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.)
ginsparkles · 23/01/2023 23:04
I'm a manager of an independent family jewellers. I love it, I'm always dealing with happy occasions and I'm surrounded by beautiful things all day everyday.
QueefQueen80s · 23/01/2023 23:05
schnitzeln · 23/01/2023 22:44
Charity middle manager here too. Know the work makes a difference and generally you know that none of your colleagues are wankers
This! I'm a support worker for a charity and I like all the management, group leaders, fellow SW.. We certainly aren't doing it for the wage so it's because of a good heart and want to help people.. so it's always good vibes and no wanker colleagues!
OwlInTheMoss · 23/01/2023 23:07
I'm a gardener and I work for myself.
I love the work, I love my customers, I never get bored! I just can't do as much as I'd like as it's hard on my back.
I had other jobs before this and none were as satisfying - it's the combination of being outdoors in nature, and making an immediate noticeable difference that customers are really pleased with.
WetBandits · 23/01/2023 23:07
Sexual health nurse here!
I dropped a pay band to start in this role and go back to basics. I’m not jumping on chests anymore or caring for very sick people but I love it in a very different way. I feel like I’ve found my forever home here.
PousseyNotMoira · 23/01/2023 23:08
Charity CEO turned charity consultant. I adore it. My hours are flexible, I only do work that interests me and I make circa £70K a year, so it pays pretty well.
Tubbytenbums · 23/01/2023 23:09
Work in a children's residential unit, love it! Has real extremes, high highs and low lows but very rewarding
northstarry · 23/01/2023 23:10
Lecturer and manager - absolutely love every minute. Genuinely don't understand the people who complain about our profession - there is nothing I would rather do.
twanmever · 23/01/2023 23:11
I make memory cushions, and absolutely love my job. It gives great comfort to people to be able to hold them close. Financially poorer but much richer in job satisfaction.
declutteringmymind · 23/01/2023 23:12
NHS dentist here. Love my job. Only because I don't need the pay so I can spend 2 hours on root canal and get paid £22, or not get laid at all if my patient needs teeth added to their denture. I love my patients, even the grumpy ones.
closingloop · 23/01/2023 23:13
Farmer. It's a whole life love affair - if you wrote down on paper what you do and the stresses it causes for the poor returns, nobody would farm. I could sell it and 'win the lottery', but I won't, and if I did win the lottery I'd just buy more farm, it's what we would all do, we're all fucking stupid to carry on with this shit, and we secretly hope our kids will be too.
TicTac80 · 23/01/2023 23:13
Nurse here (FT on a very busy and acute NHS ward). I love it! I love the people I work with (staff and patients), I love being able to help people, and I love teaching junior staff and students. I’ve worked here for years (since I was an 18yr old 1st year undergrad!) and I hope to stay here for as long as they’ll have me. If I won the Lotto, I’d still work (but part time whilst the kids are young and then maybe volunteer for MSF when they’re grown up).
I don’t love not having enough staff on the ward, but I do love my job. Hopefully my patients and colleagues see that.
waterfallswillfindyou · 23/01/2023 23:13
PousseyNotMoira · 23/01/2023 23:08
Charity CEO turned charity consultant. I adore it. My hours are flexible, I only do work that interests me and I make circa £70K a year, so it pays pretty well.
Are you able to share some more details about your path to charity CEO, please?
Geilenk · 23/01/2023 23:15
Charity office manager. Love it. Really do. Fab charity, super colleagues.
Ski4130 · 23/01/2023 23:17
Patient advisor at a Doctor’s surgery - I changed a while ago from working in a better paid role, in a more corporate world, and I’m so much happier now. NHS wages won’t ever set the world alight (at least not at my salary band) BUT I do get much more job satisfaction from what I do now, and feel like I’m making a difference, even if it’s only a small one.
Warmwesterly · 23/01/2023 23:17
@PousseyNotMoira would you share what sort of Consultancy you do now?
OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 23/01/2023 23:18
waterfallswillfindyou · 23/01/2023 23:01
@StepAwayFromGoogling @MichaelAndEagle Can I ask how you got into CSR/sustainability, please?
@OvertiredandConfused Can I please ask how you got into the C-suite? This has always seemed shrouded in mystery to me!
@cheapskatemum @familyissues12345 @iwishiwereafirefly @OnTheRunWithMannyMontana @Janedoe82 @WhinnieThePoohHead @sunshineandshowers40 @Thedamndoorbell @schnitzeln Would love to hear a bit more about what you do for your charities if any of you are open to sharing. I volunteer a lot for charities, but I never really see many jobs going - I wonder if they're not advertised externally or if it's because there's low staff turnover. I'm very interested in the idea of working for a charity that is aligned with my values - I think there could be a lot of fulfilment in that.
Trying not to be too outing lol. But I worked in payroll for a long time. Became ill during covid and am now a wheelchair user. Needed a WFH job ideally so worked as a payroll manager in the healthcare sector, they started to want people back in the office including me, things turned a bit spur (long long story but they accused me of over exaggerating my disability).
I was searching job boards and saw this role advertised and just knew it was perfect for me. It's a charity that divides assisting living facilities, support staff, support services, therapy and even employment support for disabled people.
