Comments on: Do you have a good job? Take the test http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:20:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Why people are leaving their jobs and why they stay. Survey results are in… | The Blog of Tom Ruff http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-139245 Why people are leaving their jobs and why they stay. Survey results are in… | The Blog of Tom Ruff Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:54:23 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-139245 [...] sure if you have a good job? Then take Penelope Trunk’s test to find out.  Penelope is a very gifted (and controversial) blogger and author of the book, Brazen [...] […] sure if you have a good job? Then take Penelope Trunk’s test to find out.  Penelope is a very gifted (and controversial) blogger and author of the book, Brazen […]

]]> By: Andrea C>> Become a consultant blog http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-134977 Andrea C>> Become a consultant blog Sat, 02 Feb 2008 04:20:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-134977 Wait a minute. I'm self-employed. I don't have employees -- although I do have subcontractors. Does this mean I lose 40% or does it mean I should only hire good friends as subs? Or can I have points for having other self-employed friends who can meet for coffee when everyone else is at work? Wait a minute. I’m self-employed. I don’t have employees — although I do have subcontractors. Does this mean I lose 40% or does it mean I should only hire good friends as subs? Or can I have points for having other self-employed friends who can meet for coffee when everyone else is at work?

]]> By: Tony Tallent http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-134653 Tony Tallent Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:10:02 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-134653 <p>OK, I really like my job. I'm in the 4-6 range on this test. Somehow I knew this. It's the solid stuff that counts--a couple of great colleagues, having some freedom in your schedule, not having to drive for a hour to get to your desk. The rest of the grey stuff-- clueless leadership, turn-of-the-century policies and procedures, pockets of dead wood staff...those don't keep the show from going on. And shouldn't keep a solid resume from being built for the next big step.<br /> Tony Tallent<br /> OK, I really like my job. I’m in the 4-6 range on this test. Somehow I knew this. It’s the solid stuff that counts–a couple of great colleagues, having some freedom in your schedule, not having to drive for a hour to get to your desk. The rest of the grey stuff– clueless leadership, turn-of-the-century policies and procedures, pockets of dead wood staff…those don’t keep the show from going on. And shouldn’t keep a solid resume from being built for the next big step.
Tony Tallent

]]> By: Startup Signal - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Entrepreneurship - Powered by SocialRank http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-109017 Startup Signal - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Entrepreneurship - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:49:30 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-109017 [...] Do you have a good job? Take the test » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk [...] […] Do you have a good job? Take the test » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk […]

]]> By: Samuel Barnes http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-108307 Samuel Barnes Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:23:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-108307 Did you score perfect? If not you may want to check out my website: www.ZanderMax.com to see if I have an opportunity for a new career move. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! I specialize in finding dream jobs for candidates without forms or cost. Also, the exploration will remain completely confidential. Regards, - Samuel Did you score perfect? If not you may want to check out my website: http://www.ZanderMax.com to see if I have an opportunity for a new career move. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! I specialize in finding dream jobs for candidates without forms or cost. Also, the exploration will remain completely confidential.

Regards,
- Samuel

]]> By: John Goodman http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-108262 John Goodman Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:14:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-108262 Good post, Penelope, Living in the Los Angeles area, but having only a five mile bicycle commute in the burbs, I bow to the east 7 times every morning when I see the traffic report on the a.m. news and know I don't have to deal with it. The analysis is correct though. When I did have an ugly commute I knew where I could expect traffic and accepted it. It was those unexpected accidents, closures etc. that most impacted my attitude. As for workflow management I must take some exception. For those of us that can manage our own work flow it is the best of all worlds. I've been in a consulting capacity for the last several years and love it. I set my own hours, but tend to be fairly disciplined about working a regular schedule. On the other hand I've seen many people try and fail when given control over their own time because, as one of my associates so rightly pointed out, "they become too busy to work". There is always something else to do; run errands, go to the gym, schlep the kids somewhere etc. etc. Some people just need structure imposed on them by a "higher authority" to get discipline in their lives and this doesn't only apply to work if you get my drift. Good post, Penelope,
Living in the Los Angeles area, but having only a five mile bicycle commute in the burbs, I bow to the east 7 times every morning when I see the traffic report on the a.m. news and know I don’t have to deal with it. The analysis is correct though. When I did have an ugly commute I knew where I could expect traffic and accepted it. It was those unexpected accidents, closures etc. that most impacted my attitude.

As for workflow management I must take some exception. For those of us that can manage our own work flow it is the best of all worlds. I’ve been in a consulting capacity for the last several years and love it. I set my own hours, but tend to be fairly disciplined about working a regular schedule. On the other hand I’ve seen many people try and fail when given control over their own time because, as one of my associates so rightly pointed out, “they become too busy to work”. There is always something else to do; run errands, go to the gym, schlep the kids somewhere etc. etc. Some people just need structure imposed on them by a “higher authority” to get discipline in their lives and this doesn’t only apply to work if you get my drift.

