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Brad Hilderbrand graduated from Anderson University in the Fall of 2005 with degrees in Political Science and History, He is a native Hoosier, though he could be convinced to find a new home if said location has a fulfilling job and a warmer climate. Brad also works as a staff writer for 
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New here? Employee Evolution is dedicated to helping the Millennial generation answer the hard-hitting questions that come with the biggest transition of our lives. Be sure to visit our about section for the full story. Since you're here, check out our best articles in the archives. We've also put together a list of some Millennial-friendly employers on our jobs page. Any questions? Feel free to contact us.
As a young go getter, I’m always up for a challenge. I enjoy new opportunities, and it’s rare for me to say no when something new presents itself. That’s why when my boss recently called me in to tell me that she had a special project for me I got pins and needles.
As most of you have probably guessed already, I should have known better.
A big part of my job is making sure corporate records stay clean in our database. That means looking out for duplicate records, closing records of business that are no longer in existence, and making sure that the information we have is current. In addition to our database, we have a whole file room full of corporate info, folders jam packed with all manner of information, some of it from the ‘70s.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, my “special project” is to clean out all of those files, and get rid of the junk. Oh thrill of thrills, my life’s purpose is now laid before me.
Let us go through the steps I took in college in order to get the job of my dreams, shall we? First, I was told to keep my GPA up. Alright then, I think a 3.9 over the course of my studies is pretty acceptable. It could have been a 4.0, but my Econ class killed me. I’ll never understand that stuff, which is why my wife controls the checkbook. She tells me economics is simple, only spend the money she gives me, I guess my professor didn’t agree.
“Grades aren’t enough,” they told me, “you must expand your horizons by studying abroad.” Sounds like fun, so I did a summer in Oxford, spending my days learning from the world’s most brilliant scholars, and my nights forgetting those lessons by drowning in genuine Guinness. It’s alright though, I found my way home most nights, and I held my own enough in the lessons so as to not look completely stupid, just the average, American idiot.
So my academics were all in order, but I was told extra-curricular activities and work experience would really pave the way. I got involved in student government, even served as student body president for a year. I also held several campus jobs (at my height, I was working 5 at once) as well as two internships. If I had more than 30 minutes to myself before bed every morning (that’s not a typo) then I didn’t really know what to do with it.
So I played by all the rules, did everything I was supposed to in order to be successful, jumped through every hoop and followed every piece of advice, and what happened? Now I’m sorting through musty old file folders, throwing away yellowed newspaper clippings and hoping that strange substance falling out is asbestos. Sometimes I see commercials on daytime television, encouraging people who have inhaled asbestos to call a certain phone number and cash in on a court settlement. Suddenly I feel the need to write that number down; as I begin to think that my cancer diagnosis is but a blood-spattered coughing fit away.
I thought my job was bad and my talents were being wasted before, now I realize it could have been worse… because it is. So this is what it’s like to be less than worthless, to have all of your ability squandered because you have to do the job no one else would do before you. Wow, I had no idea I could sink to an even lower position. I’d rather scrub the toilets, as at least that would provide a clean toilet for someone to use. Instead, I’m thumbing through files that haven’t been touched in 20 years because my boss doesn’t like how they take up so much space.
Sure glad I can be using my youth and education for something so critical.
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Talk about a corrosive attitude. Want to get assigned meaningful work? Try using this as an opportunity instead of whining about it how it’s beneath you. Your boss will be a whole lot more receptive if your message is ‘I’m done your special project — what’s next?’
Otherwise — whatever, princess.
I thought this was entertaining. Someone told me once that the best thing you can do in your job is to make your boss look good. I’m sure your boss is feeling a lot of stress about those files, and they’re weighing on her mind. I know, because my next project for my intern is to do a filing day with me. When it’s over, I know I’ll feel dang near close to elated. And I’m sure your boss will feel the same!
Oh, Brad. So humorously depressing.
We just discussed in my management class last night about how schools and job recruiters have stopped looking for the “bright, well-rounded kid” and are now looking for the “angular” or oddball kids, because the bright kids are a dime a dozen.
If only someone would have told us that a little earlier, before we busted our humps on killer GPAs and a million jobs. I could have been an oddball, too, if only I’d have had the time …
Is it paying dues, low man on the totem pole or just a way for management to remind you you’re still green? Menial tasks a trained ape can accomplish do not motivate or inspire employees, especially the ones who are supposed to add real value to an organization. Give us tasks that matter. Solution to sorting through dusty 20 year old files….a match!
Someone has to do it. Perhaps its our (your?) fault for not being clever enough to find someone else to do it (or find a better place to be, or a better solution).
