To think most jobs are boring and do not give people fulfilment ?

[HavefunGomadLivingInTheCity]

Perhaps day 80percent maybe even 90 ?

it’s just a way to get money and pay bills and live and maybe have a few holidays and treats etc Along the way

I just find it fake how younger generations are told they need to find something that going to make them feel so good

I think you can love any job. I had a very "boring" factory job making Christmas baubles. Very repetitive but I absolutely loved it. The people were fun and the baubles were awesome.

I think ‘fulfilment’ is very subjective…!

A sense of some sort of purpose is good for people - and many people enjoy just that.

Think of people doing voluntary roles in charity shops etc - it’s not about money, and not particularly about a passion for charity most of the time!

I think there is often an assumption everyone has a ‘career’ when for most work is a job. That does then impact things (eg taking time out when you have kids).

Yes now when young people start, they are often working from home on screens or in an office e type environment on screens and its all so different
They don't really even get to build the connections well in the first place how it is now, in this post covid world, the workplace has changed massively

Fake? It's not fake. Is that what you meant to say?

My siblings and I were all supported to choose studies that were in areas that interested us because that helped open doors and lead to paths that led to jobs in sectors we care about and roles that interest us.

I was asked what I do by another parent at a sports match on the weekend and her response to my reply was "I knew it would be something interesting, I love that". We've all ended up working in creative industries/performing arts and/or DEI (mostly disability linked). We all have spouses, happy homes, full time jobs, lovely lives.

Of f*ing course I want my own children to pursue careers in areas of their own interest. That's what gives my buzz. It's what gets me up in the morning. My younger two want to do very different jobs to mine but they want to do them because they'll be able to work internationally and earn decent salaries. My stepchild is pursuing a career that's skills based and will also allow them to work internationally, either for herself or a bigger company, on her own or in a team and she most importantly absolutely loves what that skill is. And she's amazing at it. And already earning.

So no, it's not true that every job is boring and that we all only work to make money.

My job is never boring! The extra curricular activities that I am involved with in school and my classes keep me fulfilled.
Unfortunately they also keep me absolutely fucking exhausted too 😴

I’m in the 60% enjoyable camp

I also think it depends on who you are and what you enjoy. Some sectors are a lot easier to find jobs in - if you have a passion for these sectors you’re lucky. Some people have a passion that doesn’t pay.

Not in the least, in my experience.

You seem very invested in the idea that pretty much everyone finds their job boring and unfulfilling. Is that because that's how you experience your job, and you would find it difficult to cope if it turned out that job fulfilment was not only possible but comparatively widespread?

We're in Cumbria - 40 minutes from Ambleside and Windermere, right by the sea - and we bought the house we did in the location we did on purpose - because it's cheap and affordable.

The flip side to that is our town is small, it's isolated and there's very little to do. We don't have Uber, we don't have chain restaurants - there's no Starbucks, no McDonald's, no Aldi, for example.

You have to make your choices. Lots of people would think where I live is a shithole (and it's come up on the "shit town threads" multiple times) but living here means we can both work part-time, own a home, two cars and own animals, along with saving money with no pressures. We also chose not to have children for the same reason.

Having a chip on your shoulder is a sure fire way to lose in life. You don’t have to love what you do but you do have to honour your commitments (whatever they might be) and that usually takes money, which means having and keeping a job.

Completely agree. I worked my whole life in a job that was at best steady and at worst stressful but paid well.
Children are given the impression that if they work hard and get good grades they can do anything. I always told mine that very, very few people are lucky enough to do a job they love and for most it's a means to an end.
My two DC have gone down different roads. DS1 does a job he absolutely loves. He lives and breathes work and lights up talking about it. He works ridiculously long hours and is moderately paid.
DS2 had a couple of friends who knew what they wanted to do from being very young. He struggled with the idea that he hadn't a clue. He's ended up in a very well paid job that he doesn't hate but doesn't particularly like either. He works strictly 9 to 5 and mostly from home.
Not sure which is best.

I had a job that I loved and made me feel fulfilled and proud but it was so poorly paid I had to move into something I don't really enjoy at all just to survive. It was the only way I could afford to have children. I do think if you try, then there are things you can learn to love about any job but I do agree, not many people really love their work.

