Do you have a happy job? What do you do?

[Chocolatesludgecake]

I'm thinking about jobs that are cheerful by nature rather than enjoying your work in a stressful role.

I work at something pretty hard going, even traumatic, and I long to spend my days doing something cheerful.

Ideas include working at a tourist venue like a museum or art gallery. I would have no relevant experience though.

I don't know where to start and whether I would regret such a move. Looking for inspiration.

[faffadoodledo]

I've always thought vet nurses, tree surgeons and sailmakers have happy jobs. But I may be deluded!

[Anonaymoose]

Haha, I'm a vet nurse. It's definitely not a 'happy' job. 10 hour days, breaks of any kind are rare, extremely short staffed, rude angry clients, untrained aggressive dogs. Prob one of the most stressful jobs out there! Oh and the pay is appalling.

[TailSpinner]

I'm thinking about jobs that are cheerful by nature rather than enjoying your work in a stressful role.

These describe both my favourite jobs 😄 currently a teacher - love it, but as you say ‘enjoying work in a stressful role.’
Before that I was a TA - it definitely varies depending on the school but where I worked it was certainly a ‘cheerful by nature’ role. Very stimulating work, busy and I worked hard but I was never stressed. The pay just isn’t great though.

[Chocolatesludgecake]

vet nurses, tree surgeons and sailmakers
Quite a retraining challenge! 😀

Oh dear @Anonaymoose .
I had figured that a public facing job needs to be in a happy environment, otherwise people are quite moany.

[Ducksinthebath]

Given how entitled people have become, I don’t think a museum or tourist attraction would be all that happy. I went to one last year that had a sign on the ticket booth imploring guests not to abuse staff or security would be forced to remove them. I thought this was insane until I actually saw the grief staff were getting all day long from entitled visitors incensed they couldn’t touch certain precious things or had to wait five minutes to enter an enclosed space due to Covid restrictions.

[Freckl]

I work for tourist attraction in a public facing role. It's a lovely job. Masses of experience not required as it's more about attitude. Opportunity for training and progression. However the pay is not great.

[cherrypiepie]

I always thought being a nail tech would be a cheerful job.

[swanfake]

If you want a happy job don't choose a public facing one.

I always imagined gardening, conservation work, or just working in a nature reserve shop/cafe might be ok. I imagine you still get pig ignorant members of the public being unreasonable but less of them than a tourist guide etc.

[ColdHardFloor]

I had a happy job as a tour guide, it was 90% nice customers and the other 10% were literally the most ignorant pigs you could imagine. They'd sit next to me and facetime their families in China really loudly while I was talking on the mic and refuse to stop, someone told me I wasn't as articulate as the last person and could I just be more articulate, creepy men trying to get me to go to the pub with them after, people sitting in the reserved seat for the guide and refusing to move, people asking me why I wasn't talking while i was having a drink of water etc. But the rest were OK lol

[Shehasadiamondinthesky]

I'm an NHS podiatrist in wound care. My schedule is hectic. A lot of my colleagues feel very stressed but I love it. I think it very much depends on your colleagues, your managers, and the support you are given. My last job doing the same thing was awful and I hated it. .y manager was a nit picking nightmare.
I dont think it's the specific job I think its that particular employer that determines if you are happy or not.

[Snog]

I assume delivering flowers is a nice job
And handing out bounty packs to new mums if that is still a thing
Awarding prizes
Making cakes
Anything where people are pleased to see you and super grateful for what you do

[delilabell]

I used to work in education in a museum which was lovely but I think they staff you work with can change it from a cheerful job to a miserable job.
I work as a special needs ta now and it us a really cheerful job. Everyone staff and students are cheerful. Its lovely

[Solosunrise]

I can't think of any! I think mainly it's about your own attitude, and that of the people you work with.
I work as a carer and we have a lot of laughter, but there is sadness, hard work and low pay to consider. I love it though.
I think a lot of jobs that were once cheerful have been screwed up by endless paperwork and box ticking.

[TroysMammy]

As a GP Receptionist I wouldn't say my job is a happy job although I do enjoy it. I have a good rapport with patients especially the older generation. If I was paid to be in the waiting room and chat to patients about anything not medically related then it would be a happy job and I expect beneficial to people's well being.

[SarahShorty]

I'm a software engineer for a web tech company. It's 50/50 in terms of happiness because the boss is a total moron. Some clients are stupid and my colleagues are okay in very small doses, I couldn't spend a whole day with them. All that aside, I do enjoy what I do.

[CandyLeBonBon]

I'm a photographer and videographer- I think my job is pretty happy!

[Neighbours87]

I work in a small local museum and love it. The pays crap but the work is interesting and varied. It’s a small team and I like my colleagues so that definitely helps.

[hadwebutworldenoughandtime]

I work in a museum and love it but as pp said I work with a lovely group of people and mostly not public facing. For me it is the variety of my job, having new challenges and the privilege of working with the objects that makes it for me. I can't imagine doing anything else. It is really competitive to get into though despite the low salary and I spent a lot of unpaid time volunteering as well as paying for a Masters to get into it.

[Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin]

I work in a bakers - love helping people choose which cake to buy!

[IStandWithMaya]

I care for horses at my own home. I don't even earn enough to pay tax.

But it's a happy job and horses are often easier to deal with than people. 🤣

[PermanentTemporary]

I don't know anything about wine but I can imagine loving being a sommelier.

Likewise there must be some happy jobs in food service or making, though I can imagine mostly it's hellish pressure and tight margins.

The happiest parts of my job are in the stroke unit, where there's a bit more funding and where lots of people get dramatically better in a short time, and in the hospice where there's lots of love, cake, morphine, and a bit of wine in the fridge.

[Hotchocfudgecake]

I’m a female specialist personal trainer. Absolutely love my job. I get to help women improve their health, confidence and belief in themselves and we have a good chat and laugh along the way.

[BrieAndChilli]

I think making things is a good job eg proper craftspeople like on the repair shop or making stuff you are passionate about.
I think it has to be a job based around a hobby so that it gives you joy eg climbing instructor or gymnast coach or cake maker or artist.

[2orangey]

I remember reading somewhere that people who work with their hands are happiest in their jobs. You get to make/repair something physical, which other people can appreciate, with a clear endpoint and outline for success. The pride of looking at something you have successfully repaired or made must be amazing!

[Pheobe863]

I'm a TA in a special needs school. It's mostly happy! Lots of playing with the children, singing, fun activities. Obviously it can be stressful and very, very hectic at times but I love it. I could definitely earn more doing something else but I genuinely love my job.