To wonder whether most people have ever actually been excited to apply for a job?

[ThatCosyRoseUser]

Has there ever been a role you were genuinely excited about applying for?

Not just “I need the money”, “this seems tolerable” or “better than my current situation.”
I mean genuinely interested, energised, intellectually excited, emotionally invested, hopeful or feeling “I really want this.”

Because I sometimes think a lot of people approach jobs from a purely survival/practical perspective and rarely feel actual excitement about work opportunities.

AIBU?

I did once get "excited" in an interview because I had a bit of an argument with one of the interviewers. I had passed my Ph.D viva that morning. The viva lasted 30 minutes and then we (my superviser and both examiners plus sundry friends) went straight to the pub. When you have passed your viva and had a couple of vodkas you can be pretty uninhibited. I was telling myself I am not going to get this job so what does it matter?

I went back to the pub after the interview and we all went on for a curry in Manchester's famous curry mile. When I got home there was a job offer waiting on my phone.

The other interviewer told me that Prof X started a dispute with all the applicants and he really admired the way I stood my ground. I didnt tell her I had come straight from the pub til some time later.

Its not often you have a day like that.

Honestly not since my first retail job at 16.

I felt so grown up 🥰

I was excited about getting an internship (finance, circa 2011, very competitive process), but the application was stressful and anxiety-inducing - not at all ‘exciting’.

No. It makes the crushing disappointment when you don't get it sting even more.

@ThatCosyRoseUser My DD was recently headhunted by a major player in her line of work. I can say she was genuinely excited and hasn’t looked back. You make your own success though.

All of my jobs, but I was a financial journalist and now work in corporate communications so the work is interesting, varied and fast-paced, and you genuinely have an influence on a company. Also it involves writing and I love to write.
I put YANBU though because many jobs are less fun (and less well paid.) and that must be soul destroying.

I've been intellectually excited about all jobs bar one (a fixed contract I took just to escape what had become a dysfunctional job). I was very excited when I applied for my current job. I thought the job spec was way beyond me and I was amazed that they even wanted to interview me, but the agent explained why (niche area of experience which was important to them, even though I didn't necessarily have the right industry experience). I was intrigued but nervous. The interview went really really well and I remember being on an absolute high afterwards, thinking even if I don't get it for one reason or another, I know I performed well. I felt alive for the first time in probably over three years - things had got very stale and stressful in the job I was in (see username) and it felt like it had been so long since I tried anything new or out of my comfort zone. Next day I found out that I was the preferred candidate. I accepted the job, started six months ago - it's a senior role with some stressful moments and it can be chaotic and 100mph, but it's a really great company to work for, decent people, I'm learning constantly and I love the job.

I'm 53 and thought my career had already peaked, so I'm incredibly lucky to have landed it.

Yes definitely! I couldn’t imagine going to work doing something I was just tolerating, that just sounds depressing.

I really wanted to be offered my current job - I wanted to leave my old workplace, and thought I’d get to do interesting work and to improve in my role in my new workplace. I was right.

Yes, if it's an organisation I've really wanted to work in, eg BBC. But I'm in London so I guess there are more big-name organisations.

Would you clarify the voting please? I voted YABU but not sure it means what I think it does!

I have been genuinely excited by a few jobs I’ve applied for.

Absolutely! For several decades I worked in the charity sector and was very excited to apply for roles in organisations I admired working for causes I cared about.

Yes - twice I’ve been lucky enough to really want a role in an org, then interviewed and got them
i have other roles which are in the same sector which I’ve enjoyed
perhaps I’ve been very lucky?

I had a job interview a couple of weeks ago and left seriously excited about the work they do. Proper cutting edge, proof of concept stuff. I’m late 50’s and it’s the first time I’ve EVER been excited about the work involved in a job.

Fortunately I got it 👍

Yes, to get the job I'm currently in. I'd coveted it for a number of years but it wasn't until last year they opened a big recruitment campaign.

Yes - my first diplomatic posting.😀

But job application excitement when you're a diplomat/ doing humanitarian work is important - if you don't get excited by the thought of the job, how on earth are you going to live in a new country doing that job for 4 years!?

Every job I've applied for. I know it's odd but I really enjoy interviews.

The most recent one I actually got, I was genuinely excited about, it’s a company I’d been interested in for years, in a location and role which both suited me really well. Previous ones though have definitely been in the ‘better than where I am now’ or ‘don’t have my demented manager working there’ categories

Yes, often. But then I work in the arts. Competitive area.

I'm 48 and have never earnt more than £29k. If you can be excited about jobs and also not poor, be very happy.

The job I have now when I got it. Several years have passed and I'm now looking for something else. I have lost my spark and it's time to move on.

Absolutely every job I ever applied for, I was excited about - doesn't mean I stayed excited, but yes, each one was either a significant development, or a total change of career. So all were exciting, and I was motivated for each one

I haven't counted them up, but it's in the region of 15 different jobs. (Now retired)

"Because I sometimes think a lot of people approach jobs from a purely survival/practical perspective"

To be fair, that is the purpose of jobs in agricultural societies producing a surplus. Anything else the job may bring you is an added bonus, not a design feature.

Definitely! I was very excited for my first teaching job. Then very excited to leave that school after completing my probation.

I've been excited about some jobs, I'm good interviews and most of the time I can fake it till I can find something interesting about the role/company. Others gave been for the money though.

My current role I was genuinely excited about and still am 2 years later!

Yes - my current place of work. It's a small charity that genuinely makes a difference to people's lives. I had lived experience and really felt I could make a difference. And I believe I do. But there are also lots of parts of the job I dislike and I have many days where I really can't be arsed

I was genuinely excited to interview for my current job. A few years ago I made a list of organisations I'd love to work for and this one was top. When a job came up with the perfect hours and location I was super excited. Still here five years later and still love my job.