The title of Wall Street journal article is sad but true. Have spent way too long grinding and am over it.
Here’s the Wall Street journal article link. Interested in reading it. Does anyone have a subscription that can share the gist of the article?
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/workplace/office-workhorse-how-get-ahead-2d3a6e46
Let me emphasis the “don’t f*” part of the below is crucial. Nobody is going to want to work with you again if you made their job harder, regardless of your personality. But if you can handle your sh adequately most of the time and maybe go the extra-mile here and there to show you’re a “team player”, then at that point it’s just as valuable if not more so to have your coworkers like you as a person as it is to be the workhorse.
This. I’ve found just showing a little personality here and there and sharing tidbits about my life (without overdoing it) does wonders for having coworkers and higher ups like me.
Everyone hates awkward ice breakers (for good reason) but those are basically just trying to force the above artificially. Find ways to let that happen organically here and there… and then as far as work goes you just need to not f***-up, rather than be a workhorse, to have people thinking you’re great.
Networking is just making sure the people you work with would like to work with you again.
People like to think networking consists of introducing yourself to people and self aggrandizement. It’s none of that. Building a network comes by being in the right place and doing a good job when someone that matters can see it. You don’t talk your way into roles - people choose you based on what they know you can do. Sometimes the opportunity isn’t there. A lot of it is luck and timing. A lot of d-mb people would have you think you can network your way to the top - it’s BS
I thought just working long and hard and always being the best among my peers be rewarded. Nope. 30 years later I have only made it to a 3-level job profile. I much younger peer of mine has gone from 1-level to a 4-level in only 4 years.
It is a system that discriminates against, and exploits, those that are neurodivergent.
Thank you all.
https://archive.is/OQ2qF
I used to be like that, until I saw promotions are not based on merit here. Now I get all my work done right before the deadline, not a day earlier. Have an extra project that needs help? Sorry, maybe someone in India can do it for you.
I have zero incentive to go above, I get my check and leave. Saturday work? Lol, never.
This has been true since forever. I was one of those that thought putting in the extra work and going above/beyond got me some kind of work/social credit.... I was a fool. If you give all you have, they will only ask for more and you're only the hero until you say "no". I regret giving life and soul to the company. If you are early in your career my only advice is do a competent, professional job... don't give blood, sweat, and tears... it will never be appreciated or re-paid....
companies need people who come in, do what their told, work hard, and head home. For all their effort they get a meets iland 2% raise if lucky, less if they aren't. You want to get ahead and be rewarded/promoted you have to sell yourself hard.
To each their own. I'm fine being the workhorse at this point and have zero interest in the jobs above me.
Yeah I think this has been known for a long time. I don’t think it typically pays off to do nothing, but it’s typically better to do adequate work and sell yourself well, than it is to be a “workhorse” people take for granted at the expense of putting time into those “salesmanship” things like networking, participating in initiatives, etc.
The gist is basically, you have to play the politics game and build your personal brand / manage perceptions in addition to the hard work. Advocate for yourself and focus on things that shine a positive light on you.