A Guest Post By Dante Alighieri
Alright, so first, big thanks to Chuck for letting me have a platform to get back into writing. Let’s get started with a little background about Job Hell.
The 9 Circles of Job Hell get progressively worse the deeper you go. It’s just standard hell operating procedure, really. Therefore, the First Circle isn’t really all that bad, but the Ninth Circle is a complete disaster. Also, unlike some kinds of Hell, Job Hell has nothing to do with what you deserve or what you’ve done wrong–it’s simply a bad place to wind up. So try not to over think it.
The First Circle of Job Hell: Surprisingly Enjoyable
As I mentioned in the intro, the First Circle is a place that isn’t really all that bad by hell standards. People here aren’t really suffering in the traditional sense, and though it’s technically a part of Job Hell, most people would just call it Job Limbo.
If you see this at work, you’re probably in a lower circle.
In Job Limbo, your co-workers are actually pretty good to be around, your boss is a reasonable person, and the work you do is noticed and appreciated. Your responsibilities are manageable, and they are tasks which you do well.
When quitting time rolls around, you’re allowed to head out the door without a care until the next morning. There’s decent pay and benefits, and you even get off for President’s Day! In short, it’s a pretty good job–one that’s probably better than most people’s.
The Downside: It’s Still Job Hell
As you probably expected, it’s not all rosy. That’s another basic SOP for any decent hell: there must be at least some downside for inhabitants.
In case of the First Circle, that comes in the form of a lack of personal and professional fulfillment. While each day is pretty good by itself, taken as a whole, there’s the faint sense that something else out there would be much more rewarding and meaningful.
So the First Circle of Job Hell isn’t about pain and suffering; it’s about missed opportunities and wasted potential. Not the worst place to be, but certainly not where we hope to find for ourselves for our careers.
A Subtle Touch of Suffering
Oh yes–there’s one more thing. While your co-workers are pretty cool people, in the first circle, they will always drink the last of the coffee and never make another pot. Always.
In the First Circle, this doesn’t just seem to happen all the time.
That’s really the only traditional, hell-like aspect of this place. Well, the overly stringent internet filter they have installed can get old in a hurry too.
It Only Gets Better/Worse From Here
While the First Circle is the most pleasant part of Job Hell, it’s also the most boring. It only gets more interesting as we go. That being said, it feels good to be writing again, I hope you enjoyed it, and I’ll be back in a few days with the Second Circle!
Warmest (har har) regards,
Dante
17 responses so far ↓
1 Jonathon // Jul 31, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I don’t drink coffee, but I do find myself constantly wrestling with a stringent internet filter. I’m glad Dante can relate.
2 Chuck Westbrook // Jul 31, 2007 at 10:15 pm
@Jonathon– As long as you keep getting access to IHYJ, you’ll be fine.
3 Peggy // Aug 1, 2007 at 7:20 am
Not only do they drink the last cup, (of course they don’t turn off the pot) they leave just enough to let it boil and bubble away and then the bottom of the pot is one big burnt mess!
4 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 1, 2007 at 8:15 am
@Peggy– Some of these people even have children!
5 Melissa // Aug 1, 2007 at 9:03 am
This is hilarious. I’ve never been so eager to learn about hell.
6 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 1, 2007 at 9:16 am
@Melissa– Thank you.
7 Rebecca Thorman // Aug 1, 2007 at 9:48 am
Entertaining and dead on. It’s not as if something is wrong per se, but something is missing; certainly a hellish thing to figure out!
8 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 1, 2007 at 10:00 am
@Rebecca– Glad you enjoyed it.
9 djobe // Aug 1, 2007 at 11:57 am
This is a great post and I am anxiously awaiting the next circles!
I couldn’t agree more that at first it is really just about missed opportunities and underused potential. There is nothing “wrong” it’s just that things can be so much more “right.”
10 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 1, 2007 at 12:07 pm
@djobe– Thanks! Make sure you check out the intro to the series over here.
11 icedragon // Aug 2, 2007 at 1:13 am
think that we have been like in the 3rd circle, will just have to wait to see
First circle looks more like heaven, you have coffe, and five minutes to drank it !!
12 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 2, 2007 at 11:51 am
@icedragon– Should get a look at the second one tomorrow and the third mid next week. Five minutes? Cause you have to make it? Always mysterious, Icedragon…
13 Modite - Engagement for the next generation // Aug 6, 2007 at 9:59 am
[…] Generation Y, commitment phobia is more about being realistic about a situation than the lack of desire to work or be loyal. We don’t see the point in staying […]
14 Tai McQueen // Aug 9, 2007 at 5:35 pm
They have real coffee there (as opposed to the cheapest available giant bulk catering packs of instant)? Cool! Where do I apply?
15 Chuck Westbrook // Aug 9, 2007 at 5:57 pm
@Tai– Ha! Good point. If you’re truly interested in applying, the best way to do so is to tell everyone you know about this website. It’s a strange process, but I didn’t invent the rules…
16 Dante // Nov 17, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I wasn’t supposed to be here today.
17 Journey to Financial Freedom » Link love extravaganza // Nov 25, 2007 at 1:12 am
[…] Dante Alighieri, that’s right, Dante the famous writer, has come back to tells us The 9 Circles of Job Hell, interested ?, well, you will find this and more at I Hate Your Job […]
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