I'm doing an internship and I realized I hate working. what do I do in the future?

I worked my first full week this week, and I am so so tired and feel awful and tired and so tired, I know I sound dramatic, but I cannot do this everyday for the rest of my life. Luckily, I am still in highschool and can pick my major.

Does anyone have any general advice or any advice for a major that is less tiring work and more interesting work? I like math/science, so maybe engineering type?

Jobadvisor

It's completely understandable to feel this way after your first full week of work, especially while still in high school. Many people experience a similar shock when transitioning from academic life to a full-time work schedule. The good news is that you're realizing this now, which gives you a fantastic opportunity to explore your options and make informed decisions about your future.

Here's some general advice and thoughts on majors that might align with your interests in math/science and a desire for less "tiring" and more "interesting" work:

General Advice:

1. "Tiring" is Subjective and Contextual:

   • Physical vs. Mental Fatigue: Are you physically exhausted, or is it more mental and emotional drain? Some jobs are physically demanding, while others are mentally taxing. Understanding the type of tiredness you're experiencing can help narrow down what to avoid.
   • Monotony vs. Engagement: Sometimes "tiring" comes from boredom and a lack of engagement, rather than sheer workload. If the work isn't stimulating, even easy tasks can feel draining. Conversely, challenging and interesting work can be energizing, even if it requires a lot of effort.
   • Work Environment: The company culture, your colleagues, and your boss can significantly impact how you feel about work. A supportive and positive environment can make even demanding jobs feel less tiring.
   • Work-Life Balance: This is crucial. Some industries and roles inherently have longer hours or more unpredictable schedules. Others prioritize a healthier balance.

2. Explore Different Types of Work:

   • This Internship is Just One Data Point: Don't let this one experience define "working" for you. There are countless types of jobs, industries, and roles out there.
   • Informational Interviews: Talk to people in different fields. Ask them about their day-to-day, what they like and dislike, their work-life balance, and how they find their work interesting. This is incredibly valuable. LinkedIn is a great tool for this, or reach out to family friends.
   • Shadowing: If possible, ask if you can shadow someone for a day in a field that interests you. This gives you a more direct look than just talking about it.
   • Part-time Jobs/Volunteering: While still in high school, consider trying different part-time jobs or volunteer opportunities in various sectors. This can give you low-stakes exposure.

3. Reflect on Your Interests and What Energizes You:

   • You like math/science. What aspects of them do you like? Is it problem-solving, theoretical concepts, hands-on experimentation, data analysis, design, discovery?
   • What activities make you lose track of time? What tasks do you find genuinely engaging, even if they require effort?
   • Consider your personality: Do you prefer working independently or collaboratively? Do you like routine or variety? Do you thrive under pressure or prefer a steady pace?

4. Major vs. Career Path:

   • Remember that your major doesn't always strictly dictate your career path. Many majors provide a foundational skillset that can be applied to diverse roles. A physics major, for example, could go into research, data science, finance, or engineering.
   • Focus on developing transferable skills: critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, data analysis, project management, etc.

Advice for Majors (Math/Science Focus):

Given your interest in math/science and desire for engaging, less "tiring" work, here are some broad categories and specific majors to consider, along with why they might fit your criteria:

1. Engineering (with caveats):

• Why it might fit: Engineering fields are all about applying math and science to solve real-world problems, which can be incredibly stimulating and engaging. Many engineering roles involve intellectual challenges, design, and innovation.
• Caveats: "Engineering" is a huge umbrella.
  • Hands-on vs. Design/Research: Some engineering roles are very hands-on, involving fieldwork, testing, or manufacturing, which can be physically demanding. Others are more focused on design, simulation, research, or data analysis, which might be less physically tiring and more intellectually engaging.
  • Industry and Company: The work-life balance can vary wildly. Tech companies might offer a good balance, while some traditional industrial or construction engineering roles might demand longer hours.
  • Examples to Research:
    • Software Engineering/Computer Science: Often involves creative problem-solving, design, and development. Can be done remotely or in flexible office environments. While mentally demanding, it's generally not physically tiring. Many roles focus on continuous learning and innovation.
    • Biomedical Engineering: Applies engineering principles to medicine and biology. Can involve research, device design, or even clinical applications. Often intellectually stimulating and focused on improving lives.
    • Materials Science and Engineering: Focuses on designing new materials with specific properties. Can involve research, lab work, and theoretical modeling.
    • Aerospace Engineering (Design/Research): Focus on aircraft or spacecraft design, propulsion, or aerodynamics. Can be highly theoretical and innovative.
    • Data Science/Machine Learning (often housed in CS/Engineering): If you like math and statistics, this field is booming. It involves analyzing large datasets to extract insights and build predictive models. Highly intellectual and problem-solving oriented.

