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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are most jobs fairly boring?

73 replies

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 15:32

Making me think as DC1 is nearly 17 now.

I have a fairly flexible job on 2 days of the week (not so much the other 3). I like all the people I work with too, and proud of what I do

But it is up to 7.5 hours a day 5 days a week mostly staring at a computer screen. Spreadsheets, policies, emails mostly.

If I ask my DC what I do, they would say ‘look at a computer all day!’ And that they would never want to work in an office because it looks so boring. I don’t want to demoralise them before they are adults by saying most jobs are boring, but at least 70% of mine is quite boring and repetitive and you have to be realistic

When people enjoy their jobs is this more the socialisation and what they produce rather than the boring delivery/method of production? Do the majority of people have boring jobs with a small majority loving every minute of it?

OP posts:

ReceptionTA · 07/08/2019 16:18

My job is not boring!

It's very varied, in fact it's almost a completely different job in September and the summer term, but it doesn't pay particularly well.

Original poster

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 16:18

@SnuggyBuggy

Completely agree and partly why I posted, I mean what do you tell your kids? DC2 is very talented at art but feels that there is no solid career that she would want to follow that while would maybe be enjoyable, it is more likely to be a hobby and not a real actual job. I think that my DC actually have the negative view that jobs are boring and you go to work to earn money and I would also like to inspire them that doesn’t have to be the case. Whereas are we teaching some children to follow their dreams and everything will be very exciting? I don’t know!

OP posts:

vasya · 07/08/2019 16:21

I'm a civil litigation lawyer and my job isn't boring. Some tasks are (disclosure - give me strength!) but generally it involves a lot of strategy, research, writing, court work etc.

It can be very stressful, but I expect that's true of a lot of boring jobs too. I'm grateful for what I have.

LolaSmiles · 07/08/2019 16:22

I think all jobs have boring bits, but everyone will have a different idea of what their ideal/boring job would look like.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 07/08/2019 16:27

If I ask my DC what I do, they would say ‘look at a computer all day!’

This is a pretty superficial analysis. The guy who won £1m playing Fortnite stares at a screen all day. Kids spending their leisure time on social media stare at a screen all day.

Formula One drivers sit behind a steering wheel wheel all day. Neil Armstrong spent days stuck in a little metal box and wasn't allowed to pee properly. Scientists discovering life-saving cures spend all day fiddling about with test tubes. You can choose to describe any job in a way that reduces it to its dullest parts!

CmdrCressidaDuck · 07/08/2019 16:33

I look at a computer all day, but I'm not bored at all. (Okay, fine, sometimes I'm bored in certain meetings.) Seeing it as "looking at a computer all day" is pretty reductive and defeatist, no?

Not every job allows you to set your creative side free, but you can find meaning in anything you do.

Batqueen · 07/08/2019 16:35

OP if your DD is an arty type then there are so many new roles that require vision and creativity. I am running a project at the moment that includes a drama grad, art grad and several other creative thinkers who have now moved to far more corporate roles but their vision is super important.

My work is an office job that is interesting because each project/problem is different. it does include a lot of computers too!

EatDessertFirst · 07/08/2019 16:38

I am a Gamemaster at an escape room company (after being a chef for twelve years). It is a fascinating job. I love the fact I can create new characters and tailor peoples experiences. No day is ever the same just the same as no team is ever the same. I couldn't ever and haven't ever worked in an office. I'll be encouraging my children to get a trade (DS wants to be a firefighter and DD wants to be a vet). Everyone I know with an office based job seems constantly terrified of redundancy or being managed out.

HotChoc10 · 07/08/2019 16:41

I think my actual work (which involves being at a computer screen almost all the time) is interesting, but I never have enough to do to fill all the hours I have to be in the office and the seat filling/looking busy bits are definitely boring… the opposite problem to everyone else apparently!

BeyondMyWits · 07/08/2019 16:47

I work in a community pharmacy - it is wonderful - never boring, never nothing to do, always people to talk to - I am a people person and you really do build up relationships over time. I am suited to the job and the job is suited to me. 100%.

Ask my kids what I do and their answer is "talk to people all day" - I kind of do...

Basketofkittens · 07/08/2019 16:47

I grew to hate office work - it’s so boring so I’m retraining as a teacher.

Office work is unnatural!

Unihorn · 07/08/2019 16:52

I'm a restaurant manager so I spend the first and last hour of my 9/10 hour shift looking at a computer and the rest of the time running around like a lunatic fighting fires (literally sometimes). There's no such thing as a quiet day because the staffing levels are relative so there are fewer people to do work so I end up doing more.

I'd kill for an office job but it wouldn't pay enough unfortunately.

SnuggyBuggy · 07/08/2019 16:54

The other side is that even if you are good at something you may want to keep it as a hobby. I have two things I'm half decent at but when anyone asks if I'd want to turn it into a job my answer would be no because I'd probably start to hate it if it were my job

ScreamingValenta · 07/08/2019 16:57

Yes, I think most jobs are pretty boring. I very rarely come across a job that sounds interesting.

