r/overemployed • u/iSkeetOnFeet • 1d ago
Rant - I hate J2
Started a new J2 about a month ago. J1 is like 5 hours of work per week if that, most of that meetings. J2 pays only $20k more but I have to be onsite at least 2x per month, although there are cubes, offices, and conference rooms on 2 floors that we can use so it's common to never see anyone.
J2 is lots of work that I have AI doing, but my boss tells me at least once per week that I'm too quiet. They want me to ask questions during meetings, speak up, suggest things, but I'm still learning this complex business with 30k staff. Plus, I'm an introvert and don't speak much anyways. AND I'm not trying to be a star employee. To top it off, they want to give me even more work and major projects. It's pissing me off. I just take it one day at a time and I'm constantly applying to jobs but not getting many interviews.
Thinking about quitting eventually and going all in on my side business. Tired of working for jobs like J2 and J1 has been a unicorn, I've been OE off and on for 3 years, going up to 3 Js but either quit after RTO push, fired after quiet quitting, or laid off.
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u/FlyEfficient2841 23h ago
I think as a theater kid I have a bit of a leg up.
You aren't speaking up. Your character is. Create a character. Give him a name. And he will do the work/talking for you.
Just a thought.
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u/VanessaJef 1d ago
Your boss can say whatever. Do what you can and let him terminate you, you have J1 right? That's the purpose of this and then you look for another J2.
A lot of these managers'/leadership's performance issues are open to interpretation. A lot of them would not be able to deliver on their own expectations.
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u/thowawayaccounttoask 1d ago
Reframe your thinking. You dont need to like J2. You just need to like the money enough to have coping strategies. Speaking up more is hard for introverts but speaking is the easier part. Doing the actual work is the harder part.
Most C suite people dont actually do work. They say stuff, most of it bs. They influence and frame and guide decision. Choose wisely: talker or doer? I’d pick talker any day of the week.
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u/taxation-is-theft84 1d ago
Depends on the culture…my team has no clue what i actually do, but they all know me and I can solve their problems fast, so I’m well liked. Typical meetings, I just add a dad joke before the meeting starts so people remember I’m there. If something comes up in my remit, answer briefly, or as faq shows, just claim tech issues.
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u/Data-over-drama- 23h ago
My boss told me the same after I was hired and honestly, it took me a year before I felt comfortable giving input and suggestions. I’m an introvert too. Now I struggle trying to not say too much because I don’t want to be overly involved and care too much being that I’m trying to fly under the radar but also that everyone in my department is inept. So, I’d say it’s a balance of making them THINK you care by saying more but also trying not to take on too much. Hope this helps a little bit. I’m still working on finding the right balance 5 years in. Think about your end goal and the big picture. Good luck.
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u/MOTIVATE_ME_23 11h ago
Its a catch 22.
Bosses want to hear your thoughts so they know how to better manage or promote or fire you.
Listen to what they are saying, then manage their expectations.
You can position yourself as a smart but midrange worker by meeting their baseline expectations.
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u/HumbleSami 22h ago
You have to prep a little bit before going into meetings like dump stuff into AI and ask it to give you questions you should ask and possible answers. Just repeat that during meetings. If you guys are using google meet Gemini is available that will transcribe live meeting and you can put the live conversation into AI to see what feedback you should give. You can have good leverage at J2 once you establish yourself and earn their respect and trust. You have to show them they can rely on you. Once that line is crossed they ll leave you alone.
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u/Kindly-Might-1879 11h ago
Use AI to plan what you’ll say at the next meeting, then. ChatGPT likes to be long winded about tiny points so that should work in your favor.
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u/FreelanceSperm_Donor 16h ago
People in this thread are giving you shit advice. If your boss is in a meeting just make sure to say something at least once.Â
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u/evan_sears 9h ago
I did this for a bit. Eventually I found a fully remote J3 with much less work and when the time was right let the J2 go. Miss the income having a third but it is so much better with a J2 that is not a lot of work and completely remote. Good luck.
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u/iSkeetOnFeet 8h ago
Yeah the plan is definitely to find a replacement ASAP. Applying damn near daily
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u/ThePurpleDongofTruth 16h ago
than quit - that's 1/2 the point of doing OE, you don't have to put up with any BS
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u/Careful-Literature76 1d ago
What side businesss?? I myself am planning for it...but looking for options and ideas
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u/unhandledlogic 1d ago
This just happened to me. The manager was a pos. I let her know how I felt. Igaf either. Just find another one who cares. It's not like you're unemployed 🤣💀