claim it, complete the task, and then it's sent to QA for checking. The designers get their kudos by being able to pass through QA with at least 98% accuracy. I have no idea where my accuracy level is, but it damn sure ain't 98% since all the work I completed on yesterday came back from QA with a big fact REJECT across it. Thirty tasks, thirty rejects. And I really could kick myself in the ass, because the rejects were on things that I didn't know the designers had any control over…like content. Had I known we had to proof the text we receive, I could have so cut out like 20 of those rejects. The other rejects were on specifications I had no idea about since I have not been able to pin her down long enough to bend her ear on it. She's like management Teflon! I lob a question at her and — zwick — it's delegated to someone else.

The other designers are still going out of their way not to speak to me. It's sad; I've been here a month and not even so much as a "hello" when passing them in the hall. I've now just relegated to keeping my gaze straightforward when walking past them. I figure if it's been this long and they're not speaking to me, I guess I could give them a reason. We also have some interns that are there working, and I tell you…they cart them up in front of the designers, everyone applauds and asks them questions, and all I can do is sit back and count the hours until I get off work. Yes, already! AND IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH! The designers take them to lunch and chat it up with them while I sit at my desk scarfing down a bowl of rice while reading over my coursework. I don't think any of them know I'm pursuing my Master's while they rest on their laurels with a $30K Associate's degree, but at this point, I couldn't possibly care less.

(OK, that's a lie. I do care. That's the fuckin' problem. I was spoiled at my last job because I had people to talk to and socialize with; here, it's not the case. They don't care. I do. Problem identified.)

Deep down, I wonder if it's me. My past two jobs were drone city, but people there loved them. They stayed in those humble, shitty occupations for years. Maybe it's because they had things to offset the tedium of their job, like family, friends or a pet or significant other. I know I could deal with not being spoken to for eight hours if I had someone to come home to and bitch about it with.

But then again, I have all you lovely blog readers.