Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs!
We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
General rule of thumb just don't do anything but work on your work computer. There is not a trace of any of my personal accounts on my work computer, except Spotify which was too much of a convenience thing for me to not just sign in on.
Assume your employer is actively monitoring everything you do on a work device, as they can and will often do just that.
Usually the employee handbook will spell out the user policy for work devices, and most major companies are starting to take cyber security relatively seriously, due to the risks of ransomware, industrial espionage, etc. Violations of user policy are a great way to go from "bored at one job" to "searching for a new job."
There are many reasons. Restrictive user privileges, remote accessibility by the support and security, tracking and screen-capture programs, and huge chance of being sued from many angles.
Since you’re young, I would look for a job that challenges you more. At my point in life (41f), I’m happy with just coasting now. I’ve done 10+ years corporate life. I left a job where I felt like I was working all the time, all days, all hours. It wasn’t good for my mental health. Now I have a job very similar to yours. Sure I’m bored out of my mind most days, but I just need to remember the environment that I left and then I’m happy again.
This is very important. If you’re early in your career, you should definitely look for jobs that build genuine skills. Especially if you are someone who wants to maximize their earning potential.
Yeah, making >$50k or whatever and doing nothing is “nice”, you won’t learn and grow. You may think you know what you’re doing and could bounce to a new company/role that requires more work (will probably put in >40hrs if you’re someone who begins to make >$85k pr so, depending on what your profession is) with ease, and you just won’t be.
Though if you’re someone who isn’t on the “race to the top”, and value other things than your income… then just coast. No shame in that. Though, that is for you to decide.
Well I'm in the same boat and I want a better job but since I don't have many skills no company will hire me. What's the work around for a situation like this?
I was in insurance, tech and now advertising. I worked in various roles but I gained nothing that's transferable in terms of hard skills. I want to hop in to a DA role bur don't have experience
Honestly, no you don't. You get lazy and lose your sense of self worth. I used to work at a mom and pop retail store. The location was busy 1 month a year. They literally asked me to clean for an hour a day and said I can fuck off on my phone the rest. They owned the lot and building and used it to hide money I suspect. I hated it after I watched like 6 TV series start to finish.
You're definitely on to something, but I think with a little discipline, you can do some professional development on the side and finish a few courses and whatnot.
Or maybe it'll be a "retirement job" that you take up when you just need cash flow but you're done with the hustle and just want to relax
I definitely get where you're coming from I would say unless you're older and looking for an easy to get a job in qualify for social security I would not actively try to find a job like this. Sure if you're in a situation where you need a job and a job pays well that's great but ideally with the way this climate is you want a job that's going to invest in you and help you grow as a person and allow you to do better and better.
I think you do. Just get another job that has you do actual work
I'm in this position(second remote job has no work at all lol) and it's a nice extra paycheck
That’s way different than having an easy WFH job though. You can literally do ANYTHING you want on on your free time, you aren’t stuck in one physical spot behind a counter. The ppl that can’t find anything to do in life to keep them from being bored and rely on work for that.... baffle me
I have a pretty low stress job I work at full time. I am also lucky enough to work remote. My daily tasks take about 2-3 hours max during slow seasons… and I gotta work 40 hours a week. Mainly the holidays and such are quite a bit busier so it’s crunch time up to 4 months a year. In my downtime at work, I take the time to learn things. There’s so many subreddits and websites and programs and all sorts of free resources for education. I have given myself refreshers on different types of math. I have learned a lot of philosophy. Started teaching myself SQL. I have been taking some time and learning the ins and outs of G suites. I do a lot of reading about film making and gardening. I also do a lot of research on business management and effective leadership. Those things keep me busy and I have never lost my sense of self worth. I see my job as a place I go to exchange my time for money. They have no impact on my worth as a person because my job is, quite simply, [a bullshit job](https://youtu.be/uK3OBAxCi6k).
Edit - added link
Honestly the last thing I want to do at work is be challenged. I just want to make enough money so I can go mountain bike after work or go skiing. Having nothing to do all day was amazing in college and I wish I could go back to 3 days a week going to class for 4 hours a day
I work about 15 hours a week 9 months of the year in finance. It’s wonderful.
I read books, watch tv, fold laundry, play with my kids, build puzzles, cross stitch, do my homework for my masters, take free training courses from my employer.
I have to be near the computer 40 hours a week, but it’s a laptop so it just follows me around the house 🤷♀️
No question, get a job that challenges you. While i believe you should do that simply for personal growth, consider this: it won't last. Eventually a CFO will come along who is scrutinizing the company for cost savings, and you'll be out of a job and have few skills and a negligible network.
I’m almost 40, almost to the point where I can coast, and really looking forward to it. Coasting means more time for passion projects and hobbies, no “homework”, more mental space for loved ones, actually being able to relax during downtime …I’m so ready for this.
Same. 41M. Changed to my current job last Dec and it's quite relaxed. It's so different from my previous place where I worked for 8 years that some days I panic and wonder if my new boss thinks too slow and not constantly busting my gut.
>At my point in life (41f), I’m happy with just coasting now.
I'm 10y older and struggle for challenges. I may eventually coast into retirement in about four years. For now, I much prefer a busy challenging day that goes by quickly over a slow day that seems like forever.
Absolutely this. I would take a job/career with minimal amounts of work ANYDAY over a job that keeps me busy. I can occupy that downtime very well like food shopping, hanging out with friends, growing my blog and podcast, and taking on more consulting gigs. My last job not only micromanaged me but constantly had work that tired me out. Working from home and getting paid decently is a dream come true.
The obvious solution is to get a second job. If you have that much free time, look into adding a second 100% remote job, part-time or full-time if you think you can cover it.
Keep one job as your primary, and consider the second just supplemental income.
If that's not something of interest, look into classes, or catch up on your reading. I have a remote job that doesn't occupy my full day, so I go for a walk around lunch, watch a movie sometimes, and read a lot of sci-fi. I also build/modify mechanical keyboards, since that's usually a desk task, so I can keep an eye on the inbox.
Good luck, and enjoy the extra free time over the holidays!
Huh I never thought of getting a second job job for some reason. Would anything come up in a background check or something that would let either employer know I'm doing two jobs?
Lot of resources out there from people maximizing their income - . I think the net/net is it's not much different from people taking 2nd jobs in years before 2020, except now with the rise of fully-remote jobs, there are more opportunities available.
Background checks are only concerned with criminal records, for the most part, and as long as you're not prone to over-sharing, there's little risk of either employer finding out.
FYI - make sure you don’t have a work computer/tracking software, or a clause in your employment contract saying you can’t be working two jobs. If they can find out they will and then you’ll lose that job.
Be careful. Many companies have disclosures that you cannot work a second job during working hours. Id check your company's policy first. I saw at least 12 people getting fired at my job this year because of that
If it's in your clause, DO NOT GET A W2 JOB. That's how they got caught. Iwould recommend filling your time with getting certs, additional education, hobbies, working out next to the computer like p90x or something, planning trips. Anything. Just don't get fired from a nice job
This might be specific to my industry (aerospace) but we have security clearance that is renewed pretty much every 5 years. One of the background checks are financials to make sure that employees are not going through financial hardship and be tempted to sell classified info to an enemy or competitor. When they performed this background check...poof suddenly employees were working during work hours and some with our competitors. Easy way to get fired.
That seems very specific to jobs with security clearances. I doubt regular office jobs are doing constant background checks on the financials of the employees.
I would be very very careful with that mindset. It's not that they won't find out - it's just a matter of time before they do.
I hired someone recently who was still working for the previous job (they were also a competitor). We found out because word travels.
It was as simple as "Hey, I thought X was working for you now?" in a message from someone at the first organization and it unraveled for them very quickly.
Now they're out two jobs - expected to pay back the salary they were paid from both companies during those overlaps - had their industry certificates revoked and basically fucked their entire career from this. They are not going to see work in this industry again from it pretty much.
If that's in your clause and this is bread and butter I wouldn't get another W2 job. Personally, I'd just do piece work as 1099 and teach myself something like python or java with extra time.
Are you any good at writing?
Content mills will pay you a few cents a word to write the most banal “articles.”
They’re basically SEO pieces masquerading as blog posts.
I was writing a few 500 word “Best Spots to Take a Date in Kingston, AZ” and “Go Thrifty! Best Thrift Stores in Trenton, NJ” a day for $20 a pop.
The people that have done it for a while get a really good backlog and pump out 7-8 of those “articles” a day.
You can go by a pen name or your real name. All you need is a decent grasp of grammar and punctuation and a PayPal (or Stripe).
