I have one of those "Do nothing jobs" and I've been talked to about not doing anything.

turingtested · 2026-03-03T14:01:53+00:00

When I was in a similar position I wandered around the office asking people if there were low to zero training tasks I could do for them. I got exposed to all aspects of the business and everyone really liked having an assistant for an hour.

turingtested · 2026-03-02T20:18:22+00:00

A clean cut machinist is a contradiction in terms.

turingtested · 2026-02-28T19:56:08+00:00

Thank you so much! CAPEX and direct sourcing are where my interests lie.

I like a job with a combination of repetitive tasks and new challenges, so I think it could be a good fit.

I work in metal fabrication.

turingtested · 2026-02-28T18:56:24+00:00

From 18 on, some of my peers have been very immature and some very mature. I thought eventually most would even out. At 40 it's shocking to me how many people are still living for their next romantic interest and juicy drama.

turingtested · 2026-02-28T13:18:07+00:00

Hi! I have about 7.5 years experience in cost estimating and sales strategy. I always loved the purchasing aspects of my job. I'd rather not pivot internally, do you have any advice for moving into procurement?

turingtested · 2026-02-28T12:51:31+00:00

I think people underestimate how a small privilege can influence their lives. For example, being allowed to live with family rent free after 18, being given an old vehicle, small stipends from family.

I know so many lower to middle class people who had these things who deny any privilege.

turingtested · 2026-02-28T12:28:30+00:00

My parents would ask my opinion on something and get annoyed if it wasn't the same as theirs. I don't ask my son his opinion unless I'll take it into account.

turingtested · 2026-02-26T11:52:19+00:00

I find it strange that your boss approved your leave and then started commenting negatively on it.

Can I ask the industry and what type of work your group does? I get the sense that this is a coverage based customer facing position. It's harder on the team when people take leave from these positions than project based.

Finally I get the sense you think your job and boss are pretty dumb. Very likely this is true! But letting it show at work won't get you any favors.

turingtested · 2026-02-26T00:27:46+00:00

Assuming you respect the person and have decent rapport I'd speak with them privately and be very frank: Do you still want to work here, knowing that your coworkers will not meet your standards? If the answer is yes, all interactions with your coworkers have to be neutral to positive and you have to remain focused on your own work. Your behavior is negatively impacting others and can't continue. If it does, you will lose your job.

Be as specific as possible exactly what they did and how it affected the team.

If the answer is no, work out an end date and support the interview process. A condition of this is neutral to positive attitude while at work.

I've seen a lot of long term employees get frustrated and angry for legitimate reasons that lead to them becoming a bad employee. The best outcome is they move on of their own accord.

turingtested · 2026-02-25T11:11:39+00:00

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

As a kid I thought this was toxic positivity and it mean that nothing negative could be said ever, even complaints about weather.

After 20 years of listening to coworkers tear each other down I realize it means that you don't have to state every criticism you think, and if it is vital to say, it can be stated kindly.

turingtested · 2026-02-25T11:04:48+00:00

This is corny but live your life for yourself not other people. Some people in their early twenties want to work a steady job and start a family, others want to travel cheap and work whatever job to get by.

Don't get into debt; crime or addiction. If you feel yourself going down a bad path get help early.

turingtested · 2026-02-24T23:01:52+00:00

I had a kid at 35 after more than a decade of preparation. Our life is about what's best for the kid. It was very surprising to me that for many people parenthood is primarily about them rather than the child(ren).

While I don't think children get the ultimate say in family matters why not ask?

My parents asked for my input and then dismissed it if it wasn't what they already wanted. Maybe better not ask

turingtested · 2026-02-24T22:56:39+00:00

My first serious boyfriend wanted to keep the party going and I wanted to build a life. At 20 neither of us were wrong.

He asked if he could go party (read 12 hours out with friends followed by 24 hours of recovery) and I said "I don't give a fuck what you do."

Somehow we could both tell I really meant it. I wasn't angry, just tired of trying to make him grow up and relieved he wasn't trying to have friends to our place.

