If you have a job that you LOVE ...

[SunshineAvenue]

... what do you do, why do you love it and what, in your opinion, is the single most important quality you must have to enjoy this work?

Support Worker for adults with LD.

I love them. I love being with them. They make me happy.

@Kittensinmysupper, that sounds really interesting, how did you get into that line of work?

I'm fulfilled because the project aims to reduce inconvenience/suffering for people with a medical condition; I'm happy there due to lovely colleagues.

I'm a literary translator and editor. I love that I can do it from home on my own (introvert!), but it takes a lot of self-discipline.

Analyst for a social change organisation. I love data, I love extracting the 'so what', and feel fulfilled in a role that is fighting for social justice.

It's also pretty cool hearing your research being discussed on the BBC news!

Midwife. Love working with women and hopefully helping them through a time of transition.

Vet - it's all I ever wanted to do. Despite the not uncommon opinion that we are money-grabbers in thrall to Hill's and PetPlan, I still find it endlessly rewarding, fascinating and worthwhile. I care about all of my patients and their owners, and will always do whatever I can to help them. Being able to cure sick or injured animals, or give them a pain-free end when necessary, is an immense privilege. Plus I get to boop an awful lot of noses

The most important qualities imo are the ability to remain calm and think logically under life-and-death pressure, empathy and emotional resilience. Patience and a sense of humour also help!

Educational psychologist, hi @BoogleMcGroogle
Love my job, we get an opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of children, young people and their families every day

@LucilleBluth, same here Well I’m a teacher - did many years in mainstream primary and now been doing this for many years. I wanted to be a teacher from being a toddler and I’ve always loved my job and have always found the most challenging children the most interesting.

@AdultHumanFemale, I agree about enjoying making a positive impact every day.

Sense of humour and resilience would be my top two qualities.

Exactly what toddlerteaplease wrote at the start of the thread. Same job, mostly the same reasons. I love this job even when it drives me to emotional breakdown, it is the only job I have ever wanted to do. There's a lot I don't love about it but overall it is great and it is a privilege to be able to do it. I love the patients, helping them and their families, hopefully seeing them go home, sometimes completely better and sometimes better than they were when they came in, and seeing some of them repeatedly as they grow up (also, like toddlerteaplease, I feel old as my patients I knew as babies are now teenagers), I love the teamwork, my amazing colleagues, the fact that everyday is different, the laughter and the fun times that balance out the sadness. The single most important quality you need to do this job is empathy. Others include resilience, a dark sense of humour, great emotional strength, patience, the ability to remain calm in the most crazy situations and balance 500 conflicting demands on your time.

I'm a Nanny Housekeeper - I work for a private family who own their own accommodations company (think air b&bs) all over the country. They have two primary school age children. During the day I clean the properties (ones in my area, I don't travel all over the country) and then I pick the kids up from school and have them until 6pm. I help them with homework, cook dinner, sort out any laundry. As their a bit older their pretty self sufficient and it's all very chilled.

I was a nanny years ago and absolutely loved it but unfortunately had to go into nursery work which was hell on earth (sorry just my opinion).
I was confined to one room all day, worked long hours for rubbish pay, had to deal with screaming babies all day as they were bored with playing with the same toys all day every day, had parents winging at me because I couldn't provide 1-1 care due to the ratios, my manager always use to hover over me, had so much paperwork which had to be completed whilst looking after the babies which made it extremely difficult to concentrate, nothing was ever good enough and I was never appreciated.

Now I'm left to get on with it and they trust me to do a good job. Only contact me when they need to ask a question. Their always so appreciative and thank me for my hard work. Generous holidays and much much better pay plus it's fantastic going to different places each day.

Community nurse. Everyday is different, some hard but I work in a great team and have lots of laughs. I also feel like I’m making a difference each day, wouldn’t change my job for the world.

I'm a Technical Officer for a local authority in the Regeneration department. I love my job no two days are the same. I did a geography degree and get to use my skills producing lots of maps for various projects and doing land searches. I also assist on the many projects we manage such a in the building of new schools and new leisure centres. I work with lots of lovely people and look forward to going to work . I work part time hours which fits in well taking my youngest child to school and picking her up.

Answer emergency calls for the police. I like the autonomy of it. You being you is why it works
I like to know I'm helping. I like the variety. I like the ethos, all the police want to do is protect and I'm part of that. I actually left for a better paid job in my field, and went back not long after. I may progress and go into another department better suited for my skill level, but I do love my job.

Supervisor in a community cafe that employs young people with learning difficulties.

No two days are ever the same. It's fun,challenging,interesting and the young people are great. I love working with them.

As for the single quality needed for my job it's a sense of humour coupled with plenty of patience.

Well done @lucille - as someone with a child with SEN I salute you

... what do you do,
I manage a Charitable Foundation.

... why do you love it?
I love it for many reasons including the fact I work from home 80% of the time, fit it in around school runs and school breaks, but also get to travel. it’s rewarding as I see so many amazing charities that get funding from my organisation and visit/hear about their achievements in their field (mainly to do with kids, education, training etc) so I know my work has a big impact on lots of people, I am pretty self managing, set my own plans and goals and have a lovely board who really appreciate me. I feel very fortunate to do this job.

... what, in your opinion, is the single most important quality you must have to enjoy this work?
Self motivated (as I work alone much of the time).
and a second - Be able to analyse lots of different data from reports, financials, meetings etc and quickly summarise it And then be able to make a judgement/decision from it.

Chipbut. Relieve it or not I got picked out of the dole queue !!!

Started in a jobcentre .. moved to ' visits' ... moved to organised crime.. lateral move to national crime agency..

No a levels
No degree

@wizzywig I wonder if we have similar jobs. Are you 100% civil service, or just the same kind of ball park?

This thread is fascinating thanks OP

Secondary teacher. Changing schools after 20years was the making of me. I have endless patience, that makes my job sooooo much easier!

In house solicitor helping to deliver some pioneering affordable housing projects.
Fulfilling because it is intellectually challenging every day and I also because feel like what we do will really make a difference.

And it makes me happy because it is such a supportive atmosphere and because I am able to work around school hours so dont have to miss out on any time with my children.

I feel incredibly lucky.

I'm 39 and dinner lady at a primary school.The kids are great and they make me laugh so much,its alsoa fairly chilled working environment,we are left to get on with our job and noone interferes.Im only at work a couple of hours a day so I get the mornings to myself and can do the school drop off and pick up.I used to work in gp surgery which was a highly stressful job for minimum wage.I much prefer doing this.

Going into my 4th week in my job - I'm a civil servant working in operational delivery taking calls from the public. I did a similar role for another department on a temporary contract.

I love the people I work with, the fact that no two calls are the same, and that I can help people.

The key thing you need is empathy :)