Sequel to Walk the middle road - how to approach school and work as a sub5 without being a cuck.
Most of you's already know the drill - the job market is and has been dogshit for years now. Job requirements are inflated, salary ranges are too wide to get a sense if the job is worth it or not. Your CVs don't really get though unless you've ATS optimized them. Hiring processes. Hiring managers.
But what happens once you actually land a job? You won't be rewarded for working hard, especially as a sub5. You will not be rewarded for extra research you do at home (e.g. if you work in Information Technology). Raises are low, sometimes null. Over time, employees absorbed this information and proceeded accordingly. However, employers caught on and they've developed strategies and counters. I will explain some of these below, keep in mind they are centered around the IT industry, because that's where I've worked primarily.
Bait #1 - During the interviews: "The salary you requested might be too high for this position, but let me talk to my boss about this"
99% probability that you've been rejected already, your time is being wasted. You don't have to cancel the process, but instead of waiting, move on to other job postings
Bait #2 - During the pay raise meeting: "We might increase your raise later this year"
They won't. Think about it, there's no reason why they can't just give you the full raise right away. Unless there's a document, signed by both you and the employer, saying that you will get X raise at Y time, you can't do shit later.
Bait #3 - "KPIs are important"
SMV will mediate your KPIs, even in office jobs where physical prowess isn't required. If you're tall and attractive, your KPIs will almost not matter. If you are short and ugly, but with high KPIs, they'll have a harder time getting rid of you, but they'll never truly respect you, because it's seen as overcompensation. This might start a war of attrition, where they make your life miserable so that you quit instead of being fired. At this point, there is no "right" strategy. If you notice a big decline in your mental and physical health, it's perfectly valid to leave. If you think you can ride it out until they fire you, that's valid too, just make sure you're built for that sort of thing. I'm currently trying the second option for the first time in my life and it's been a rollercoaster.
Bait #4 - When quitting: "Why are you leaving the company? You were going so well"
Translation: "Damn, you were sponging all the tech debt and bullshit we didn't want to deal with, now we gotta find some other asshole to do your work"
Bait #5 - When quitting: Exit interview
The exit interview is bullshit. They don't want to know your feedback, because if they truly wanted that, they would've asked you before. This interview is more for their legal protection than anything else. I'm not gonna dilute this thread too much, but you can watch videos on Youtube about exit interviews e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J_ufmIjnS8
Bait #6 - "You will be rewarded for attending the office more often then working remotely"
Similar bait to #2. A few years ago, I was the only guy at the office for months. Part of it was strategic, because the gym was 5 minutes away, and there is some peace sitting at such a large office with that pleasant silence. At some point I even saved their office equipment from infiltration damage. I was not even given a raise that year, and the raise I got next year barely covered the one I didn't get.
Bait #7 - "You pay raises will be better if you do X and Y certifications"
Similar bait to #2. If the certification is not mandatory, you're honestly better off not doing it unless you really want to.
Bait #8 - "You pay raises will be better if you attend social events and diners"
Similar bait to #2. Enjoy your shitty food and drinks. The same concepts of SMV apply here. Don't go unless it's strictly mandatory.
Bait #9 - "We care about the grades you had at university"
This is only half-bait, because some companies do care, and those will tell you right off the bat anyway and ASK for proof. If they don't ask for proof, it's actually better to not show them. Sub5s with high grades are seen as overcompensating, and obedient perfectionist cattle.
Bait #10 - "Don't discuss salaries"
The more they say this, the more you should discuss salaries. If it's such a big taboo, it means there's something about the company that is being kept secret.
(Do it discreetly though)
Bait #11 - "We care about research work and extracurricular activities you did at uni"
See bait #9. If they care that much, they should request proof. Otherwise, they're trying to trick you to work hard until the raise meeting, where you'll be shot down
Bait #12 - "You seem to be lacking in motivation and energy. Have you tried going to the gym"
This one is actually really fucking disgusting. They'll do this shit even if they know perfectly well that you're going to the gym and exercise frequently. It signals that they won't address the shitty salaries and work environment, thus pushing the costs onto you.
