Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

I'm not one waits around for a hug and a cookie at my job - seriously. The last thing I need is a cheering section. I have a very high stress, high maintenance job.

MOST of the time the clients that I work with, audience members, etc - give me rave reviews. Not a "good job" - but a WOW.

Maybe a total of 2-3 times (in the 2 and a half yrs at my current job) People complain about something I did or didn't do (and petty stuff).

But when those times happen, my boss points it out to me and needs to have a meeting or an email. NEVER about the stuff that I do right (and as a result pull in a HEAPPPP of business) but the petty crap.

I always just agree. I don't even feel the need to explain it, but a recent complaint really was something that completely did not happen.

Am I being unrealistic in feeling annoyed about this? Is this how jobs are???

I am 36 and have worked since I was a teenager. In the last 2 and a half years, i have never felt so criticized and I think it's getting to me. I was in my last job for 4.5 years - and loved it but they couldn't afford to give me the raise they were supposed to. I sort of "jumped ship" for the money - but I never felt the way this place makes me feel.

Is this just what it is in most places? Should I just suck it up and deal with it?

Re: Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

No, it definitely shouldn't be that way. It sounds like it's your boss that's the problem, not the job or the company. He's probably one of those managers that takes credit for the good things his subordinates do, but immediately blames them when things don't go right. I had a boss like that once. Couldn't take it for too long, so I left. I really liked the company, and wanted to stay, but I wasn't able to get out from his department, so I had no choice.

Re: Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

Re: Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

If I were in your shoes, I'd start looking elsewhere.

You don't need to leave just yet, but sometimes it's good to know there are other options out there.

FWIW, I have a boss similar to the one you describe.

I am able to deal with him in my own ways, but there are days when they really freakin' get to me.

Re: Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

I think some fields are like this. I noticed in my lab, one one ever noticed the good work I did...they only noticed if I didn't do something I should have. I hardly ever got any praise. I feel like in some fields where egos run high and everyone is considered smart, you have to WOW people a lot more before you get praise. I don't think it's right, but I think that is how it is.

Re: Am I being an unrealistic whiner?

I can't say if its like that on all jobs, but in the medical field people are VERY quick to point fingers when something goes wrong (to cover their own a$$es too) and never do you hear "wow, you really nailed that diagnosis, great job!".

So you usually hear the bad stuff, not any praise. I'm happy to have the job I do so I just ignore stuff like that and keep going. I agree it's very annoying but at the end of the day, it's a paycheck kwim? I just try to let it roll off.