From: w2lee@argo.acs.oakland.edu (Walter Lee)
Subject: Re: transform a resume
Reply-To: w2lee@argo.acs.oakland.edu
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 06:53:42 GMT

In article <C03H10.C19@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, ezellj@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Jean Ezell) writes:
(in response to one of Allen Adler's diatribes on the career game)
>I've been reading your posts with some interest, because you very much
>remind me of my best friend from my undergraduate days.  He's employed
>now at a regular job, complete with security clearance, because he
>finally decided that the conditions of extreme poverty were worse than
>being employed.  He didn't enjoy it too much at first, but I think that
>he is much happier now than he ever was unemployed.

Allen and your undergraduate friend both remind me of me to some extent.  But I
don't think a member of the doctoral class of '74 is as likely to undergo a 180
degree attitude adjustment, even allowing for a period of "not enjoying it too
much at first".  As for me, my worldview is not so "black and white" that I see
"extreme poverty" and moral compromise (by my own standards, I don't intend to
imply anyone else's are lower) to an extent comparable to working for a defense
contractor as my only options.  For example, I could live with working for a
company whose products, while benign, are not ones I would spend my own money
on; and which allows me to live in merely moderate poverty.  Actually, this is
more or less where I currently stand.  (I contribute, in a small way, to the
manufacture of cars, which I consider the least appropriate technology outside
the military.)

I see my future (much to Allen's disappointment, I'm sure) as holding slightly
more material comfort and slightly less scruples.   My real disappointment with
the job market is that there seem to be two kinds of jobs out there...1. total
dead-end jobs (like mine) which require no responsibility, no creativity, no
growth of skills etc. 2. careerist jobs that, while stimulating in some
positive ways, require one to have managerial ambitions (we've all heard about
people who painted themselves into a corner by pursuing a technical as opposed
to managerial career track), and to display an almost cheerleader-like attitude
toward the company and its products.  This would be understandable in a
Japanese-style company which at least offers some degree of job security.  In
America one gets laid off sooner or later, at which point (barring a career
change) the professional is pounding the pavement at the competition, and
(needless to say) faking orgasms about THEIR organization/product.  (Why do you
suppose they refer to prostitution as the oldest profession?)

If anyone knows about a "type 1.5 job" please let me know.  Better yet,
something entirely outside the "drop-out <--> sell-out spectrum".  Again, I
clarify that my use of the term "sell-out" is not intended to apply to your
undergraduate friend, but would probably apply to me in the same job.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Walter Lee                                          w2lee@argo.acs.oakland.edu

Look!  A ladder!  Maybe it leads to heaven, or a sandwich!
				-- Zippy the Pinhead
Newsgroups: misc.jobs.misc