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Do you really like your job?

Haven

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
13,166
I love my job. I teach English full-time at a community college.

It has taken a number of career changes to get to this point. I took a job working with actuaries right after college. Loved the actuaries, hated working in a traditional office.
I left to attend law school, but not because I was really passionate about law. I just really disliked my job and managed to get a full scholarship to a local law school, so it seemed like the lesser of two evils. I quit after one semester to earn my teaching certificate.
While in grad school to earn that teaching cert, I taught reading part-time in a local community college. Loved it.
I got a FT job teaching high school, but never gave up my part-time CC courses. My high school paid for me to earn my MEd in reading and literacy, so I became a state-certified reading specialist.
Things got icky in the high school after a new set of administrators came in. I had been teaching CC part-time for six years at that point, and decided I wanted to make the switch and do that FT. I quit my HS job in June and landed a FT TT position in an amazing community college the following April. This is my second year teaching at said amazing college, and I love it.

I decided on teaching because I had always felt a calling to be a teacher, but never wanted to admit it. I spent some time shadowing my mother's teacher friends and decided it was the right career for me.

The only other career I would really love would be to be a full-time writer.
 

Clio

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
809
I work in grantmaking for a federal agency.

I love my job. Certainly, there are some tasks I like more that others, and I don't especially like my director's management style, but I really love the work I do, and my colleagues are fantastic. I spend much of my time working with applicants to help make their proposals stronger. I also oversee the peer review process and manage funded projects.

Before this, I was a tenure-track professor at a mid-size state university. Although I love my discipline and the research/writing/publishing that goes along with it, I found that teaching is not my calling. I don't regret the time I spent in grad school/teaching, though, because it got me to my current position.
 

icekid

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
7,476
Sometimes. Probably less than half of the time, unfortunately. Residency leaves one cynical, tired, and burned out. And I HATE my job on the days when I do not get to see my baby (today.)

I am a resident physician in anesthesiology. My training will be finished next summer and I do hold some small glimmer of hope that my work/life balance will improve, but... I won't hold my breath.
 

Dreamer_D

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
25,251
I love every aspect of my job. I am a professor at a research university. I have freedom, make my own hours, moderate teaching load, decent pay, nice colleagues. So far so good.

My primary decision-making factor was to choose a career I loved to do, and that I was naturally good at so I did not have to work very hard to succeed. I wanted no boss, no 9-5 schedule, freedome to work when I wanted how I wanted, freedome to affiliate or be solitary. I actually think that my career is about the only one for which I am well suited ;)) I had tp go to school for 8 years beyond my undergraduate degree (between graduate school and post-doc), so I'm glad it paid off.
 

Sha

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
2,328
For the most part - I feel like I'm doing something important and making a difference to a lot of people. There's lot of flexibility too, and my boss is very supportive.

I'm realizing more and more that I'm a real introvert, though - and there are aspects of my job that are not compatible with that (like speaking publicly on certain issues). I guess I can get used to it if I have to but I know I will never really enjoy that aspect of it. I think I would be happier if I could have a job that suited my personality more fully.
 

rosetta

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
3,417
Thanks mom2boys, looks like both icekid and I struggle to see the good side when theyre working us to the bone.

I really wish I could work part time but that's unheard of around here unless you've got kids. So we struggle on!
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,986
DivaDiamond007|1319465903|3046542 said:
I am recently unemployed, but I loved my previous job. I worked as a bankruptcy paralegal for 7 years. I worked under one attorney in a group and we are still on good terms. I was that attorney's only staff member and so I did practically everything in the office - meeting with clients, answering the phone, preparing paperwork, dealing with the U.S. Department of Justice - everything! I worked anywhere from 35-40 hours a week and the attorney was flexible with time off.

I don't know what direction I'm heading in now. There are literally no paralegal openings in my area and I'm not willing to relocate my family. I have an interview tomorrow for an office manager position that looks promising though. For me being unemployed is frustrating, degrading, stressful and demeaning. For the time being I'm staying home with my two children and DH has picked up a side job but we can't do this forever :blackeye:

I'm sorry you are dealing with this Diva. My heart goes out to you and hopefully things will turn around soon. Sending good luck dust your way for finding a worthwhile job soon!
 

bee*

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
12,169
I adore my job. I've worked in the same vet clinic for over 7 years and I just adore it. The girls I work with are great, the majority of our clients are great and the work is interesting. I'm working as a nurse at the moment and I have one year left in vet school and then I'll be working there as a vet. They're training me in surgery and are taking a lot of interest in getting me qualified.
I previously did a science degree and worked in a pharmaceutical company-hated every minute of it. I'm also doing some hours as a GP's receptionist to earn some money during college-I've only been there 3 weeks and absolutely despise it. I'm doing 2 afternoons a week until April and I'm counting down the minutes. The money is great though so I don't want to leave it sooner.
 