People don’t want to wash dishes and clean our hotels either.
nate: Please not the acerbic tone and general disdain for my job in every other post I’ve written for this website. That’s why they signed me up, if you want sunshine and lollipops, you’ll have to look to other writers. Not to drive away a commenter, but just know that if you ever see me post something titled “I LOVE MY JOB!” then it’s a safe bet I’ve finally gone completely over the cliff.
Rebecca: We’ll see how much my boss cares about the files once I’m done. From what I’m seeing, no one has touched these things in decades, so I don’t know how useful they are. However, if getting this done means my next project has actual value then fine. But if I go from this to dusting the file room in a French maid outfit then I’m going to get suspicious.
Jacqui: It’s interesting that the tide has turned to “angular” types (whatever that’s supposed to mean). If getting a good job means I should run around with fruit on my head and quote obscure ’80s romantic comedies then I’ll do it. The guy down the street does that, but he’s not a CEO, I think he’s homeless. Little did I realize he’s going to be the next head of a Fortune 500!
Chris: Funny you should mention the trained ape thing, as I’ve been saying that about this job for months. In fact, I’ve been working with a lovely simian named Kutungo at the local zoo on taking over for me a few days a week. We’re not quite there, but once I teach him to file the papers rather than eat them I think we’re on the way. Strange thing is, he’s already running the database like a pro, and knows more HTML code than I ever will. So much like us…
As for your solution to the files, I agree 100%. I’ve always wanted to see how adept I am at managing a controlled burn.
Devin: Unfortunately there’s no one for me to pass this off to as I’m the only corporate researcher so no one else has the “expertise” for this (yeah right). I tried to pass it down to our hourly employees (college students working part-time) but my boss said they wouldn’t be able to figure it out. Trust me, it’s not rocket science. As far as working here, I’m kind of stuck. My wife is finishing up her masters degree in 2 months so we can’t really move, and starting a new job with the intention of leaving in a few months doesn’t really sit well with recruiters. So instead, I’ll just stand on my soapbox and complain.
Also, I don’t think your dish washing comment holds water, because how many diswashers completed a college degree and busted their hump while doing it? I’d be more willing to accept my position if I didn’t have any aspirations or if I hadn’t spent my whole life trying, but so far all I’ve seen is that if you work real hard to be the best you can you still end up doing crap work for people who aren’t necessarily more capable than you, but have worked at the company longer.
Sure sounds like your enjoying your job! I think tasks like this should be expected by any entry level employee. They key is to mix this type of work with interesting work. It sounds like your boss could use a lesson in employee engagement.
Maybe you should tell him that you are more than happy to do this work, but you would be much more productive if you could tackle a challenging project as well (even if its a project that isn’t priority #1). If not, I would start looking for something new, immediately.
Oh Brad, as one Millennial to another, get over yourself.
I have a Master’s degree and I’ve spent hours sorting through old personnel files throwing 85% of it all away. A job is what you make of it. If you can’t find anything interesting in what you’re doing and you think you’d do so much better cleaning toilets then go clean toilets.
Although, I’m sure you’d find something to feel entitled to while you’re cleaning toliets. Hey, why can’t you be the senior janitor, you have a degree!
I agree with Brad, Devin. As strange as it seems to me, lots of people want a job where they can go in, put in their time, and go home at night with a paycheck.
Let’s be honest. There have been times when all of us have wished for that, too.
Some people find purpose in places other than work - it’s those of us who look to work to fulfill us that are far more likely to complain about washing dishes.
I think Brad is talking about what my college educated friends refer to as ‘Not in the brochure’ syndrome. We were told these were the requirements for being successful…College, volunteering, above average grades, a die hard work ethic. Except that isn’t how it’s playing out at all. As much as I hate the phrase a lot of us were raised to believe ‘we could be anything we wanted to’. Then you get out of college & find out that was a load of crap. More often then not your success depends on other people. I would have been better off studying ‘Being popular’ or ‘Brown nosing 101′.
I’ve been burned quite a few times now by my own ambitious nature. I’ve been admonished (and even fired) for asking to do something more challenging or attempting to take on work not specifically assigned to me. Now I’m to a point where I quietly do just enough to get by while secretly plotting the escape from my current job. Which is about as thrilling as Brad’s file sorting.
Meanwhile I have two friends without degrees who in the last month got promotions to management. One of them is now making more then I’ve ever made & he is 23. Besides the money there is the huge resume boost.
In my corporate world aspiring to manager is like aspiring to ride a pink unicorn to work everyday. It’s not going to happen because I already have a line of about a million managers ruling over me who are desperate to keep their jobs.
I don’t think Millennials feel entitled so much as they want more than what they are being offered. We were trained to succeed, want more, be driven…and then come to find out that is the last thing employers actually want. It leaves me feeling frustrated and even worse like a failure. A failure because I can’t overcome these obstacles the same way I could a class or an after school activity or whatever.