]]> By: DWG http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107913 DWG Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:49:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107913 Definitely, financial rewards is a necessary part of having a good job. I had a job that would have scored a 5 or 6 on your quiz, and yet, I left in under 2 years. This was a tenure-track job at a prestigious university. And yes, it was a "fulfilling" job. The problem is, we were being asked to compete with other lower-ranked universities having professors being paid 40% more money. And, we were asked to do it in a city where the average house price cost 200% of what the typical house cost at those other universities. And, I was stressing out making sandwiches for lunch every day, driving my car for 2 months with a nail in the tire, grading lots of student work because there was no money for graders, etc. That job was a recipe for guaranteed career failure, or at least, forcible lowering of career aspirations .. "Performs miracles on demand for no rewards" is no longer a part of my job description ... Definitely, financial rewards is a necessary part of having a good job. I had a job that would have scored a 5 or 6 on your quiz, and yet, I left in under 2 years. This was a tenure-track job at a prestigious university. And yes, it was a “fulfilling” job.

The problem is, we were being asked to compete with other lower-ranked universities having professors being paid 40% more money. And, we were asked to do it in a city where the average house price cost 200% of what the typical house cost at those other universities. And, I was stressing out making sandwiches for lunch every day, driving my car for 2 months with a nail in the tire, grading lots of student work because there was no money for graders, etc. That job was a recipe for guaranteed career failure, or at least, forcible lowering of career aspirations ..

“Performs miracles on demand for no rewards” is no longer a part of my job description …

]]> By: Dan B. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107818 Dan B. Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:48:43 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107818 I'm having a problem with 50% of the "test" relying on whether or not someone has two or more good friends at work. Nice start, but it needs to cover at least a few more areas! * * * * * * <I>Dan, here's another way to think about the test: You can either have a good job that meets the requirements of what is fulfilling work. Or you can have good friends which has been shown to help people overcome the problems of having a bad job. --Penelope</I> I’m having a problem with 50% of the “test” relying on whether or not someone has two or more good friends at work. Nice start, but it needs to cover at least a few more areas!

* * * * * *
Dan, here’s another way to think about the test: You can either have a good job that meets the requirements of what is fulfilling work. Or you can have good friends which has been shown to help people overcome the problems of having a bad job.

–Penelope

]]> By: Dave http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107645 Dave Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:00:34 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107645 Laura said: "Lastly, one area I didn’t get a point on the quiz is the commute because I have a long-ish commute to work every day. I don’t really understand why everyone hates it so much." I couldn't agree more. It really depends on how you use that time. Myself, I'm a motorcyclist - and I'd rather take the bike on just about any day. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about snow in southern California! The bike saves me time (I can lanesplit through the worst of traffic), hassle (finding a parking spot - easy!), money (even my big bike gets ~40mpg in the city), plus the performance and handling are far better than all but the fanciest sports cars. I commuted 60 miles each way for 3 years on a route that took me along the Pacific for many miles each way - what a great way to decompress on the way home! The few times a year I drive the car to work - ugh, hate it! A fellow motorcyclist has a job that requires him to travel to several different job sites on a regular basis, all (relatively) local, too close to fly but far enough to need overnight stays - he rides his bike. He's got enough leeway in his schedule to enjoy the trip and get in some sightseeing too. Sure sounds good to me. Laura said: “Lastly, one area I didn’t get a point on the quiz is the commute because I have a long-ish commute to work every day. I don’t really understand why everyone hates it so much.”
I couldn’t agree more. It really depends on how you use that time. Myself, I’m a motorcyclist - and I’d rather take the bike on just about any day. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about snow in southern California! The bike saves me time (I can lanesplit through the worst of traffic), hassle (finding a parking spot - easy!), money (even my big bike gets ~40mpg in the city), plus the performance and handling are far better than all but the fanciest sports cars. I commuted 60 miles each way for 3 years on a route that took me along the Pacific for many miles each way - what a great way to decompress on the way home! The few times a year I drive the car to work - ugh, hate it! A fellow motorcyclist has a job that requires him to travel to several different job sites on a regular basis, all (relatively) local, too close to fly but far enough to need overnight stays - he rides his bike. He’s got enough leeway in his schedule to enjoy the trip and get in some sightseeing too. Sure sounds good to me.

]]> By: Jackson Fish Market http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107631 Jackson Fish Market Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:38:20 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/09/07/do-you-have-a-good-job-take-the-test/#comment-107631 [...] Six for six baby. Posted on September 10th, 2007 in Interesting [...] […] Six for six baby. Posted on September 10th, 2007 in Interesting […]

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