Least Favorite Job

When I was finishing up high school, I already had a job at the circuit clerk's office in the rural county in Florida where I lived. I was doing very well there and did not see the need of going on to college when I didn't know what else I would like to do. In fact, if I'd continued living in Florida I have no doubt I would still be working there to this day. I loved it there and felt it was a good fit for me.

Then enter tall, dark and handsome and I ended up living in another state as a married lady.  My goal was to be a full-time homemaker and mother; however, life stepped in and changed my plans.  I began looking for other jobs.

As time went on, I racked up experience working in an insurance agency, a dental office, a bank and a law office before settling in my career as a ministry assistant.

By far, the least favorite job I ever had was as an executive secretary in a law office.  By far.

It wasn't so much the mind-numbing amount of filing and typing of petitions that made it my least favorite place.  It wasn't even the stacks and stacks of dusty books and files that filled every available place in the office offending my organizational and decorative sensibilities.

What made it my least favorite job was the pit of fear in my stomach each day as I headed to work.  Fear of being blamed for something not in my control weighed heavy on my mind. My boss was a yell-er.  I could not abide anyone yelling at me. Enough said.

My boss's definition of an executive secretary was a worker who would take all blame for work left undone by him.  When a client called wanting to know how a case was progressing, I was to reassure said client.  If something had not been done by the lawyer I should act as if it were my fault and soothe the client, apologize and promise him it would be done ASAP. Even if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that a.) I was not trained to do the work myself and b.) there was no chance the lawyer would get it done immediately, I was still supposed to promise the client. It. Would. Be. Done.

As you may have guessed, things came to a head one day.  A client showed up in person at the office in an effort to finally have something resolved.  The lawyer dressed me down in front of the client.  The worm turned.

Then I didn't have to go to work anymore with a pit of fear in my stomach.

But it's all good.  Because of that horrendous time in my life, I finally found out the answer to the burning question, "Mom, if you could have a job doing anything, what would it be?"  Until the day my daughter asked me that question, I had really never thought about what I liked to do, I was just always chasing the job that maybe paid the best or had the best benefits.  

I found out what was really important - liking what you do.

 

 

This post was written in response to Writer's Workshop prompt 2.) Your least favorite job you've ever had. 


Q4U:  What was your worst job?  Share in the comments or link up to Kat's blog, Mama's Losin' It.