Do you find your job rewarding and satisfying?

toomanydirections · 2023-09-27T17:32:55+00:00

What is the best thing about your job? I haven't worked for several years now because of illness and a bereavement and feeling directionless. I used to have so much enthusiasm but was only ever very junior, and then my health broke down and lost all my confidence. I just don't know what way to go - I'm daunted by every job description and not sure I could manage at all. How do you make a decision what job to go for and stick with and focus on learning all the skills even if you lack them to start? What proportion of people do you reckon like their jobs, I also wondered?

Notellinganyone · 27/09/2023 18:34

I absolutely love mine. I’m a secondary school English teacher in a big independent day school. I have fantastic colleagues and the pupils are great. I’ve been teaching for nearly thirty years now. It is tiring but my own children have left home now.

Original poster

toomanydirections · 27/09/2023 18:36

Was teaching something you always wanted to do?

OP posts:

SarahAndQuack · 27/09/2023 18:41

I'm so sorry you feel like this, OP. You've had a rough time.

FWIW, yes, I absolutely love my job. I am very lucky that I've had two quite different types of job in my life, and I've really enjoyed both of them.

I know what you mean about feeling intimidated by job descriptions - I think that's really common, especially if you are changing career or you've been out of work. But you will have lots of skills and qualities, which you probably don't think about. Maybe ask a friend to help you with applications? I find another person can often be better at pushing you to really sell yourself.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 27/09/2023 18:41

I adore my job! I love everything about it except for some deaths.

The money is crap though.

Mammyloveswine · 27/09/2023 18:42

I'm an early years lead and reception teacher and I LOVE my job! I have a fabulous team and supportive head and I love it so much!

Thementalloadisreal · 27/09/2023 18:42

I hated every job I ever had.

mycatsanutter · 27/09/2023 18:45

I absolutely love my job I stayed in a job for way too many years than I should have done and was bored out of my mind . But made the move earlier this year and now there isn't a single morning where I wake up and don't want to go - I'm a GP receptionist.

Labbingtons · 27/09/2023 18:48

It can be really daunting looking at new jobs, especially when you are learning skills from scratch. But if you are well supported and enjoy the role, even as a junior, that’s half the journey done.

I’m an educational psychologist. I have had to learn a lot of skills over many years and my job description feels daunting to me even now. But I absolutely love my role and the brilliant families and schools I meet. Actually, I love my role twice as much now I’ve left the broken LA SEN system and work in independent practice. I’ve redound my energy and creativity!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 27/09/2023 18:48

mycatsanutter · 27/09/2023 18:45

I absolutely love my job I stayed in a job for way too many years than I should have done and was bored out of my mind . But made the move earlier this year and now there isn't a single morning where I wake up and don't want to go - I'm a GP receptionist.

Would have thought that was one of the most stressful jobs for the money you get, and one of the ones most likely to bring you grief from complaining patients. What is rewarding about it? You must have to disappoint many patients each day who can't get an appointment?

Babyroobs · 27/09/2023 18:50

I love mine most of the time ( advisor ) nut do get fed up with people trying to cheat the system and this makes me want to find a different job sometimes.

SillySausagez · 27/09/2023 18:51

What are your interests? Previous jobs?

ASCCM · 27/09/2023 18:53

I absolutely love my job. It’s really really hard and sometimes I wish I could just tell them to stuff it. But it’s a job you only do if you love it ( or it would just be too miserable!) But even when I didn’t need the money I still worked full time, it’s part of who I am. I was never cut out to just be a mum or a housewife. I’m really ambitions and my career has grown significantly in the last 5 years or so. I’m fortunate that I also earn way above average so it’s financially rewarding too.

job descriptions are often full of nonsense , write down a list of your strengths, things that interest you etc and go from there!

Lateliein · 27/09/2023 18:58

Secondary teacher and form teacher too. Love it. I know I am making a huge difference to the kids. And I love my colleagues.

UsingChangeofName · 27/09/2023 19:00

I suspect virtually every job has things about it that people don't like - even if it is getting up on a cold, dark, wet Monday morning.

The thing I love most about my job is my Team. A fantastic group of people who all work so hard and are so flexible and helpful.

The thing I hate is the lack of funding / resources / capacity to do the job properly, and all the things lacking that are beyond our capability to do anything about.

How do you make a decision what job to go for and stick with and focus on learning all the skills even if you lack them to start?

