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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you enjoy your job, and why?

66 replies

BalancingActress · 17/05/2014 10:35

Having a long think about working life, and about choosing between having a job you love, that doesn't feel like work in a way, and having one you do just to afford the lifestyle you want even if the work is not how you would ideally spend your time.

What category does your job fall into? What satisfaction do you get from your job? Did it take you long to work out what you wanted to do and to get into that career?

Is it unreasonable (or perhaps just naive) to think that hopefully most people can get a job that is fulfilling, or is the reality that that's just for an elite few, and we should be grateful if we can get work that simply pays the bills?

OP posts:
SugarplumKate · 17/05/2014 17:56

I love my job. It is rewarding and feels like I'm making a difference to someone's life.

I'm an outreach worker, working with visually impaired and blind people.

Writerwannabe83 · 17/05/2014 17:56

I love my job Smile

I love the work, I love meeting new people and helping families and most importantly, I have really lovely colleagues. I think the people you are surrounded by plays a huge part in whether you enjoy being at work or not.

Sleepyhoglet · 17/05/2014 18:15

Yes bcause I get paid ok and have long holidays. Guess that wasn't the answer you were looking for!

meganorks · 17/05/2014 19:15

I hate my job and have handed in my notice for the end of my maternity leave. Hours were long and when I went back part time most weeks I was doing nearly full time hours or more occasionally. I think DP hated it more than me though. He always thought they were taking the piss.
Part of the issue is that the industry I worked in was slightly bullshity. I would like to do something where I am making a difference and helping people. Watching this thread with interest as want to change career but not sure what to. Although plan to stay at home till DD2 in nursery if I can.

skittycat · 17/05/2014 19:25

No, I don't particularly like my job. It's… just not what I want to do but it brings in money.

Fedupofplaystation · 17/05/2014 19:35

I love my job.

I'm a junior doctor. Hard work, but the rewards are worth it. I love the interaction with so many different people. I love actually making a difference to people. My colleagues are great: other juniors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, ward clerks etc. I also love that I work part-time.

I also enjoyed the job I did to support me while studying - supporting adults with learning difficulties.

Peanut15 · 17/05/2014 19:40

I love my job, I'm a farmer.

Wouldn't change it for a million pounds.

MrsCripps · 17/05/2014 19:58

I adore my job - its my life .
Im a Midwife Smile

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 17/05/2014 20:03

Steff13 are you outside of the UK?

Peanut15 · 17/05/2014 20:07

I forgot the why! It's because I get to be outside on cold frosty mornings and beautiful summer sunsets. It's because I get the best of both worlds - working and being at home all the time for kids. It's because I feel I'm contributing to society. It's because it means I'm lucky enough to live in a big house in a stunning area.

But mostly it's because I get to drive big tractors.

TheSarcasticFringehead · 17/05/2014 20:07

I love my job. I'm an animator. I remember watching the Robin Hood fox cartoon and thinking I wanted to make things like that, and now I am. It's great fun and I get to impress my DC, which is nice. I love being able to make kids smile, and that's exactly what I get to do now. Smile

BackforGood · 17/05/2014 20:14

I think I've enjoyed parts of all the jobs I've had and then there have been parts that I've not enjoyed too - isn't that the same for a lot of people ?
There's lots of things I love about my current job, but the fact there are only about 25% of the full number of staff needed to do the job properly, brings a lot of downsides too - doesn't mean I don't love the job though.

frumpet · 17/05/2014 20:57

I love my job. I am a nurse . I love it when i can make one person feel better , sometimes that is difficult to achieve , but i have the keys to the cupboard of love and i am not afraid to use them . In nurse speak that means the keys to the controlled drug cupboard . If you are in pain , i believe you , i dont think you should grow up and stop being such a wuss as many of my colleagues do , i think what can i do to make this better . As you can imagine , this make's me super popular with the more hardened members of the NHS .

frumpet · 17/05/2014 21:04

peanut15 if i could combine your job with mine i would be in Heaven !

MrsCripps · 17/05/2014 21:04

frumpet that made me Smile

TheDudess · 17/05/2014 21:11

I love my job. I'm a senior manager in the NHS and Iget a great deal of satisfaction from trying to make health services better for the people we serve.

