Is anyone in a career that they, and everyone they know in it, enjoy?

[CarrierbagsAndPJs]

Is anyone in a career where they, and everyone they know in that career path, would say this is a great job and career path to be in, and you would encourage others into it? Decent pay, job satisfaction, non-toxic etc?

This is on the back of weekly threads about not wanting children to go into various different roles such as medicine, nursing, teaching, where others will always disagree and go on to say how awful it is but they love it…

What are the jobs that are actually good?

The OP didn't mention at about a nice job that's not stress free, they asked who enjoys their job alongside theirs colleagues. My husband loves his job but there are times when it's stressful still

I’m a consultant who would love to get out of it, but I’m tied by the financial benefits. So not true I’m afraid.

I’m a doctor who is meh about what I do (part-time hospital consultant with a specialist area of interest), whereas my colleague in the next office does basically the same job and really enjoys it! It’s all about whether the job is right for you. I’m doing a job that my 18 year old self chose. Understandably, she didn’t know much about it and it turns out not to suit me well. My whole family depends on me financially and I’ve made it work the best I can, so it’ll do. But other folk would think it was a dream job!

Head of marketing and publicity in a publisher, and I really enjoy it.

It's a great balance of hard facts (data), creativity and technology. I work on academic books, and the books themselves are incredibly interesting-as are the people behind them. It's really satisfying (to me) to be able to make a difference and influence discourse around various subjects. There's also something really satisfying in seeing a book do well for an early career author who has spent a long time writing their first book (and starting to launch their career).

Not everyone is cut out for it, though (some of what we deal with is v complex), and the pay is OK but not amazing! You need a strong academic background and the kind of brain that can filter and retain information. A strong interest in trying to piece together pieces of a puzzle and connecting them to the world around you is a very very useful trait too.

The worst thing about my job is people management. However, it's only bad if you don't hire the right people/put effort in with them to help shape them- when they have the right mindset and traits, it can be satisfying seeing them grow in knowledge, skills and ability!

I do worry for the next generation, as it is getting harder and harder to break into publishing, so a council house kid like me might not get into the industry now!

I don’t write in the most popular of genres, and I no longer have dependants at home just myself and my H in a smallish house so our bills aren’t high. But yes we can live on what I earn.

You’ve slagged off your colleagues quite a number of times on here. So not that happy. 😂

I write YA fiction and crossover. Mostly urban fantasy, often with a romance (hate the term 'romantasy', though! 🤣) I'm working on my first adult novel at the moment, which is a slightly different direction for me.

Some genres are perennially popular, like crime/thrillers; others go in and out of fashion. I think the best thing is to write what you're passionate about, rather than trying to follow the market too much, though of course it's good to be aware of it.

Literally almost every writer I know, myself included, has to supplement their income. I've had some very good advances in my time, but you can't ever depend on that, and whether you'll actually earn out and receive royalties is a total crap shoot. In addition to my writing, I teach writing, do freelance editing, critique manuscripts, and so on. Also it helps that my husband has a full time job!

I'm a researcher in the civil service, love it. Know lots of other researchers across the public sector, I think they are pretty much all happy with their work. I'm in Ireland but I'd say it's similar in the UK

I did a languages degree, was a financial journalist and now work in corporate communications/PR. It’s fast-paced, hard work and fascinating. The downside is there was never any opportunity to go part time.

I’ve worked for US companies and got paid a fraction of what my colleagues in the US did, but well for UK. If you can get to exec level in a big multinational the pay is very good - but work life balance is not a thing, it’s pretty relentless. And you need some brainpower to be across all the issues in a short time. I’ve definitely had times where my brain hurt!

What a great job. What’s your study/career background if you don’t mind me asking.,

I’m a retired librarian, HE sector. Loved every day of it. Would have loved public libraries too.

Yes! I work for a construction/reactive & planned maintenance company and I love my job and as far as I’m aware so does everyone else! Though, I do believe, it’s more about the culture of the company as opposed to the actual job! We don’t have to take holidays for deliveries/doctors/gp appointments, we don’t have to take holidays for any family reasons, we finish when we’ve finished our work. We are fed every day. Used too many holidays? So what! We’re not micromanaged by anyone, no one is going to moan or even notice if you have a chat for 20 minutes with any one. I’ve been here 11 years and it’s such a breath of fresh air.

I teach piano and do the music stuff on the side. We all love the actual teaching and performing. We don’t love the late/non payers/parents messing you about.

Not a career as such but I work in a composite factory and pretty much everyone that works there enjoys it. Occupational health did a survey and 85% of staff would recommend to friends to work here and all the employees until very recently, when they did a recruitment drive due to increased orders, joined the company via word of mouth - they did not advertise jobs, people called up and asked for them. Very flexible - flexible hours and time bank system so I never have to worry about taking time off for appointments or haircuts or just because I want a day off, can just make up the time later.

Pay is not great, fine if you're in a two income family but not enough to support a family on its own (well tbf it would be enough but not enough for the standard of living I've grown accustomed to...) but follows the pay bands set out by the collective agreement so reasonable in that sense.

I work in clinical research. It's a job I enjoy and my colleagues also. We don't make millions but we have a good professional salary scale, there are plenty of jobs (although a lot have been off-shored to cheaper locations). I have worked for both Pharma companies and contractors and have not experienced a toxic work environment but of course I have not worked for everyone. We work a standard working day and I have worked from home for nearly 20 years across 4 different companies, it's pretty common and Hybrid is almost ubiquetous. You do need a Science degree - these days there are apprenticeships and we have had apprentices in my department. There is a bit of pressure from AI but at least right now AI is a supporting tool and is not massively taking all the jobs and there are plenty of things that need to be done by actual humans.

I work in consulting, which I enjoy, but it is pressurised and its definitely not for everyone.

There are jobs that just have a good rep all round however.

For example, Speech Therapy seems to be one that people really enjoy, isn't too demanding, salaries are very reasonable. My SIL is a ST and absolutely loves her job. There's a few of those healthcare type roles, that aren't at the real coal face, so work/life balance can be achieved, but people feel they are making a difference - they seem to do well on any surveys about job satisfaction I've seen - Optometry, Physio - things like that.

I’m in a career I adore, with huge job satisfaction - but the pay is terrible, the hours so long I had to go self employed and the managers are psychopaths. Everyone in it still loves it though.

can anyone guess what I do for a living ? Lolll

Undergrad in biomedical science, masters and PhD in epidemiology. Then briefly worked in academia but knew it wasn't for me long term so left for commercial companies. There's opportunities in civil service and charities too.

The majority of my colleagues have PhDs but not all, but a MSc is generally a prerequisite. Quite a variety of undergrad backgrounds too, biology/biomed is common but also maths, comp sci, anthropology, pharmacy

Absolutely NOT a teaching assistant. Quite frankly the worst job I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a few front line support roles in health and social care too.

Horrific and the worst pay also.

In HR now and chasing the money.