ENFP + Office / Cubicle Work?

[Shanty]

I know, I've had "the speech" about unfairly judging office jobs; I am painfully aware of how varied and diversified they have become. And don't EVEN get me started on the new ergonomic system - talk about productivity? Fuggetaboutit. I'd move in, forget spending only 40-50 hours of daytime a week stacked in horizontal human shelves, and that they tell me when to pee and eat ... with all this gloriousness? They ("the man") throws in some nasty-ass recycled air that has been through the lung cavity of every co-worker, stray hobo, and maintenance / handyman in the past two weeks.

Yes I exaggerate, but to me, ALL offices are the exact same; you can put a perfectly-tailored Gucci suit on an ostrich, but it is STILL an ostrich! Haha ... unless you are lucky enough to work at one of the hip offices ran by progressive people ... then your cubicle can have fancy shit like raspberry hand sanitizer!


Thanks for letting me poke some fun first at 'the establishment' ... it isn't all as tortuous as I think it is. I hope.

I have tried office work 4 times. The first three, I can't remember a full week I didn't bail and call in sick or show up horrifically late ('the man' hates lateness). The fourth one I put forth a LOT of effort and even resisted using their company phone to call my then-boyfriend in England (props!).
(I ended up quitting that one too - but I lasted a whole 9 months!)

Your experiences? If you've been successful, what type of work do you do? Whoa, nosy.

[KateAusten]

I interned in a corporate environment every summer during college. It was mostly for financial reasons, but it wasn't bad for a student job. I find the service industry very stressful because so many people are mean to you, but in all my offices, everyone was nice. I was also able to work on my own goals during the day -- I would listen to language learning podcasts while doing menial things or work on some writing or online research during downtime.

Of course, this was the tech industry in California. Had I not been in an extremely casual office environment, where I could wear whatever I wanted, listen to headphones, and use the internet for personal use, I would have gone insane doing repetitive things all day. I was also damn good at my job mostly because I have a talent for dealing with what I call Engineer Attitude without batting an eye or losing my cool

Long term though, I don't think cubicle stuff is for me. I think I want to work on developing a skill that I can do on a freelance basis from my computer, or a job that travels easily like teaching English as a foreign language. I feel that my calling in life is to explore the world but unfortunately it's not 1492 and they're not paying people to do that anymore.

[Tridentus]

that would be boredom central.. id just get so restless. i did w/e for a week at a law firm in the city and i actually fell asleep at one point- did NOT make a good impression..

get out there and do what ENFPs are good at!! random adventures etc.!!

i always said that if i don't find a career that i like in teaching/psychology/law, etc. that my go-to career would be one of those overseas charity organisations in africa, etc.- dealing with meaningful things everyday and interacting with ppl who i have so much i can learn about..

[truevitality]

I want to gorge out my eyes and bang my head on the desk every time I go to my mom's job (she works in a cubicle) for more than 10 minutes. Worst form of torture...ever!

But I will say this...if I had to do it to make money or feed a family, I'd so do it.

[WMDistraction]

I'd do it if I had to, but if I could avoid it, you can bet that I would.

[Love Obsessed]

I get bored with any job unless I enjoy what i am doing. i count the hours until it's time to leave. Unfortunately I never had an office or cubicle job. I believe if i did have an office job i would enjoy it for while and then get bored. The best job for me is a job where I can have freedom. And get a chance to interact with people by helping them in someway. I picture myself having several jobs because I'm interested in so many things.

[FlipDan]

The thought of it bores me, one of the last resort choices on future career prospects.

[pinkrasputin]

The cubicle frightens me. The office gives me shivers. I hear they expect certain things there like attendance, subordination, and sitting......

[Moby]

I'd prefer the social boardroom setting or close to it. I'd love to own a company that runs marketing focus groups or else both participate in/and lead focus groups. While it might always be in the same building at the same desk I'm sure the social component would make it awesome.

[Shanty]

Originally Posted by KateAusten

Of course, this was the tech industry in California. Had I not been in an extremely casual office environment, where I could wear whatever I wanted, listen to headphones, and use the internet for personal use, I would have gone insane doing repetitive things all day. I was also damn good at my job mostly because I have a talent for dealing with what I call Engineer Attitude without batting an eye or losing my cool

Every serious, long-term relationship I've had? The guy has been either an engineer or COME FROM an entire family of engineers. Usually civil / mechanical. You ever find that they are 'close-talkers'? Weirdest thing. They can't hold a interesting conversation on their own for more than 30 seconds, but they feel comfortable getting right in my face? Not appealing or appreciated. Close-talkers scare me - BACK THE FACK UP! lol