If you do a job you love, what do you do?

[Heyitsmebree]

Just that really. On SAHM vs working mum threads on here I consistently see people talking about how much they love their jobs and I always wonder what they do. I'm on mat leave at the moment with my second baby and, as with my first, I can't say I miss work at all. I'm in a pretty senior role and seem to spend 90% of my time sitting through incredibly tedious meetings. I'm in my mid thirties and never really enjoyed working tbh, despite a range of sectors and different roles. Thinking of possibly rethinking my career after this baby and would love to hear what those who actually enjoy their jobs do.

Civil servant - I'm a specialist in a very niche policy area. I love it- it's a bit like being an applied academic, with all of the associated Whitehall hoopla (an acquired taste but means it is never boring).

Almost everyone I work with is great, and very smart, and I'm old enough I don't get any crap off people. Get to travel. Good T&C even if the pay could be better. Get the satisfaction of hopefully improving policy.

@Natsku can you tell me what course you did please? I'm very interested in this. Thank you

Academic, research contract, very flexible, good amount of travel, get to wfh a lot.

The downside is lack of security, pressure to keep seeking further funding, some presenteeism re: meetings and admin. Overall I feel very fortunate. I might not in 2 years though.

Same!

I'm a storyteller.
Work is sporadic but pays well on a per hour basis.
I love the way people's faces light up when listening to stories.
When I'm not storytelling I make puppets and story props, and can write off trips to fabric shops/bookshops as business expenses.

I did a Part 66 aircraft maintenance training course (at the lowest level, for an A License, though I might go for the B level next as I can do that while working), was a year in school doing the theory side and exams, and 2 days a week practicing the practical tasks on the school's planes, then 10 weeks on-the-job training. It wasn't in the UK though but I expect the UK has a similar system.

There were so many people on my course that were changing careers, and lots of them got jobs already too (we only graduated last week). And I really really enjoyed the course, found it all so interesting (well the maths and physics modules were less interesting) but hardly anything I learnt in the school actually relates to my job as the school was training for line maintenance and I'm building instead which is quite different.

Educational psychologist. In an area where the service hasn't been pared back to nothing.

Adult social work.
Absolutely love it!

What an interesting thread! I'm approaching retirement age and I've had a few different careers over the years, some I loved (training officer for a multinational, student support/counsellor at a university) and a couple I hated (recruitment consultant, marketing).

I now work for a preservation trust at a heritage site and I love it. It's a beautiful place to work set in stunning grounds. I supervise visitor engagement, give guided tours and recruit and train volunteers. Most visitors are great and we work hard to make it a special experience for them. Just gearing up for Christmas now and decorating begins next week - my favourite time of year!

Childminder. It's the happiest job I've ever had.

I work with prisoners, ex-offenders and their families in an advisory role.

I run my own small business from home. I'm not rich by any means, but enjoy what I do and have enough to pay the bills. I started it when the kids were small and I love the flexibility.

SMT in social housing; very challenging but also very fulfilling.

I'm a freelance translator and I love it.

Architect.
Wanted to do it since I was 14.
Never looked back ( except recessions hit hard )

I'm a project manager for a regional child poverty charity. It pays a fraction of my old corporate salary (Chartered Accountant) but I love my job and the difference we make to families on a daily basis.

@FishBowlSwimmer . That sounds great and I am so pleased you enjoy your job. Hope the inmates do too.

I am a bit jaded with these type of activities having observed them evolving over many years.

Both my parents absolutely despised them!

Few of the inmates could manage the cutting and sticking, and the most eagerly awaited'event' was the visit of the Christmas Donkey. Who promptly shat all over the floor and was never invited back...

Then there was the grim day when a pub entertainer was engaged to sing. We will draw a veil over that.

Housekeeper in the mornings. I have nine houses( mainly farms) I clean,tidy and sort.
After school nanny and some babysitting in the evenings.
I've never been academic but I'm very creative, so love sorting peoples homes! Have my NNEB so love to work with children too.

I’m a Veterinarian wasn’t always after Uni I went into Banking very stressful.
Met DH there had our twins at 29 said to my DH I don’t want to return after mat leave.
Had a talk with him and retrained as a vet.
Love love love it, have my own practice now where our son is now qualified and working with me. He will take over the reins as DH and I will go PT next year.
Will still help out when needed such a great career ups and downs as you can imagine, but so worthwhile.
So yes OP have a good think about your future.
My father always said and he was right, find a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life.

Finance (local government)

Senior police staff, dealing with complaints and misconduct. Certainly never a boring moment!

I'm a Speech and Language Therapy Support Practitioner for the NHS. Best job I've ever had. No two days are the same as I work in schools, clinics, nurseries, home visits, etc... The weeks fly by and I hold my own diary so can mould my week to how I need it to be. It makes so much difference to the children and families we work with. Plenty of opportunities for training/career progression.

Term time only, school hours so I'm around for school runs/events and no childcare needed for the holidays.

Shit money but that's the trade off I guess.

I bet you could tell a good/eye-opening tale or 2!!