Jobs without colleagues?

bugslet

I think it's one of those perception things Tim. It makes perfect sense to me that it is different, it doesn't to you. I'm right for me and presumably the OP, you are right for you. Personality varies so much. I do genuinely enjoy it when my one colleague is not in the office, but enjoy seeing my customers and sales people.

fishybusiness

Totally different. I like seeing people on a fairly superficial level, even those I get on with. Boxed in an office and it gets trying, even if you like people. Or it is to me, and presumably the OP. I actually find it draining being around people a lot of the time, despite being a very sociable person in short bursts.

Totally see where you are coming from.

Spent 20 years in industry, working in an office/ engineering block of 80 people, onsite circa 4000 people. Hated it from day one, stuck with it for the money.

People seemed such hard work on a day to day basis, perhaps it was just me. I'm a gardener now, I like to say hello to clients, have a chat and then get on with my work, so much easier day to day.

Pennywise

ReadingTim wrote: »

Aren't both colleagues and customers simply people? You say you want to work with people, but then say you don't like them...

No, I agree, totally different. I'm an accountant and run my own accountancy practice single handedly. I have over 150 "clients" and there's a lot of personal service as the pattern is having the same clients for several years, so I see them at least yearly, and often quarterly or monthly. I don't have an aversion to "people" as such as I love the hands on work I do with clients, meetings, etc. But, all the contact I have with them is 100% business and small talk, etc is minimised - it's a simple/quick introduction then business, business, business, then a simple/quick bye.

I was employed for the first 20+ years of my working life in a few different places, and I found office life and colleagues you have to work with every day absolutely exhausting with office politics, bum lickers, slackers, etc. I had no interest in colleagues' friends, family, dog, lover, etc., so I tried to get my head down and concentrate on work, but then you seem to get a bad reputation for being standoff-ish, snobbish, etc. You just can't win, so I walked with my feet, started my own firm and do what I do best, which is the job itself!

Owain_Moneysaver

Train conductor/guard.

[Deleted User]

Had another thought - accepting an actual temporary job in your chosen field, if it truly is temporary maybe people will be less inclined to be getting to know you.

PasturesNew

Go into agency temporary work - they're colleagues only for a week or two.

[Deleted User]

Yes I have done a few temporary agencies jobs and this has worked okay. I do like office roles so maybe recruitment working from home (If these agencies exist) or a mortgage advisor in a bank where I am primarily on my own for the day with my customers.

I am glad I am not alone in my thoughts on colleagues.