<p>Although I’m retired now, I will still answer because retirement gives me a different perspective. There was a time when I loved my job, but then my entire profession changed, and it wasn’t enjoyable any more. Even when I loved my job, I was always glad when it was “time to go home” at the end of the day.</p>
<p>In retirement I’ve come to acknowledge that I just don’t like to work. I was never one of those people who needed a career in order to feel fulfillment. My parents worked for themselves, and I think that’s part of the reason I was never able to be a team player. That’s so important if you are going to be happy on the job.</p>
<p>I think the only way I would enjoy working is if I were running my own business. </p>
<p>“Working” by Studs Turkel was an assigned book when I was in college and the interviews opened me up to the stark reality that most people never do find that one job that they absolutely love. My track record seemed to always be starring in my first year, but then leveling off to mediocre for a few years until moving on to something else. I only had one job that lasted more than five years. I am retired now and working part-time.</p>
<p>One factor that hindered me was having several supervisors leave my companies and my never quite jelling with their replacements. A great job suddenly turns into a nightmare, and every day you walk in knowing that your new boss either hates your guts, or feels they inherited you and are “stuck with you.”. </p>
<p>TonyK you hit the nail on the head. It not often the job, but the people. You were brilliant for one person and lacking for the next. It is a constant, “who moved my cheese”. </p>
<p>I am actually quite surprised so many people posted that they love their jobs. I would love to know what kind of work they do. I don’t see that consensus where I am. It seems in the past two months alone, I have had conversations with a good number of people who are looking to do something else because they are so fed up. Yes, money is a good incentive but even that is going away as profits go to the shareholders these days. </p>
<p>A couple of years ago, I took my current job because it challenged me with a lot of the things I like to do and the manager was an amazing mentor. Oops, change in management, twice. Now I am lacking in the new skill they need and feel mediocre. I spent two years becoming proficient at this job. It is exhausting and frankly I am jealous of people who can comfortably retire now. </p>
<p>I support my children to follow their passions, as long as they are good at them, and while they are young. Always have a Plan B in your back pocket. Either way, you are building some skills and, building a network. The jobs and the environment will change anyway. If it is starting to feel dreadful more than not, move on as soon as you can. Finally, don’t let your job become your life. Get a real life you can go to at the end of the day instead of the bar to cry in your drink.</p>
<p>I like my job a lot, most of the time. Most people don’t get into and stay in aviation unless they enjoy it, as it takes too much work and too many years to get to where you can get a decent paying job. I do, however, probably enjoy my time off and my sleep more than my job. But I really enjoy a steady paycheck.</p>
<p>We tell our kids to look for a career that they enjoy (that pays well)!</p>
<p>I have enjoyed being an attorney, a judge and now running a nonprofit to improve care of patients with lung disease that I started; I feel very fortunate that I mostly like most of what I do. H has worked with computers, pagers and phone systems for his career, which he loved. He survived many changes in personnel and leadership. He was fortunate not to have micromanaging and not to have to supervise many. </p>
<p>My bro and SisIL love being docs and many aspects of their careers. Many of my other relatives enjoy being attorneys most of the time. The teachers I know love teaching but many are getting worn down by the other “stuff.”</p>
<p>It is not up uncommon not to LOVE initial or part time or summer jobs. This is how to figure out what you DO like and hone skills. I am bad at clerical speed and accuracy as well as selling merchandise, unless I LOVE it!early jobs were great for me in weeding thru so many options. </p>
<p>I love the fact that I can still use the knowledge I got in my college org chem and molecular bio classes in my new line of work! Can’t say the same about quantum physics - sorry, dear Prof P, but thank you anyway! </p>
<p>In one of my jobs, I loved everything except my crazily insane boss. I learned to manage him and “swim with my feet forward”. However, if it weren’t for him, I would have never tried something new yet related to what I’ve been passionately doing for so many years, so yes, there is always a silver lining!</p>
<p>I would day most people like their job, they just don’t like the bureaucracy and the change that comes with it… which in turnmakes you say you hate your job.</p>
<p>There are good days and bad days in any job. </p>
<p>When I was young, someone told me, “If it were fun, they wouldn’t have to pay you to do it.”</p>
<p>But actually, most days I like (not love) what I do. I don’t like where I work, or rather, I don’t like my boss. But I’ve learned to live with her, since at 58.5 years old, it’s unlikely I’ll be starting over somewhere else. </p>
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