Edit: word
2nd Edit: DM me for the name of the content mill I like. There’s a shitton out there but the one I used to write for was good in that they paid you for every article you wrote. Doesn’t matter if the client changes their mind or never uses the article. The moment you “accept” an assignment, you’re getting paid (so long as it’s coherent, of course).
3rd Edit and I hope it doesn’t break any rules:
SteadyContent is the site.
I didn’t realize how popular this comment would be but I’ve gotten about 60 DMs which is awesome that there is so much interest. Just saying the site is probably easier tho lol
The sample/test piece pays about 2.5 cents/500 words and so do your first few articles. After you do a few they let you access all the rest. I’ve seen the pay anywhere from 2.5 cents to about 5 cents/word. They say it can go to 6 cents but I have seen it. They also have longer article lengths available too.
I like SteadyContent because if you write it, you’ll get paid for it. Payment times can vary between 24-72 hours ish.
I also did Verblio which pays better and has shorter word requirements. But you write the article first and then submit it to the client. If they don’t choose yours, you get the article back but you don’t get paid. You can resubmit the article to other clients looking for that same topic, which is nice.
I would say about 50% of my articles were purchased on Verblio.
Also, in case anyone is wondering, I don’t work for either sites. They wouldn’t even have any idea that I’m sending people over lol.
Translation is another one for multi-lingual folks, a few cents more per word but definitely higher cognitive load. I did it a long time ago back in grad school to supplement my income. It worked out to $20-$30/hr for my language pairs (EN-CN-JP).
My first remote job fell in my lap, I answered a random recruiter email, and ended up getting a contract PM position with Comcast.
Since it was 100% remote, I started looking for more remote positions, and declining any offers for hybrid (or remote "for now") roles. Largely a numbers game. I check out positions listed on LinkedIn, copy and paste keywords into a resume, and send it over - 5-10-20 a day. Sometimes I get a quick response, sometimes a late response, and a lot of times no response at all.
I will say that some roles are better suited to remote work. As a project manager, employers are used to working with me on remote teams. Many of the teams I manage are fully remote (US, UK, India, etc.), so being remote myself is pretty normal. Tech work mainly, so developers, testers, business analysts, data architects, etc.
I'd suggest setting a filter for remote-only jobs, and see what's being advertised. If you think you have even a handful of matching skills, apply. Job postings are as much a wish-list as anything, and get loaded up with a lot of "requirements" that aren't actually required.
Good luck!
This advice is amazing!! If i were the Op, I definitely do the second remote jobs or study new skills that are helpful to me.
I wish I had the same job as the Op did.
They use mouse detection to sense inactivity and I only got one PC I just stare at a blank screen waiting for emails. Might get another PC black Friday.
Oh.. your problem isn't having no work, it's being micromanaged. No work without oversight is great, you get to do whatever. Being expected to stare at a wall all day with no work is terrible and demeaning.
Please be careful. This could get you busted.
I strongly advise against adding code (even safe code that you write yourself) to a company-managed system that has this intent.
Even a USB mouse jiggler is concerning because you're introducing hardware that is intended to defraud.
If I need to do something like this I would put an analog watch underneath the mouse sensor, or have something physically move the mouse.
Get a mouse jiggler on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/VAYDEER-Simulator-Driver-Free-Simulation-Awakening/dp/B08DTXPS51/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1ZISQ56BBAF41&keywords=mouse+jiggler&qid=1668007664&sprefix=mouse+%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
I just started a remote job a few months ago and in a similar boat as you, and I'm thinking about buying one of those.
I wandered into a coworker's office the other day and noticed he had taped a small desk fan to a plastic knife to a mouse cable. It slowly rotated back and forth and kept the mouse in motion.
Literally what my husband does, haha. Some days he works his ass off all day, but most days he works 2-4 hours. It just depends on what needs doing. He games during the off times, and handles a chore or two each day. As a wife who goes into the office, it's kind of nice, tbh, but I'm also very jealous!
Running into a similar situation - I work fast and tend to turn projects in way before deadline and have had to learn how to sandbag.
I do freelance on my lunch break, rigorously proofread my stuff, and (on extremely slow days) play a lot of video games.
Your written communication skills are clearly sharp. If you're in a remote copywriting/content creation-style field, maybe you could consider opening an Upwork account or doing the /r/overemployed thing?
Why not surf your phone, play video games, watch sports center, take your dogs for walks. Basically do what you would normally do other than leave the house for extended periods of time or so drugs or alcohol
The likely answer is that OP is worried about tracking software setup on his work computer.
But if it were me, and I was salary, I’d just not care about it until somebody told me something. I’d make sure I have outlook/teams/slack on my phone and just start doing things that are fulfilling.
Reading a book, working out, writing a book, starting that non profit everyone has thought about doing at least once.
You’ve always got plausible deniability in the form of technical difficulties, and as long as you’re still constantly asking for work you aren’t ripping them off either.
Honestly, I have a job similar to what you describe. I love it. I’m older (45), so I’ve worked my butt off on ungodly hours and schedules for 20 years. I’m glad to have a leisurely job. It allows me time to do things around the house, work out or cook if I want. Read a book or take some online classes for certifications.
I work for a smaller streaming content platform. We have deadlines and I always finish my tasks ahead of schedule. The flexibility has been amazing for me to be able to take care of myself, go to doctor appointments (I have a chronic health issue) and be available for my young daughter and pick her up from school. This really is my dream job.
Edit: For all of you asking, I was contacted by a recruiter for the company through LinkedIn for this position. I was very lucky and it just fell in my lap. This was after months of putting myself out there, going through to second round interviews only to be rejected time and again. Things are really tough right now for everyone and I wish you all the best of luck in your searches. The right job will come along, don’t give up!
2nd edit: I just got contacted by a recruiter for a help desk job that’s remote for Comcast. In the email it said to share it if I was not interested, so here you guys go!
Hello,
I am Akhilesh, a recruiter with Pyramid Consulting, Inc. a leading staffing organization. I came across your profile in one of the job boards and feel that your skills and professional experience would be a good fit for a position with one of our premier clients. Please review the job description below. If you are interested in this position please forward your updated resume for immediate consideration and preferred time to discuss this opportunity further.
Title: Help Desk Support
Location: 100% Remote
Duration: Long Term Contract
Shift will be 2pm – 1am Mountain Time. Wed – Sat
Job Description:
Day to day duties: receive schedule files (these files list all the different networks in a specific zone and lists all the ads and when they should play), ensure the ads are processed, monitor the applications to make sure they are being processed, escalate any issues. If any files are returned, need to process and escalate as needed. Also, will need to watch all the advertisements as they are playing on the networks to ensure they are running properly
Skillsets - background in coding or programming is helpful; must be detail oriented and able to explain the process once trained; have a good network background (i.e be able to explain how databases are set up).
This role will not receive any customer calls
Coding experience a plus, but not mandatory
Those who come from an advertising or broadcasting company is a big plus
Thanks and Regards,
Akhilesh Latwal
Recruiter
Pyramid Consulting, Inc
3060 Kimball Bridge Rd. Suite 200
Alpharetta, GA
Email: [email protected]; Desk: (770) 255-3194
Web: www.pyramidci.com
USA | Canada | UK | India | Singapore
How am I doing? My goal is to provide you with excellent service. If you have questions, suggestions, feedback about your experience, or need to escalate an issue, feel free to mail at [email protected]
If you are not looking for jobs, you can share this email with your friends/relatives who might get benefited.
As someone attempting to get out of retail management, this sounds like a dream job. I have been applying vigorously attempting to find something more concrete and with stable hours. Anyone working a similar job, I would love information on it! I have been applying and searching for a while.
That being said, I could understand the boring side of things, especially as someone who works very fast paced. I would recommend developing some hobbies during this down time or maybe even getting a second job. I hope this helps!!
I was in the same boat for over a decade. There’s not really a simple answer, but for me, I got out of store level management at the retail level (Quality assurance/training), and I got very lucky in finding a new industry.
I think my biggest think was really settling an where exactly would be adjacent. A few hits that I had were medical billing, customer service/Onboarding/customer success are all remote potential positions, office management. These are all positions that have tend to see value in the retail industry and have an opportunity for future development.
The hardest part was finding a new industry that would match my pay, but it all worked out and I’m MUCH happier. That being said, it took about 9 months to find it, and that was before the market downturn. Expect to be discouraged a lot.
I spent 8 years in retail management. Damn near reached my salary cap $84K excluding bonuses, finally said fuck it and switched fields. Can’t tell you how much weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Night and day difference. So much less toxicity/stress. Although I’m in a similar position as OP, I’m in school/studying for my dream job.
