Do you like your job?

In a word: NO

Why: Bored and think I could do so much more to help the company but am not allowed to.

Why: The guys run the ship in this family run business.

Worst Part: I love accounting and that is what I got my degree in. Switched to Human Resources to help the company build a "new" dept. (I started here PT after divorce - in town and worked only while the kids were in school so it was good at that time). I am now 50 and wondering if I will ever be able to make a difference in my career. I still have many years of work left and am SOOOOO on the fence as to what I am going to do. I would have to commute about 30 min to change jobs and now I am 7 min from home. A big reason for my decision to stick it out for at least a while. Have been here 10 years and haven't learned anything new for at least 7. I like to learn and feel productive - just not feeling it here.

Need to make a decision and when the economy takes a turn eventually I will persue furthering my education or learn something additional so I can change jobs and work for someone who can actually teach me - my current boss is the CFO. Since I am inexperienced (nothing to do here to gain experience) they go to outside consultants and leave me out of the loop.

Rather than go on and on - I'll take leave of this post and I do feel better for venting}( Thanks for "listening". :7
 
The only way I would truly love going to work each and every day would be if someone paid me to lie around on the sofa all day and read books or watch TV. That's why I went to law school. So I could lie around for 3 years on the sofa reading books and watching TV while my parents paid for everything. I wish I was kidding! But as jobs go, mine is pretty good, and it suits me probably as well as any "real" job can. Still, I'm looking forward to retirement so I can lie around on the sofa again. :p :+
 
I got my degree in computer science and worked as a computer programmer for several years, which I loved, and progressed through the ranks. Then I was promoted into management. I was in that job for 9 years, until this January, and I can truly say that the job never quite "fit" and I grew to loathe it. I kept thinking it would get easier, or I would get better at it. I hated the administrative side of the job, I hated having to fire people, I hated being shot down by higher-ups when I tried to defend people who worked for me, and I disliked the politics & the posturing at executive meetings. I was sure I was having a mid-life crisis and Janie, I was wondering just like you whether jobs just suck for the majority of people. Then my company restructured, and they eliminated half the management positions, and I am now a project manager. It took a few months to adjust to the change in status and big change in the type of work, but I love my job again. Now I'm wondering why I put up with a job I disliked for almost 10 years ... actually, I don't think I really admitted to myself how much I disliked it until I no longer had it.
 
>The only way I would truly love going to work each and every
>day would be if someone paid me to lie around on the sofa all
>day and read books or watch TV. That's why I went to law
>school. So I could lie around for 3 years on the sofa reading
>books and watching TV while my parents paid for everything. I
>wish I was kidding! But as jobs go, mine is pretty good, and
>it suits me probably as well as any "real" job can. Still,
>I'm looking forward to retirement so I can lie around on the
>sofa again. :p :+

OMG, Nancy--I think you're my long lost twin. :D I am exactly the same way!

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
>The only way I would truly love going to work each and every
>day would be if someone paid me to lie around on the sofa all
>day and read books or watch TV. That's why I went to law
>school. So I could lie around for 3 years on the sofa reading
>books and watching TV while my parents paid for everything. I
>wish I was kidding! But as jobs go, mine is pretty good, and
>it suits me probably as well as any "real" job can. Still,
>I'm looking forward to retirement so I can lie around on the
>sofa again. :p :+

OMG, Nancy--I think you're my long lost twin. :D I am exactly the same way!

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
Up until a year or so ago, I was a criminal prosecutor for 6 years and LOVED it. Some of the trials were pretty stressful, but I felt great at the end when the jury did the right thing (which was not always!). I find criminal law so intersting (you wouldn't believe some of the stuff we'd see), and it was usually a lot of fun working with my colleagues, defense attorneys, judges, police officer, victims, witnesses, and all kinds of interesting folks. Now, with 2 young children and no family nearby to help, I find trial work too demanding, so I'm handling criminal appeals on behalf of the State, and I love this work, too. I still deal with all sorts of interesting criminal issues, only in a different context. And, I get to work part-time.

I feel lucky that I'm happy with my work. I hope those of you still searching find some happiness in your work, too. I think it will come if you look hard and have patience. And, in the meantime, at least you love your fitness instructor! I'll keep my fingers crossed for everyone.

