To ask if you’re satisfied with your current job?

[ceitidhb]

Relevant background info: I’m a secondary school teacher and I really, really love my job - it’s very hard, especially right now (we’re open for kids of ket workers and those who need extra support, but still running online learning at the same time, so it’s quite hectic). But I was having a conversation with DD1 (who’s 18 and currently on a gap year; she’s at a bit of a crossroads re what she wants to do as a career) about the various places I’ve worked and it made me realise that as much as I love teaching, I really miss working in politics and being surrounded by other adults all day...

I worked in the White House for a while in the nineties (amongst other places, but that stands out for obvious reasons) and it was honestly the time of my life. It’s making me quite sad that I’ll never get that sort of opportunity again. I wouldn’t say I preferred it to teaching, they’re both obviously very different and have their respective qualities, but I think I also miss the youth & freedom I had back then! (although I don’t miss living in the US, especially with kids )

So MNetters - is your current job your ‘dream’ job that you can see yourself in for the foreseeable future? Or do you find yourself pining for a completely different career field? Is it normal to suddenly feel slightly dissatisfied and ‘stuck’ or am I having a midlife crisis?

I started up my own business about a year ago and I absolutely love it.

I'm a dog walker/pet sitter and sell natural doggy treat bags

No I don't like it but it is well paid. I am thinking about a career change but my problem is I don't know what I really want to do!
Well, I do but it's not possible...will be more a retirement hobby now I fear.

I love my job but i'm still only 22, not sure if i could see myself in retail management or higher for the next 50 years though!

I am quite happy with the industry I ended up in although it was an accidental thing rather than my dream job. My current role is good for flexibility and working around having small children. I'm pretty bored though and would like to move into a more challenging higher grade role but none of those jobs offer enough flexibility.

I’m satisfied. Interesting work, good bunch of colleagues, well paid, good autonomy. Sure it can be stressful but nobody will die if I muck up. Yes, long hours sometimes, but that’s expected for the money I’m on. I feel very lucky when I stop and think about it.

I love my current job.

It is, however, not my forever job that I’m studying towards being qualified for.

My dream job is a lottery winner!

Currently a civil servant. I don’t really like it but it pays okay. Counting down the days to my maternity leave and then I’ll look for a new internal job to go back to.

Thinking of doing a Primary PGCE but not sure how that’ll work with a small child.

I always think jobs have a Love:Hate feel to them.
I’ve yet to find one that is all Love.

Currently I am more on the Love side with my job but some days I definitely am not.

I never had a vocation but went through University never the less, but I am always happier working for Organisations I believe in, Education for example, never sales orientated cut throat environments.

I love my job. I'm at an age where I no longer want to progress up the career ladder. My job is flexible, I wfh, love my colleagues and my boss is great and gives me the time and space and trusts me to do my job. I also get paid a good amount, enough to live comfortably, pay a mortgage, save for retirement, holidays and decent cars. It's in IT so not sexy at all

I hate having to work for a living. The nature of the job is irrelevant.

Whatever happened to well paid sinecures?

I adore my job.
I work from home, have no boss, earn a healthy salary. Can have as much time off as I like, choose my hours, can drink wine or work in my pjs if I choose to.

I like my job.

It's in a specific specialism (accountancy related) that is technical and analytical which I love, but also i work closely with some really smart people.

I'm lucky that pay wise I'm just about enough of an "expert" that my pay is about the responsibility I bear, my experience and corresponding ability to make judgement calls about risks with big numbers attached. As a result I'm reasonably well paid but don't often have to work long hours.

Caveat. I think probably 90% of people would think my job was boring, hard, and utterly unappealing

I'm looking at a chance soon. To a "dream job" but I am looking at a wage of £16k if I do.

So I'm really trying to weigh up if the dream is going to stay a dream when the reality of a strenuous 40 hours a week plus M25 commute will be for basically minimum wage.

Lemoncrab I think that's not really a dream job more a calling or vocation. Those hours for that money you need to LOVE it.

I adore my job. I'd like to be able to increase my hours (charity sector so we sort of bid for temporary contracts with few hours) but I have to pinch myself that I do what I do and get paid

No I hate it and the stress is making me ill.low level finance worker for a local authority. I stop payments, I get told off. I try to recover overpayment, I get told off. I ask for advice, nobody knows. Horrid.
My ideal job is probably working in a cattery or with plants. The less interaction with people, the better.

I love mine - Head of Sales for a company providing Regulatory support for Pharma companies.
I had been a freelancer for many years and didn’t think I would be employed but this opportunity came up and it was too good to miss
It’s well paid, flexible, good benefits, lots of autonomy and I speak to very interesting people all over the world. I have virtually visited China, Japan, Sweden, Austria, France and The US this week.
Once Covid dies down a bit more I should get some international travel, but not too much for it to be a pain in the arse.

Mines quite complicated, my job is interesting but can be stressful and sometimes I have to deal with some difficult and sad cases.
I can't see me doing it forever, but the company I work for is quite large so feel confident that I can.move around internally.

So many PP’s mention they don’t know what they want to do ‘when they grow up’. I have never met anyone who has their dream job I think it’s true that the most interesting people I know still don’t know what they want to be. I still want to be a vet, an athlete, an artist, and definitely want to be a lottery winner too!!

Best job in the world is a PT job, IMO! So I’m retraining for the reason of flexi working, and keeping it on the side of my main job for now as I can’t afford a complete switch.

To the PPs who have crappy managers, this has been the big driver for me. I have hated some of my bosses. It’s been soul destroying having to go through the blame and shame cycle of inter-office politics. I don’t see many coming out unscathed. For that reason, I try and be the better person, not trample on others, be encouraging of diversity and equality. Most of all, if it doesn’t make you happy, look to work for a company that has the right ethos and culture. We spend far too much time in work to spend each day being miserable.

There are lots of vocational courses out there. There are also plenty of opportunity for apprenticeships and training on the job.

Think about what your good at and what you’re interested in.

@felulageller

No hate it. Want to change but feel pressured to have the stable income.

Me too

If I left mine it would be to be a yoga teacher and travel with that (retreats etc).

Op, something to consider, could you sign up to organise educational school trips? You could organise an educational political trip to America. We took students to America on the Obama campaign trail. They loved it!

I've worked in ITU/Critical Care for 20 years and I have always loved my job but the last 12 months have taken their toll so I'll be looking for a change when this is all over. We're lucky to be financially secure so I may take early retirement and find something part time.

I don’t hate my job and I’m very good at it, it’s an easy, well-paying role so I’ve got it lucky, but I’m 100% only here for the stable salary, sick pay and pension. I LOVED being freelance and doing what I was doing prior to this role, but with the freedom and creativity of that came not enough money to ensure a decent pension or savings to put DC through university, or even afford childcare, so no option really.

I daydream frequently of a modest lottery win/windfall/cash in the attic/distant unheard of relative bequeathing me something that I could chuck at my pension, mortgage and childcare to allow me to return to my freelance job. I was so happy. Now I chug along.

I am a registered nurse and always enjoyed working but now I absolutely hate it ...paperwork and admin has completely overtaken patient care . Patients are dumped at the bottom of the pile ! I am too old now to start a different career so shall just have to stop moaning. Covid has also added another shedload of paperwork to the pile !

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland out of curiosity, is it tax related? It seems counterintuitive because it sounds really boring (to me, anyway!) but everyone I’ve known who works in tax thinks it’s fascinating and enjoys their job