posted January 16, 2013 10:44 AM            

A bit of background: I am currently working as a “contract” (aka underpaid, long term temp with no benefits) assistant HR generalist at a small, privately owned company. Apparently this place was booming in its heyday. They had hundreds of employees, a large in-house staff, and things were looking pretty good. That is, until they were hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit, that they lost ($$$). This along with their tendency not to bid competitively has lost them most of their clients (they are down to 5!!!). They do not pay their bills on time and they get calls from creditors, lawyers and state unemployment all day long. Since I have been here (only 2 months) I have seen 2 long time employees get fired, after they were dropped down from salaried, 5 day a week schedules to hourly, 2 and a half day workweeks. That included the head HR generalist and the lead accountant. One temp that they expected way too much from also got the ax. This is not odd for them though, they are well known around these parts for having a revolving door of employees. How do I know all of this? Observation, research and I am not stupid. Now, the owners are trying to go in another direction and are trying to sell their new pipe dream venture to anyone who’ll listen. They claim that everyone they talk to is “so interested”, but I say that until they sign their names on the dotted line no one is truly “interested” in anything, people are just politely blowing smoke up their rears.

What happened yesterday: Since there are only 6 people working in the entire office, we take turns working as receptionist and my role goes back and forth from head generalist to executive assistant. I absolutely hate this. I am a great worker, I work fast and “with excellence” as they like to say here. The only thing is, I don’t talk much. I mean, if someone asks a question I answer it and if someone asks me to do something I do it. I don’t feel the need to have a big conversation or a big to-do about work. I do not make small talk and I abhor phony business talk (“mission statement”-this or “hit it out of the park”-that). In fact, since I HATE working here, I am extra quiet because I am seething inside, afraid that I might explode with anger because I hate being here so much. Well, my boss asked me to have a talk in another office.

She sat me down and asked if I was still “on board” (more sh!tty business talk), because for the past week I have seemed “distant”. I answered with the most unenthusiastic and unconvincing “yes”. (The past week has less to do with the job though and more with my love life but, none of her concern, anyway). She proceeded to go on and on about what a “valuable team member” I am and how she “sees me going far” and more crap about how this new venture is like “the next Facebook” (I could barely contain my laughter). Then she says “You are so quiet, why is that?” I told her, “I am quiet, but I am not shy. I like to do research and observe more than anything…”

“You are cerebral”, she said.

“Exactly!”, I said, this was the first time she said anything that made any sense.

“I am the same way, but I had to kind of force myself to be outgoing, as a business owner…”

Ughhhhh, please, just don’t…

“I can see you as a part of the management team of <phony new venture> but I think you need to be a little more outgoing. I don’t know how you can go about doing that, I don’t know what to tell you to do…?...”

Well, precisely. It is not really in my nature to be outgoing and you can’t tell someone to be more outgoing. I am a nice, pleasant and warm person, don’t get me wrong, I just have that icy Aqua rising façade and it especially comes up when I am not happy and I am on the verge of depression, quite frankly. So what? I am polite, but I have no need or use for side conversations.

“Why don’t I come up with the quote and theme for next week’s meeting?”

Sometimes I talk and I don’t know how these things come out, maybe that is why I keep quiet.

“That is an incredible idea! Great initiative! I have an even better idea – why don’t you lead the meeting? If I think you are stuck I will just jump in and help. This is a very safe and nurturing environment to work on these things…”

So, I will rock out the meeting because public speaking is actually my forte (Sun opp AC contradictions strike again). Again, I am not shy I just hate phony, useless chatter and I am good at working. I am truly dumb sometimes, just throwing crap out there, but I know how to buy time. I still need this job until something I want to do (not for profit, related to children, active and sans office environment) comes along…

posted January 16, 2013 06:31 PM            

I disagree about introverts. I feel respected generally and I wouldn't say I'm extroverted.

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How does one fake being outgoing?

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posted January 16, 2013 07:50 PM            

Leos born around of the end of July and early August are usually rather serious, no-nonsense people, from what I've seen.

Think of JK Rowling...always frowning a little bit. Ditto Hillary Swank.

I haven't known any third decan Leos who are as intense as the first decan.

posted January 16, 2013 07:53 PM            

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
its different if you're a guy odette.. shy or introverted girls are seen as cute, introverted guys are usually deemed creepy.

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posted January 16, 2013 07:55 PM            

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Originally posted by Odette:
downtomars - Do you have a Cancer Mercury? or Virgo?

Only Leos with Leo Mercury are loud ... imo

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Odette - I am a Leo with a Leo Mercury, retrograde and combust...

