Comments on: Don't be the hardest worker in your job or in your job hunt http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:21:08 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Non-Military Bootcamp http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-221207 Non-Military Bootcamp Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:12:01 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-221207 The work & play balance is crucial to get right. Its important to work hard but not to burn yourself out. Its when you start getting fatigued that your work is effected. Its always important to take breaks in your day otherwise your mind will become numb with your work and you wouldn't be able to enjoy your work as much since you would be living through it for such long periods in your day. Some great advice offered in this post. Thanks The work & play balance is crucial to get right. Its important to work hard but not to burn yourself out. Its when you start getting fatigued that your work is effected.

Its always important to take breaks in your day otherwise your mind will become numb with your work and you wouldn't be able to enjoy your work as much since you would be living through it for such long periods in your day.

Some great advice offered in this post. Thanks

]]> By: Really? http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-199711 Really? Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:01:15 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-199711 You should probably not have become Deejay at a strip club then, bud. It's not too hard to tell by your reply that you don't work too hard at self-improvement either. I wish that more people would think before speaking (or typing, whatever the situation may be.) PS: Great article. Great site, all around. You should probably not have become Deejay at a strip club then, bud. It's not too hard to tell by your reply that you don't work too hard at self-improvement either.
I wish that more people would think before speaking (or typing, whatever the situation may be.)

PS: Great article. Great site, all around.

]]> By: A Day Reading Penelope: Lots of Career Tips | Wil Butler http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-183285 A Day Reading Penelope: Lots of Career Tips | Wil Butler Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:05:42 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-183285 [...] “Don’t be the hardest worker in your job or your job hunt.” [...] [...] "Don't be the hardest worker in your job or your job hunt." [...]

]]> By: Kevin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-178432 Kevin Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:23:36 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-178432 Lol - racism! Give me a break. I knew this article was written by a women when I read the title : "Don't be the hardest worker in your job or in your job hunt" - Pretty much sums up a WOMAN @ work. I only which I worked with only men @ work, so I wouldn't have to listen to the continuous soap opera that is a modern woman's life - I DO NOT CARE! Also, all of the women I work with put NO EXTRA EFFORT into learning anything and cry when they do not get their special way. I wish the west would collapse already so that we would not have to deal with the special rights that women take for granted. Lol – racism! Give me a break. I knew this article was written by a women when I read the title : "Don't be the hardest worker in your job or in your job hunt" – Pretty much sums up a WOMAN @ work. I only which I worked with only men @ work, so I wouldn't have to listen to the continuous soap opera that is a modern woman's life – I DO NOT CARE! Also, all of the women I work with put NO EXTRA EFFORT into learning anything and cry when they do not get their special way. I wish the west would collapse already so that we would not have to deal with the special rights that women take for granted.

]]> By: A Manager’s Guide to Growing Happy Employees « My Family Info http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-172983 A Manager’s Guide to Growing Happy Employees « My Family Info Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:25:26 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-172983 [...] fine for high-profile people who have built up trust. But in general, the hardest worker looks the most scared. Otherwise, why would that person have to work so much harder than everyone else? Why wouldn’t [...] [...] fine for high-profile people who have built up trust. But in general, the hardest worker looks the most scared. Otherwise, why would that person have to work so much harder than everyone else? Why wouldn’t [...]

]]> By: DECKTWISTER http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-172464 DECKTWISTER Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:33:09 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-172464 these are some good points. having been an employe of b&q i am used to most of these situations and have had firsthand experience of it but here in england its the opposite race card that has been discussed. we had various people that took 2 hour lunch breaks go home when they like and drop people in the s**t for their own gain and if anything is said its racism and nothing gets done. apart from being on of the worst run companys.the fashion for selection of managers and supervisors is that if someone is no good at their job or performs poorly then instead of addressing the issue they are made up to supervisor of duty manager and the racism is rife and the theft from employees is far greater than customer theft not that the store manager (givaway)cares as long as he is not directly effected.as someone who sloggs his b*****ks off it is soul destroying to see these minorities tearing the arse out of the industry. these are some good points.
having been an employe of b&q i am used to most of these situations and have had firsthand experience of it but here in england its the opposite race card that has been discussed.
we had various people that took 2 hour lunch breaks go home when they like and drop people in the s**t for their own gain and if anything is said its racism and nothing gets done.
apart from being on of the worst run companys.the fashion for selection of managers and supervisors is that if someone is no good at their job or performs poorly then instead of addressing the issue they are made up to supervisor of duty manager and the racism is rife and the theft from employees is far greater than customer theft not that the store manager (givaway)cares as long as he is not directly effected.as someone who sloggs his b*****ks off it is soul destroying to see these minorities tearing the arse out of the industry.