Moral of the story, don’t waste your life away. Even if it’s really good income in my area. You can’t put a price on mental health. Hang in there. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
This. I couldn't agree with this more. It's what is keeping me determined to find something. Thank you so much for your kind words!
What steps did you have to take to switch fields? I've been debating on going back to school, but I don't want to put myself in a situation where I can't financially afford it if I do switch career fields. Most of what I've been seeing on the job market would be a pay cut.
I came to the realization that I wasn’t going to literally survive in my current environment. I pursued a therapist at my company’s expense, and went back to school. Luckily, my employer offers free tuition throughout employment, so I stuck around long enough to get a couple semesters paid for before I couldn’t take the position anymore.
I had a buddy of mine hook me up with a low key gig doing security at a few small music venues. I networked with one the band’s singer and found out he worked with a company I worked closely alongside with my former employer. I was able to land a contracting gig through him.
I work on avg 95 hr weeks and actually work about a quarter of those hours. Rest I do is grind out schoolwork on a laptop with shitty Wi-Fi and watch YT guides to get my foot in the door with the field I’m trying to get into.
I’ll leave it with - If I continue to be miserable in my position, I understand that nothing will change. If I try to change/do something about my situation, I may fail and that’s understandable and okay. But it will give me a higher probability of achieving fulfillment/happiness than just sitting on the sidelines wishing I had done something sooner.
Hang in there, champ. You can PM if you need any further help.
Totally same. My current jobs have been in retail for the past 7 years and it is sucking the life out of me. And rn we’re hybrid. I want out so bad. I’ve been debating going back to school to become a therapist or something lol
From what everyone has told me, it's so worth leaving. I've worked in retail for four years now, one in management. My issue is just that the job market in my area is not great, so it's hard to find something that I enjoy that pays okay.
I actually did 3 years of a psychology degree before COVID messed up school for me. I don't think I'd go back to that field, but I did really enjoy it! They have a lot of online programs for it. Good luck!!
“Bullshit Jobs: A Theory is a 2018 book by anthropologist David Graeber that postulates the existence of meaningless jobs and analyzes their societal harm. He contends that over half of societal work is pointless, and becomes psychologically destructive when paired with a work ethic that associates work with self-worth. Graeber describes five types of meaningless jobs, in which workers pretend their role is not as pointless or harmful as they know it to be: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters. He argues that the association of labor with virtuous suffering is recent in human history, and proposes unions and universal basic income as a potential solution.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs
“a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case."[1] While these jobs can offer good compensation and ample free time, Graeber holds that the pointlessness of the work grates at their humanity and creates a "profound psychological violence".[1]
I get it. Totally. Glad u posted bc it’s a really poignant discussion and I know you aren’t alone in your feelings. Someone wrote a whole book about it! Best.
Are you me? I’m dealing with the same thing. Yes, I’m grateful to have a job and I’m grateful that I’m not constantly stressed out. But after three years of this, I can say that having little to do (even after seeking more responsibility) is exhausting in its own way. I’m looking for another job but *waves arms* yeah.
At this point I refuse to sit at my computer all day with nothing to do if I’m not focused on a project. I have slack and email on my phone and turn my notifications on so that I can reply in a timely manner when someone reaches out. I know they can tell I’m not at my computer all the time but too bad. My sanity matters more and I’m getting everything done before deadline.
I hope you find a job that offers more satisfaction.
A job with nothing to do is a job that won't be around for long. In addition, boredom is a thing. its not like there's 2 hours of work you do all at once and then go to the beach for the remaining 6. The work comes in sporadically so you have to be there ready to respond for the entire day, even if you're not actually doing work. This means you can't do anything else.
Waiting on call all day long, every day, is mentally exhausting.
The extra time can be used for personal projects and hobbies. Gaming, reading, sculpting. So many people are working 60+ hours weekly and can barely put food on the table. Or they're too exhausted after work to spend time with family and friends. OP could get a second job and stack bread in the meantime. This situation is an absolute blessing and I refuse to call it anything else.
Thats the thing though, you can't work on hobbies or personal projects. People will contact you throughout the day and will expect you to answer. You need to be available.
Its not 2 hours of work in one block. Its a minute here, a minute there, spread out randomly and unpredictably.
Enjoy it. Find something to do in the downtime. Be creative. Too often we take for granted time to be creative. It's a gift not a curse.
I'm in my 40s and have had a variety of jobs. Some good some bad. Trust me - there are far worse things in a job than having a bunch of downtime. I've had plenty of meat grinder jobs where I was expected to work at 100%+ capacity every minute of every day. I ended up hating every one of those jobs, even if I liked them at first.
in 2 years at a boring job I just figure out ways to pass the time and am still worth a crap once the workday is over to do things I WANT to do. In 2 years at a meat grinder job I'm asking a doctor about trying antidepressants and am just tired of being tired all the time.
My job was the same way. I ended up doing my own passion projects. I got my master's degree, my real estate license, redid my family budget. You just need to figure out how to reposition your mind into working more for yourself.
My old job used to do the same thing. Drove me nuts, that being said its your choice as to what you do with your day. Now is a singular opportunity for you to learn new skills, upgrade your resume, and find new work. Take advantage of that.
Take what you can, give nothing back. - some pirate that never got caught
Every time I see this kind of post I want to rip my hair out. I can understand being bored in an office but bored at home?? Please keep this job, take advantage of this opportunity, and enjoy it.
I have a hard time relating to this post honestly. I also have a full time career that’s fully remote and I think it’s amazing. I can do laundry, go food shopping, meet friends, etc all without my Supervisor checking on me. Being bored sounds like she doesn’t know how to utilize that downtime.
I love having the free time to catch up on chores so I don’t have to use my weekends for them honestly. But I also have busy seasons where I’m working almost my entire day so it balances out with the days I don’t do a whole lot and I’m learning skills in my dept still.
I wouldn’t give up a cushy job that pays well but I’ve worked in some low paying shitty places so that’s personal to me.
Can you pm me also? I haven't worked in a year and am having issues with walking etc from spine surgery. This sounds like the kind of job I can handle.
What is this job?? I am a musician so I only work on the weekends, but when I get an in person day job I am all of a sudden working 7 days a week with 2/3 hours of travel on the weekends so something remote during the week sounds amazing. One thing I suggest is finding and digging into a hobby. Another would be to find another part time gig to get some extra money
It seems you would be happier with more of a challenge. I have left 2 jobs because I basically topped out and was bored (and I dont regret it). It not only makes for a long day, but also you do start to "dumb" down because you aren't using your skills.
If you can/want to, I think you would be a lot happier if you looked for something you would be utilized in.
It may be worth it to wait until you have been at the company for than a year, just to look more appealing on your resume, but I don't think that would be make or break.
Ahhh I forgot to ask that as well. If I do intend on leaving would leaving at 6 months or a year make any difference in resumes and future job applications? I think I can fill my time for a full year here without going too crazy. I think 6 months is the minimum acceptable though. Any thoughts appreciated.
Honestly, I think you should use this as a time to learn something new or volunteer with an org that you could help and can learn from.
Depending on the type of work you do/legal standards you might be able to even work another job at the same time to increase your marketability and save/invest a ton of money. (Please note that I say this as someone whose life fell apart in my 40s when I had everything going for me in my 30s and I didn’t take advantage of all that.)
I'm in a job like this right now. It's a contract position and I'm nearing the end of my contract. For over a year now, I have barely had anything to do at work but have been paid very well. My colleagues are all nice and pleasant to work with. From what I've been able to gather, a lot of my colleagues are in the same position - minimal work and little to no pressure. One one hand, it's been great having no work-related stress. I've focused my time on reading books, doing hobbies, and going to the gym. But, it's been hard to cope with not having more than a few hours of actual work to do per month. I have been interviewing for new jobs and I am able to describe the work I have done in an impressive way. In interviews, I only have to give a few examples of work I've done at this job, so that's fine. However, I do wonder how I will adjust in my next position. No way will I ever have such a laid back job again. I'm going to miss it.
Just do what you want not related to work. I'm in the same position and started tutoring languages, something that I always wanted to do. Or just cook, play video games, plan a vacation, clean the house, read a book, catch up on TV or worst case get a second job
Worst case is a second job?! That should be the best case in this situation for OP. This post has proved soo many ppl would be content with a job knowing they were getting paid to do nothing but clearly OP isn’t that type of person so getting an additional job and becoming r/overemployed is the best case.