I don't really see that much of what we do on a daily basis but we have work social channels where the support workers post photos and videos of what our service users have been up to, wether that's going out for meals, cinema, beach trips. It's so amazing for me to see people like me living these fun filled and well rounded lives and gives me a bit of a shake when I'm having a shit day lamenting all the stuff I can't do anymore.
Job wise my team are amazing, supportive and understanding. Higher management are just great and I'm involved with our disability support team that gives advice, support and assistance to disabled colleagues.
Total cliche but I feel honoured to be part of this organisation.
Jobs are usually posted on our website. I am more than happy to PM you a link to see if there is anything you might be interested in x
ladycardamom · 23/01/2023 23:18
I did "admin roles" for few years after school and had no satisfaction. I trained to be a nurse and loved it. After 10 years in NHS I was fed up. Rediscovered my love it again in Australia. After another 10 years, I was getting a bit "meh" about it again. So, it changed from adults to paediatrics. I enjoy the role, good government employers, good working conditions.
BigBadBoom · 23/01/2023 23:20
I'm in sales (wholesale). I love my job, because I love what I sell, I really like the people I work with, I've made some good friends in my clients over the years, and I get to be creative. And the work is varied. Pay is ok, honestly I'd get so much more in other sales jobs, but I know I probably wouldn't enjoy them as much.
booksandcaffeine · 23/01/2023 23:21
I work in mental health, not the greatest pay in the world but it pays the bills. It's a tough role with stress like no other but I take pride in what I do. The people I support are amazing, it's taught me a lot about life.
YesIReallyDoLikeRootBeer · 23/01/2023 23:22
I'm in the US. I work with Special Education kids in a Middle School (grades 6-8, which is equivalent to years 7-9). I started doing this over 20 years ago because it fit my children's schedules. Now all my kids are grown and I'm still doing it. I can't imagine doing anything else. It's certainly not for the money, it's for the love of the children and love of what I do.
headache · 23/01/2023 23:25
Teacher of children with severe and complex needs mostly non verbal autistic children.
I adore working with the children, it’s very hard work, I get hurt most days but it’s very rewarding when you connect with them tap into their world. What I hate is the lack of support out there for them and their families. There’s hardly any funding and I worry about what will happen to them when they grow up as they will need constant care. I know families with 2+ DC with severe and complex needs and it’s so hard for them and they are desperate for a break and some support. It breaks my heart.
waterfallswillfindyou · 23/01/2023 23:25
OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 23/01/2023 23:18
Trying not to be too outing lol. But I worked in payroll for a long time. Became ill during covid and am now a wheelchair user. Needed a WFH job ideally so worked as a payroll manager in the healthcare sector, they started to want people back in the office including me, things turned a bit spur (long long story but they accused me of over exaggerating my disability).
I was searching job boards and saw this role advertised and just knew it was perfect for me. It's a charity that divides assisting living facilities, support staff, support services, therapy and even employment support for disabled people.
I don't really see that much of what we do on a daily basis but we have work social channels where the support workers post photos and videos of what our service users have been up to, wether that's going out for meals, cinema, beach trips. It's so amazing for me to see people like me living these fun filled and well rounded lives and gives me a bit of a shake when I'm having a shit day lamenting all the stuff I can't do anymore.
Job wise my team are amazing, supportive and understanding. Higher management are just great and I'm involved with our disability support team that gives advice, support and assistance to disabled colleagues.
Total cliche but I feel honoured to be part of this organisation.
Jobs are usually posted on our website. I am more than happy to PM you a link to see if there is anything you might be interested in x
waterfallswillfindyou · 23/01/2023 23:01
@StepAwayFromGoogling @MichaelAndEagle Can I ask how you got into CSR/sustainability, please?
@OvertiredandConfused Can I please ask how you got into the C-suite? This has always seemed shrouded in mystery to me!
@cheapskatemum @familyissues12345 @iwishiwereafirefly @OnTheRunWithMannyMontana @Janedoe82 @WhinnieThePoohHead @sunshineandshowers40 @Thedamndoorbell @schnitzeln Would love to hear a bit more about what you do for your charities if any of you are open to sharing. I volunteer a lot for charities, but I never really see many jobs going - I wonder if they're not advertised externally or if it's because there's low staff turnover. I'm very interested in the idea of working for a charity that is aligned with my values - I think there could be a lot of fulfilment in that.
I'm really sorry to hear how Covid did a number on you!
Yes, if you wouldn't mind, I'd love to have a little browse on the website. You never know, something might resonate like it did for you.
It's crazy, I've been doing more and more upskilling in my current line of work, but the further I go, the more convinced I am that I don't want to do this anymore. I've been volunteering to feel less empty, and I get such a high from helping other people, but it's increasingly not enough to make the day job bearable. I want to do something worthwhile all of the time.
LinocutSun · 23/01/2023 23:26
I'm a school Science Technician, and I absolutely love it. Every day is different, I get to work with some amazing and hilarious kids, most of my colleagues are ace, and I get to tinker about with science and run my own projects. It pays absolute peanuts, but it would take a lot to make me walk away from my job.
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