Is it just a job?

[Bumblebeebumbl]

Just posting here for a bit of traffic

I hear this comment often, even from colleagues. I am a passionate person and take pride on what I do, so worry when things go wrong, and take things to heart when I get criticised.

I noticed most people just seem more relaxed about it, have the it is just a job attitude and play the game, just go along with it. I work in a very corporate environment and I think this attitude will probably help coping with this job better.

Is it just a job for you or a career that you are passionate about it?

I think my husband has a career and I have a job.

It's a job. There is no progression so can't be a career role. But I still try to do my very best.

I think that is a healthy attitude, Do the job the best you can within your hours but not to get emotional invested. I wished I learned this earlier in my career.

Sorry to hear this.

I have a career (in terms of progression, salary and a recent award) but I see it as ‘only work’. That keeps me grounded, sane and able to lead people with love.

when you said ‘I’m a passionate person, so I take criticism to heart’ (sorry know that’s just the gist and not exactly what you said) to me that makes me feel like you’ve decided that’s who you are and who you’ll always be. You can change your mindset and also learn about why that might be and how to let go a little. I know my career got a lot better when I learned how to be the most impactful person I could be whilst staying true to myself. And to put my love and effort into the people who matter to me and just my effort into work.

I think answering the question, 'what if I won the lottery?' is a good determinate of whether it is a job or a career.

You are indispensable at your work place, whatever job you do.
I had a colleague who was always first in, last out. Did way more work than everyone else. Thought she was the backbone of the company, she never took any leave and basically thought that everything would crumble without her. She left due to husband being relocated and she was hardly ever mentioned again and nothing changed and despite being a nice person and good colleague, no one really missed her, even though she had made the job her life.
Be professional and competent for the hours they pay you.

I second this! I did office temping in my 20s, and apart from lack of holidays and sick pay, I loved it. I went in each day, did my best, then walked out at 5pm and totally forgot about work until the next day. Pay wasn't that good, but I would love to do this sort of job again.

I had a career; very much a part of my identity and I put a lot of effort into being and doing. Then demographics, locality and Covid put an end to it and now I have a job. Completed un invested. I do an excellent job, but every fibre of me is still what I used to be (and apparently it still comes out). Spend much less time outside of working hours thinking about or doing work now. Pay broadly similar but huge difference between a job and a career.

Just a job who will replace you in a heart beat. Do what needs to be done during paid time then forget about it. When I handed in my notice they had a replacement before I left

Up until very recently I considered my job a career snd a very big part of my identity, I’ve always been driven and worked for the same company for 12 years, since I was 17, working my way up. I worked a lot of my life around it. Until I was suddenly made redundant a month ago, 3 months into Maternity leave. It really messed with me already fragile identity, and as others have said, everyone is replaceable. I’ve now since decided a job will just be a job for me because nothings ever permenant

Just a job. It’s not my first choice of profession, I don’t particularly enjoy/like about 75% of what it requires. But I take pride in doing it well and I want to keep it as the pay and benefits work well for my life and family.

Sorry to hear this.

That is the thing; sometimes you put all your heart and soul on it; but at the end of the day you are just a number. Company get rids to f you whenever doesn’t suit them any more.

I want to do the best I can during my working hours; but that is it, treat it as just a job as majority do and not get emotionally invested; as going the extra mile is not appreciated.

I wish I would have learned this earlier in my career life.

I get no joy or pride from working, so I would say it's just a job. The only reason I work is to pay bills and eat.

All paid employment is a job. As anyone who has been made redundant knows regardless of it being a career or job.

It’s almost always just a job. The question I always ask is if you don’t show up for work one day or if something goes wrong/you make a mistake will anybody actually die?
9/10 times for most people it’s a “no”. Few are delivering life saving care, curing cancer or preventing a huge disaster on a daily basis.
You can always be replaced, and even if you enjoy your job and it’s secure (for now…) things always change. The people you like leave, you get a new manager you don’t like, the culture changes.
I think it’s much more important to find something fulfilling outside of the workplace. Even if you do have one of those jobs that really does make a difference and that you love, this is still important to prevent burnout.
Once you start seeing work as a means of getting to do the things you find fulfilling outside of work then you will be much happier, less stressed day-to-day and less likely to undervalue yourself. I’ve known far too many people think they are more important than they actually are, and they will work all the hours of the day, not take breaks, cancel holidays because of work commitments etc. (Dare I say it usually women…) And they aren’t actually doing themselves or anyone any favours. The extra unpaid work devalues the role and leads to those people not earning what they should be earning, or teams becoming chronically under resourced.

So true

I knew I had to find something to do other than teaching when we returned to school in September and a colleague said to me ‘ back to the real world’. She was amazed when I replied ‘this is not the real world’. I left the following term.