]]> By: Conformity vs. Individualism | Chris Gammell's Analog Life http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-164752 Conformity vs. Individualism | Chris Gammell's Analog Life Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:27:51 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-164752 [...] tell your teacher so to be unique, just that conformity can travel beyond the walls of a school). Academic stress happens in America too, I just feel like it is more ubiquitous in [...] [...] tell your teacher so to be unique, just that conformity can travel beyond the walls of a school). Academic stress happens in America too, I just feel like it is more ubiquitous in [...]

]]> By: Hop http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-105156 Hop Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:51:42 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-105156 I started at a young age working at a fish bait shop putting red wigglers (worms) in cartons. Red wigs are a favorite live fish bait. The job went like this; remove lid from container, count out 100 red wigs and put them in the container with one handfull of cow manure, replace the lid and invert, stack on the shelf to be sold. The worms migrate to the bottom, which will be the top when inverted and opened. I can remember worrying about " was that 99 worms or 101 worms"? An adult would have been more prone to worry about the germs, but of course an adult would most likely not have such a job as it paid $0.01 per conatainer back in 1952. I worked hard thinking about having my own money. My father, a university grad, ex military commander and top manager explained that people that make money do not have time to work. I learned and started working in a good paying skill trade, the office thing never appealed to me. At about age 25 Pop's statements, and there were many, started to make sense. I did not gamble with money. What I did and still do is save and invest. I still work, save and invest. I have no debts, kids have degrees that are paid for. My returns are equal to and sometimes greater than my working income. I spend very little on me and the wife. I give away more than I ever thought possible. Many people that I work with want and need all the overtime that they can get. They just can't make it on base pay. It's sad to me that they never learned. I reckon they will always be "counting worms" and worrying. I started at a young age working at a fish bait shop putting red wigglers (worms) in cartons. Red wigs are a favorite live fish bait. The job went like this; remove lid from container, count out 100 red wigs and put them in the container with one handfull of cow manure, replace the lid and invert, stack on the shelf to be sold. The worms migrate to the bottom, which will be the top when inverted and opened.
I can remember worrying about " was that 99 worms or 101 worms"? An adult would have been more prone to worry about the germs, but of course an adult would most likely not have such a job as it paid $0.01 per conatainer back in 1952.
I worked hard thinking about having my own money. My father, a university grad, ex military commander and top manager explained that people that make money do not have time to work. I learned and started working in a good paying skill trade, the office thing never appealed to me. At about age 25 Pop's statements, and there were many, started to make sense. I did not gamble with money. What I did and still do is save and invest. I still work, save and invest. I have no debts, kids have degrees that are paid for. My returns are equal to and sometimes greater than my working income. I spend very little on me and the wife. I give away more than I ever thought possible.
Many people that I work with want and need all the overtime that they can get. They just can't make it on base pay. It's sad to me that they never learned. I reckon they will always be "counting worms" and worrying.

