They just keep coming! There’s probably at least one more post on my job survival tips for weirdoes and mutants. You can find posts one, two, and three as well.
Man I have to post more spiritual stuff, but I’m on a roll.
Stuff
Office Supplies – Everyone takes them, we all know it. Don’t do anything illegal for “Bob”’s sake, but have at it like everyone else is.
Use The Throwaways – Offices waste enormous amounts of stuff or sell off equipment. Find out how to get those fixable broken chairs or old-but-usable computers! Maybe you even HELP OUT and get your hands on the good stuff early.
Office Giveaways – People dump food, unread books, leftover holiday candy, etc. at work. Use this. Sometimes you get entire meals out of this. If it’s not happening, try to start it! Also dispose of stuff you don’t want at work, it’s honestly good citizenship, even if your job sucks.
Snacks and Food – Some places have snacks, food, coffee, tea, etc. Take advantage of that! Why go purchase stuff or bring it in when it’s there?
Benefits And More
Use Every Damn Benefit – Most jobs provide more benefits than the average person uses. Sit down with your benefits package and use the hell out of everything! Also it gives you an excuse to get to know the people in HR, etc. and network.
Use Discounts – Some companies and organizations provide discounts on things like computers, etc. Find these and USE them. Also use them for friends and family when you can, take advantage of it.
Get Therapy If You Can – If your employer provides it, get therapy. The stress of the job and the fact people may manipulate you make therapy an important tool.
Apply Health Benefits – Especially if you didn’t have any for awhile. Get in shape, use those checkups, get those new glasses NOW. Use them while you got them.
Use The Services – Lots of workplaces have dry cleaning, travelling barbers, in-lot oil changes, etc. Like benefits, use these if you can! Plus they’re excises to dodge work if you want to (though a place with a lot of services probably is decent to work at).
Parking and Travel – Check any benefits for parking and travel. Some places don’t care when you use it – or consider its non-work use normal. Prepare to save $$ because no one cares.
Training Tactics
Required Training – Required training can be boring – and often is – but it’s another excuse to take time off. You can even schedule it in ways that the prep, commute, etc. adds to time away from work. If it’s in person sometimes there’s food too!
Be a Trainer – If you become a person that does training for people, youve got a way to avoid other work, meet folks who become allies, look good, and learn stuff. Most people aren’t good at conducting training, so consider this option.
Learn Tools And Software – On the job you’ll probably get exposed to new tools, techniques, software. Take the chance to learn them, especially ones you can use elsewhere. Its on-the-job training – and you might get skills you can use in fun things or your actual life!
Use Training – If your job has training, use it. It lets you bow out of work, helps you career, and gives you skills you can use elsewhere. If you can make an excuse to take stuff you WANT but not relevant to your JOB, go for it.
-Xenofact