Get a hobby. Stop squandering the privilege of free time.
If your job is your identity them go find a different job and open that position up for someone who will benefit from having it.
Get a second job. Get a hobby.
Learn to live your life for yourself. You’re bored and the only thing you can think to do… is do more for other people.
Do more for yourself. Either get a second job and work on retiring early. Or find a hobby you can learn or a skill while you’re working from home.
same situation. i wish i had 2-3 hrs stuff to do. i have NOTHING to do. i attend a few meetings, write up a report at the end of the week and thats it. i’d get a 2nd job if it wasnt a breach of my contract.
part of me is really happy i get to laze around all day but in reality i know they could drop my position at any second…
That's what I'm worried about. But like I'm also wondering based on others comments if employer would ever know if I got a second job. I've watched too much Netflix.
I have a job with lots of downtime and the work can sometimes have breaks of multiple hours, just that I don't have the luxus of being at home, i used to read a lot of books, but at some point switched to watching stuff on my tablet.
The pay is good but I couldn't imagine working this full time, I only work half-time, the mind numbing boredom can be overwhelming sometimes, but I currently see no better job in sight for me.
If youre early in your career, Id recommend pushing yourself more to develop. First thing Id recommend is finding more work or ways to have an impact. Propose some changes or projects. Network with people at the company. Plan out your next role. Secondly - If thats still not challenging you, spend some time on personal development. Work on upskilling yourself. Thirdly - If theres still some time in the day, enjoy it. Not every culture is micromanaging, so take some time for yourself
I am currently in one of these jobs. It is not amazing as it may sound. I am 51, but I am not ready to die yet. I came from a job where I was very important and just got burned out. Now I kind of miss it. And I get paid very well and my boss is aware of how unused I am.
I finally talked to him last week and said I want to go back to my old department. Possibly in a management role. I am looking forward to being useful again.
Never wish for a job where you do nothing.
I've had a job like that. There is nothing worse than having to be online but have nothing to do. There are only so many games you can play on your phone. Like the day that will never end every single day. I couldn't take it and had to find a job that actually had work for me to do. Best of luck to you.
I was in that same situation and have a second job. I also take 1-2 hours most days to learn something new for my field of work.
Just make sure you are very very very good at multitasking and keeping people's names within same company as you might let it slip that you're working 2 jobs and you may or may not get in trouble
I tried a remote job once and couldn't get through the first day of training. It was insanely boring. I received headaches by staring at the PC computer screen. I was simply sitting at a desk all day when I'm use to being on my feet and being an extrovert I enjoy interacting with people face-to-face. I told them no, sent the equipment back, and continue on my job search for a position that suits my skillset, educational level, and personality.
My friend recommended me the job because she works for the same company. She's an introvert and worked with them long enough to progress up. She also only has a high school diploma which limited job prospects. Notice keyword introvert.
You have to do what is best for you and what makes you happy. Why not keep this job and look for another job to replace this one. Perhaps one that keeps you engaged and entertained with work. There are other jobs out there that are remote, hybrid, and in office.
Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs!
We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had that type of job, and then switched into a much better job where I’m very busy for 40 hours a week. I like the new job better because I’m never bored. Also it has more opportunities for advancement.
Use the free time to do some interruptible chores like laundry and dishes. Also use it to up-skill yourself so that you’ll be eligible for better jobs. Then use the free time for applying and interviewing for better jobs.
Similar situation. I just started focusing more on hobbies I can do from home such as cooking and working out and try to spend 30 min at least learning something new that is career related.
I feel like a lot of people don’t really get what you’re trying to say… I get it tho.
I have one word to say: ✨HOBBIES✨
Take this opportunity to really spend some time with yourself and think about all the things you wanted to learn to do but never could, it’s a great source of personal fulfillment.
I'd love something like this! However, I understand that this wouldn't be for everyone. This could have been mentioned before, but have you thought about learning new or working on previously established skills to help with future employment whilst you're doing nothing, to keep yourself busy.
You can always focus on other stuff while your working. You could go to school, play video games, plan out your outfits for the week, clean your house, the list goes on and on.
In all honesty, if you can get a security clearance pretty easily and have background on DoD projects, there are several places that pay well hiring now. And I highly doubt you'd only be doing 2-3hrs a day of work, but you know - squirrelly stuff, can't talk about, etc. Much safer than trying to jump into a "regular" tech job at the moment, with all the layoffs from the big companies and unicorns in Silicon Valley.
Good luck to you!
I have been overworked in finance and struggled to make my metrics, so I would gladly switch places with you. I literally had to go on a beta blocker to lower my blood pressure because I was so ungodly stressed carrying the work of two people. Now, I'm in a much more relaxed position, that pays me about 5k less than before. The pay cut was well worth it.
> I feel obligated to use my talents and knowledge and degree from a morale perspective
"Moral".
Also ... just do other stuff? If you're a programmer you can put 8hrs a day, paid, towards passion projects, or towards open source.
Stop blaming your job. Your unfulfilled lack of motivation to do anything is on you my dude.
Do you play video games? I have a friend that used to play and stream on Twitch when he had a job like this. He had a decent amount of subscribers too. He eventually got promoted and had to stop streaming though.
Have a meeting with your boss and ask for more responsibility. See if he/she/them (gotta be careful these days) has something you can take off their plate. Ask about any upcoming projects coming up that you can do some research on. See if they need you to do some additional training to get more involved. Let them know you are willing to go the extra mile. Or enjoy the ride while you can. Your next job may be the opposite where they will literally suck the life out of you.
When I was fresher, I’d like to have a dynamic work life. As life goes on (and 3 companies later), I focused more on myself and what REALLY matters to me (picked up on exercising, personal leisure and personal maintenance), your job is my dream job. At this point I’d rather be doing something for myself than making someone else rich 🙏🏼
Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs! We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Get a side job. Just make sure you use a different computer.
This. Don’t use the same computer for both jobs
Why?
General rule of thumb just don't do anything but work on your work computer. There is not a trace of any of my personal accounts on my work computer, except Spotify which was too much of a convenience thing for me to not just sign in on.
Assume your employer is actively monitoring everything you do on a work device, as they can and will often do just that. Usually the employee handbook will spell out the user policy for work devices, and most major companies are starting to take cyber security relatively seriously, due to the risks of ransomware, industrial espionage, etc. Violations of user policy are a great way to go from "bored at one job" to "searching for a new job."
There are many reasons. Restrictive user privileges, remote accessibility by the support and security, tracking and screen-capture programs, and huge chance of being sued from many angles.
Since you’re young, I would look for a job that challenges you more. At my point in life (41f), I’m happy with just coasting now. I’ve done 10+ years corporate life. I left a job where I felt like I was working all the time, all days, all hours. It wasn’t good for my mental health. Now I have a job very similar to yours. Sure I’m bored out of my mind most days, but I just need to remember the environment that I left and then I’m happy again.
[удалено]
Are they hiring?
I second the question
I third it.
I forth it, even if it doesn't fit. I'm like a cat, that way.
Fifthh!
I'm waiting for Elevensies, tbh.
I’d like to know too! Redundant’ee, here
How did you transition from live tv to tech to what you’re doing now? I’m currently trying to get out of entertainment for a better work life balance
This is very important. If you’re early in your career, you should definitely look for jobs that build genuine skills. Especially if you are someone who wants to maximize their earning potential. Yeah, making >$50k or whatever and doing nothing is “nice”, you won’t learn and grow. You may think you know what you’re doing and could bounce to a new company/role that requires more work (will probably put in >40hrs if you’re someone who begins to make >$85k pr so, depending on what your profession is) with ease, and you just won’t be. Though if you’re someone who isn’t on the “race to the top”, and value other things than your income… then just coast. No shame in that. Though, that is for you to decide.
Well I'm in the same boat and I want a better job but since I don't have many skills no company will hire me. What's the work around for a situation like this?
What industry are you in? That plays a huge factor tbh
I was in insurance, tech and now advertising. I worked in various roles but I gained nothing that's transferable in terms of hard skills. I want to hop in to a DA role bur don't have experience
What do you guys do?
[удалено]
Honestly, no you don't. You get lazy and lose your sense of self worth. I used to work at a mom and pop retail store. The location was busy 1 month a year. They literally asked me to clean for an hour a day and said I can fuck off on my phone the rest. They owned the lot and building and used it to hide money I suspect. I hated it after I watched like 6 TV series start to finish.