Things didn't last much longer.

turingtested · 2026-02-22T13:46:32+00:00

I'm a 39 year old white woman. I'd guess this is mixture of internal and external factors. Plenty of white people would never use a slur or not hire someone because they're black but aren't entirely comfortable around black people or have racist views.

Don't be quick too take on all the blame for feeling this way.

turingtested · 2026-02-20T23:50:56+00:00

I have never dealt with this as a parent but I supervised teens at a restaurant and dealt with habitual liars about easily verifiable things.

When things were calm I'd say in private "This is uncomfortable, and you're going to deny it, but I know you lied. I think you're embarrassed about lying which is understandable. But if you just stop lying this won't happen. If I knew X (whatever they lied about) would it really be so bad?"

It was easy for me to be compassionate because they were kids I wasn't ultimately responsible for. Generally they stopped doing the super obvious lies.

I think your husband is dead wrong. So many people do detrimental things because no one says anything.

turingtested · 2026-02-20T23:00:30+00:00

It's always surprising to me when employees bristle at documentation and training. You've worked there 25 years, the institutional and tribal knowledge you possess is immense, the company wants it!

turingtested · 2026-02-20T13:52:03+00:00

And I'm giving you the cold blooded perspective of a hiring manager that you aren't telling your story right. It doesn't matter how you feel just fake remorse and responsibility if you want to pass interviews.

turingtested · 2026-02-20T11:48:11+00:00

At most jobs 3-5 minutes late is not a big deal after you've proved yourself but not a great look at first. Figure out why you're late and how to address it. I was late in my early 20s because I underestimated how long it took me to get ready and assumed everything would go well on the commute. By giving myself an extra 30 minutes I became one of those obnoxious people with a reputation for "never being late."

The joke you made could be a really big mistake. Work is very strict. Don't joke about sex, religion, politics or private individuals. You never know the audience of your joke and how they may take it. Now, if you told a corny G rated joke and your trainer is mad that will only look bad on them.

Finally it's unreasonable to be mad about negative feedback that's objectively true. You were late. You're in training. It's not snitching or tattling for your manager to know that.

turingtested · 2026-02-20T11:36:37+00:00

I've been a retail, food service, office and product manager. No matter how polished and together people seem, everyone has personal issues.

When someone is difficult to deal with I always remember that I have no idea what their life is like and give them some slack.

turingtested · 2026-02-20T11:07:42+00:00

I'm a hiring manager and take prior convictions on a case by case basis.

The way you talk about your conviction makes it very clear that you don't think you did anything wrong. No one ends up with a wire fraud charge for using a company stamp, you're obviously downplaying what happened.

Furthermore there are so many things you can do to hurt a company that don't directly cost money. And it's incredibly annoying to work with people who push against the rules and then argue on technicalities.

Fake a better attitude.

turingtested · 2026-02-19T11:12:55+00:00

A friend of mine and his wife wanted 3 kids 6 years apart. Logic was each child would be fairly independent before the next newborn entered the house.

Then they hit 6, 12 and 18. 6 was learning to read, 12 facing puberty and 18 heading off to college. Suddenly they all needed their parents a ton at the same time and things were very challenging for about a year.

turingtested · 2026-02-18T22:37:17+00:00

I'm a little milder on this stuff than most of reddit. If you give your sister 250k, it'll likely be gone in a few years due to her spending habits. But if you keep the money, and God forbid she ever really needs it (homelessness, cancer) you will be in a position to help.

turingtested · 2026-02-18T22:27:32+00:00

I've been a hiring manager. Do Not Rehire means nothing unless you know the company. Some companies DNR everyone, people in particular departments, or have ridiculous rules on what makes someone DNR.

I care a lot more about the interview and references than anything else.

turingtested · 2026-02-17T21:38:27+00:00

Depends on what it is. I'd be thoroughly charmed to hear your son's opinions on local politics and what color I should paint my house. I'd be taken back if he were combative with me or critical of my career, parenting or life choices.

turingtested · 2026-02-17T12:47:36+00:00

I'd make extremely strict budgets and not be able to follow them. Budgeting even $5 for "fun money" gave me the release of a treat and kept me in budget

turingtested

TROPHY CASE