I am a proud introvert, not willing to change that. I think that since I look young, and since I recently got my (2nd) masters, boss lady thinks I just need to "come out of my shell". At 33, this old dog doesn't need any new tricks. I need to keep this job though, for now...

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...introverted guys are usually deemed creepy.

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posted January 16, 2013 07:59 PM            

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Originally posted by Faith:
You remind me of my husband who is also a Leo sun/Libra moon.

Leos born around of the end of July and early August are usually rather serious, no-nonsense people, from what I've seen.

Think of JK Rowling...always frowning a little bit. Ditto Hillary Swank.

I haven't known any third decan Leos who are as intense as the first decan.

Curious which decan you're in?

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Oh Faith! You hit the nail on the head! I share a birthday with Hilary Swank (July 30). Now that I think about it Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a July Leo also (July 28), and we have a very similar way of speaking and presenting ourselves (pats self on back...) :-)

posted January 16, 2013 08:12 PM            

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Originally posted by Odette:
I'm an Aries with Pisces Mercury and I can be very quiet at times, although I don't feel 'shy'.

I disagree about introverts. I feel respected generally and I wouldn't say I'm extroverted.

That's like asking "how does one acquire acting skills?"
As a Leo you probably do have acting skills.
Pretend you're playing a role in a movie.

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posted January 16, 2013 08:16 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
its different if you're a guy odette.. shy or introverted girls are seen as cute, introverted guys are usually deemed creepy.

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posted January 16, 2013 08:25 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
its different if you're a guy odette.. shy or introverted girls are seen as cute, introverted guys are usually deemed creepy.

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posted January 16, 2013 09:31 PM            

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Originally posted by Faith:
Not if they are cute.

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posted January 16, 2013 09:49 PM            

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
correct! they are "mysterious" instead.

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posted January 17, 2013 02:16 PM            

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
its different if you're a guy odette.. shy or introverted girls are seen as cute, introverted guys are usually deemed creepy.

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Usually, for me though what happens is people project things on me, quiet in a male can be seen as mysterious.

Last evening had some friends literally ask me "Are you a Chinese spy"?

Can go either way with me, depending on my mood, sometimes the life of the party other times just have nothing to say.

posted January 17, 2013 06:16 PM            

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Originally posted by sand:
@ the comments u get padre!

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Welcome to my world Sand!

I'd hang out downtown, minding my own business and literally have tourists tell I look like 3 different actors. I lost count with one when it reached 35 separate times!

Then there was the whole serial killer bit, including the cops being called b/c this crack pot was certain I was one

Except for the last part I find it really funny..

posted January 17, 2013 08:42 PM            

I know how how feel I'm in a similar position.

I hate my job, I'm technically a contractor working for an unnamed government department.

A lot of the departments are doing a lot of fiscal cuts and they hired me because I'm a full time student under the student work plan.

To the people I work with I'm a big value I don't cost anything because being a student means its treasury board that pays my salary not the individual department that hired me.

Treasure Board is the department that provides funding to all the departments, essentially the "big boss" every department reports to.

In addition I already have another degree and experience working with other departments, so to them I'm a big value.

As long as I'm still a student working on my second major they can continue the "student plan" and continue getting funding from treasure board.

I'm not treated as a student I do the same work as the other staff.

Heck, I actually have to slow down because if you get things done to quickly you'll make other people look bad.

I found out on my second week there were two people before me, one quit the other was a contractor that got to expensive and they let him go.

Here is the part that I speak about the benefit of being quiet.

The first department I worked with was in the summer, I was on my last year of college and being a government town means naturally you'll most likely end up working there once you complete your degree.

I was offered to become permanent. I realized it's not a competitive job. if the government were to start cutting back people, you would be left in a position were you wouldn't be able to get another job.

I said thanks, but maybe next summer I want to continue with more school maybe a masters degree or another major.

The other staff were extroverts I was the only introvert and they all had the mentality nothing can go wrong. None of my coworkers thought as individuals.

A year later there was an election in Canada and was replaced with a more conservative government, the first thing the new government did was cut all the department budgets in half.

By chance, I bumped into one of my passed coworkers and we talked. She told me she was unemployed for a time because of the cuts,
Then she was rehired as a contractor.

I told her I knew it was going to happen but I chose not to say anything and kept it to myself.

posted January 17, 2013 08:55 PM            

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Originally posted by RedScorp:
It takes all kinds!! You have to just settle where you work best. The extroverts handle people and get things done while the introverts guide the extroverts and do the thinking/advising. The world goes round!

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Exactly, introverts tend to notice things that extroverts do not b/c they are talking so much.

posted January 18, 2013 01:09 AM            

Its tiring, and exhausting, but its worked for me.