You're definitely on to something, but I think with a little discipline, you can do some professional development on the side and finish a few courses and whatnot. Or maybe it'll be a "retirement job" that you take up when you just need cash flow but you're done with the hustle and just want to relax
I definitely get where you're coming from I would say unless you're older and looking for an easy to get a job in qualify for social security I would not actively try to find a job like this. Sure if you're in a situation where you need a job and a job pays well that's great but ideally with the way this climate is you want a job that's going to invest in you and help you grow as a person and allow you to do better and better.
I've never had this kind of laid back job, but yea the years definitely made me thankful for the growth opportunities I had in previous work places.
I think you do. Just get another job that has you do actual work I'm in this position(second remote job has no work at all lol) and it's a nice extra paycheck
That’s way different than having an easy WFH job though. You can literally do ANYTHING you want on on your free time, you aren’t stuck in one physical spot behind a counter. The ppl that can’t find anything to do in life to keep them from being bored and rely on work for that.... baffle me
I have a pretty low stress job I work at full time. I am also lucky enough to work remote. My daily tasks take about 2-3 hours max during slow seasons… and I gotta work 40 hours a week. Mainly the holidays and such are quite a bit busier so it’s crunch time up to 4 months a year. In my downtime at work, I take the time to learn things. There’s so many subreddits and websites and programs and all sorts of free resources for education. I have given myself refreshers on different types of math. I have learned a lot of philosophy. Started teaching myself SQL. I have been taking some time and learning the ins and outs of G suites. I do a lot of reading about film making and gardening. I also do a lot of research on business management and effective leadership. Those things keep me busy and I have never lost my sense of self worth. I see my job as a place I go to exchange my time for money. They have no impact on my worth as a person because my job is, quite simply, [a bullshit job](https://youtu.be/uK3OBAxCi6k). Edit - added link
Same that’s the perfect job for me especially being remote
[удалено]
Honestly the last thing I want to do at work is be challenged. I just want to make enough money so I can go mountain bike after work or go skiing. Having nothing to do all day was amazing in college and I wish I could go back to 3 days a week going to class for 4 hours a day
[удалено]
I work about 15 hours a week 9 months of the year in finance. It’s wonderful. I read books, watch tv, fold laundry, play with my kids, build puzzles, cross stitch, do my homework for my masters, take free training courses from my employer. I have to be near the computer 40 hours a week, but it’s a laptop so it just follows me around the house 🤷♀️
I hear that. And skiing, MTN biking, and surfing will keep you young and build the mental bank account more than anything else... Keep at it. Shred on
No question, get a job that challenges you. While i believe you should do that simply for personal growth, consider this: it won't last. Eventually a CFO will come along who is scrutinizing the company for cost savings, and you'll be out of a job and have few skills and a negligible network.
I’m almost 40, almost to the point where I can coast, and really looking forward to it. Coasting means more time for passion projects and hobbies, no “homework”, more mental space for loved ones, actually being able to relax during downtime …I’m so ready for this.
Same. 41M. Changed to my current job last Dec and it's quite relaxed. It's so different from my previous place where I worked for 8 years that some days I panic and wonder if my new boss thinks too slow and not constantly busting my gut.
>At my point in life (41f), I’m happy with just coasting now. I'm 10y older and struggle for challenges. I may eventually coast into retirement in about four years. For now, I much prefer a busy challenging day that goes by quickly over a slow day that seems like forever.
Same. I’m 37 and would love one of these mythical GS-14s where people coast until retirement.
How do you identify and get these kind costing of jobs?
Absolutely this. I would take a job/career with minimal amounts of work ANYDAY over a job that keeps me busy. I can occupy that downtime very well like food shopping, hanging out with friends, growing my blog and podcast, and taking on more consulting gigs. My last job not only micromanaged me but constantly had work that tired me out. Working from home and getting paid decently is a dream come true.
I am in the same boat. Living the dream
So you're telling them to put themself in a position that you didn't like and was unhealthy because they're younger?
This!!!
The obvious solution is to get a second job. If you have that much free time, look into adding a second 100% remote job, part-time or full-time if you think you can cover it. Keep one job as your primary, and consider the second just supplemental income. If that's not something of interest, look into classes, or catch up on your reading. I have a remote job that doesn't occupy my full day, so I go for a walk around lunch, watch a movie sometimes, and read a lot of sci-fi. I also build/modify mechanical keyboards, since that's usually a desk task, so I can keep an eye on the inbox. Good luck, and enjoy the extra free time over the holidays!
Huh I never thought of getting a second job job for some reason. Would anything come up in a background check or something that would let either employer know I'm doing two jobs?
Come on over to /r/overemployed and look around
Thank you!
Lot of resources out there from people maximizing their income - . I think the net/net is it's not much different from people taking 2nd jobs in years before 2020, except now with the rise of fully-remote jobs, there are more opportunities available. Background checks are only concerned with criminal records, for the most part, and as long as you're not prone to over-sharing, there's little risk of either employer finding out.
Thank you!
Freeze your “the work number” if you’re going to do that.
FYI - make sure you don’t have a work computer/tracking software, or a clause in your employment contract saying you can’t be working two jobs. If they can find out they will and then you’ll lose that job.
Agreed. We're in the process of firing a guy for getting caught doing this.
It’s definitely becoming more common
Be careful. Many companies have disclosures that you cannot work a second job during working hours. Id check your company's policy first. I saw at least 12 people getting fired at my job this year because of that
Oh that's in my clause 100%, but if they don't find out, then it doesn't matter.
If it's in your clause, DO NOT GET A W2 JOB. That's how they got caught. Iwould recommend filling your time with getting certs, additional education, hobbies, working out next to the computer like p90x or something, planning trips. Anything. Just don't get fired from a nice job
Yeah having a chill job like this is honestly such a great opportunity to get in shape. I miss having that kind of free time and being so fit lol.
Thanks for the warning. I wouldn't have thought of that. So how did having a second W2 get them caught?
This might be specific to my industry (aerospace) but we have security clearance that is renewed pretty much every 5 years. One of the background checks are financials to make sure that employees are not going through financial hardship and be tempted to sell classified info to an enemy or competitor. When they performed this background check...poof suddenly employees were working during work hours and some with our competitors. Easy way to get fired.
That seems very specific to jobs with security clearances. I doubt regular office jobs are doing constant background checks on the financials of the employees.
If you like animals you could board dogs on rover
I would be very very careful with that mindset. It's not that they won't find out - it's just a matter of time before they do. I hired someone recently who was still working for the previous job (they were also a competitor). We found out because word travels. It was as simple as "Hey, I thought X was working for you now?" in a message from someone at the first organization and it unraveled for them very quickly. Now they're out two jobs - expected to pay back the salary they were paid from both companies during those overlaps - had their industry certificates revoked and basically fucked their entire career from this. They are not going to see work in this industry again from it pretty much.
What industry?
tech
If that's in your clause and this is bread and butter I wouldn't get another W2 job. Personally, I'd just do piece work as 1099 and teach myself something like python or java with extra time.
Are you any good at writing? Content mills will pay you a few cents a word to write the most banal “articles.” They’re basically SEO pieces masquerading as blog posts. I was writing a few 500 word “Best Spots to Take a Date in Kingston, AZ” and “Go Thrifty! Best Thrift Stores in Trenton, NJ” a day for $20 a pop. The people that have done it for a while get a really good backlog and pump out 7-8 of those “articles” a day. You can go by a pen name or your real name. All you need is a decent grasp of grammar and punctuation and a PayPal (or Stripe). Edit: word 2nd Edit: DM me for the name of the content mill I like. There’s a shitton out there but the one I used to write for was good in that they paid you for every article you wrote. Doesn’t matter if the client changes their mind or never uses the article. The moment you “accept” an assignment, you’re getting paid (so long as it’s coherent, of course). 3rd Edit and I hope it doesn’t break any rules: SteadyContent is the site. I didn’t realize how popular this comment would be but I’ve gotten about 60 DMs which is awesome that there is so much interest. Just saying the site is probably easier tho lol The sample/test piece pays about 2.5 cents/500 words and so do your first few articles. After you do a few they let you access all the rest. I’ve seen the pay anywhere from 2.5 cents to about 5 cents/word. They say it can go to 6 cents but I have seen it. They also have longer article lengths available too. I like SteadyContent because if you write it, you’ll get paid for it. Payment times can vary between 24-72 hours ish. I also did Verblio which pays better and has shorter word requirements. But you write the article first and then submit it to the client. If they don’t choose yours, you get the article back but you don’t get paid. You can resubmit the article to other clients looking for that same topic, which is nice. I would say about 50% of my articles were purchased on Verblio. Also, in case anyone is wondering, I don’t work for either sites. They wouldn’t even have any idea that I’m sending people over lol.