Have a great night!
 
>OMG, Nancy--I think you're my long lost twin. :D I am exactly
>the same way!
>
>Allison


Allison, I knew we were twins! :D
 
Wow Deborah,
With 2 young children and no family nearby how did you manage. I also find criminal law interesting but all that school and the time commitment scares me. This is why I would consider being a paralegal, but as a previous poster mentioned doing that is no walk in the park either.
Everyone thanks for all your posts. I don't know maybe I'm feeling old. I don't mean to go on a soapbox here (insert sad instrumental music) but life for me sorta started really quick. Graduate college, get married, have kids. I mean having a family truly changes things and I find that I end up putting things that I want to do on the back burner to take care of my family. I know I need to find time for myself but realistically I have a hard enough time ensuring time to work out (although my family is pretty much programed-when the Cathe DVD is going I'm off duty and Dad is on duty). I'm sure that my time will come. For now I couldn't give up my time with my kids. I know that they are still really young but I love that they need me. I am in awe and truly admire everyone who loves their job. I'm sure that you all worked really hard and sacrificed to get there. I know to get what you want you have to work hard, for my current situation I guess I'll have to continue running on that hamster wheel.:)
 
YES and NO. Too funny that you asked this TODAY of all days . . . x(

As a high school teacher, I LOVE being in the classroom and working with students one-on-one - and I LOVE the research and planning that go into creating units and lesson plans (English teacher) . . . . BUT . . . . I think the job-related BS is catching up with me, and I'm certainly feeling it a lot more this year. I'm also starting to really resent the amount of unpaid time that goes into my job (weeknights, weekends, vacations, etc.) and DH is growing frustrated, too.

Today I had a classic "I hate my job. Why am I doing this?" moment after dealing with a psychotic parent (not literally psychotic, but her grasp of reality was questionable). And lately I've been having more of those "ugh" moments than I'd like to. I mean, I know it comes with the job - and no one said teaching was easy - but it's not the teaching that's hard. It's the administrative BS, unreasonable parents, overwhelming and endless paperwork, etc. that make it miserable.

If our finances could handle it, I would do one of two things: 1) try to get a position teaching at a college (community college level, and then maybe go for my Ph.D and go on to a larger university), OR 2) go back to school for a MLS degree (Masters in Library Science). My good friend did this last year for similar reasons and she LOVES it! I could still work with students but focus more on research, etc. without all of the other BS.

If only DH could get a promotion or something . . . . :eek:
 
No I do not love my job. Nor do I even necessarily like it. It is very routine, and gets boring. Plus I work faster than everyone in my group so I'm viewed as either a) not doing the work properly or b) wasting time and being irresponsible. Both of which cannot be backed up by my quality of work, which is just as it should be. I am grateful to God for my job though because before I got on where I am, I was starving. Right now what I do not like even more than the work I do, is the people I work for and with. I feel like such a target because I refuse to mingle with the crowds that are fake and backstabbing - as a result, I've singled myself out.

But I do understand what you mean. I feel a calling to do something totally different and I believe it will happen when the time is right.
 
I can honestly say that I love my job! I was an administrative assistant at a university for years while my husband did school, and then more school, and then got hired as faculty. It was fine, but I always felt that I wanted to do "more." I totally relate to your comment about "self worth." When the time was right, I went back to school, and now I've been a nurse for a year. I love it enough that I've dragged myself through a year of night shift, paying my dues till I can get on day shift (happening soon!). It's not perfect (but what is?), and the learning curve is steep -- but that's part of what I love about it. No two days are the same, and I know that I'll learn and grow for a long time to come. And of course there's that cliche about "helping people" -- it's a gift to be allowed into my patients' worlds and help them through difficult days. And I take none of it for granted; I feel very lucky to be able to say that I love what I do!

Good luck to you as you soul-search and think about changes!
Allison
 
I ABSOLUTELY love my job!!! I started out in banking, until it got to much pressure in cold calling. I always wanted to do nails, and I finally could go to school. I have been a manicurist since 1990 and love being self employed. I have some awesome clients, live in a great place, work in a great shop and look forward to every day of work!!! I feel so darn blessed...:D
 
Cathy,

I could have written this! I, too, quit a cushy government job and took a pay cut to go back to college and become a teacher. Despite the student loan debt, the long hours, the stress, and the pay, I love it! I work in a high-poverty school, and I truly feel that what I'm doing is making a difference. That means everything to me. Go teachers!