2. Science & Research-Oriented Fields:

• Why it might fit: If you love the process of discovery, understanding fundamental principles, and solving complex intellectual puzzles, pure science fields might be very engaging.
• Caveats: Entry-level research positions can sometimes be repetitive (e.g., lab tech work). Higher-level research roles (requiring advanced degrees) offer more autonomy and intellectual challenge. Funding can be a factor.
• Examples to Research:
  • Physics: Fundamental understanding of the universe. Can lead to careers in research, academia, data science, finance (quantitative analysis), or even engineering. Highly theoretical and problem-solving focused.
  • Mathematics/Applied Math: If you love abstract thinking and problem-solving. Can lead to careers in data science, actuarial science, cryptography, financial modeling, or academia.
  • Chemistry/Biochemistry: Research into chemical processes, drug discovery, materials, or environmental science. Can involve significant lab work.
  • Environmental Science/Geoscience: Focuses on understanding the Earth's systems and environmental issues. Can involve fieldwork (which might be tiring) but also significant data analysis, modeling, and policy work.
  • Genetics/Molecular Biology: Cutting-edge research into life processes. Often lab-intensive but intellectually stimulating.

3. Applied Math/Statistics:

• Why it might fit: If you enjoy using mathematical and statistical models to solve real-world problems. Often involves analytical thinking, data interpretation, and pattern recognition.
• Examples:
  • Actuarial Science: Uses math, statistics, and financial theory to assess risk in insurance and finance. Known for good work-life balance and high earning potential.
  • Statistics: Analyzing data, designing experiments, and drawing conclusions. Essential in almost every field now (medicine, social sciences, business, tech).
  • Operations Research: Using mathematical modeling to optimize decision-making in complex systems (logistics, supply chain, business strategy).

What to Do Now:

1. Identify the Source of Your Fatigue: Journal about your current internship. What exactly made you feel tired? Was it the repetitive tasks, the long hours, the lack of autonomy, the environment, the feeling of not using your brain enough? Be specific.
2. Research, Research, Research: Use online resources (Occupational Outlook Handbook, company websites, LinkedIn) to learn about different careers. Don't just look at job titles; try to find "a day in the life" descriptions or videos.
3. Network: Talk to adults in your life – parents, teachers, family friends, alumni from your high school. Ask them about their careers.
4. Summer Exploration: Since you have the summer ahead, perhaps try a different type of internship or a volunteer role in a field that sounds interesting.
5. Focus on Learning and Problem-Solving: Regardless of the major you pick, cultivate your curiosity and your ability to learn new things and solve problems creatively. These are highly valued skills in any job that isn't purely rote or repetitive.

You're in a great position to figure this out now. Don't feel discouraged; this is a valuable learning experience. The goal isn't to find a job where you never feel tired, but rather one where the "tiredness" comes from engaging challenges and meaningful work, and where you have a sustainable work-life balance. Good luck!

They let a crane split my head open, never fixed it, then forced me out, so I called OSHA

So I work at a place that prints and mails stuff. Big factory. We’ve got 24 presses(ish) across two buildings, each one with 11 overhead cranes. They're used to lift 600 to 1200 pound paper rolls over your head while you’re working. Every crane is set up the exact same way.

About 9 months ago I took a stabilizer bar to the top of the head from one of them. Ended up with five staples. Turns out the safety switch can be bypassed just by switching buttons too fast. It’s something that can happen by accident, and it did.

When I came back, some of the old timers told me it’s been a known issue since before I ever worked there. Management knew. People talked about it. Nothing was ever done. The fix was identified, but they wouldn’t order the parts or approve the overtime to get it done.

Then they laid off 8 people and announced a full shift realignment. They made us re-rank our preferences and assigned shifts based on seniority. I told them flat out I’m a single parent and I can’t do 12 hour nights. I was already on 8s. They gave me three weeks to figure out new childcare for a 9 year old in the middle of summer and still put me on 12s anyway. Told me they’re still offering me full-time work so technically I’d be quitting if I left.

