In my particular case my passion was aerospace, which is the industry I'm bringing to light here. Worked a few brainless factories and other jobs after, still have an itch for aerospace though. I'd learned quite a lot about myself and the industry in the time I was there, it's pretty ugly. But so is America's culture really, or lack thereof. If anything I'd say it's a culture united by subconscious suffering.
First job around aircraft really hit home with just how lacking in passion and pride people were in such industries. I was cleaning a 737's greasy underbelly. Once I was done with my task I'd finally take the time to overlook the aircraft in all its glory. My manager, a Nautica wearing corporate wannabe, caught me off guard to tell me the way I was looking at the aircraft made my other co-workers uncomfortable. I was just 20 at the time and, because I was anxious, I took it too internally rather than to confront such a strange imposition.
The next job I had in aerospace I was contracted to install new carpets and seat covers on Delta's MD-88/90's. I really loved that job. Walking through the hangar doors alone filled me with a sense of pride back then. Some of the nights I'd bring my Nikon, stay after shifts end to walk around a few of the planes and shoot the shit with some of the mechanics. How I lost that job was because I tore 2 seats trying to instal them as Delta in all its might switched from an America seat manufacturer to a Mexican. In aviation that translates from genuine leather to pleather; they tore like a flower tortilla.
The best job I'd had was working for Signature Flight Support. A company that deals with private and general aviation, not commercial. In my case I worked overnights alone which was heavenly. All apart from the general manager who'd watch me through the security camera's at night and every morning I'd receive a memo about what not do do. Losing that job was simply the outcome of my life's state at the time. I was making $12/hr and my mother had just gotten addicted to heroin, not an emotional highpoint if I must say so. The only thing that brought me solace or ignorance of my reality was taking photos of aircraft. At least then I'd have something creative to do after work. Needless to say, I was fired but it got me away from my situation that was rotting.
Then comes the commercial side of aviation. A year later I'd gotten a job aircraft fueling which I really appreciated in the beginning. It's funny how companies never tell you about their dark truths. The overtime policy wasn't gone into detail during training, not until you were essentially stuck in the job. If someone called off during your shift, you'd then be tasked to work the next shift. That means 8 additional hours after your initial 8 hour shift. Luckily the one blessing was that, for the most part, you were alone and self-paced. The downsides were that the break rooms were absolutely filthy; sure it depends on the airport. In this case it was Minneapolis International. A couch that had probably every STI known to man and mice everywhere. Thus I'd spend most of my breaks walking the terminal with a coffee and music in my ear.
In addition to the lies in the aerospace industry; if the company isn't the airline itself, they'll put on job postings that they have flight benefits; they don't. It's simply how they lure suckers in. I'd noted such with similar subcontractors earlier on. I'd done my damndest to gain a better paying position with the airlines themselves however, after 15 applications sent, I gave up on them. They'd had one job I was interested in which was move crew (moving aircraft from the hangar to the gate and visa versa). Once I was fed up with the environment of the fueling job, I went to the hangar and talked with some of the guys who worked the job itself. “What the hell do I gotta do to get hired!?” They told me one of them were leaving within the month. “great, where's your shift manager?!” Took me a week to find him. Once I expressed interest in the job the manager gave me the runaround; telling me to apply for baggage handler and apply within.
Being as I'd had several friends who'd worked baggage who'd moved nowhere, I knew he was giving me the roundabout. Another friend I knew had gotten a different job that I'd applied for and, once the overtime caught up with me, I quit. The so called friend I had told me to get my life together; I found that rather hilarious to say the least. Not really a friend to be honest.
I'd recently had a conversation with a swissair flight attendant. I asked her to go into detail about her work environment so we could compare realities. Her jaw dropped when she realized how divided it was which isn't surprising to me, I lived it. Meaning the difference between the ego of the pilots, flight attendants to fuelers and baggage handlers. It's all just work to such people, there is no pride, there is no passion. It's why I'd noted how America seemed to have a toxic soulless environment within it. Which honestly goes much deeper than work itself to be quite frank.