AIBU?
To ask what you do for a living if you genuinely love what you do?
waterfallswillfindyou · 23/01/2023 21:32
Like many people, I'm not fulfilled by what I do for a living. At all.
I was chatting to a doctor the other day who loves what she does - even with all the crap that NHS staff put up with - and it really hit home how I've never had that feeling. Work has always been a means to pay the bills. The money is nice, but I'm starting to struggle with not finding it rewarding, and am considering taking a pay cut for job satisfaction.
If you actually love your job - you're not just doing it for money - what do you do, please? And is it the role you actually love or the employer? (I have been wondering if working for a charity I believe in might be the answer, and am doing the sums to see if I could afford to live on third-sector wages.) I feel stuck, and I'm looking for inspiration to start researching a career change.
(Even if it's not something I can actually do, still interested in your answers. I've spent my whole adult life expecting everyone to be miserable at work, and now I'm wondering if that doesn't have to be true.)
toffee1000 · 24/01/2023 23:21
Interesting thread. I totally understand about reading a job description and being unable to apply if I don’t meet all the criteria. The problem I have is that you’re always supposed to prove how you meet said criteria. Sometimes, in the candidate info pack, they even say that if you don’t address all the criteria then it’ll affect your application!
I’d love to work in the civil service one day but don’t feel able to apply for any jobs there due to the above. So currently I’m volunteering three times a week, and looking for a part time retail job. I know retail isn’t easy but I have experience (volunteering in a charity shop) and it’ll only be for a year or so before I’m (hopefully) brave enough to apply for the civil service.
pippinsleftleg · 25/01/2023 09:49
@Daftasabroom another bored accountant here who is interested in your links please!
This has been an interesting thread. While I don’t hate my job, and work for a good company, I don’t think I’d do it if I didn’t have to. But I also don’t have any desire to not work - I just need to find the job that fulfills me!
Daftasabroom · 25/01/2023 10:05
@Warmwesterly @aynsleyredder
I started a thread a while back on positive action on climate change I'll update it to include training and useful sites etc.
xogossipgirlxo · 25/01/2023 10:45
ChorltonWheelie · 24/01/2023 06:25
Software Architect specialising in AI. Love it
Wow, my husband's dream job. Must be very interesting.
I am reading all these posts and I am so jealous (in positive way). Another miserable accountant here. No space for me for any moves, as I have baby due in July, so just need to stick to my workplace (which isn't bad, it's just profession that sucks), but I always say that this isn't my last word. Hopefully we will have financial space for me to make some changes.
NeedToChangeName · 25/01/2023 10:51
I work with the general public. Love it. People are fascinating
Lobelia123 · 25/01/2023 10:51
I work in corporate communications. My specialty is internal communications - so I work a lot with company culture, values, cascading news and strategy etc. Its the kind of job thats shit when you work in troubled times when layoffs and other big disruptions are happening, or if you work for a company that has a toxic culture - but its absolutely magic when you work for a good one. For the first time in my life, I dont get that sinking feeling of 'back to work' after holidays or on a Sunday afternoon. Ireally love what i do and believe in it.
HumphreysCorner · 25/01/2023 22:24
I work in a preschool and have done for 10 years after leaving a bank job. It's so lovely I love going into work every day.
cheapskatemum · 25/01/2023 22:38
@MichaelAndEagle I'm a support worker in a residential home for young people with disabilities. The charity is local to Norfolk, but has services in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk too.
minimadgirl · 25/01/2023 23:11
Housekeeper on a Mental Health Ward, love it and couldn't can't imagine working anywhere else. Very rarely do I not want to go to work. Love 99.9% of the patients and no two days are the same.
Daniella36 · 25/01/2023 23:49
The message from this thread seems to be that the key to happiness is to get a £50k pa year job working for a charity. You can spend half the day having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference.
OvertiredandConfused · 25/01/2023 23:57
Daniella36 · 25/01/2023 23:49
The message from this thread seems to be that the key to happiness is to get a £50k pa year job working for a charity. You can spend half the day having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference.
I work an average of 10 hour days in my charity job! Yes, I love it, but not because it’s a cushy number. It’s tough. People die. Often. Staff need support. But our community support us and we make a difference and that’s awesome.
emsworth · 26/01/2023 00:26
Specialist health care - absolutely love my job. Vocation with a brilliant and inspiring team. Emotionally hard but purposeful and meaningful.
emsworth · 26/01/2023 00:31
Daniella36 · 25/01/2023 23:49
The message from this thread seems to be that the key to happiness is to get a £50k pa year job working for a charity. You can spend half the day having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference.