Black Jade

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Aug 21, 2008
Messages
1,242
I love my job, which is teaching. I am an adjunct who teaches in colleges. The only downside is that I get paid zilch and am basically funded by my husband (that is, I would have to go out and make real money but dont' have to because he makes enough for our family). But I love knowing I am making a difference, love seeing my students learn (I just got back a second test that the current students took and they had honestly made so much improvement from the first one) and like the freedom I have away from the standardized testing that a lot of teachers have to do to make my own curriculum and tests.
I like being an adjunct because it is flexible and part time. When I first started teaching, the colleges that I worked at both wanted to hire me fulltime and to put me on a different career track but I looked around at the amount of meetings and the administrative work and that was definitely not for me, especially with a young family as I had at that time. I like the perks (access to good libraries, being able to do a lot of the grading and other work at home) and I like most of my colleagues--maybe because I don't have to sit in meetings with them for large amounts of time. I find that many of them think differently from me but are open to listen to a divergent point of view. Some are a bit doctrinaire but there tends to be less of this at the smaller, religious colleges where I teach, since the very fact that these people were willing to teach at religious schools tends to mean they are open to at least discussing other ideas than the 'party line' that you get in most graduate schools nowadays that has our most educated citizens the ones that are the least open to opinions other than the ones that are very carefully inculpated in them.
Anyway, I like it. I wouldn't like another kind of job, though I'd do it if I had to. If hubby lost his job (which could happen to anyone nowadays) and I needed to make real money, I'd have to end up working in the State Department or something of that nature because my most marketable skill is my language ability and I know I wouldn't like that AT ALL.
 

QueenB29

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Messages
440
I :love: my job. Most of the time anyway ;))

I'm a feature writer for a government magazine. I just feel so fortunate to have a job that involves not only writing, which is my passion and my talent, but also actually pays decent $ and has excellent federal benefits. And, as of 3 months ago, is 10 minutes from my house. I've also had the opportunity to travel some cool places (Hawaii soon :bigsmile: ) and interview some amazing people. Actually, based on the economy and the current state of print media, I feel really lucky to have a job at all, and kind of guilty to have one I enjoy so much :devil:

What I don't like is the politics. And I HATE :angryfire: two of my conspiracy theory coworkers who drive me absolutely insane :errrr: I mean, who counts the number of stalls in a bathroom and then decides the building must be a front for the CIA :-o

I've also been in the exact opposite position. I worked for an international PR agency right out of college, and the stress, 12-hour days and evil boss literally destroyed my health. So I KNOW how lucky I am :praise:

Do I want to do it forever? No. I want to get a book deal and also freelance for National Geographic :Up_to_something: How likely is that? Probably not very, although I am working on a master's in writing in a well-respected program, which will help. But I'll need to work for the gov't for a very long time if only for the health benefits ::) And given that, there are very few positions that are cooler than mine in my field. So I'll be here for awhile :))
 

allycat0303

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Nov 19, 2004
Messages
3,450
I was thinking about this lately, because I've seen 2 terminally ill patients (in the late twenties) week and it made me reflect.

I'm a cardiothoracic resident. It was something that came to me unexpectedly and through a convoluted drawn out process. There have been times in the past 2 years, that I have seriously doubted if I would make it through this program. I have finally realized that it was never the program, but rather the 2 chief residents. Since they have been gone, my quality of life has improved dramatically.

I feel that this is what I was born to do. There is no profession that suits me more, and more surprisingly, it appears I'm actually going to turn out to be a decent surgeon.

I think with every job, there are periods when you really doubt this is something you love. It's normal. For me, a job is similar to being in a long term relationship. There are ups and downs but what matters is when you step away and reflect on it from a distance. If you feel that this is the *right* situation for you then you are in the right profession.
 

ImperfectGirl

Shiny_Rock
Trade
Joined
May 27, 2010
Messages
309
No, I don't like my job. I'm planning on seeking employment elsewhere and in a different field in the next few months depending on how our adoption pans out.
 