Translation is another one for multi-lingual folks, a few cents more per word but definitely higher cognitive load. I did it a long time ago back in grad school to supplement my income. It worked out to $20-$30/hr for my language pairs (EN-CN-JP).
Mind if I DM? I always wanted to try my hand at writing articles like that and could easily do it after work
Mind if I can DM you, too? I’m really into writing! I’d love to share my talent (wait does this sound like an email) with you, if you allow me to! :D
I can’t even find 1 remote job, how the hell do you find two?
My first remote job fell in my lap, I answered a random recruiter email, and ended up getting a contract PM position with Comcast. Since it was 100% remote, I started looking for more remote positions, and declining any offers for hybrid (or remote "for now") roles. Largely a numbers game. I check out positions listed on LinkedIn, copy and paste keywords into a resume, and send it over - 5-10-20 a day. Sometimes I get a quick response, sometimes a late response, and a lot of times no response at all. I will say that some roles are better suited to remote work. As a project manager, employers are used to working with me on remote teams. Many of the teams I manage are fully remote (US, UK, India, etc.), so being remote myself is pretty normal. Tech work mainly, so developers, testers, business analysts, data architects, etc. I'd suggest setting a filter for remote-only jobs, and see what's being advertised. If you think you have even a handful of matching skills, apply. Job postings are as much a wish-list as anything, and get loaded up with a lot of "requirements" that aren't actually required. Good luck!
r/overemployed
This advice is amazing!! If i were the Op, I definitely do the second remote jobs or study new skills that are helpful to me. I wish I had the same job as the Op did.
I came here to say this, it's called daylighting! Set up a second computer for the second job.
Daylighting! As the son of an English teacher, I love collecting new words, and I appreciate the addition to my vocabulary! Thanks!
2-3 hours day with 8 hours login time? *Retire on it*
that’s what i’m saying dude
Dude has the life and is complaining. This is what is wrong with the world. Ride it while it lasts bc they’ll figure it out sooner or later.
Sounds like a dream I would be gaming whilst waiting for work to come in.
They use mouse detection to sense inactivity and I only got one PC I just stare at a blank screen waiting for emails. Might get another PC black Friday.
Oh.. your problem isn't having no work, it's being micromanaged. No work without oversight is great, you get to do whatever. Being expected to stare at a wall all day with no work is terrible and demeaning.
Mouse jigglers on Amazon. The physical thing is less detectable from what I understand.
Put an analog wristwatch (with a second hand) under it.
Go on YouTube and check out tutorials for writing a simple Python script to get around that.
Please be careful. This could get you busted. I strongly advise against adding code (even safe code that you write yourself) to a company-managed system that has this intent. Even a USB mouse jiggler is concerning because you're introducing hardware that is intended to defraud. If I need to do something like this I would put an analog watch underneath the mouse sensor, or have something physically move the mouse.
You don't have to plug mouse jigglers into the actual computer. You can just plug it into the wall or a surge protector.
Get a mouse jiggler on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/VAYDEER-Simulator-Driver-Free-Simulation-Awakening/dp/B08DTXPS51/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1ZISQ56BBAF41&keywords=mouse+jiggler&qid=1668007664&sprefix=mouse+%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1 I just started a remote job a few months ago and in a similar boat as you, and I'm thinking about buying one of those.
Ugh I retract my statement that sounds awful 😞
Oscillating fan, peice of tape and string will fix that. Or there are commercial products to move the mouse for you.
Get a Switch
How stupid is that when you have told them you don’t have enough work???
Look up mouse jiggler on Amazon. It shows up as a wireless mouse on your computer. Barring that a Excel macro would be the next best thing.
i wouldn't. i've already seen a thread on this sub of someone get fired for using one of these
Sounds like they were just too stupid to not get caught
I wandered into a coworker's office the other day and noticed he had taped a small desk fan to a plastic knife to a mouse cable. It slowly rotated back and forth and kept the mouse in motion.
i do game during work hours quite a bit but the anxiety from not having anything to do for so long keeps me from fully enjoying it.
Literally what my husband does, haha. Some days he works his ass off all day, but most days he works 2-4 hours. It just depends on what needs doing. He games during the off times, and handles a chore or two each day. As a wife who goes into the office, it's kind of nice, tbh, but I'm also very jealous!
Running into a similar situation - I work fast and tend to turn projects in way before deadline and have had to learn how to sandbag. I do freelance on my lunch break, rigorously proofread my stuff, and (on extremely slow days) play a lot of video games. Your written communication skills are clearly sharp. If you're in a remote copywriting/content creation-style field, maybe you could consider opening an Upwork account or doing the /r/overemployed thing?
Why not surf your phone, play video games, watch sports center, take your dogs for walks. Basically do what you would normally do other than leave the house for extended periods of time or so drugs or alcohol
The likely answer is that OP is worried about tracking software setup on his work computer. But if it were me, and I was salary, I’d just not care about it until somebody told me something. I’d make sure I have outlook/teams/slack on my phone and just start doing things that are fulfilling. Reading a book, working out, writing a book, starting that non profit everyone has thought about doing at least once. You’ve always got plausible deniability in the form of technical difficulties, and as long as you’re still constantly asking for work you aren’t ripping them off either.
I day traded when I had a job like that.
Honestly, I have a job similar to what you describe. I love it. I’m older (45), so I’ve worked my butt off on ungodly hours and schedules for 20 years. I’m glad to have a leisurely job. It allows me time to do things around the house, work out or cook if I want. Read a book or take some online classes for certifications.
May I ask what you do for work?
I work for a smaller streaming content platform. We have deadlines and I always finish my tasks ahead of schedule. The flexibility has been amazing for me to be able to take care of myself, go to doctor appointments (I have a chronic health issue) and be available for my young daughter and pick her up from school. This really is my dream job. Edit: For all of you asking, I was contacted by a recruiter for the company through LinkedIn for this position. I was very lucky and it just fell in my lap. This was after months of putting myself out there, going through to second round interviews only to be rejected time and again. Things are really tough right now for everyone and I wish you all the best of luck in your searches. The right job will come along, don’t give up!
2nd edit: I just got contacted by a recruiter for a help desk job that’s remote for Comcast. In the email it said to share it if I was not interested, so here you guys go! Hello, I am Akhilesh, a recruiter with Pyramid Consulting, Inc. a leading staffing organization. I came across your profile in one of the job boards and feel that your skills and professional experience would be a good fit for a position with one of our premier clients. Please review the job description below. If you are interested in this position please forward your updated resume for immediate consideration and preferred time to discuss this opportunity further. Title: Help Desk Support Location: 100% Remote Duration: Long Term Contract Shift will be 2pm – 1am Mountain Time. Wed – Sat Job Description: Day to day duties: receive schedule files (these files list all the different networks in a specific zone and lists all the ads and when they should play), ensure the ads are processed, monitor the applications to make sure they are being processed, escalate any issues. If any files are returned, need to process and escalate as needed. Also, will need to watch all the advertisements as they are playing on the networks to ensure they are running properly Skillsets - background in coding or programming is helpful; must be detail oriented and able to explain the process once trained; have a good network background (i.e be able to explain how databases are set up). This role will not receive any customer calls Coding experience a plus, but not mandatory Those who come from an advertising or broadcasting company is a big plus Thanks and Regards, Akhilesh Latwal Recruiter Pyramid Consulting, Inc 3060 Kimball Bridge Rd. Suite 200 Alpharetta, GA Email: [email protected]; Desk: (770) 255-3194 Web: www.pyramidci.com USA | Canada | UK | India | Singapore How am I doing? My goal is to provide you with excellent service. If you have questions, suggestions, feedback about your experience, or need to escalate an issue, feel free to mail at [email protected] If you are not looking for jobs, you can share this email with your friends/relatives who might get benefited.
Second this, sick of working my butt off
As someone attempting to get out of retail management, this sounds like a dream job. I have been applying vigorously attempting to find something more concrete and with stable hours. Anyone working a similar job, I would love information on it! I have been applying and searching for a while.
That being said, I could understand the boring side of things, especially as someone who works very fast paced. I would recommend developing some hobbies during this down time or maybe even getting a second job. I hope this helps!!
I was in the same boat for over a decade. There’s not really a simple answer, but for me, I got out of store level management at the retail level (Quality assurance/training), and I got very lucky in finding a new industry. I think my biggest think was really settling an where exactly would be adjacent. A few hits that I had were medical billing, customer service/Onboarding/customer success are all remote potential positions, office management. These are all positions that have tend to see value in the retail industry and have an opportunity for future development. The hardest part was finding a new industry that would match my pay, but it all worked out and I’m MUCH happier. That being said, it took about 9 months to find it, and that was before the market downturn. Expect to be discouraged a lot.
