Navigating a Failed Coop: Finding My Best Career Option

[quadraphonics]

From the OP


He was not completely blindsided here, apparently there was some foreshadowing. (though I do agree that the employer should have made a point of mentioning it as soon as it became an issue)

I thought that that part of the OP referred to his not being very productive, rather than not getting along with coworkers? I meant my previous post to refer to the issues with teamwork, rather than motivation per se...

 

[quasar_4]

You can't always do exactly what you want to at work. It's important to pursue the things that interest you, but just because one problem is not as exciting as the one you like doesn't mean you can get away with not doing it. It's part of working towards something bigger than yourself, you have to make sacrifices for that something, and if you're not interested in anything greater than yourself, then you're probably not in the right field.

Saying that you don't take interest into things that aren't theoretical enough is like saying you like the view from the top of the mountain but don't want to bother with the hike to the top. Sometimes you must confront the mundane to get to the thrill. And it DOES convey an arrogant attitude (even if you don't mean it to), because it's like saying "you slugs do this stupid problem, I'm not contributing unless it's an interesting advanced problem".

 

[Dylanette]

The best approach to change is to humble yourself by taking a miserable job that you hate. If you are a bright Ph.D, Mathematician, Physicist, etc. take a job at McDonald's. Or,take a part time job sweeping floors somewhere or doing some simple, mundane, and menial task. While I was in graduate school I took a job, don't laugh... cleaning toilets. I even got a bonus for cleaning the basement toilets which were not my responsibility. Even though I was working towards a graduate degree where I was supposed to use my brain, the tools of my paid trade were the bucket, mop, swab, disinfectant and pine cleanser, and everyone and their sons with no college whatsoever was my boss. To say the least the job was miserable, boring, and demeaning. But it was an honest living and it made me loyal and humble. I quickly learned that no job was beneath me and I also learned that with all my advanced education I was not better than anyone else. With all my advanced degrees and all my theoretical math I still had just as much to learn from the man who worked with me who didn't even have a high school education. Not only will such a position make you humble and not only will you come to realize that no job, no matter how mundane is beneath you, but you will learn to be just as proud of the simple jobs you do as you are
proud of your advanced intellectual work. I was just as proud of my toilet cleaning and the tools of my trade as I was about my academic achievements. Even though I hated the job.

 

[amz8601]

forget it. maybe he was the jerk, not you.

true, something to consider...but we have a great saying...

when you go to point at someones faults always assess youself 3 times before you assess them

this can be seen when you point your index finger, u automatically have your other 3 fingers pointing at yourself...this is a sign and its meaning is above...always assess yourself 3 times before you assess others...only then will you be successful.

if i were you i would take it as a wake up call, you life isn't over mate so don't get upset or think its over before its begun...maybe this is a sign from god to prepare you for a future more important job that you would have lost if u didnt assess your life and character that this job has prompted you to do...

am i making sense?

good luck and if you need help we're all here to chip in...

;)

 

[mathwonk]

i do not see any evidence at all in your original statement, that my suggestion your supervisor may be a jerk, is totally off the mark.

what seems odd to me is both his and your assumption that ability to survive in the workplace is a sort of body type, rather than a learned behavior.to me it seems your professor's scathing remarks show no capacity at all for helpful advice. this is not exactly model managerial behavior.

e.g. his remarks remind me of the comment above that my advice was the worst in the whole thread. anytime anyone says you are the worst whatever of their whole life, or the dumbest guy in the world, or yo mama is the ugliest in the country, ... well you get the pattern, then that person has an issue with you, since such comments are seldom true, (note i do not say never).

and as far as workplace behavior goes, academia is about the worst example of it i know of. i have had dozens of jobs, waiting tables, construction, insurance office work, liquor store counter work, delivering refrigerators, aircraft plant worker, meat lugging, moving, and math professor.

in all of these jobs performance matters, as well as getting along with coworkers. but in academics, i am embarrassed to say that very mediocre performance is tolerated, and rude criticism of underlings is often taken as a perq by A-H professors.

So try asking some other people what they think of this one prof. maybe it is a pattern that he exaggerates and flays underlings. on the other hand if you hear differently, take heed. but don't beat yourself up too much, there are always plenty of volunteers for that job.

 

[DavidWhitbeck]

I completely agree with mathwonk on this. The prof was clearing being abusive and not constructive.

If you start hearing the same thing from other people, then it's time to take action, but don't necessarily let one jerk get you down.

 

[Moonbear]

but don't beat yourself up too much, there are always plenty of volunteers for that job.

Now there's great advice.

One other thought...since his review is keeping you from getting another coop position, it might be worth a talk with the coop director. If this particular supervisor gave you no forewarning of deficiencies to correct them, the coop director should be made aware of this, either to potentially give you a second chance, or at the least, to steer other students away from that particular coop.