I think you're right - OP hates her job so she wants everyone else to feel the same way as her. When I said I love what I do, she's said that I must have family money or a high earning spouse or something else - as if my job couldn't possibly pay me good money and make me happy

Although work can often be a bit boring or frustrating it still gives a sense of purpose and pride, and a place in society. So overall it’s generally better to work than not, if you’re able, even if it isn’t the most exciting and rewarding role.

i get a lot of enjoyment out of my job, it keeps me challenged and suits me well, it was a big achievement to get here

every day is different so i don't find it boring

I feel lucky because I genuinely love my job and feel I get paid to do lots of fun things. At times it feels a little absurd I’m being paid to do it.

I’m an academic so I spend half my time engaging with students in conversations, or imparting the knowledge I love talking about on them. Then half my time either doing independent research which I also love, marking assignments (can be great if the essays are great but often interesting regardless) and supporting students. During the summer I get to attend conferences (sometimes these are abroad and it’s fully funded) and graduation ceremonies.

I put myself through 8 years at uni to achieve it so I’ve perhaps earned it. I’m also fortunate to be at a financially stable (for now) institution, many colleagues are not so fortunate.

I like my job but it’s not my passion by any means.

I spent a while looking into jobs in more “fulfilling” sectors but in the end I figured I was much more useful to society by paying lots of tax and helping keeping other people in employment.

I’m a self employed maths tutor and I love my job! Funnily enough my degree isn’t in maths (did do quantitative methods as part of it, but I have a humanities degree and only have maths and FM up to a level). I am very lucky though, started tutoring to make extra money at uni, gained a reputation for being good, completed my degree and then decided to tutor as my full time career.

My mum and dad were a bit miffed at first saying I could have made more money in the Civil Service or something but actually I make more per hour than my friends in the CS. I definitely have more fun at work than them as well. I am glad I followed my passion and I am lucky it lined up with my skills and extremely lucky there was such a market for it. It feels like the stars aligned.

Sometimes it sucks. Teenagers who have to do extra maths on a Saturday when all their pals are on X Box or playing football can be challenging, but I work really hard to make it fun. Sometimes kids just freeze up in the exam and that’s really tough on them and gives their confidence a knock, which is hard to see. But 80% of the time I like my job and I’m having fun.

I think that is why. You are Self Employed and with that comes a sense of control over your life and work/ life balance.

I think it's really important to find a job where the time passes quickly.

Whatever that is, it's probably the thing you should focus on. We don't talk enough about that aspect - it's almost mindfulness. It doesn't have to be 'fulfilling', but it has to align with your personality/brain.

It does, but it has its' downfalls too - no company pension, no sick pay, no paid holidays. If it's too hot, I can't walk the dogs and I lose money. There's no option to take annual leave or make it up another time. Similarly if my car breaks down, or I'm sick, or I'm snowed in etc.

My job can be very stressful at times, and quite intense, but it's certainly never boring. I find it fascinating and immensely rewarding. It gives me a great sense of purpose and achievement.

My dd hasn't chosen an easy path, but I hope that she will find her chosen career equally interesting, rewarding and purposeful.

All Good choices that you've made to live that way, but there is always going to be an element of choice in these things
It would be hard for my niece to move that far from family, friends and support network

I think jobs would be more enjoyable if work life balance was better. For example, I think i'd really enjoy being a primary school teacher, but not five days a week in an underfunded/stretched service.

On the whole, I agree with you, OP. I haven't minded any of the jobs I've had but they haven't been fun or fulfilling. I can understand someone finding a vocation fulfilling, but writing policies and that sort of thing, for instance, or picking and packing in a warehouse, not so much. Of course, one can find satisfaction in doing a good job no matter what your job is, but that's not quite the same thing. And I've never been able to stand all the corporate nonsense requiring enthusiasm for the work. I get my fulfilment elsewhere.

Well, ultimately that's on her. It doesn't mean she'll never find a job she loves in the area she lives in now.

I don't know what you want people to say - you seem almost irritated that I (and others) love our jobs and make a living from it.