When I started teaching English literature at a university prep school in Hermosillo, MX, the supervisor made a big deal of telling the new foreign teacher staff that plagiarism wasn't allowed and we were to report any cheating.

After a few months, two of my students-who sat next to each other- had identical answers on short essay answers to a test. I notified the students, then took the tests to the supervisor's office for her to take care of it.
Instead she said icily that the father of one of the girls had paid for the school wing to be built.

Then she stopped talking to me and my contract wasn't renewed.

From then on in foreign schools, I talked to the resident teachers first to find out the minimum grades the school would accept for students, then made sure nobody scored below that, and never called anyone for cheating.

My story is about a job interview. I was running late for the appointment and went running out the door still dressing myself, kind of like Dagwood Bumpstead for those who remember. The interview went great and at the conclusion we stood to shake hands and there was a loud metal clunk. It appears that in my haste to get dressed I neglected to put my belt on all the way and my belt buckle was hanging down and hit his desk. Thinking I’d never hear from him again I accepted another position. Guess what.....he did call and make an offer.

My friend worked in construction and was in charge of pouring foundations. At this time there were several buildings going up on the same street. Unfortunately he picked the wrong foundation which happened to be the largest one and had it poured only to find out it was the wrong one.

Been around a long time, had jobs I did Nothing but got paid because of my Security Clearance. Even in Navy Boot Camp during work week many had to go work in the Galley Kitchen.... my job was stay in the barracks with the staff and design and paint the 2 company flags. Can not complaint, skills I was born with gave me jobs without the proper schooling. Not bad at all... Retired Now.

Sorry it worked out that way for you.

I've never had either the resources or the confidence to be able to quit. So in a similar circumstance, I would have tried to hang on until they laid me off, hopefully by then I would qualify for a few weeks of unemployment. For what it would cost in terms of misery and self degradation, I'm not sure that would count as a "win".

When I didn't get laid off, I was kept around for my credentials and assigned menial tasks. Again, not a real "win". I often wonder if I had the where with all to quit and keep looking for a worthwhile job, where I would have wound up and what I could have accomplished.

Eventually I think I came to the conclusion it is your job or your life. You can choose a quality job, but you will probably be living in Dubai. Or you can choose a quality life, then you will be stuck in the misery you just walked away from. Tough call.

It might be possible somewhere at sometime to have the best of both worlds or at least an acceptable balance. But I never found it. Retired now for 2 years after having gleaned "just enough" to get out.

Good Luck and Keep at it!!

One college summer my mother's friend owned a chemical plant. I got stuck working assembly line with aerosol cans, putting the tops on. We also blew perfume into little star and moon bottles for Helena Rubenstein. Quit after 6 weeks. Suckiest job ever.

Bummer know you needed a job but abuse the heck with that

It's a toss up for me.
Job scenario I
Washing dishes as a second job for some snobby, snotty bitchy little queen. When I was finally caught up on my bills, I resigned, and was promptly cursed out!
Job scenario II
Working the same job for 8 and a half years wasn't bad. It was good work, and decent pay. I liked my job a lot. But when my boss began mixing religion with cocaine things got really screwy there.
Within three months, I was going to med tech school to get a solid job.

Being expected to interview psychotic or intoxicated( on who knows what drug) individuals in a tiny nearly windowless room with no security present. These rooms were at the end of the hall far from areas commonly used by other employees,THere were long electrical cords on the wall between us that could be used with evil intent.There was a bathroom attached to the room that once shut, the door locked and could not be opened from the outside. No matter where I was in the room I was within arms reach of the inmates (who may have murdered someone just the day before) but I was told to use a radio to call for help. Think about doing that in front of someone within arms reach. After a while I refused to use these rooms until they had the cords off the wall and the lock situation on the bathroom fixed. I continued to see patients/inmates in the infirmary. I was fired for "insubordination" and not caring for the inmates. I know THe last doctor that was hired for full time work was working at least one other job because he was working with me. I was at the facility at all times. (Not sure how they decide someone cares) It was a right to work situation so there was no recourse.

I drove a taxi in a small town where I was the only taxi in town day or night. Soooooooooooo many crazy things happened. Probably the most off the wall though was the girl that took the taxi to commit suicide. She had me drive her out to the airport entrance road and said "I'll walk from here.". After I dropped her off and was out of sight she jumped in front of a semi. She tipped me $6 bucks.