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?

I'm a support worker for adults with learning disabilities. It is long hours, shit pay, and can be bloody hard work, and even dangerous sometimes, but it is so, so rewarding.
It's something that you have to want to do, you have to have endless patience, a thick skin, and in lots of cases be physically fit.
The problem with care/support work is that because it tends to be poorly paid, with high turnover of staff, and you can start with no formal qualifications, the job centres force people to apply for the jobs when they are totally unsuitable.
It's a shame that caring isn't valued more, we can literally have people's lives in our hands, but are often looked at as unskilled, minimum wage drudges, when in fact we are highly trained, and responsible for so much.

Another vet here, I do only emergency work. Love it because I make a difference to animals and their owners in every shift. I also love the adrenaline rush of an emergency and pulling an animal through from the brink.

To be good at the job you need a calm head, ability to think on your feet, juggle multiple demanding situations and have empathy with people.

It looks like everyone who loves their job has a career that helps others which is great.

I work in the banking sector, and I enjoy it (most days) but I’m a work to live person.

I’d like to retrain but I can’t justify the time/ money now I’ve got a mortgage to pay and I don’t know what I’d be good at, so I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’ve truly found my calling!

Would be interesting to know if anyone on this thread started their chosen career later in life.

I’m a nurse specialist, working on a helpline for people with a specific condition. Adore it. I love my subject and making a massive difference to my patients lives.

@Growingboys, my kids have me in their corner...and as corny as it sounds it IS a privilege to work with them.

I look forward to them all arriving in the mornings. It's a crazy job.

Secondary teacher. Came to it at 27 after working in conservation type jobs after uni. Absolutely love my job because of the students. Patience, empathy and liking young people crucial!

Lecturer - love the variety from planning courses to providing pastoral care. No day is the same and I have so much flexibility and independence. Mustn't care that much about income and need to be comfortable being a hard ass and nurturing as needed!

kittensinmysupper

How did you get a job as investigator in Modern slavery?
I would love to do something like that.

Specialist advisory teacher- every day is different- home visits, special schools, nurseries, primary and secondary schools, clinics, lots of liaison with other professionals. Totally trusted and respected and the best thing is I DON'T HAVE AND INPEPT HEAD TEACHER FOR A BOSS!!!

Hard work- long hours as is the case with any teacher role but I have total autonomy and total trust from my bosses!

I work in a specialist school for children with autism. I absolutely love it. It's challenging, fun, exciting, exercises my brain and my body! I have incredible colleagues for the most part. We always say you have to be a special kind of crazy (sorry, bad word but can't think of another) to do our job well, and enjoy it. It's poorly paid, so you wouldn't do it if you didn't love it. A sense of humour is vital. Some days it's a case of "if you didn't laugh, you'd cry". So we laugh.

I have my own garden design and maintenance business
Physically it's hard work and can be difficult to motivate yourself to get out there when it's cold and wet.

But I love seeing the gardens develop over time. And the pleasure it gives my clients, especially ones that can't look after their gardens themselves.

You need to enjoy working by yourself all day every day. And the pay isn't brilliant. But job satisfaction is great

Software developer - I can be logical and creative at the same time, and it includes interesting and challenging problem solving.

IMO, the most important quality of a software developer - being able to empathise with the users of your software.

I'm really interested that most people who have so far responded work in helping jobs/professions, or those in which they make a discernible difference to others. There have been very few positive responses from people in corporate roles or conventionally well-paid jobs ( finance, PR etc.), and when there are they mention making a difference for others as the thing they enjoy. Not fancy pants lunches, travel or earning lots of money.

Another theme is the importance of having autonomy and being trusted to do your job. This was something that gradually ebbed away in my last job. There was lots of data recording and hoop jumping, at the expense of doing what I'd been trained to do. While slightly terrifying, the relief of starting working for myself, in the way I thought best, was immense.

What do you do: I work for a national charity

Why do you love it: I'm in the outreach team which means I work directly with service users, I care about their happiness and caring about them makes me happy. It's so rewarding driving home and thinking about the people I've helped that day, and knowing I've made a difference.

What is the single most important quality you must have to enjoy this work: Kindness. I also need to be pretty organised and a good manager. But caring and kindness are at the heart of what we do.

honey cheesecake I used to work for a corporate and switched to the charity sector aged 30. I took a pay cut but my hours are more flexible, my work life balance is great and I love what I do.

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to the thread, something came up and I got way laid so have only managed to read through a bit of the thread but will read the rest tomorrow (bed now, exhausted). It's been a fascinating read so far and looks like working with kids/helping within the community is coming out on top.

I edit a professional journal - I love the job because there's a lot of learning and I'm pretty independent and trusted to get on with my job. It doesn't change the world, though I think the organisation I work for is a positive thing, but it's not stressful, I don't have to work long hours and I don't really have to think about it when I leave the office, am on holiday etc.

I’m at college just now and on placement through the full year to do my dream job which is to become an early years practitioner. I’m loving my placement and can’t wait until I’m fully qualified and working full time. I love working with children, encouraging, challenging and caring for them.
It’s so rewarding.

I work in medical communications. I love it because it requires me to be both analytical/scientific and creative, plus the hours are sensible and the salary is excellent. I moved into it from academic research science, which was more exciting on a (rare) good day but insecure and terribly depressing at times.

I don't know if I can pin down a single quality that's important to enjoy my job because it really requires the slightly unusual combination of excellent scientific knowledge (I have a PhD plus a lot of further research and teaching experience) and an aptitude for clear and versatile communication.

I'm a play assistant in a school nursery. I absolutely love my job. I only work a few hours a day and I don't have any stress or worries. I do my job, go home and that's it. Lovely colleagues and kids who make me laugh everyday.

I would say you need patience, a sense of humour and not mind getting your hands (and clothes) dirty!

Bitchbadgerplease could you say how you found this job? Would it be through looking on your local force’s website or elsewhere? I’d love to do that.

Another Speech and Language Therapist here. I work with children with severe social, emotional and mental health needs.

I enjoy my job because the kids are great. So funny and lovely. Obviously the nature of their difficulties makes the work very challenging. But I wouldn't want to do anything else.

Oh I forgot the quality! I think you need patience, resilience and a sense of fun.

Recruitment manager for a prestigious university. Why I love it- I get to travel all over the world to some really interesting places- Asia, Latin America, Australia, all over USA to interview students. It feeds the constant need that I have to explore and experience new places. I get to stay in luxury hotels and expense everything so save heaps of money.
You definitely need good communication and cross-cultural skills (and to be able to endure many long haul flights!)