Job Responsibilities
I am responsible for the smooth running of an office of 35 physicists and
engineers. My first priority is to assist the program head in his daily tasks and
keep him on his schedule. I spend about 6 hours a day at my computer 2 hours a
day running from "fire" to "fire" and hopefully I get 1 hour a day for lunch.
Yes, that is 9 hours 8-5 five days a week. That pretty much covers my day!
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Job Requirements
My work load is determined by me. I set the schedule although I let my
supervisor think she does it. It is difficult working for a boss- the program
head and a supervisor. Classes are easy to take here, but it is hard to find the
time to fit them into my scheudule. I have not difficulty getting the classes, as
there are almost always offered at more than one opportunity.
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Uppers
I "love" my job or at 61 years old, I would not still be here. Most all the
people I work with are great and depend on me to get the job done.
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Downers
My supervisor is a bit hard to deal with as she is always "right" even when she
is not. She has moved to a difference building, so she is not right around the
corner as she was for the last 6 years. There is nothing like walking out of your
space and finding your supervisor standing listening right outside your space,
but
out of sight. I feel like I am being "spied on".
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Lifestyle
The lifestyle is great at my position. No dress code, but I always wear nice
clother - not fancy - but clean and nice. I travel to symposiums when clerical
help is needed and it doesn't cost too much to get me there - San Diego,
Pleasanton, Princeton, NJ - mostly within California. I always try to attend
retirement lunches - mostly I am planning them - it's fun.
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Compensation
My grose pay bi-weekly has gone up $448 in seven years. The raises are not very
good here. I made this comment when I was given a 38 cent an hour raise - "This
amount makes me really feel wanted and needed in my position."
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Advice to Jobseekers
If you are old and don't want to go any higher, work at Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
The top of my head is firmly planted on the "glass ceiling".
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