Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If you have a job that you LOVE ...

122 replies

SunshineAvenue · 09/02/2020 13:13

... 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?

OP posts:
Greedycushionhoarder2 · 10/02/2020 14:20

Another support worker for adults with learning disabilities, my service users all also have physical disabilities, I love them, they are fantastic people I genuinely feel when I am supporting them out in the community that I'm having a day out with a friend, every day is different, it is physically challenging at times and you have to leave your own worries aside and be able to connect with people and be truly interested in them, it is very rewarding when you connect with someone who puts up defences at first, one of my service users really struggles with new staff members as she hates change, she spent the first 6 weeks telling me I was useless and she was going to get me sacked, it did shake my confidence at first but I carried on being cheerful and polite, respecting her choices etc when one day I realised she'd been quite friendly to me, then one day we shared a joke and she said "you get me, some people don't" ever since then she asks for me when I'm on shift, she makes me coffee on a morning and tells me she missed me when I've been off.
The other reason I love my job is great colleagues, very supportive and welcoming to new staff. And a manager who actually cares and shows an interest in their staff.

SueEllenMishke · 10/02/2020 14:26

I'm an academic at a university.
Passion for your subject is a must plus patience ( students can be challenging!)
It's also important to be organised ( lots of competing priorities) , calm and have the ability to switch off or the stress will get you.

GiveEmHellKid · 10/02/2020 17:47

I’m a sales assistant in a very fun kind of shop. I’ve loved the products for years and now I get to play with them all day long. The whole team gets on really well so it’s like a family, and the manager is just wonderful. She’s very relaxed so we have a lot of fun and it works really well around my other commitments. The best bit is that I never take work home. I go to work, hang out with friends during my shift and then go home with nothing to stress about. I also feel really respected, valued and supported.

I used to be a teacher and although I loved the actual teaching bit, I couldn’t cope with the pressure, micro-management and constant criticism. My retail job may pay a lot less but I’m infinitely happier.

99problemsandthecatis1 · 10/02/2020 18:54

Adult social worker. I love it. You need empathy, compassion and an open mind. Organizational skills and not being too sensitive help.

topcat2014 · 10/02/2020 19:02

finance director in small firm. The work suits me.

Volunteer as chair of governors and on 2 charities

YouStupidBoy · 10/02/2020 19:36

Daet I am clearly not Bitchbadgerplease.... but our force advertises on the vacancies section of their website (as do most others, I believe).

Iwannabeadog · 10/02/2020 20:20

I am a physiotherapist. Work in NHS and privately. I love it, I get to meet loads of different people, hopefully help them and no day is ever the same.
Skills are: be a bit into science, be a lot into listening and love working with people.

Cakes4Teatime · 10/02/2020 22:39

I work in a Primary School in the school office. It’s just me so I have to do everything. I love the children and the staff. I work really hard and each day goes by in a blink.

Most important qualities for the job - being friendly and being organised.

MrsSnitchnose · 10/02/2020 22:51

I'm a Science Technician in a large Secondary school. I love it because there is always something new to learn and my collegues (especially my boss) are great to work with.

I suppose qualities wise, the most important thing to have is patience and lots of it for when an experiment doesn't work and you have to adjust it for the eleventy billionth time!

Ginfordinner · 10/02/2020 22:52

I work with data and website content.
I love my job because I find it rewarding and intellectually challenging, my workmates are lovely, and I have a great boss who makes me feel valued and appreciated.

Thank you to so many of you on this thread who do jobs that improve the quality of life for so many people Flowers

NarwhalsNarwhals · 10/02/2020 23:02

I work in a mainstream primary school as an SEN TA (emotional and behavioural needs mostly but it varies depending on the children we have) I love how rewarding it is and working with the different specialists, I do quite a lot of speech therapy and occupational therapy but following a program given to me by specialists so I get to see the changes and the rewarding bits but without having to work out how to make them happen. I also get to do some regular TA stuff in between which makes it a bit less intense.

Qualities: endless patience, a thick skin and a lot of creativity!

MakyJo · 10/02/2020 23:19

Specialist teacher working with children with complex SEND. The best bits are seeing those children make progress, start to communicate, get the right support and building relationships with families. I have sleepless nights though there is not enough time and it can be pretty stressful but I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

Oly4 · 11/02/2020 19:19

Journalist and editor. It’s brilliant, no two days are ever the same. Interesting work, get to grill people from all sorts of organisations and currently able to work flexibly.

wizzywig · 13/02/2020 16:53

Hi @JesusInTheCabbageVan yes 100% civil service

Loubeale · 13/02/2020 17:07

I have my own company, jointly run between myself and my business partner. We repair and restore aeroplanes. No one commission is the same and I enjoy the challenge. I was the only female engineer on our base when I was in the Air Force. Everybody is astonished when I tell them what I do. I also have a full PPL.

RuthW · 13/02/2020 17:34

Admin in a gp surgery. I'm now one of the managers. Been there 29 years.

adaline · 13/02/2020 19:12

Dog walker/pet sitter.

A love of animals is a must, obviously.

Susiesue61 · 13/02/2020 19:28

Palliative care doctor in a hospice 😊
I love it, alway different and I work with amazing people!
You need to be calm and able to deal with other people's distress. We get to find out all about people which is fab

Tiggles · 13/02/2020 21:23

I'm a vicar and I love it
Despite everyone always joking that I only work on Sundays.
Every day is different whether rejoicing with a marriage couple or at a Baptism, or caring for a family planning a funeral, or spending time with people in residential homes. Or making lunches for children in the holidays as their families can't afford to feed them, or helping in the homeless shelters.
I guess the most important prerequisite is to believe in God and be happy to chat about why I believe!

WendelFong · 13/02/2020 21:26

I'm a chef in an Early Years setting. I have the best job ever. Every day is a joy.

Nearlytherenow123 · 13/02/2020 21:34

I'm a business admin - lots of variety, but lots of same old same old. I've done a vast variety of roles over the years, but this is the one I love the most. I like the bit of this bit of that, which a 'small' company gives me! One day I'm chasing payment for an overdue invoice, the next I'm recruiting for a position we have. I've never felt as 'at home' as I do in this small business. A lot of it is to do with the people, get the right mix and you're sorted...... feels like family rather than a number and I like that. Others don't and I get that too. I also have the ability to go in, get my job done and switch off to return to my gorgeous dds at the end of every day which is a bonus! Feel like I've finally got the balance just right iyswim!

NorthEndGal · 13/02/2020 21:37

I am a beachcomber/artist/photographer/writer and small business owner.
Basically I go to the beach every day, go beachcombing, photograph what I find, bring it home and write about it, make stuff from it, sell it at craft shows and on line, teach classes on seacrafting, and spend thousands on gas driving around the shores.
I love it. It gives me so much time alone, and as someone who needs solitude, it's a blessing. Walking the shores at dawn, feeding birds, gathering finds and knowing you get to go home and make things, is wonderful.
I have got to explore so many places I might not have seen otherwise.
I've made friends and learned new skills, and found out I am tougher than I thought.

Corrag · 13/02/2020 21:55

I'd be interested to know how many of you that have said you love your job would carry on doing it if you didn't need to work. Say you won a huge amount on the lottery, enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life, would you carry on doing your job?

Haggisfish · 13/02/2020 22:03

I would, yes. I’d teach three days a week.

MotherHeggy · 13/02/2020 22:03

I'd be interested to know how many of you that have said you love your job would carry on doing it if you didn't need to work. Say you won a huge amount on the lottery, enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life, would you carry on doing your job

I certainly would!
I'd tell them not to worry paying me and use that money for the young people we help-give them a pay rise.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.