Shari
 
Diane-
I'm also a paralegal and I HATED working in estate administration. When I moved to Texas I found a solo atty who mostly does criminal and personal injury work and it's a little more "exciting" (if you will). I will be starting a bachelor's criminal justice program soon and I still don't really know what I'd like to do with it :) I've always kind of wanted to be a corrections officer (strange, I know...)

There's a whole wide world of careers out there and it is really hard to choose just one :)
 
I love my job! Actually I went to school to be a nurse, which I did for 7 years and then DH and I took over his uncle's trucking company. So, I went from being a full time nurse to a part-time bookkeeper. It's definitely a different kind of stress, but I'm good with finances so it was a good fit for me. I also no longer have to deal with the administrative BS, since I am now the boss.:) Don't get me wrong, it's not all fun and games and it certainly has it's stressful moments, but I love the flexibility in my schedule and the ability to call the shots and make a difference in the bottom line. I like the challenge.

Life's too short to deal with a job you don't like. Take the plunge and make some goals to do what you need to do to get a job you LOVE. You will like going to work and you will be a much happier person every single day. It's sooooo worth any sacrifices you make initially, even though I know it's scary. When you love what you do, luck and prosperity naturally follow - really they DO!

Also, don't forget, there are cuts you can make on the other end of the spectrum so that your job doesn't have you by the ***** financially. Cut the cable and pick up a book (from the library). Bike to work or take public transportation. Get insurance quotes from different companies every 6 months to save in premiums. Shop at discount stores and buy generic. Make your own coffee and lunch instead of buying it. There's so many things you can do to cut expenses so that you can truly afford to make a change in your job. Nope, it's not easy and it takes a LOT of courage, but you will be sooooo glad you did.

If you truly want something bad enough, nothing will stand in your way. It's up to you to MAKE it happen!:)

Best of luck to you!!
 
I've had LOTS of jobs I hated. Luckily I ended up quitting all of them. The last job I had I actually really liked (personal trainer/fitness instructor). I liked it enough to go back to school and get a Master's in Exercise Science. Unfortunately I don't have the opportunity to work very much here in Germany so I've decided to start my own business. It required a lot of money (for me) to start up, but I'm hopeful. :)
My background is in music and although I still love music, I could never be part of an orchestra (which is what I thought I wanted to do in college). I've found a way to combine my love of music with fitness and it's beyond exciting.

I did have times/years when I felt completely lost about what I wanted to do with my life. During those years I was just going through the motions and working at places where I just didn't fit in. It was a frustrating and emotionally hard time in my life. I thought it would never end, actually. I remember looking at people who loved their jobs with awe and jealousy. I didn't think I could ever get there because the only thing I wanted to be at the time (and sometimes secretly still wish for)was a rock star. And really, how many 'cool/rocker chick needed for vocals and bass playing' adds to you see in the penny saver?? :):) I like to think that everything happens for a reason and all of those things I learned in my 'hated' jobs will serve me well in my 'great' jobs. :)

Carolyn
 
OMG I love one of my jobs and hate the other. Love being a bootcamp instructor, hate being a law clerk. Can't move around much until I pass the bar, which at this point I just want to throw back at them. :p I am precisely where Carolyn mentioned: just going through the motions and working at places where I just didn't fit in.

So, most of my day is miserable but I still see it as "temporary" until I can get my feet out from under me and either spend more time as a fitness instructor (had already started law school when I realized *I* could be an instructor) or work as an attorney part time. We'll see what happens.
 
OMG I love one of my jobs and hate the other. Love being a bootcamp instructor, hate being a law clerk. Can't move around much until I pass the bar, which at this point I just want to throw back at them. :p I am precisely where Carolyn mentioned: just going through the motions and working at places where I just didn't fit in.

So, most of my day is miserable but I still see it as "temporary" until I can get my feet out from under me and either spend more time as a fitness instructor (had already started law school when I realized *I* could be an instructor) or work as an attorney part time. We'll see what happens.
 
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