That is so far from the reality - cynical much?
emsworth · 26/01/2023 00:34
OvertiredandConfused · 25/01/2023 23:57
I work an average of 10 hour days in my charity job! Yes, I love it, but not because it’s a cushy number. It’s tough. People die. Often. Staff need support. But our community support us and we make a difference and that’s awesome.
Daniella36 · 25/01/2023 23:49
The message from this thread seems to be that the key to happiness is to get a £50k pa year job working for a charity. You can spend half the day having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference.
This ^
Often it is work that most people would say is something that is too challenging or painful to sustain.
Serenity45 · 26/01/2023 00:38
I work for a charity helpline giving people emotional and practical support. The role is demanding and we do a lot of other project work aside from the frontline stuff. I love my job, though some days I'm so bloody sad and angry for our clients and what they're going through. I earn £30k and took quite a big pay cut to work here. I don't regret it at all- I'm part of a hardworking and professional team and our charity is well run/cares about staff as well as clients. I feel very lucky!
DH earns significantly more than me but is pissed off most days and doesn't feel valued. He's actively looking for another job and has said he might take a salary drop too...
toffee1000 · 26/01/2023 04:18
Daniella36 · 25/01/2023 23:49
The message from this thread seems to be that the key to happiness is to get a £50k pa year job working for a charity. You can spend half the day having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference.
A lot of people have also mentioned various NHS jobs, which very much do NOY involve “having lovely chats with your lovely colleagues, before perhaps maybe getting round to thinking about possibly doing something that might make a difference“ whilst being paid £50k. Or did you not read those posts?
Dullardmullard · 26/01/2023 04:28
Specialist dog trainer and dog breeder occasionally. I love the flexibility of it all and would continue to do so if I won the lottery
every day is a schooldays for me as it’s always different
Aprilx · 26/01/2023 06:10
I am semi retired now but am an accountant, corporate one and have worked in a number of multinationals. I have liked the majority of the organisations I have worked for but I have loved a couple of them because they have had a great culture and I have had great colleagues.
I have always enjoyed my occupation and for the majority of the last thirty years, I would say that I have enjoyed getting up and going to work.
CleanQueen123 · 26/01/2023 06:44
HR. I know Mumsnet opinion is that we're all Himmler in a polyester blouse but I spend more of my time talking managers out of treating people poorly than I do finding ways to get them out.
I love employment law, I love my job and my team and I like to think I make a positive impact on the organisations I support.
Penguinsaregreat · 26/01/2023 07:02
Interesting thread.
Those who love their jobs ( apart from teachers and NHS workers) seem to be earning a good salary with flexible wfh hours. I wonder if lower pay and having to commute would dampen the enthusiasm.
I am surprised to see so many NHS staff saying they love their job. We only ever get a very different narrative.
Barnowl25 · 26/01/2023 07:11
I work for a huge charity on an island, go to work on a boat. Every day is different, I love the people I work with and would do it for free if I won the lottery. Salary uis crap for what I do but wouldn't work anywhere else.
BMrs · 26/01/2023 07:15
I work for a college that I helped found 13 years ago. Since having my DC I stepped down and went part time as Vice Principal. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with.
Money is rubbish compared to larger colleges but I would never move. We put our students at the forefront of what we do everyday and literally help shape and change their lives for the better. Sounds cheesy but it's true.
Lobelia123 · 26/01/2023 07:36
CleanQueen123 · 26/01/2023 06:44
HR. I know Mumsnet opinion is that we're all Himmler in a polyester blouse but I spend more of my time talking managers out of treating people poorly than I do finding ways to get them out.
I love employment law, I love my job and my team and I like to think I make a positive impact on the organisations I support.
The ref to Himmler in a polyester blouse had me in stitches :) One of my favourite people in our company is an HR practitioner - she's in charge of employee benefits & I cannot tell you how much she has worked to improve things for employees - doing incredible amounts of research, networking, pitching, and going in to bat for us so we have some really amazing employee benefits. Absolutely inspiring because what she does makes a real difference. Instead of the usual healthcare, pension etc we have wellbeing add ons, subsidised meals, schooling allowance etc. And she manages to take the decision makers along with her and get them to buy into it all, which is incredible.
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