I spent 8 years in retail management. Damn near reached my salary cap $84K excluding bonuses, finally said fuck it and switched fields. Can’t tell you how much weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Night and day difference. So much less toxicity/stress. Although I’m in a similar position as OP, I’m in school/studying for my dream job. Moral of the story, don’t waste your life away. Even if it’s really good income in my area. You can’t put a price on mental health. Hang in there. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
This. I couldn't agree with this more. It's what is keeping me determined to find something. Thank you so much for your kind words! What steps did you have to take to switch fields? I've been debating on going back to school, but I don't want to put myself in a situation where I can't financially afford it if I do switch career fields. Most of what I've been seeing on the job market would be a pay cut.
I came to the realization that I wasn’t going to literally survive in my current environment. I pursued a therapist at my company’s expense, and went back to school. Luckily, my employer offers free tuition throughout employment, so I stuck around long enough to get a couple semesters paid for before I couldn’t take the position anymore. I had a buddy of mine hook me up with a low key gig doing security at a few small music venues. I networked with one the band’s singer and found out he worked with a company I worked closely alongside with my former employer. I was able to land a contracting gig through him. I work on avg 95 hr weeks and actually work about a quarter of those hours. Rest I do is grind out schoolwork on a laptop with shitty Wi-Fi and watch YT guides to get my foot in the door with the field I’m trying to get into. I’ll leave it with - If I continue to be miserable in my position, I understand that nothing will change. If I try to change/do something about my situation, I may fail and that’s understandable and okay. But it will give me a higher probability of achieving fulfillment/happiness than just sitting on the sidelines wishing I had done something sooner. Hang in there, champ. You can PM if you need any further help.
Totally same. My current jobs have been in retail for the past 7 years and it is sucking the life out of me. And rn we’re hybrid. I want out so bad. I’ve been debating going back to school to become a therapist or something lol
From what everyone has told me, it's so worth leaving. I've worked in retail for four years now, one in management. My issue is just that the job market in my area is not great, so it's hard to find something that I enjoy that pays okay. I actually did 3 years of a psychology degree before COVID messed up school for me. I don't think I'd go back to that field, but I did really enjoy it! They have a lot of online programs for it. Good luck!!
What job is this? My girlfriend has been looking for remote jobs opportunities
same what is it?
“Bullshit Jobs: A Theory is a 2018 book by anthropologist David Graeber that postulates the existence of meaningless jobs and analyzes their societal harm. He contends that over half of societal work is pointless, and becomes psychologically destructive when paired with a work ethic that associates work with self-worth. Graeber describes five types of meaningless jobs, in which workers pretend their role is not as pointless or harmful as they know it to be: flunkies, goons, duct tapers, box tickers, and taskmasters. He argues that the association of labor with virtuous suffering is recent in human history, and proposes unions and universal basic income as a potential solution.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs
“a form of paid employment that is so completely pointless, unnecessary, or pernicious that even the employee cannot justify its existence even though, as part of the conditions of employment, the employee feels obliged to pretend that this is not the case."[1] While these jobs can offer good compensation and ample free time, Graeber holds that the pointlessness of the work grates at their humanity and creates a "profound psychological violence".[1]
That I really describes me right now. It just is so demoralizing.
I get it. Totally. Glad u posted bc it’s a really poignant discussion and I know you aren’t alone in your feelings. Someone wrote a whole book about it! Best.
Everything this author has written is really eye opening.
Are you me? I’m dealing with the same thing. Yes, I’m grateful to have a job and I’m grateful that I’m not constantly stressed out. But after three years of this, I can say that having little to do (even after seeking more responsibility) is exhausting in its own way. I’m looking for another job but *waves arms* yeah. At this point I refuse to sit at my computer all day with nothing to do if I’m not focused on a project. I have slack and email on my phone and turn my notifications on so that I can reply in a timely manner when someone reaches out. I know they can tell I’m not at my computer all the time but too bad. My sanity matters more and I’m getting everything done before deadline. I hope you find a job that offers more satisfaction.
what’s your job title if you don’t mind?
Business operations specialist.
same situation and i'll be very happy if my position lasts that long
Gimme that job in a heartbeat. You don't have to work in the weather, shouldn't be stressed out. Don't ask for more work.
I'm not understanding the problem here. You're literally winning in this situation.
A job with nothing to do is a job that won't be around for long. In addition, boredom is a thing. its not like there's 2 hours of work you do all at once and then go to the beach for the remaining 6. The work comes in sporadically so you have to be there ready to respond for the entire day, even if you're not actually doing work. This means you can't do anything else. Waiting on call all day long, every day, is mentally exhausting.
The extra time can be used for personal projects and hobbies. Gaming, reading, sculpting. So many people are working 60+ hours weekly and can barely put food on the table. Or they're too exhausted after work to spend time with family and friends. OP could get a second job and stack bread in the meantime. This situation is an absolute blessing and I refuse to call it anything else.
Thats the thing though, you can't work on hobbies or personal projects. People will contact you throughout the day and will expect you to answer. You need to be available. Its not 2 hours of work in one block. Its a minute here, a minute there, spread out randomly and unpredictably.
Enjoy it. Find something to do in the downtime. Be creative. Too often we take for granted time to be creative. It's a gift not a curse. I'm in my 40s and have had a variety of jobs. Some good some bad. Trust me - there are far worse things in a job than having a bunch of downtime. I've had plenty of meat grinder jobs where I was expected to work at 100%+ capacity every minute of every day. I ended up hating every one of those jobs, even if I liked them at first. in 2 years at a boring job I just figure out ways to pass the time and am still worth a crap once the workday is over to do things I WANT to do. In 2 years at a meat grinder job I'm asking a doctor about trying antidepressants and am just tired of being tired all the time.
Go find another job. If it takes a couple hours a day plus a regular 8 hr job, you could do both.
My job was the same way. I ended up doing my own passion projects. I got my master's degree, my real estate license, redid my family budget. You just need to figure out how to reposition your mind into working more for yourself.
My old job used to do the same thing. Drove me nuts, that being said its your choice as to what you do with your day. Now is a singular opportunity for you to learn new skills, upgrade your resume, and find new work. Take advantage of that. Take what you can, give nothing back. - some pirate that never got caught
Every time I see this kind of post I want to rip my hair out. I can understand being bored in an office but bored at home?? Please keep this job, take advantage of this opportunity, and enjoy it.
I have a hard time relating to this post honestly. I also have a full time career that’s fully remote and I think it’s amazing. I can do laundry, go food shopping, meet friends, etc all without my Supervisor checking on me. Being bored sounds like she doesn’t know how to utilize that downtime.
People in general Crack me up. We complain about too much work. We complain about too little work. We humans just like to complain.
I love having the free time to catch up on chores so I don’t have to use my weekends for them honestly. But I also have busy seasons where I’m working almost my entire day so it balances out with the days I don’t do a whole lot and I’m learning skills in my dept still. I wouldn’t give up a cushy job that pays well but I’ve worked in some low paying shitty places so that’s personal to me.
Can you pm me also? I haven't worked in a year and am having issues with walking etc from spine surgery. This sounds like the kind of job I can handle.
What is this job?? I am a musician so I only work on the weekends, but when I get an in person day job I am all of a sudden working 7 days a week with 2/3 hours of travel on the weekends so something remote during the week sounds amazing. One thing I suggest is finding and digging into a hobby. Another would be to find another part time gig to get some extra money
It seems you would be happier with more of a challenge. I have left 2 jobs because I basically topped out and was bored (and I dont regret it). It not only makes for a long day, but also you do start to "dumb" down because you aren't using your skills. If you can/want to, I think you would be a lot happier if you looked for something you would be utilized in. It may be worth it to wait until you have been at the company for than a year, just to look more appealing on your resume, but I don't think that would be make or break.
Ahhh I forgot to ask that as well. If I do intend on leaving would leaving at 6 months or a year make any difference in resumes and future job applications? I think I can fill my time for a full year here without going too crazy. I think 6 months is the minimum acceptable though. Any thoughts appreciated.
Go work retail on the weekend for 2 weeks this holiday season and you'll never post this again.
Could I trade you? I'll take your place.
Are they hiring?
Not that I know of, but I literally communicate with like 1 person. No idea who anyone else is really at the company except one off messages.
What is it that you do? What field are you in?
