Survival Tips Survival Tips

Tabitha

Location:
United States

The thing I have found, no matter if it's at uni or work, is to ease your way in. Before I stared at my current job, I worked at my mates' design company, which ment I could whatever the hell I wanted. When I started working at the Cafe I dyed my hair one colour( black, no shock here) and stuck to simply all black outfits. Slowly, I added other elements, lace, velvet, bats, skulls, and the like. It didn't take ages, only half a year and I have the electric blue blue streak in the front of my hair back, and all my piercings filled, all 21 of them!

Entry No: 8 | Posted: Mon Sep 17 2007, 9:54pm

robotmonkey god

Location:
United Kingdom

Get a job working nights. Working in the non-waking world gives you more freedom.
Start with the shoes and work upwards!!!

Entry No: 7 | Posted: Wed Jun 28 2006, 6:36pm

Pardessus

Location:
United Kingdom

How to survive being a goth in a 'trendy' workplace?

For the first time I actually went shopping on the high street! I am lucky in that our dress code is casual. I tend to survive in black trousers/jeans and I'm loving the current trend for 50's style prom style skirts and dresses. One of those skirts, thick black tights and black flat shoes teamed with a V-neck black t-shirt, my trademark coffin necklace and my plain silver hoop earrings plus understated makeup seems to work.

I start a teaching course next mont. Now I'll have to work out how to dress for that.

Entry No: 6 | Posted: Thu Mar 8 2007, 5:36am

Minyaliel

Location:
Norway

Although not a corp goth per se, rather a student, I found that if you, at your first day in your new surroundings show a good attitude and turn on that positive charisma and dress in a nice, all black outfit that looks decent and pretty, nobody's going to give you bad looks or snide remarks. Also, having your hair dyed a natural shade apart from black, like reddish or brown helps a lot. Then, gradually ease into your normal style, one detail at a time. It's taken me a few months, but today I was finally able to enter the school building with fresh dyed black hair, spiked collar and outspokenly gothic style clothing. Of course this would not work out as well in a law firm or similar, but to avoid prejudices in a "casual clothes" job, and giving people time to get to know you, I think this is a good approach.

Entry No: 5 | Posted: Fri Dec 15 2006, 10:52am

BillyName99

Location:
Sin City Baby!!!

The most important thing I can tell you is this:

When it comes to your job; Know Your Shit!

Do the absolute best that you can at your job.

Always try to expand your knowledge of it and always do the little bit extra.

I *do not* mean that you should kiss ass.

You should be *Very Very Good* at what you do, and make sure it's always done correctly.

Entry No: 4 | Posted: Fri Jan 13 2006, 1:16am

Jeramy Johnson

Location:
United States

I work for two Aviation Industry publications, selling advertising. Since my business is over-the-phone sales, it's not a matter of my appearance affecting my relationships with clients. That being said, I don't want to scare the elderly ladies in the building. So I do adjust. Normally we have to dress business casual anyhow, for which I find a nice pair of black dress shoes, khakis of varying muted colors, and grey or black dress sweaters to be the best thing. My dreadlocks are the biggest impedance I have. Luckily, they were done to be manicured and neat looking rather than a big mess of grossness on the top of my head. I just pull them into a ponytail, and no one says a word.

But the appearance thing really doesn't even concern me that much... the hardest parts of working in a corporate environment, for me, are the struggle to contain my natural proclivities toward mischief and reigning in my rather sadistic sense of humor. That's just something you have to do. While I may relish in making everyone believe I am a sick, twisted, satanic motherfucker of a vampire, the business world doesn't share my enthusiasm for darkness.

Some goths may believe we who enter the corporate world are selling out. But the truth is, the money that these kinds of jobs bring means we can afford the clothes, we can go to the clubs and have a good time and not be broke the next morning, we can go see all the shows we want, we can travel to places like New Orleans and London and experience the meat of the Goth culture. I think it's a fair trade.

Entry No: 3 | Posted: Fri Nov 25 2005, 5:53pm

Gary Destruction

Location:
United States

Conforming at the job is important to underground, independent and freak culture. By conforming on the job, you are establishing a barrier between corporate culture and undegeround culture. This barrier helps to protect the underground. But by not conforming at work, you are actually contributing to the breakdown of the barrier between corporate and underground culture. This accelerates the social acceptance of the underground.

Entry No: 2 | Posted: Fri Nov 25 2005, 5:55pm

DarkWyccan

Location:
United States

Just added this tips list to the Survival section for those who wish to use it... enjoy!

Entry No: 1 | Posted: Wed 23 Nov 2005, 21:32pm