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Original poster

If you would work even if you didn’t have to - what is your job?

112 replies

minipie · 27/09/2023 16:07

I see numerous threads on here where people say they love their job and would carry on even if financially they didn’t need to. Not for security but genuinely because they love it.

If this is you, what do you do? I’m wondering what these amazing jobs are as I’ve never felt this way about any job I’ve done. If it’s too outing then maybe PM me or name change? Would love to know.

It’s not idle curiosity, I’m in a position to retrain and would love to find something I feel passionate about, so am fishing for ideas!

OP posts:
PineConeOrDogPoo · 27/09/2023 20:39

Part time (chemical) engineer...spend a lot of my days doing calculations / updating drawings / interracting with clever and interesting people about technical problems...It’s varied with a little bit of pressure and the feeling of doing something valuable to society.

I just love looking at (technical) drawings and charts and playing with numbers and often make spreadsheets for fun in my spare time around various topics. What a saddo!

Mountaineer0009 · 27/09/2023 20:42

PineConeOrDogPoo · 27/09/2023 20:39

Part time (chemical) engineer...spend a lot of my days doing calculations / updating drawings / interracting with clever and interesting people about technical problems...It’s varied with a little bit of pressure and the feeling of doing something valuable to society.

I just love looking at (technical) drawings and charts and playing with numbers and often make spreadsheets for fun in my spare time around various topics. What a saddo!

as they say the devil is in the details and the beauty is in various complex diagrams, / and or blueprints etc

PineConeOrDogPoo · 27/09/2023 20:42

Encouraging to see so many teachers and nurses too ❤

cptartapp · 27/09/2023 20:43

Nurse. Have completely had enough but am only pt and need to be in this or a similar role at 55 to keep my current pension terms and conditions and claim at 55 without penalty. Hanging on in there for the last 3 years.

Mull · 27/09/2023 20:45

I’m an accountant working in the finance dept of a private company. I really, really want to work for the debt charity Stepchange. I think I’d be good at it, and I love helping people. It would be a big pay cut but I don’t earn the main wage in the household. I keep looking at their vacancies…

Ginorchoc · 27/09/2023 20:53

Police custody officer - I would move to part-time though.

Newnamefornow123 · 27/09/2023 20:55

I’m a pastoral worker in a large high school. It’s relentless and frustrating but even if I won the lottery tomorrow I would stay until my kids leave in April (I’ve been with them since year 9, I couldn’t leave them before their GCSEs). After that I would open a practice supporting young teens, services are shocking where I live.

CurlsandCurves · 27/09/2023 21:01

I work pt in a shop. I love the shop, love the job, the customers and the people I work with.

I would happily help out on a voluntary basis if I no longer needed to work. One of our old colleagues is about to do just that for a number of reasons. it’s very temporary, she knows the work and wants to keep busy.

GreenMarigold · 27/09/2023 21:01

I work in ecommerce, and have done for 25 years. I love learning as the industry changes and find the psychology of user behaviour fascinating. I love all the analytics and stats too. I never get bored!

TheScientists · 27/09/2023 21:18

I'm a scientist, medical research, academic institution

Slight nuance to your question - pre-kids I would 100% have still gone to work if I won the lottery. Might have dropped to four days

Now I have preschoolers and work part time. I would drop work in a heartbeat if I could to spend more time with them. Need money to live though and it's a good, well paid job with good conditions and I was off the scale lucky to find a part time role.

When the kids are older I think I'll return to feeling like the pre-kids days.

lucysmam · 27/09/2023 21:19

I'm a TA in EYFS. Absolutely love it & can't wait to get back to it next month!

No two days are the same & it's so rewarding watching these tiny people come into our classrooms & learning new things every day. There are, of course, the more challenging and kackering days but we take them as they come & deal with whatever's thrown our way together.

I also enjoy the creative side of it - most of our props & displays are hand-made in some way & I spend (probably too much) time painting and making them, as well as thinking up ways we can expand on whichever story or theme we're learning about - banana box jeeps for a safari were fun, we made post bags from tea bag boxes to tie in with another story. Always something new! I've painted loads of peg people while I've been signed off.

Original poster
minipie · 27/09/2023 21:22

This is fascinating! Thanks so much for all the replies, keep them coming.

Lots of medical and teaching. Prison work was a bit surprising!

PineCone in another life I would like to have been an engineer

OP posts:
Original poster
minipie · 27/09/2023 21:24

intelligence analyst, Gchq

Ooh this sounds fascinating, and possibly terrifying

OP posts:
maddiemookins16mum · 27/09/2023 21:27

Mull · 27/09/2023 20:45

I’m an accountant working in the finance dept of a private company. I really, really want to work for the debt charity Stepchange. I think I’d be good at it, and I love helping people. It would be a big pay cut but I don’t earn the main wage in the household. I keep looking at their vacancies…

Have you also looked at CAP?

Mountaineer0009 · 27/09/2023 21:29

minipie · 27/09/2023 21:24

intelligence analyst, Gchq

Ooh this sounds fascinating, and possibly terrifying

all i can say is its certainly a mix at times, very rewarding too, just that due to the line of work as they say our failures are known, our successes are usually not heard of,

Nellodee · 27/09/2023 21:30

I would teach for free, but I’d be damned if I’d mark any books!

Quietmouse · 27/09/2023 21:31

Nurse in a hospice - it’s a privilege to work there.

RuthW · 27/09/2023 21:32

Admin. Nhs.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/09/2023 21:38

Mull · 27/09/2023 20:45

I’m an accountant working in the finance dept of a private company. I really, really want to work for the debt charity Stepchange. I think I’d be good at it, and I love helping people. It would be a big pay cut but I don’t earn the main wage in the household. I keep looking at their vacancies…

Does it have to be Stepchange in particular, or would you look at other debt advice charities?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/09/2023 21:39

I'm a charity CEO. It's very stressful but I love it. So many people in my sector retire and then carry on working as volunteers. I guess we just can't stop when there is still so much need to be met!

pinguins · 27/09/2023 21:42

I'm actually about to come into a seven figure amount of inheritance and I was thinking about this at work today. I toyed with the idea of telling my boss I wouldn't be back after the money comes through, and I realised I totally would!

I hate my actual workplace but I love my job. The money would just set me up to do more of it.

I work in Digital Marketing.

Mountaineer0009 · 27/09/2023 21:43

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 27/09/2023 21:39

I'm a charity CEO. It's very stressful but I love it. So many people in my sector retire and then carry on working as volunteers. I guess we just can't stop when there is still so much need to be met!

heres a question often asked of some charity's is why is the ceo paid alot more than eg the shop floor staff etc ?

Mountaineer0009 · 27/09/2023 21:45

Nellodee · 27/09/2023 21:30

I would teach for free, but I’d be damned if I’d mark any books!

i bet plato never did marking books or their equilivent etc

declutteringmymind · 27/09/2023 21:47

NHS dentist

tunainatin · 27/09/2023 21:51

Academic researcher - I honestly get a little tummy flip sometimes at the thought of my next day at work ( clearly I'm a bit of a saddo)