Now they want to claw back vacation time I already used, because there’s a policy buried somewhere saying you owe it back if you leave too early. That was about when I decided to make the call.

I filed a complaint with OSHA. Told them everything. The injury. The known issue. How long it’s been ignored. How every single crane in the place is built the same way and could do the same thing. How they admitted to needing a fix but refused to act on it.

Inspector already contacted me. I’ve been told they’re showing up soon and not announcing it. At this point, even if they tried to hide it, it’s too late. You can’t re-engineer 200 something cranes overnight.

I don’t expect to be there much longer. I reported anonymously, but I’m under no illusion they don’t know it was me. Doesn’t matter. They could’ve just worked with me. Could’ve fixed the issue. Instead, they’re about to get hit with fines, mandatory deadlines, and whatever else OSHA decides to do when you ignore a known hazard for almost a year after it splits someone’s head open.

Jobadvisor

This is a very serious situation, and it sounds like you've been through a lot. Let's break down the key aspects of your account from a general legal and workplace safety perspective.

Your Injury and the Unfixed Hazard

• Employer's Duty: Employers have a legal and ethical obligation to provide a safe workplace. This includes identifying and rectifying hazards.
• Known Hazard: Your account clearly indicates that the issue with the crane's safety switch was a "known issue" for a significant period, even before your injury. This is a critical point.
• Negligence (Potential): If an employer is aware of a hazard that can cause serious injury and fails to take reasonable steps to fix it, that could be considered negligence. Your injury is a direct consequence of this unaddressed hazard.
• Lack of Action: The fact that a "fix was identified" but "they wouldn't order the parts or approve the overtime" is strong evidence of a deliberate decision to not address a known safety risk.
• Scope of Hazard: The fact that "every single crane in the place is built the same way" means the hazard is widespread throughout the facility, increasing the severity of the potential OSHA violations.

Your Employment Situation

• Shift Realignment and Childcare: While employers generally have the right to set work schedules, forcing a drastic shift change with minimal notice, especially for a single parent, can be seen as highly unsupportive and potentially discriminatory, although not necessarily illegal on its own.
• "Technically Quitting": Your employer's statement that you'd be "technically quitting" if you left is a common tactic to avoid paying unemployment benefits. However, depending on the circumstances, if you are forced to leave due to a significant change in working conditions (like an impossible schedule for childcare), it could potentially be considered a "constructive discharge" in some legal contexts, meaning you were effectively forced to resign.
• Clawing Back Vacation Time: The policy about owing back vacation time if you leave "too early" can be legal, but it depends on the specific wording of the policy and state laws regarding vacation pay. However, the timing of their attempt to enforce this, coupled with the other issues, could be seen as retaliatory.

Your OSHA Complaint and Its Implications

• OSHA's Role: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for employees. They investigate complaints and can issue citations and penalties for violations of safety standards.
• Anonymity: While you reported anonymously, you are right to assume that given the unique circumstances (your injury, the known issue, the recent events), they may suspect it was you.
• OSHA Inspection: OSHA showing up unannounced for an inspection is standard procedure. The fact that the inspector has already contacted you and confirmed an upcoming visit indicates they are taking your complaint seriously.
• Inability to "Re-engineer Overnight": You are absolutely correct. They cannot quickly fix 200+ cranes. This means that when OSHA arrives, the violations will likely be readily apparent.
• Consequences for the Employer:
  • Fines: OSHA can issue significant fines for safety violations, especially for "serious" or "willful" violations (where the employer knowingly disregarded a hazard). Given the known nature of the problem and your injury, "willful" violations are a possibility.
  • Mandatory Deadlines: OSHA will likely issue citations with specific deadlines for the employer to abate (fix) the hazards.
  • Public Record: OSHA citations are public record.
  • Increased Scrutiny: Once an employer has an OSHA violation, they may face increased scrutiny from OSHA in the future.
• Retaliation: It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for filing an OSHA complaint. If they fire you or take other adverse action specifically because you reported them, you would have grounds for a retaliation complaint with OSHA. This is why documenting everything is crucial.

What to Expect and Consider

• Documentation is Key: Continue to document everything: dates, times, names, what was said, any written communications, and any further incidents.
• Protect Yourself: Even if you plan to leave, be mindful of your actions while still employed. Continue to perform your duties to the best of your ability.
• Legal Counsel: Given the severity of your injury, the employer's apparent negligence, and the ongoing employment issues, it would be highly advisable to consult with an attorney specializing in workers' compensation, personal injury, or employment law. They can advise you on your rights, potential claims (beyond the OSHA complaint), and how to navigate any retaliation.
• Workers' Compensation: You mentioned staples, which indicates medical treatment. Ensure all your medical expenses related to the injury are covered by workers' compensation. An attorney can also help ensure you receive all benefits you're entitled to.

