Do you have a meaningful job?

[Myview2]

I currently work for a big corporate company, albeit one of the supposed 'ethical' ones.

I'm feeling increasingly more disillusioned by it all, seeing constant job cuts, teams struggling for resource and all the while millions being spent on corporate events and team building for senior managers whilst the people on the ground are trying to hold customer service together.

I'm well paid but unfortunately am in a role where I listen to the grumbles, fully agree with them but have to provide a positive spin to defend the millions of wasted money.

I'd love to do a job that I really felt was worthwhile and that I was genuinely contributing something useful to society. Does such a job exist and do you have one?

I feel that my job is worthwhile, I'm contributing to making the education sector a better place and positively impacting the future of children. I'm a civil servant though so pay isn't great and the public think we are all workshy moaners.

Yes I work for a charity. One which gets criticism but I genuinely feel I make a difference to lots of lives. Not always and not always in big ways but enough to make it worthwhile and give the occasional warm glow.

I took a career break 6 years ago, when dc1&2 were 2&4, dad was early stages Alzheimer's and I was able to share looking after him with my sis and keep him home for 6 years. I now work in a pub / restaurant. Dad is in a care home and we have dc3 (just turned3).

No, my job isn't fulfilling however, I go in, do the cashing up, banking, invoices, wait on a couple of shifts and am happy if everybody has had a good time.

Pre dc I worked in the NHS. I was really proud of being part of it (management not clinical) and felt job satisfaction, knowing I was working towards making it a better, safer place for all patients.

Dc3 starts p/t school next year, and I'm torn between brushing up my admin skills to try get a job in a school, against doing an MSc in Public Health and pursuing a job in an area I do feel passionate about and feel really needs doing.

My sister and husband work in private industry and the amount of corporate events and 'team building' exercises money is wasted on makes me so sad, when I know how well that money could be spent elsewhere.

I have a "worthwhile" job. But I work so hard I'm exhausted and struggling right now. I'm paid well.

Ditto Softly.

Except for being paid well!

I work with young people with disabilities. I think that probably fits your criteria.

But ....... we too struggle with funding cuts leading to job cuts and inadequate resourcing and provision and we too have to put a positive spin on this to avoid complaints from parents which could damage our reputation and prevent us from attracting new students, and if we don't recruit enough new students we lose funding leading to even greater difficulties in providing the quality of provision we want to provide.

Meanwhile, because of cuts to statutory funding, we need to attract business investment which means that the management and marketing teams need to schmooze potential business clients with champagne and canapé events.

That feels wrong. But I think it's an economic necessity.

So, I do understand your feelings but would warn you about assuming that things are vastly different in the less corporate employment sectors.

I work with 3 year olds. It’s a tough job but I love them to bits and they make me laugh every day. Most of them said their first words and took their first steps with me and it is lovely to see them grow. Getting them school ready certainly seems worthwhile to me, I love my job, shame we get paid so little for it though.

I'm a vet, so I do think my job is worthwhile. Sometimes we work long hours and sometimes we deal with sad stuff, but I love what I do (mostly)

I feel that my job is meaningful in terms of a good degree of job satisfaction as it matches my personality and I have a good working pattern. It involves supporting vulnerable young people in the education sector. However....salary on the low side and couldn't exist on this solely without supplement from DH's salary.

I teach children with special needs and disabilities. It’s hard work and can be very emotionally demanding but I love it.

Yes, I feel my job is worthwhile
I work with children in a day nursery as a manager and an early years teacher, senco and safeguarding lead
I get to have an influence on hundreds of lives, as well as enabling their parents to make a contribution to society by cari g for their children while they work
It pays peanuts but it's very rewarding

I'm a teacher and I feel that is meaningful.

My job is wonderful and very worthwhile and I get huge job satisfaction. Sadly it is shockingly badly paid and I struggle financially.

I work for a charity supporting unpaid carers. I feel I make a difference. It isn't well paid but I love it.

Following this. I love my role but do feel like I’m making money for others (private business) and not doing something more worthwhile

I feel like my job is worthwhile - I am a secondary school teacher and recently took a promotion to lead a key stage in my subject area.

I love what I do and feel that I make a difference to the pupils I teach and the staff I support.

Not massively well paid when compared to some jobs but not bad either.

Hard work though!

Work in commercial private sector so it's all about £££ so no it isn't meaninful at all but it can pay my mortgage sooner. I would like to leave my job and care for the elderly once my mortgage is paid off.