I will add more separately if I recall them.
Most of you's already know the drill - the job market is and has been dogshit for years now. Job requirements are inflated, salary ranges are too wide to get a sense if the job is worth it or not. Your CVs don't really get though unless you've ATS optimized them. Hiring processes. Hiring managers.
But what happens once you actually land a job? You won't be rewarded for working hard, especially as a sub5. You will not be rewarded for extra research you do at home (e.g. if you work in Information Technology). Raises are low, sometimes null. Over time, employees absorbed this information and proceeded accordingly. However, employers caught on and they've developed strategies and counters. I will explain some of these below, keep in mind they are centered around the IT industry, because that's where I've worked primarily.
Bait #1 - During the interviews: "The salary you requested might be too high for this position, but let me talk to my boss about this"
99% probability that you've been rejected already, your time is being wasted. You don't have to cancel the process, but instead of waiting, move on to other job postings
Bait #2 - During the pay raise meeting: "We might increase your raise later this year"
They won't. Think about it, there's no reason why they can't just give you the full raise right away. Unless there's a document, signed by both you and the employer, saying that you will get X raise at Y time, you can't do shit later.
Bait #3 - "KPIs are important"
SMV will mediate your KPIs, even in office jobs where physical prowess isn't required. If you're tall and attractive, your KPIs will almost not matter. If you are short and ugly, but with high KPIs, they'll have a harder time getting rid of you, but they'll never truly respect you, because it's seen as overcompensation. This might start a war of attrition, where they make your life miserable so that you quit instead of being fired. At this point, there is no "right" strategy. If you notice a big decline in your mental and physical health, it's perfectly valid to leave. If you think you can ride it out until they fire you, that's valid too, just make sure you're built for that sort of thing. I'm currently trying the second option for the first time in my life and it's been a rollercoaster.
Bait #4 - When quitting: "Why are you leaving the company? You were going so well"
Translation: "Damn, you were sponging all the tech debt and bullshit we didn't want to deal with, now we gotta find some other asshole to do your work"
Bait #5 - When quitting: Exit interview
The exit interview is bullshit. They don't want to know your feedback, because if they truly wanted that, they would've asked you before. This interview is more for their legal protection than anything else. I'm not gonna dilute this thread too much, but you can watch videos on Youtube about exit interviews e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J_ufmIjnS8
Bait #6 - "You will be rewarded for attending the office more often then working remotely"
Similar bait to #2. A few years ago, I was the only guy at the office for months. Part of it was strategic, because the gym was 5 minutes away, and there is some peace sitting at such a large office with that pleasant silence. At some point I even saved their office equipment from infiltration damage. I was not even given a raise that year, and the raise I got next year barely covered the one I didn't get.
Bait #7 - "You pay raises will be better if you do X and Y certifications"
Similar bait to #2. If the certification is not mandatory, you're honestly better off not doing it unless you really want to.
Bait #8 - "You pay raises will be better if you attend social events and diners"
Similar bait to #2. Enjoy your shitty food and drinks. The same concepts of SMV apply here. Don't go unless it's strictly mandatory.
Bait #9 - "We care about the grades you had at university"
This is only half-bait, because some companies do care, and those will tell you right off the bat anyway and ASK for proof. If they don't ask for proof, it's actually better to not show them. Sub5s with high grades are seen as overcompensating, and obedient perfectionist cattle.
Bait #10 - "Don't discuss salaries"
The more they say this, the more you should discuss salaries. If it's such a big taboo, it means there's something about the company that is being kept secret.
(Do it discreetly though)
Bait #11 - "We care about research work and extracurricular activities you did at uni"
See bait #9. If they care that much, they should request proof. Otherwise, they're trying to trick you to work hard until the raise meeting, where you'll be shot down
Bait #12 - "You seem to be lacking in motivation and energy. Have you tried going to the gym"
This one is actually really fucking disgusting. They'll do this shit even if they know perfectly well that you're going to the gym and exercise frequently. It signals that they won't address the shitty salaries and work environment, thus pushing the costs onto you.
I will add more separately if I recall them.
