Fulfillment at work

Hamm

Hamm

At the Start
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Messages
12,548
Location
London
Are you happy in your choice of 'career'? Besides remuneration, what else do you take or receive from it?

Is there something you'd rather do, but don't, because of money, standard of living, commitments, family, fear, something else?

Just wondering.. :)
 
I didn't really 'choose'; if I had then the answer would be, "No, I'm not happy with my choice."
I do get the odd challenge surmounted -- so, that's nice. Apart from that, it's a drag.

Yes, there's something I'd rather do -- however, it's in an area I've not managed to come to terms with .... even though that's where my talent lies: ridiculous, isn't it?

Please don't ask .... :)
 
I semi-retired at 47, and have worked only part-time ever since. I got baulked loads of times from trying to set out to do what I'd wanted to do, because family difficulties got in the way, and I had to turn to and help out for some years. By then, I'd rather lost the impetus to do the stuff I'd planned to do, and just carried on with what I'd been (reluctantly) trained for: secretarial work. However, it was that, not being a riding instructress or a 'commercial artist' (nowadays 'graphic designer'), which took me overseas and gave me the entry into a really well-paid, tax-free job, which involved overseas trips and developing other people's careers. The latter gave me huge satisfaction.

Since starting p/t work at racecourses 11 years ago, I've come a near-enough full circle, in that I'm still involved with horses (a lifetime love), meet interesting, fun, like-minded people, and wouldn't - probably for the first time ever - mind if the work was full-time. All things considered, it's the best fun I could think of.
 
What I want to do is to get paid loads of money for doing nothing. (for nothing read: do what I want to do if and when I want, not "watch Jeremy Kyle and become increasingly fat and lazy")

In that context, I am not happy in my "choice" of career.

In the context that no one is going to pay me loads of money for doing nothing, I am fairly happy with my "choice" of career.

I would be surprised if the majority of people actually chose their career, rather than ended up doing that due to the vagaries of fate, but that might just be my perception.
 
My job fulfilment comes from knowing the respect I get from kids that other teachers don't get.

I'm very firm with them but they're on record as appreciating how fair I am with it. Parents tell me their kids appreciate that I make sure they're allowed to learn in class and not be distracted by those who would seek to disrupt things.

In many ways that makes up for the difficulties of the job.

I reckon doctors and nurses must feel the same when they're recognised for making a difference to patients' stay in hospital.

I look forward to retiring, though!
 
simmo said:
I would be surprised if the majority of people actually chose their career, rather than ended up doing that due to the vagaries of fate, but that might just be my perception.
Click to expand...

Good point Simmo. Most people take what's available when they need it.

Apart from which, how many of us know so early in life a) what we are good at and b) what we really want to do?

A major pitfall for those of my age and older was that careers for girls were so very limited. If you were not too bright you could work in a factory or shop and if you were bright you could be a secretary. (My Careers tutor hated me because I was kicking out then and she used to have to look up all sorts of societies and addresses for me because I refused to be any of them!)

Nine times out of ten by the time many of us have realised what we really want to do, we are firmly ensconced in a rut.

Changing course to a preferred career can be very difficult if your c.v. reads another way, and taking time out to get the relevant training/experience can cost time and money, not to mention the strain it can put on a family.

I got chucked out of home at 17 with nowhere to live and no job either, so that was all the dreams and big ideas down the pan immediately. Took the first thing that presented and, unfortunately, it took me years to shake off the image that my c.v. presented when I tried to change direction.

I'm still not doing what I would like, but have managed to get a c.v. that is more than acceptable to the kind of work I am doing now (qualified for a much higher grade, but I like the people where I am).

I do get a fair amount of job satisfaction from helping out patients who have got messed about by the system and am currently surprising myself by turning out to be rather a good organiser and communicator.

Not bad for a seemingly scatty redhead - but I always wanted to be either a herbalist or a vet.
 
Last edited:
Don't really like my job but not sure if I had the choice again what I would choose to do instead :confused:.

It does have some good points and sometimes I do get job satisfaction when I've helped/advised a customer and they leave the shop happy. However, most of the time I seem to be struggling to meet targets set by head office, keep the majority of the customers happy - they seem to be quite a rude and unhappy bunch in the area where I work, more so than anywhere else I've been based - keep the staff, who are all overworked and underpaid, motivated...probably much the same as a lot of other businesses I would think.

I agree with Redhead that once your c.v. starts to look like it's going a certain way it's very difficult to get potential employers to give you a chance which in itself can be very disheartening.
 
Last edited:
I should think it's a major problem for most people over 28-30, Imagine.

There is no chance anywhere to say why you went down that route or to say that you are worth a bit more than that and deserve at least a chance to make good elsewhere.

It's very discouraging and no help either if you don't know how, or don't have the opportunity, to make the necessary changes.
 
I'd love to be fulfilled at work. Not sure it'll ever happen, though there's one called Aine that I've had my eye on for a while...
 
Back
Top