Jacqui:
“Some people find purpose in places other than work - it’s those of us who look to work to fulfill us that are far more likely to complain about washing dishes.”
That is totally it in a nutshell. I couldn’t have said it better. I am often accused of wanting too much fulfillment from my work. It’s just a job, get your paycheck and go home, blah blah. To those people I often remind them that we spend most of our waking hours at our jobs. So why shouldn’t I want to spend that time productively?
Amanda: It’s funny you should mention the “you can be whatever you want” line, that’s going to be a major topic in next week’s column.
Brad,
As a person who grew in a household of pack rats, I take personal pleasure in getting to recycle and throw out the crap I can convince my parents to get rid of. For me, that special project would be fabulous break from whatever i’m normally working on because I’d be making room for more meaningful storage. I’d also get to find out about my company’s history — where I otherwise survive on rumor and inuendo.
Break it into manageable chunks. One box a day. It’ll be over before you know it.
I suppose you object to using the postage meter too — there’s something therapeutic about sliding a 1000 envelopes through one. I’m envious of mail boys.
Everyone goes through this early in their career.
Mine was cleaning out the bread dough mixing tanks — 300, 600, and 900 gallon ones — for a baking company while I was still in school.
The deal is, I learned from that. Like I never wanted to do that kind of work. And it taught me a lot of respect for people who have to do that kind of work. Plus I got to think a lot about what I would want to be doing (none of this “challenging” stuff — what’s challenging specifically that you’d like to work on??).
Consequently, I learned a lot from the experience. What have you learned from this experience that can take you forward in your next project or position? (Start with the importance, or lack of it, of data integrity in databases and how data should be maintained, for example. When you’re this close to it, it should be easy to figure out if you’re looking for it…)
This idea of jobs being beneath people is silly. The boss chose you because he or she knew that you would get the job done, and you could be trusted to do a good job. This perspective creates a happy place. Now you are more valuable because you have a history lesson on the company. Often times supervisors go the path of least resistance. this is the double edged sword of being personalable and excited about new projects. YOu will be more likely to get a good (more desirable) assignment now because you cleaned the stock room better than any else would do.
One time I had a project like this so I ran a 5S (6 Sigma) system in the stock room. The master black belt of 6Sigma walked by recognized my 5S insanity and next thing I know I was on a major 6 Sigma project that increased domestic shipping from 85 - to 92%. This made me more valuable - and landed me a nice raise + my name was attached to this project All because of cleaning a stock room. Several of the other team members - made comments on how they would never clean the stock room. and it is beneath them etc.. When I was on the 6 Sigma project they all said that I was not qualified and they all talked poorly about me on this team.
SO the moral is do it, do it well and realize that you will or will not be noticed your personality and perserverance keep you valuable -
Brad,
You are an inspiration. And hilarious!
Your resume is very impressive and I’m sure it will stand as the foundation for your bright future (you better put on a pair of shades Mr. President)
Keep on going Brad. You’re going to find yourself at the top of a very large building, behind a big desk, playing video games on a very large screen one day.
Brad,
The sooner you realize that you are not entitled to anything, the better off you will be. A college degree really doesn’t mean much…usually just gets you the interview.
If you always have an attitude that you are too good to do a task then you will never be happy at a job. Come down to earth with the rest of us…roll up your sleeves, and dust off those old files. Also - stop trying to be a be a kiss a*s…no one really likes that, including your boss. If I was your boss I’d having you doing the same stuff to bring you down to earth.
Sorry for being so forward, but I have been in similar situations and seen others trying to kiss up to the boss and end up having to do crap work.
Also - you should read the book “The Question Behind The Question” aka The QBQ. It is a great book that changed my views for the better.
One more thing remember that the corporate world is small - piss off your current boss now could lead to problems for you in the future - even at different companies. I am not sure what your long term goals are, but try not to burn any bridges.
Oh, boo hoo! When you were getting your inflated 3.9 GPA did you think you were going to bring peace to the Middle East inside of a year? Doing some scut work early in your career doesn’t just build character, it’s a test of character. You’re not passing the test. Into every life some menial labor must fall. If you haven’t learned that yet, you’ve still got some learning to do.
Sometimes the most tideous lame work can be the most beneficial. I spent three months working on a standard parts database which required half my time being on excel making fancy spreadsheets and writing macros and the rest of the time in the factories and parts departments measuring minute details of sprockets, chains, seals, washers, bolts, etc. About six interns had spent two summers going this, and gotten boerd and therefore almost all of our data was wrong and I was assigned to check and correct it all. Spending four hours measuring sprocket widths really sucks, but when it came down to working on designing new machinery having that random seldomly known information really paid off. I hated that database when I was creating it, but in the long run starting at the bottom really paid off. Just because one has a college degree doesn’t mean that they are above doing work which may seem pointless, it may pay off in the long run.