Tabitha005 · 07/08/2019 17:04

I think there's much to be said for having a 'boring' job you can simply walk away from at the end of every day and forget about - at least for a while. I'm studying for an accountancy and finance qualification and working part-time in an accounts department doing (mostly) data entry of thousands of purchase invoices - really dull.

However, I also get to do a few little tasks to break up the monotony which are invaluable in giving me accounting experience and understanding the processes within financial operations and, right now, that suits me just fine.

I've had some stressful jobs, including running my own property business for ten years which was the exact opposite of boring and, on balance, I'd choose a job that doesn't keep me awake at nights!

sallud · 07/08/2019 17:04

I'm a teacher and DH is an artist, we both love our jobs and don't find them boring. We've been together since university and we could have both chosen more lucrative career paths, but we both chose careers that we had a passion for.

PumpkinPie2016 · 07/08/2019 17:11

I did waitressing/bar work in my younger days and I wouldn't describe it as boring. Busy, stressful at times but also quite enjoyable too meeting so many different people.

I am a teacher now in a secondary school and I'm certainly never bored. No two days (or even two lessons!) are ever the same and children are endlessly entertaining.

I also feel I never stop learning/developing which is great.

When I was at school, I did two weeks work experience with an accountant. The lady worked alone in her office and her clients communicated by email mainly so you literally went all day without seeing another soul! Thankfully, she was a very nice, jolly lady because the job itself was the most boring thing I have ever done in my life! Maybe it would be better in a larger office or if you saw your clients in person but being in an office all day long drove me mad! I swore I would never do office work (and I never have!). No offence to any accountants - I'm sure it must have its interesting parts.

I guess it depends on the person - I need a busy environment and lots of people to thrive. Others may be happy focussing on spreadsheet etc. alone.

Ivegotthree · 07/08/2019 17:13

My job's really fun!

I work in the media. With bloody great people who are all proper friends and make me laugh til I cry.

LLapT0p962 · 07/08/2019 17:14

I've worked & volunteered in lots of different industries. I do think that most jobs have an element of repetition.

Some jobs offer opportunities to progress & some companies offer free qualifications
I have passed some courses/exams

Some jobs offer chance to become involved in the extras like; charity fund raising days, competitions, volunteer days, mentor days, first aider, health & safety, work experience, visit other department days, social clubs for employees etc

Some people like routine & do the same job for 50 years

I think that people are fortunate if they enjoy their job

Jobs pay the bills & if you are fortunate to get a well paid job, they pay for the luxuries in life too

My current job has some elements of repetition. I work shifts days & nights.
However, I enjoy my off shift days the most !

Some people are scared of change. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Try some things & see if you enjoy them.

MaryShelley1818 · 07/08/2019 17:14

I work in Children’s Services.
My job can be difficult, stressful, rewarding, frustrating and lots more but never ever boring.
I absolutely love my job.

StCharlotte · 07/08/2019 17:16

Almost all office based jobs are boring, in my experience. It’s not just the work itself, it is the ‘groundhog day’ monotony of working in an office which is so repetitive and tedious.

I disagree. I love the whole working in an office thing.

I really enjoyed this job (yep, spreadsheets!) until there was an operational change and now I mostly have to work on other people's horrid, incomprehensible spreadsheets and I am bored and I really miss my old role - but I love the office bit

cushioncovers · 07/08/2019 17:20

What I've realised as I've got older is that busy doesn't always equal interesting. I can be busy as hell but still bored.

LLapT0p962 · 07/08/2019 17:23

I know someone who worked long hours, from home to avoid a long commute. So zero interaction with real people. This would be a nightmare job for me !

ComeOnGordon · 07/08/2019 17:26

I’ve taken an office job out of necessity since I can’t do the career I trained for where I live now. I am often mind numbingly bored and to make it worse I’m mostly alone in my office. It’s made me realise I need a job with lots of people contact.

But.....it pays fairly well, it’s close to home and it’s not every day. And there are some advantages of being alone in an office - no one cares if I need to fart or pick my nose 😂

Original poster

PookieDo · 07/08/2019 17:27

I love my own spreadsheets but alas yes I end up having to complete and return other people’s awful spreadsheets 😂

I work by myself 2 days a week which is isolating (but productive) and find in an office actually I am interrupted a lot by other people (all very nice) which breaks the day up in a good and bad way, I have to keep stopping and starting what I am doing and find some meetings just go on way too long and I am always trying to move them on. The office I work in is very much paper based and slightly old fashioned and extremely complex in its workings which fries my mind a bit.

I am in an operational role so it’s a lot of coordinating what other people are doing. They all have different ideas to me so it can be frustrating

I really really like dealing with complaints though and I am trying to build up the company profile because it has been neglected.

I don’t think my own DC get to see anything I produce so it can look to them like I am just staring at a computer all day long.

I’m going to look at the positives more

I think I know what area I would like to work in so I am going to keep an open mind. I’ve worked in offices all my life, just perhaps I feel in a rut right now.

OP posts:

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