I think that depends on what you've done before
What qualifications you have
What experience you have
What salary you need
Whether you can work flexibly or even a regular shift pattern that involves different hours on different days
Whether you can / are willing to commute
What you enjoy doing - would you hate / love to be outside; or talking to people you don't know; wfh; driving from one place to another; doing something without much responsibility ; etc. etc. etc

Hufflepods · 27/09/2023 19:01

I do find my job rewarding and satisfying. It’s very client facing which I enjoy, I like the social element of that and I like pitching.
It’s a sector of design within the construction industry so it’s then nice to see your work come to life physically.

GreyhpundGirl · 27/09/2023 19:03

I'm a secondary school teacher. I mostly like my job. It's tough but I've never disliked it enough to think of leaving (I've taught for 22 years) and can't think what else I'd what do!

Original poster

toomanydirections · 27/09/2023 19:08

I'm educated to Masters level and was really excited about that subject.

But my Masters really reminds me of my bereavement (it is in the healthcare field, but not a medic) and now I don't think I can do it anymore, I can't face it. Silly really.

OP posts:

amberisola · 27/09/2023 19:19

I love mine, most of the time. I'm a mid-senior level editor at a magazine. I love the actual writing and editing part of the job, but find the management side, admin and office politics very trying. I have occasional days where I really feel like quitting, but just today I was thinking how much I enjoy it. I'm given a lot of autonomy and trust, I get on really well with my team, and the company is more results-driven (compared to the awful micromanaging and presenteeism I've dealt with in the past) which makes up for the just-about-adequate pay!

I hope you come across something that interests you. I fell into this job, and felt very underqualified when I started, but I've grown into it.

cherryassam · 27/09/2023 19:21

I love my job (mostly).

I love working with people and finding the perfect solution to what they want.

I love all the opportunities I have for travel.

I enjoy supporting my team and helping them develop their skills.

I less enjoy dealing with senior leadership who have lost track of what it’s like for most of their employees on a day to day basis.

user1846385927482658 · 27/09/2023 19:28

toomanydirections · 27/09/2023 19:08

I'm educated to Masters level and was really excited about that subject.

But my Masters really reminds me of my bereavement (it is in the healthcare field, but not a medic) and now I don't think I can do it anymore, I can't face it. Silly really.

That's not silly at all. I'm sorry you've had such a rough time.

I know this is a clichéd suggestion, but have you considered volunteer roles to rebuild your confidence and suss out what might suit you? It might feel less high stakes. (If you can afford to do that.)

TammyJones · 27/09/2023 19:31

mycatsanutter · 27/09/2023 18:45

I absolutely love my job I stayed in a job for way too many years than I should have done and was bored out of my mind . But made the move earlier this year and now there isn't a single morning where I wake up and don't want to go - I'm a GP receptionist.

Similar job - similar experience.
Yes it is busy.
Yes it can be stressful- but there is no much variety, no 2 days are the same.
I've grown so much since I started and met some amazing people.
Though there is always new things to learn I do think based on the experience I have had here, I am in a great position to step up further should I want to , when the opportunity presents- and I know it will.

sonjadog · 27/09/2023 19:32

Mixed is how I feel about mine. I am an academic. Sometimes it is the best job in the world, sometimes it is really shit. It is a rollercoaster ride. The best bits are that I choose what I work with myself (more or less), I have huge amount of freedom everyday, and I get to travel and meet some really interesting people. The shit bits are the endless issues with funding, soul-crushing rejections and the pointless drama.

SarahAndQuack · 27/09/2023 19:32

toomanydirections · 27/09/2023 19:08

I'm educated to Masters level and was really excited about that subject.

But my Masters really reminds me of my bereavement (it is in the healthcare field, but not a medic) and now I don't think I can do it anymore, I can't face it. Silly really.

That isn't silly at all.

I can totally see how that would be. My first career was in academia, and a few years ago I won a grant to research pregnancy loss and fertility issues. I really thought that, because these were issues personal to me, I'd find it motivating and helpful. I actually found it really upsetting. So I very much get where you're coming from!

Is there anything adjacent to your specialisation that you could do, that would not bring up the same traumatic memories?

If not ... well, what do you want to do with your life? Honestly, someone who is capable of getting an MA is almost certainly someone who can do many, valuable jobs. It's just a matter of narrowing it down, and regaining your confidence in yourself. You can do this!

Weddingpuzzle · 27/09/2023 19:33

I really like both my jobs. I work FT in NHS research and I am a freelance writer on the side too. However given a choice, if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. Which is weird as I enjoy them but they are a means to my mortgage and holidays. If I didn't have to work to pay for stuff I wouldn't.

Luckydog7 · 27/09/2023 19:36

I love my job but only since I started freelancing. I liked parts of my work before but its a stressful industry (design/build) and it was a relief when I lost my job last year. Now I get to pick all my favorite parts to offer my clients and get paid double what I did before while working from home.