I would love my job a lot more if the politicians stopped fucking about with it and our budgets but that's a wholeother thread.

It has taken me the best part of a decade to train to do the job I do, much of that supported by my employer. They treat me well and in return I work very hard for them. I could earn a lot more in the private sector but the socialist in me loves working for the state.

My boss and my colleagues are amazing.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 17/05/2014 21:13

Admin in the NHS working for two specialist teams, work load is not overly demanding, flexible hours, great team to work for.

iliketea · 17/05/2014 21:15

I love parts if my job. I'm a nurse - it is a great honour to help someone in the final days of life remain at home and symptom free, while supporting their families. Or providing the necessary care and support to keep an elderly person in their own home as they wish.

The bits I don't love so much is all the management crap, the fact that if I can't get a patient some equipment / care they need, it's not my decision but I have to take the flack for it. And the fact that I come home mentally and physically drained from trying to give my patients everything they need, I read about how awful nurses are (newspapers, often threads on here).

TheDudess · 17/05/2014 21:15

[Grin] at frumpet

I'm the one looking at your prescribing records wondering why you couldn't prescribe something a little more generic - NHS Manager speak for cheaper.

To be fair though, I'm also the one that would have yourback when you completely justified your choice.

Wafflenose · 17/05/2014 21:19

I'm a music teacher, and LOVE it. I decided what I wanted to do when I was 15, when I was playing in a concert, saw all the local teachers hauling music stands and equipment around on stage and realised that's what I NEEDED to do! I qualified when I was 23. I'm part time and not highly paid, but it's always interesting. My favourite parts are getting all the children performing and having fun, and showing that it's something that everyone can succeed at with commitment and good teaching. Yay!

frumpet · 17/05/2014 21:23

Hah TheDudess , glad someone has my back ! To be fair i follow the guidelines as far as pain control is concerned , but i just make sure that people know that if whatever i give them doesn't work in a short space of time , then there are other stronger options available to them . To me a happy patient is one who gets up and gets moving quicker and then in turn leaves hospital quicker , has less complications and less complaints , its not bloody rocket science is it Grin

iliketea if you work in the community my hat is well and truly off to you , it is where i am aiming for in the future

iliketea · 17/05/2014 21:50

Thanks frumpet - i do work in the community, and don't aspire to do any other sort of nursing. I worked in hospital for a bit, but I love that in someone's home there are so many other clues to assess whether someone is coping at home when you can see their living environment. Make the move - there are oodles of career opportunities for community nurses these days Smile

lechers · 17/05/2014 22:20

I love my job. I hate the paperwork and all the politics, but the basics of the job, I love.

Nothing compares to when a student gets something, or when they thank you for teaching them. The bonds you develop with students, and watching them grow up and move off to uni as adults.

I'm a sixth form lecturer / teacher. It's a hard job (quite long hours term time) and there are times when I do more work unpaid in a week than I actually do paid. But, it's not badly paid, and DH and I are comfortable. I also like the holidays Grin.

movingalot · 17/05/2014 22:31

I love my job too. I went back part time after having DD, and am going full-time again in July. It is a job in healthcare and I miss having continuity of care with patients, so will give full-time a go for a while, at least until we have (hopefully) DC2.

lavenderhoney · 17/05/2014 22:35

I love my job. I'm part time. It fits round school and holidays as my boss has used latest technology to ensure I can if needed work from home. If I can't come in, there is no fuss or heavy sighs. I'm well paid ( London rates, in the sticks) I wear jeans to work and my boss is kind, understanding and intelligent. I am not expected to make small talk ( bonus!)
I'd say although I'd like to be f/t and there are a few things that I'm not happy with, I have the time to work on other projects which are creative and beneficial to me which do not impact my work life or care for dc.

Actually, I'm pretty lucky. I've had much more high level, fast paced and long hours jobs with extensive travel abroad in the past and I miss that. But I have dc and am alone, so that won't happen. Unless I get offered something amazing and then yes, I would put nannies and alsorts in place.

But for now, its cool. I am always looking though. One should never be complacent.

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