to think professional jobs are a bit of a joke

[dontgetmewrongiloveit]

Knocked off at lunchtime today. Probably did 20-30h of work this week. Don't think my manager/clients cared. Sometimes I just log off and go lie in the park in the sunshine for a few hours

I make about 120k a year

I have professional qualifications which took a bit of effort to get but not talking medicine or anything like that

AIBU to think this is a bit of a joke

I bet you do a similar job to me 🤣

Op isnt making it up. These jobs exist.

However what op is leaving out is you need to be very, very skilled/clever/experienced. What you get paid for is being able to answer hard questions, fast, on the spot. Being able to read something quickly, understand it, form a view, and make a judgement call. Doing those things but also considering your audience, who are largely not specialist in your area so need it artfully explained.

But yep, £120k easily, not long hours, and it's not "hard" if you have the brain for it.

@InChocolateWeTrust

I know loads of jobs that meet that criteria that don't earn anywhere near 120k

It's hard because you have to make the right calls not because you need to slog for 50 hours.

Also if OP does what I do, the pay is high because there's not enough of us with the experience required and employers lose millions if they don't pay us to do the job, so we can command high pay.

I don't get 20h weeks every week but they're not uncommon. It just depends on the workload. I don't think I've ever worked more than 45h even in a "really tough week"

Happy to accept the argument that I'm paid for my skills/expertise in my field but it's definitely not for my hard work. @RenegadeMatron is on the money (lol)

My company is always hiring ;)

Topgub but are there are a shortage of people able/willing to do the job, and do shareholders lose millions if it's not done?

There are absolutely loads of jobs like this. I do think you need to be reasonably senior because otherwise people would notice that you weren't at work (even if that's just being available online when WFH.) With senior managers nobody seems to question if they aren't available/don't respond immediately because they all assume they're very busy...... I'm sure quite often they're sat in the garden or down the pub!

I'm in the wrong profession!

Yes

No

Youd think share holders would figure out how to answer their own fucking questions eh?

Do you worry you might be spotted lying in the park? That would put me off doing it in work hrs.

Topgub

You would.

But its hard and I'm better at it than them, so they think it's worth giving me £120k to save them £20m.

I think the bigger joke is that people see "professional" jobs as somehow harder than jobs in retail/hospitality. When I moved to my first finance job at 21 I vividly remember being told by a senior manager "bet you wish you were back at [restaurant] now, bet you've never worked this hard in your life!"

I (extremely unprofessionally) laughed in his face and explained the hours were similar, the mental load and shouting was similar, except here I get to sit down all day and help myself to water/go to the bathroom whenever I like.

To be very clear I'm absolutely not accusing the OP of thinking or suggesting this in any way!

Don’t you feel a bit bored and unfulfilled?
I think I’ve been conditioned in my job to feel a bit panicky if I’m not flat out all the time!

@InChocolateWeTrust

Mental eh?

This exactly

Oh. Is it MLM?

OP what do you do? Asking for a friend.

@MissingGrandstand

Yeah.

I think my idea of hard and lots of higher earner types idea of hard is quite different

Body shop?

🤣

What's the job? I'm looking at retraining next year so would love a few ideas 😁

"Make" or earn?

Having just read the thread, you're not a #bossbabe are you OP? You're not looking for 10 people to join your team to be inspirational leaders and to help people drop weight by the end of summer?

Are you an Ann Summers party rep?

There’s a lot of money to be made in shit.
You lie in the park? Why , nowhere better to go?

Your employers are a joke if they are letting people get away with such a shitty attitude.

Me, DH and both D.C. are all professionals (in different fields) . We work hard. We work long hours and we pride ourselves on giving our clients a great service. I would hate to be in a job where I was held to the low standards you are describing. I like to work hard and achieve. Then I can play hard.

Ha. I suppose some might make the argument that the financial services industry is one giant Ponzi scheme but no, I wouldn't say I work for an MLM 😁