Would you work dead end low paid jobs all your life?

[SouthMan28]

Would you do this in life?

Or do you think it's something people who are stupid do?

The OP has clarified that they don’t mean poorly paid by DEJ, but no progression. Plenty of well paid jobs have no progression, or people choose not to progress. It’s not really about bettering oneself, but more about being happy with what you’ve got. I can understand that if you’re in a poorly paid DEJ you might want to “better yourself” so you can earn more, but I think “bettering yourself” is a really horrible phrase. Who’s to say what’s “better”?

I've checked your previous posts OP. You're not stupid (you mention a learning disability) and it doesn't make you stupid to work 'Dead end jobs'. You need to be happy in life and working super duper fancy/corporate/highly skilled/paid jobs isn't always going to achieve that happiness. Also there are plenty of highly paid and skilled jobs where there is little progression.
I'll add also, I saw where you said someone said you were only good to work in macdonalds? There's no shame in working at macdonalds, it has great company benefits and progression to managerial levels is encouraged.

Your question doesn't make sense.

^ I agree.

Incidentally, I have come across a large number of stupid people in my career, and quite a lot of them had clearly been promoted out of trouble (aka The Dilbert Principle).

I have, though was a SAHM for a number of years.

It sill paid the mortgage, it still paid the insurances/pension which have helped along the way

DH spent 6 months working in a pub last year after being made redundant from his currency trader job (which he'd been in for 25 yrs). He absolutely loved it, hard work, shifts are difficult with children/family life, and it didn't pay enough, but he loved it and it was a huge help in terms of overcoming his social anxiety. He's back in a 'career' job now, but would go back to the pub like a shot if we didn't have two sets of school fees to pay.

You either work to live or live to work and mine is the first. My job has zero progression but luckily is a good wage and fits around my DC and life. I would much rather look back and think of all the amazing things I did with my children than my professional achievements. Obviously everyone is different but neither is stupid!

I would work whatever job I needed to do to pay my bills.

My dead end job is the best job I have had (although less well paid than my previous jobs). I find it so rewarding and fulfilling (carer), and I look forward to each shift. I have a degree, first class BA Hons. I don’t think I am stupid.
My work life balance is excellent, the hours fit around childcare and my husband’s rota perfectly, the team I work with are fab, and the residents are just wonderful (although not always easy). I wouldn’t change it for the world. I wouldn’t mind extra pay, but then I don’t think anyone would!

A dead-end job is where where there is no prospect of progression, which is a different thing entirely.

What sort of circumstances do you think makes someone only able to get one DEJ and never ever get a better one?

People who grew up in a struggling household. People who left school early to support other family members. People who grew up in disadvantaged families in deprived areas, children of drug addicts, people who were never encouraged or told they could progress. Children who grew up being told they were stupid. People who grew up without essential educational support, with undiagnosed dyslexia and learning difficulties.
For many people getting one step further up the ladder than the generation before them IS progression.

You are naive to think some people simply do not have the opportunities open to others. Why do you think people like Alan Sugar make so much of their rags to riches tales. It’s because they got some lucky breaks as well hard work and they know it!

There are kids playing in slums in India who have football abilities as good and better as kids in football academies all over the world. Do you really believe those kids have opportunities? There are kids living in poverty in the UK who don’t have opportunities too and their main ambition could be to get a job - any job- rather than live a life of crime and drugs.

We live in a very unequal world and much of it isn’t far removed - look at the never ending threads from people struggling to pay bills and turn on heating on MN alone.

Does anyone choose to work a dead-end low paid job their whole life? It looks so much harder than having a career.

A quick search would tell you the OP has a learning disability plus depression and anxiety.

@Youcansaythatagainandagain

I disagree with most of your list.
Let's just take one for example.
"People who grew up in a struggling household. "
Some of these might take a DEJ. But stay in it forever? No. They could, get a better one. It's not totally limiting.

There is a ‘scale’ for DEJs then?

Kindly explain which jobs are above or below others?

I can't think of any job that doesn't offer progression 🤔

Yes, I would work in a job that had no progression as long as I have enough to pay for my outgoings. In fact I do. I don’t think I’m stupid (educated to post grad level) or anyone else is. For some people their work is just a means of earning money. For others, their job is part of their identity. They judge themselves or others on a job title.

Whilst my job maybe seen as a DEJ I'm very happy in it. The hours are good, the people I work with are a great bunch and the money is above NMW. I'm not materialistic so have no interest in buying things I don't need so the money I earn is enough to pay the bills and leave me some left over for inexpensive "treats". I'm happy where I am and what I'm doing. I could have a "better" job, but it would probably lead to longer hours and more stress so what's the point? Happiness and a good work/life balance is enough for me. I'd happily stay here and hope to do so.

Florist?
Gardener?
Builder?
Carer?
Caterer?
Carpet fitter?
Painter?

This is the dream! One day..

There are lots of reasons why this might be the case...caring for dependents, mental / physical health, or just not being career minded and focusing your time and attention elsewhere.
I think it's important to be fulfilled in some aspects of your life, but work doesn't have to be one of them.

It's not something stupid people do.

There is no one reason why someone would work dead end low paid jobs all their life, there are many. Off the top of my head

• That's the only jobs available
• The hours suit their other commitments
• The person doesn't want a pressured job
• They can't stand not working, they need to occupy their time and can afford not to earn big
• They actually enjoy the work and get satisfaction from it.

I'm sure I could come up with others if I tried. None of the reasons I've given implies the person is stupid.

So - what's going on, @SouthMan28 ? Are we talking about you, or someone else?

I really enjoy my just above minimum wage dead end job. It's fun, I like my colleagues, I'm very good at it, at the end of each day I know I've made the world a teeny tiny but better. The pay is terrible and because the job is enjoyable, people hardly ever leave so there are no promotion prospects, and my employer doesn't care about staff development. I have a first class degree and qualified as a solicitor with an international law firm, but I absolutely hated that life, and I much prefer living like this, even though I have to live a simpler life. I write novels for fun and intellectual stimulation, but that currently pays even less than the dead end job.

As long as you have enough for your needs. My job is low paid. I don't define myself by it, it doesn't make me, it doesn't consume me all waking hours, I'm not on call or under stress or answering emails 24/7. I don't introduce myself or ask someone what their job is as the single most definitive characteristic about them, which some people get so caught up in their job as their identity and cannot separate themselves from their work

Jobs are jobs. Yes some have more worth - doctor, nurse, carer, teacher etc But I suspect you are talking about monetary value/ career progression. People choose lower skill jobs for many reasons- lack of qualifications, limited social skills, suits lifestyle, health issue etc it doesn't matter a contribution is a contribution at the end of the day, who decides what's better?