]]> By: cmarie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-63861 cmarie Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:43:31 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-63861 I love all the great comments. What I hate is when people twist other people's words and turn an opinion on a SECTOR (which should have been clarified) of a very large work force as a universal truth for the ENTIRE work force. There is so much truth in what Penelope is saying in MANY work environments that are office like settings in CERTAIN industries. From 15yrs old until I got my first office job I worked various blue collar jobs in fast food, retail, and restaurants. I guarantee you I was greatly rewarded for my hard work, willingness to put in extra hours and great positive attitude despite the 60-80 hours a week was working to put myself through college (one full-time and two part-time. The key is to work SMART not HARD. I was many times disliked by lazy coworkers because I raised the bar at these jobs. Contests were offered to increase efficiency or output. AND IT WORKED. The incentive has to be right. I became management at many of these jobs. Now I have an office job and I see the emphasis on taking breaks when working long hours. They are important for focus and clarity. But I work in Finance and 40 hours usually does not cut it. It could have when I was at a large investment firm, but they have 26,000 people. They can afford to hire more people for detail intense jobs. BUT it took 60-70 hours a week as a TEMP there to get that job, to get noticed. I impressed them enough, by my dedication NOT skill, they helped me create a new position which they offered to me, in addition I changed the job description of the temp position I was filling. I eventually left that company because they weren’t pushing me to grow. I now work for a small successful firm where I learn something new everyday. It definitely took 60-70 hours a week for a few weeks to close our most recent $1.1 billion deal. But moderation is key. The next few weeks were more like 50 hours. Hard work does pay off in the right industries. I recently moved to New York City where I am appalled at the work ethic in blue collar jobs. Many behave as if they have a right to get paid just because they showed up. This is shocking to me. Maybe they would find a not so blue collar job if they worked harder to get into management or tuition reimbursement programs as many of these jobs have. New York has a multitude of jobs on all levels and the Temp agencies are great tools to prove dedication and then get the on the job training and experience. BUT THEY WANT HARD WORKERS. The temp agency I worked for got me 17.50/hour, and I worked hard for it. Lastly, yes as a woman I have to work harder, especially in a male dominated field. As I have many minority friends, yes they also work harder, but they also work smart and recognize when they are recognized and rewarded for hard work or being taken advantage of or overlooked. It is your right to find a different company. ...SMART NOT HARD... I love all the great comments. What I hate is when people twist other people's words and turn an opinion on a SECTOR (which should have been clarified) of a very large work force as a universal truth for the ENTIRE work force. There is so much truth in what Penelope is saying in MANY work environments that are office like settings in CERTAIN industries.
From 15yrs old until I got my first office job I worked various blue collar jobs in fast food, retail, and restaurants. I guarantee you I was greatly rewarded for my hard work, willingness to put in extra hours and great positive attitude despite the 60-80 hours a week was working to put myself through college (one full-time and two part-time. The key is to work SMART not HARD. I was many times disliked by lazy coworkers because I raised the bar at these jobs. Contests were offered to increase efficiency or output. AND IT WORKED. The incentive has to be right. I became management at many of these jobs. Now I have an office job and I see the emphasis on taking breaks when working long hours. They are important for focus and clarity. But I work in Finance and 40 hours usually does not cut it. It could have when I was at a large investment firm, but they have 26,000 people. They can afford to hire more people for detail intense jobs. BUT it took 60-70 hours a week as a TEMP there to get that job, to get noticed. I impressed them enough, by my dedication NOT skill, they helped me create a new position which they offered to me, in addition I changed the job description of the temp position I was filling. I eventually left that company because they weren’t pushing me to grow. I now work for a small successful firm where I learn something new everyday. It definitely took 60-70 hours a week for a few weeks to close our most recent $1.1 billion deal. But moderation is key. The next few weeks were more like 50 hours.
Hard work does pay off in the right industries. I recently moved to New York City where I am appalled at the work ethic in blue collar jobs. Many behave as if they have a right to get paid just because they showed up. This is shocking to me. Maybe they would find a not so blue collar job if they worked harder to get into management or tuition reimbursement programs as many of these jobs have. New York has a multitude of jobs on all levels and the Temp agencies are great tools to prove dedication and then get the on the job training and experience. BUT THEY WANT HARD WORKERS. The temp agency I worked for got me 17.50/hour, and I worked hard for it.
Lastly, yes as a woman I have to work harder, especially in a male dominated field. As I have many minority friends, yes they also work harder, but they also work smart and recognize when they are recognized and rewarded for hard work or being taken advantage of or overlooked. It is your right to find a different company. …SMART NOT HARD…

]]> By: Erin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/comment-page-1/#comment-63150 Erin Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:31:13 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/04/16/dont-be-the-hardest-worker-in-your-job-or-in-your-job-hunt/#comment-63150 I work in a field (medical scientist) where 50, 60, 70+ hours per week is considered normal. You have to "put in the time" to stay afloat so that you can produce results and get funding. If I tried to work 40 hours per week, I would get kicked out of my training program. This kind of atmosphere makes it hard for me to explain to my peers why I want to change fields just to be able to have the time for myself and my family. I work in a field (medical scientist) where 50, 60, 70+ hours per week is considered normal. You have to "put in the time" to stay afloat so that you can produce results and get funding. If I tried to work 40 hours per week, I would get kicked out of my training program. This kind of atmosphere makes it hard for me to explain to my peers why I want to change fields just to be able to have the time for myself and my family.

]]>