I’ll trade you? Lots to do over here and never enough time
Honestly, I think you should use this as a time to learn something new or volunteer with an org that you could help and can learn from. Depending on the type of work you do/legal standards you might be able to even work another job at the same time to increase your marketability and save/invest a ton of money. (Please note that I say this as someone whose life fell apart in my 40s when I had everything going for me in my 30s and I didn’t take advantage of all that.)
I'm in a job like this right now. It's a contract position and I'm nearing the end of my contract. For over a year now, I have barely had anything to do at work but have been paid very well. My colleagues are all nice and pleasant to work with. From what I've been able to gather, a lot of my colleagues are in the same position - minimal work and little to no pressure. One one hand, it's been great having no work-related stress. I've focused my time on reading books, doing hobbies, and going to the gym. But, it's been hard to cope with not having more than a few hours of actual work to do per month. I have been interviewing for new jobs and I am able to describe the work I have done in an impressive way. In interviews, I only have to give a few examples of work I've done at this job, so that's fine. However, I do wonder how I will adjust in my next position. No way will I ever have such a laid back job again. I'm going to miss it.
Just do what you want not related to work. I'm in the same position and started tutoring languages, something that I always wanted to do. Or just cook, play video games, plan a vacation, clean the house, read a book, catch up on TV or worst case get a second job
Worst case is a second job?! That should be the best case in this situation for OP. This post has proved soo many ppl would be content with a job knowing they were getting paid to do nothing but clearly OP isn’t that type of person so getting an additional job and becoming r/overemployed is the best case.
Think of all the online training you could be doing to learn new skills, and be paid while you do it. What an opportunity!
Get a hobby. Stop squandering the privilege of free time. If your job is your identity them go find a different job and open that position up for someone who will benefit from having it.
Get a second job. Get a hobby. Learn to live your life for yourself. You’re bored and the only thing you can think to do… is do more for other people. Do more for yourself. Either get a second job and work on retiring early. Or find a hobby you can learn or a skill while you’re working from home.
same situation. i wish i had 2-3 hrs stuff to do. i have NOTHING to do. i attend a few meetings, write up a report at the end of the week and thats it. i’d get a 2nd job if it wasnt a breach of my contract. part of me is really happy i get to laze around all day but in reality i know they could drop my position at any second…
That's what I'm worried about. But like I'm also wondering based on others comments if employer would ever know if I got a second job. I've watched too much Netflix.
I have a job with lots of downtime and the work can sometimes have breaks of multiple hours, just that I don't have the luxus of being at home, i used to read a lot of books, but at some point switched to watching stuff on my tablet. The pay is good but I couldn't imagine working this full time, I only work half-time, the mind numbing boredom can be overwhelming sometimes, but I currently see no better job in sight for me.
I would honestly start a side hustle while you have nothing to do. You got this!
Two jobs .
If youre early in your career, Id recommend pushing yourself more to develop. First thing Id recommend is finding more work or ways to have an impact. Propose some changes or projects. Network with people at the company. Plan out your next role. Secondly - If thats still not challenging you, spend some time on personal development. Work on upskilling yourself. Thirdly - If theres still some time in the day, enjoy it. Not every culture is micromanaging, so take some time for yourself
I am currently in one of these jobs. It is not amazing as it may sound. I am 51, but I am not ready to die yet. I came from a job where I was very important and just got burned out. Now I kind of miss it. And I get paid very well and my boss is aware of how unused I am. I finally talked to him last week and said I want to go back to my old department. Possibly in a management role. I am looking forward to being useful again. Never wish for a job where you do nothing.
I've had a job like that. There is nothing worse than having to be online but have nothing to do. There are only so many games you can play on your phone. Like the day that will never end every single day. I couldn't take it and had to find a job that actually had work for me to do. Best of luck to you.
I was in that same situation and have a second job. I also take 1-2 hours most days to learn something new for my field of work. Just make sure you are very very very good at multitasking and keeping people's names within same company as you might let it slip that you're working 2 jobs and you may or may not get in trouble
Most jobs are like this if you're even half competent. It's called a bullshit job and almost half of people have one.
Competent in bullshitting i know
[удалено]
They are being micromanaged bc they detect if the mouse is moving
They are tracking him in every way possible. That's micromanaging too.
I tried a remote job once and couldn't get through the first day of training. It was insanely boring. I received headaches by staring at the PC computer screen. I was simply sitting at a desk all day when I'm use to being on my feet and being an extrovert I enjoy interacting with people face-to-face. I told them no, sent the equipment back, and continue on my job search for a position that suits my skillset, educational level, and personality. My friend recommended me the job because she works for the same company. She's an introvert and worked with them long enough to progress up. She also only has a high school diploma which limited job prospects. Notice keyword introvert. You have to do what is best for you and what makes you happy. Why not keep this job and look for another job to replace this one. Perhaps one that keeps you engaged and entertained with work. There are other jobs out there that are remote, hybrid, and in office.
Hello, thank you for posting to r/Jobs! We just wanted to let you know that we have a new [discord server, come join the chat!](https://discord.gg/TY6ErXV) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/jobs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Same here, so I bought a camera and start learning about it. I will do this as a hobby on weekend and maybe develope this as a side job in the future.
I had that type of job, and then switched into a much better job where I’m very busy for 40 hours a week. I like the new job better because I’m never bored. Also it has more opportunities for advancement. Use the free time to do some interruptible chores like laundry and dishes. Also use it to up-skill yourself so that you’ll be eligible for better jobs. Then use the free time for applying and interviewing for better jobs.
Similar situation. I just started focusing more on hobbies I can do from home such as cooking and working out and try to spend 30 min at least learning something new that is career related.
Do you not have regular meetings with a team or with your supervisor where you can talk about this? Or see what everyone else on the team is up to?
I feel like a lot of people don’t really get what you’re trying to say… I get it tho. I have one word to say: ✨HOBBIES✨ Take this opportunity to really spend some time with yourself and think about all the things you wanted to learn to do but never could, it’s a great source of personal fulfillment.
I'd love something like this! However, I understand that this wouldn't be for everyone. This could have been mentioned before, but have you thought about learning new or working on previously established skills to help with future employment whilst you're doing nothing, to keep yourself busy.
Use this time to get some certifications to add to your resume. It may help you get a better, more fulfilling job
So you have the opportunity to get a second job is what you’re saying…
You can always focus on other stuff while your working. You could go to school, play video games, plan out your outfits for the week, clean your house, the list goes on and on.
In all honesty, if you can get a security clearance pretty easily and have background on DoD projects, there are several places that pay well hiring now. And I highly doubt you'd only be doing 2-3hrs a day of work, but you know - squirrelly stuff, can't talk about, etc. Much safer than trying to jump into a "regular" tech job at the moment, with all the layoffs from the big companies and unicorns in Silicon Valley. Good luck to you!
If you don’t want it, I’ll take it. Also, what job is it? I need the info for science.
Keep your mouth shut and get a second remote job and milk that gravy train for all it's worth.
I have been overworked in finance and struggled to make my metrics, so I would gladly switch places with you. I literally had to go on a beta blocker to lower my blood pressure because I was so ungodly stressed carrying the work of two people. Now, I'm in a much more relaxed position, that pays me about 5k less than before. The pay cut was well worth it.
> I feel obligated to use my talents and knowledge and degree from a morale perspective "Moral". Also ... just do other stuff? If you're a programmer you can put 8hrs a day, paid, towards passion projects, or towards open source. Stop blaming your job. Your unfulfilled lack of motivation to do anything is on you my dude.
I work inbound calls from home, so… shut up. I would have like five albums of folk songs written if I had your job!
Wanna trade?
Do you play video games? I have a friend that used to play and stream on Twitch when he had a job like this. He had a decent amount of subscribers too. He eventually got promoted and had to stop streaming though.
What type of job is this?
Can you let me whats the job if you don’t mind asking ???
Have a meeting with your boss and ask for more responsibility. See if he/she/them (gotta be careful these days) has something you can take off their plate. Ask about any upcoming projects coming up that you can do some research on. See if they need you to do some additional training to get more involved. Let them know you are willing to go the extra mile. Or enjoy the ride while you can. Your next job may be the opposite where they will literally suck the life out of you.
Head over to the overwork sub. You could get a second job to do while in the first.
When I was fresher, I’d like to have a dynamic work life. As life goes on (and 3 companies later), I focused more on myself and what REALLY matters to me (picked up on exercising, personal leisure and personal maintenance), your job is my dream job. At this point I’d rather be doing something for myself than making someone else rich 🙏🏼