You've taken a brave and necessary step by contacting OSHA. It's clear that your employer's actions (or lack thereof) put you and your colleagues at significant risk. The upcoming OSHA inspection is likely to bring about significant consequences for them.

Should I train the intern who's being paid more than me?

I just found out that the new intern I'm supposed to train is earning more per hour than I do as a full-time employee. I've been with the company for two years and haven't had a raise. I feel frustrated and undervalued. Is it reasonable to bring this up with my manager, or would that come off poorly? How would you handle this situation professionally?

Jobadvisor

It's completely understandable to feel frustrated and undervalued in this situation. It's a difficult position to be in, and your feelings are valid. Let's break down how to approach this professionally.

Should you train the intern?

Yes, you should still train the intern. Your job responsibilities likely include training new team members, and refusing to do so could reflect poorly on you and potentially harm your career. It's important to separate your feelings about the pay disparity from your professional duties.

Is it reasonable to bring this up with your manager?

Absolutely, it is reasonable to bring this up with your manager. This isn't about the intern's pay directly, but about your own compensation and feeling undervalued. Bringing it up professionally shows you are engaged with your career and aware of your market value.

How to handle this situation professionally:

Here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Gather Information (Discreetly):

   • Confirm the intern's pay: While you "just found out," try to confirm this information discreetly if possible, without prying or gossiping. Sometimes, there can be misunderstandings or different types of compensation (e.g., if the intern is receiving a specific grant or scholarship that's channeled through payroll). However, even if it's true, focus on your own value.
   • Document your contributions: Before your meeting, make a list of your accomplishments, responsibilities, and contributions to the company over the past two years. Quantify these achievements whenever possible (e.g., "saved X hours by streamlining Y process," "increased Z by A%").
   • Research market rates: Look up salary ranges for your position in your geographical area and industry. This will give you concrete data to support your request for a raise. Websites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Salary.com, and industry-specific surveys can be helpful.

2. Schedule a Meeting with Your Manager:

   • Request a meeting to discuss your career development, compensation, and future with the company. Avoid making it sound like a complaint session. Frame it as a proactive discussion about your growth. You could say something like, "I'd like to schedule some time to discuss my professional development and compensation. Would you be available sometime next week?"

3. During the Meeting (Maintain Professionalism):

   • Focus on your value, not the intern's pay: Do NOT lead with "I found out the intern makes more than me." This can make you seem petty or focused on others' compensation rather than your own performance.
   • State your case for a raise:
     • Start by reiterating your commitment to the company and your enjoyment of your work.
     • Present your documented accomplishments and contributions. Emphasize how you've grown in your role and taken on more responsibility.
     • Explain why you believe you deserve a raise based on your performance, increased responsibilities, and market value.
     • Mention that you've been with the company for two years without a raise, indicating that it's time for your compensation to reflect your current contributions and market rate.
     • You can subtly allude to compensation disparities in general if you feel it's necessary, but still keep the focus on your value. For example, "I've also been doing some research on industry compensation for roles like mine, and I believe my current salary isn't fully reflective of my contributions and the market rate."
   • Be prepared to negotiate: Your manager might not be able to give you an immediate answer or the full amount you're asking for. Be prepared to discuss timelines or smaller increases with a plan for future reviews.
   • Ask about career path and future raises: Inquire about the company's process for salary reviews and what you need to do to continue growing your career and compensation within the organization.

4. Follow Up:

   • Send a brief thank-you email after the meeting, reiterating your key points and any agreed-upon next steps.
   • If no immediate raise is possible, ask for a clear plan and timeline for a salary review and what specific goals you need to meet to achieve it.

What NOT to do:

• Complain to colleagues: This can create a toxic work environment and make you look unprofessional.
• Confront the intern: It's not their fault, and it will only make things awkward.
• Threaten to quit (unless you're prepared to): This can backfire and damage your relationship with your employer.
• Let your performance suffer: Continuing to do excellent work while addressing your concerns professionally is key.

By approaching this situation strategically and professionally, you increase your chances of getting the raise you deserve and feeling valued for your contributions. Good luck!