Haven

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
13,166
QueenB29|1319570340|3047417 said:
Do I want to do it forever? No. I want to get a book deal and also freelance for National Geographic :Up_to_something: How likely is that? Probably not very, although I am working on a master's in writing in a well-respected program, which will help. But I'll need to work for the gov't for a very long time if only for the health benefits ::) And given that, there are very few positions that are cooler than mine in my field. So I'll be here for awhile :))
QueenB--You should do NaNoWriMo with us this year! If you haven't heard of it before, definitely check it out:
http://www.nanowrimo.org
 

maplefemme

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
874
I love my job, I'm a nurse at a hospice. It has it's challenging days, we lost 29 people last month alone, but it's a real gift to work there and my team is the best I could ask for.
My patients teach me what's important in life, they are a blessing to know and care for...
 

LtlFirecracker

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
4,837
There are days I love my job, but most of the time I am frustrated. I am a general pediatrician. I have a much better work/life balance than residency offered, and for a general pediatrician my hours are good. Somedays I make a difference in a child's life and that is wonderful. However most days I am trying to see too many patients in not enough time and there are a lot of other daily frustrations that keep the job from being rewarding.

I am actually applying to train into a sub-speciality that would allow me to see less patients and spend more time with them. It is also a subject matter I really love and am passionate about. My odds are not great this year, but I will try again if it does not work out. My husband realizes I am not happy in my current situation, and he is encouraging me to retrain even though I will make probably make less as a sub-specialtist than as a general pediatrician. If it does not work out, I am going to have to drop to part time to keep from burning out.

Needless to say, I do not think I will be encouraging my future children to go to medical school.
 

QueenB29

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Messages
440
Haven|1319590517|3047610 said:
QueenB--You should do NaNoWriMo with us this year! If you haven't heard of it before, definitely check it out:
http://www.nanowrimo.org

Hi Haven :wavey: Thanks for the invite. NaNoWriMo is such a cool idea and I've always wanted to do it. I mainly write nonfiction but I have the plots to like four romance novels (my guilty pleasure :oops: ) running around in my head. Unfortunately, I'm in a memoir workshop this semester and it's totally kicking my butt. My brain hurts. Hopefully I'll have more time next November!
 

Enerchi

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
10,658
I absolutely LOVE my job! I work as a nurse and deal mainly with hoarders, infestations (cockroaches, bed bugs, mice...) and clients in very vulnerable situations. It is the MOST interesting work I've ever done! Every day is a new challenge - sure, the 'look' is the same (yes, it's EXACTLY like the TV shows but you can't smell it when you're just watching from home!) but you do eventually end up making a difference in people's lives by looking after their health and safety.

My co-workers are awesome ladies and my supervisor is a one of a kind person who will back you up no matter what. Every day is exciting when you get up and go in to work... except for the 'getting up' part! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Nomsdeplume

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
1,671
Past: M&A law. Hated my job, my boss and my life.

Present: non-profit. I love it! :bigsmile:
 

tuffyluvr

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
1,339
maplefemme|1319593834|3047661 said:
I love my job, I'm a nurse at a hospice. It has it's challenging days, we lost 29 people last month alone, but it's a real gift to work there and my team is the best I could ask for.
My patients teach me what's important in life, they are a blessing to know and care for...

Maplefemme--I really admire you for what you do. One of my closest friends is an oncology nurse. She is currently working in a breast cancer surgery center but she plans on going into hospice/palliative care in the future. I think we need more people who want to help people to be comfortable and come to terms with their end of life rather than fighting their illness with agressive treatments, making them sick and miserable in their last days/weeks/months. Our culture is so weird about dying. Death is natural and a part of life. My friend will often have people ask her what she does and when she tells them they say "EEWWWW!!!" or "WHY?!?!?!" So awful!!

My mom died of pancreatic cancer when I was a teenager and I really respect and appreciate all her hospice nurse and what she did to make my mom comfortable at home.

Sorry for the threadjack!
 

Tacori E-ring

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
20,041
I used to be a graphic designer. Loved school. Loved design in theory but HATED working in design in the real world. I was an art director for a local magazine which I really liked. It was the only time I felt satisfied in my career. I got burned out and honestly, dealing with clients and printers became a chore.

Now I am studying to be a clinical mental health counselor with a speciality in substance abuse counseling. I am in my first clinical and LOVE it. I see patients on some of their worst days of their lives and am in awe by the resilience of human beings. Some of the stories would make your toes curl. Horrible traumas. But they are there, wanting to change, wanting to understand their disease, wanting a better way to cope with life. That shows a lot of strength and courage. Some will make it, some will not. My job is not to judge or try to control them. They get enough of that from their families and society as a whole. My job is to help facilitate change, and to provide a safe, empathetic environment. Everyone deserves another chance and to have someone REALLY hear them. It's an honor to be that person.
 

Person24

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
209
I don't know why. But when I posted this topic I expected more people NOT to like their jobs. I guess PSers are a pretty content bunch! :razz:
 

Tacori E-ring

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
20,041
Person24|1319990093|3050387 said:
I don't know why. But when I posted this topic I expected more people NOT to like their jobs. I guess PSers are a pretty content bunch! :razz:

I hated my first career. Life is too short to settle.
 

wildcat03

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Apr 11, 2011
Messages
904
I'm an emergency medicine resident, now several years in. I love love love my job, but I consider it more a career than a "job." First and foremost, I take care of patients. Emergencies or not, I get to do a lot of good on a daily basis and saving someone's life is not an infrequent event. I'm lucky enough to work at a hospital with a healthy bottom line and a good charity philosophy (if it's broke, we'll fix it - regardless of cost). I never have to worry about whether my patients have insurance, because I don't have to refer them to private physicians. There is SO much more I do, though. As a senior resident, I have a lot of teaching responsibilities - both "bedside" (on shift) and classroom. I work with medical students and junior residents. In addition to my clinical obligations, this is another 10+ hours a week. Right now, in the height of visiting medical student season and with two big presentations coming up, it's more like 20-25. I also have a large research project going, which I don't love, but it is a necessarily evil in order to finish residency.

I often wish I had more regular hours and got more weekend days off, but I really can't complain too much. Despite being in residency, I have managed to maintain friendships. I just ran my first marathon earlier this month. I will miss Thanksgiving with my family this year (boo!) but will make it home for Christmas! I also consider myself lucky in that, for the last 2.5 years and next 1.5, as long as I work hard, progress as expected and have a good attitude, I am not likely to be fired. (All that being said, I will feel a LOT better tomorrow when I find out WHY my chairman was looking for me on Friday - but I keep telling myself that if it were bad, I would have had an email or a phone call!)
 

Person24

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
209
Tacori,

I just started my career. I am def. too new at it to know whether I love it, like it, or hate it. For some reason I find myself constantly obsessing over what will happen if I either don't like it, am not good at it, or whether it will be impossible to do when I have children.
 

Tacori E-ring

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
20,041
Person24|1320004556|3050526 said:
Tacori,

I just started my career. I am def. too new at it to know whether I love it, like it, or hate it. For some reason I find myself constantly obsessing over what will happen if I either don't like it, am not good at it, or whether it will be impossible to do when I have children.


Well, use me as your inspiration then. I went back to (Grad) school when my DD was 2.5 years old. You may love your current career but just in case you don't it is never too late. I have classmates in their 50s. I was good at my first career but I hated it. It didn't feed my soul like my current one. Not to say it is perfect but I am excited to go to work everyday.
 

Porridge

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
3,267
Tacori E-ring|1319993641|3050412 said:
I hated my first career. Life is too short to settle.
Ditto!
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
53,986
Person24|1319990093|3050387 said:
I don't know why. But when I posted this topic I expected more people NOT to like their jobs. I guess PSers are a pretty content bunch! :razz:

I wonder if you included a question about salary satisfaction if you would have received as positive a response (regarding that issue).
 

Person24

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
209
I often wonder whether it is worse to have a job you love/like that doesn't pay that well or have a job you hate/dislike and make tons of money. Maybe the extra money compensates for not liking the job . . . ? :confused:
 

Tacori E-ring

Super_Ideal_Rock
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
20,041
Person24|1320007121|3050542 said:
I often wonder whether it is worse to have a job you love/like that doesn't pay that well or have a job you hate/dislike and make tons of money. Maybe the extra money compensates for not liking the job . . . ? :confused:

Well, that is one thing I am not satisfied with. I feel I should get paid more but I did not choose this profession to become rich. I probably could make twice as much in my old career but again, I HATED it. So for me that is not extra compensation to stay in an unsatisfying career. If most people work for 40+ years that a long time to be unhappy.
 

beebrisk

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
1,000
Person24|1320007121|3050542 said:
I often wonder whether it is worse to have a job you love/like that doesn't pay that well or have a job you hate/dislike and make tons of money. Maybe the extra money compensates for not liking the job . . . ? :confused:

I don't believe it does. For 11 years I was miserable in a job that paid very well. I got to my breaking point and switched careers entirely about 2 years ago. Although I now earn about half of what I did before, I can sleep peacefully at night and don't spend Sunday afternoons in tears worried sick about Monday morning.

I am very, very lucky to have been able to afford to sacrifice salary for peace of mind. I don't have the same disposable income, can't travel like I used to, can't buy expensive purses anymore, but I am able to enjoy my days being very productive and angst-free. Changing my job, changed my life in a very positive way. Money really isan't "everything".
 
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