How Do You Feel About Your Job?

[Justice44]

I read a poll that stated that 38% of workers are not satisfied with their job. It made me curious about how people truly feel about working at their places of employment. Evaluating contentment in the workplace is a major area of American contentment. Let’s face it; if you are miserable at your job, you are miserable for at least 40% of the time that you are awake. This is why I thought of the following questions:

1. Do you either like, dislike or hate your job?
2. What are the reasons why you dislike like or hate your job? Please share stories.
3. Would you prefer to pursue another career? If so, what is your plan?
4. Is job satisfaction or dissatisfaction negatively affecting your family?

Please share your stories of either joy or frustration. This is the opportunity to express your feelings toward your boss, co-workers and company policies. It provides the opportunity to vent or show how grateful you are for your job.

[project15]

1. dislike
2. boring, no job security. I was promoted 8 months ago, but haven't been put on any projects since then. I often wonder why they keep me around.
3. yes, I was seriously looking into getting into the Air Traffic Control field, but it looks like it would be a long hard road especially with all the current responsibilities I have
4. A little bit. Sometimes I come home stressed out and worried if I'll have a job next week or not. Recently, I've come to terms that it's not in my control right now and have been happier.

[cschin4]

I both like and dislike my job. There are aspects I like. I like the actual work I do which is challenging and rewarding. I don't like office politics. I can't stand listening to the constant nitpicking of coworkers toward other coworkers or anything else they don't like and constantly gripe about. In fact, I avoid going into the "lounge" as I don't want to listen to these whining lounge lizards.
I like the hours, the flexibility of my career and the work itself. If I could go to work and not have to deal with the nonsense that surrounds any job, it would be great.
However, I do not "love" my job. I have a great career and trained many years to do what I do. I do not need to "love" my job. It is what I do. And, I do it to the best of my ability every day. But, I could do any job. To me, you work and work hard at whatever your job is. I love my family and my dog. And, I try not to take work problems personally, though that can be difficult at times.

[cschin4]

As I get older, I do have more contentment with my job. I don't need to have some "perfect" job. My job affords me a good lifestyle, an interesting career and so forth. I enjoy my life but my job is not my primary enjoyment in life but allows me to pursue things i truly enjoy.

[MonkeyMama]

Interesting Questions!

1. Like job, love most of it, dislike some of it (I am a CPA).
2. My overall field is accounting, and I LOVE it. Current job situation is interesting. LOVE the job. I've been here 8 years though and I think some of the "easy" parts of the job are starting to become a little tedious. On the flip side, I mostly do taxes, and the extreme complexity of taxes in recent years, along with increasingly litigous environment, means I seriously question how far I Want to go on my current path. All my mentors were happy the last few decades, but just want the hell out. It's a catch 22. When work is stressful it is more interesting. But I mostly prefer just to work less and skip the stress. That was easy early in my career, but gets harder with time. Hours and compensation are awesome though. (I know few in my field who work as little as I do).

++My current job is truly one I can leave at work. (I've had jobs where I never really got a vacation - and I love this job that I can walk away from it every night,weekend and vacation).

++Another reason I like the job is because the work (& clients) are really varied. I do get bored pretty easily.

Some of my co-workers are difficult personalities but my boss is awesome (along with some of the others). I have ALWAYS had an awesome boss, in the few jobs I have had, and find it makes up for most anything else.

3. I would not pursue another career. My long-term goal is to not have to work near as much, and I can settle for a much more low stress niche (like temp worker, or bookkeeper, or something along those lines).

4. Mostly, job satisfaction is good for my family, I presume. Means I am not too grumpy.

Overall, I feel blessed to "love" my line of work, and to feel appreciated in my job.

I "love my job," but I have many other passions. My job will never be my life and I will never be a workaholic at one job.

[cschin4]

But I mostly prefer just to work less and skip the stress.

I agree on that one. I don't know why people want a job that takes over their whole life, demands most of their time and is "challenging" all the time.
And, now when I read the classifieds I can read between the lines. If the job as advertised as needing a "high energy person for challenging work", etc, you can bet that you will be worked like a dog, get very few lunch breaks or be alloted time for lunch, etc. No thanks.

[TBH]

I love HAVING a job. I'm glad to be fully employed in this economy. Also, I like not relying on my spouse to support me and our family.

I have 3 jobs.

Job #1 is an hourly job that is sometimes boring, sometimes really fun, and sometimes annoying. The hours vary a lot but the job itself is a union job and I have a lot of seniority so it is pretty secure. It pays well and gives me benefits altho I only work PT. Overall, I like the job and think it's good for my family.

Job #2 is an elected position that pays a stipend. The amount of work varies, so sometimes the hourly pay is better than others. It is sometimes rewarding, but usually it is stressful and combative and my coworkers are nutjobs. Some are likeable nutjobs and some are really best avoided. Despite the occasional glimmers of satisfaction I get from this job, I really hate it. I would like to quit but a.) I care about the place, and the people who would replace me are at best lazy and at worst corrupt and b.) I am anxious about replacing the income in this economy.

Job #3 is freelance work, and I love it. It is sometimes stressful, and difficult, and the income is a bit unpredictable, but overall I LOVE that I am at a cafe right now at 10AM and I will work for a couple hours and then go grocery shopping in the middle of the day when it's not crowded, and by the time my boy gets done with day camp I will be done with work for the day and able to play with him. Making my own hours is great and it's so rewarding seeing my byline in print (I'm a writer).

My goal right now is to increase income from jobs 1 and 3 so I can give up job 2. We'll see how that goes.

[DC Metro Crab]

I am grateful to have a job right now after a period of unemployment. My specific skill set and interests kept me in an industry rife with instability. I have never had any sense of job security. Despite that, I loved what I did but hated my last job because of management. Commute was terrible to add salt to injury. It definitely affected my personal life.

Fast forward to today, I'm at a job riddled with compromises. I changed industries to one with a goal I'm passionate about but with technology I have little interest in. Commute is an hour long each way but I don't have to drive and the location itself is better. (city versus suburbs) Industry is up and coming but the company is a startup. Startup is well funded but there have been layoffs. Love my coworkers, management iffy. Jury is out on immediate supervisor since I've had 3 different ones in 4 months.

I'm at a fork in the road with how I want to shape my career and having a tough time picking between boring and viable or building out my interests in an area that may be phased out in the long term.

[Radiance]

I am very blessed in this area

1. I love my job, it is a very nice and stable company, I am well paid and I am appreciated, my boss is a very nice and reasonable person.
2. I dislike the commute and the amount of hours although it is only 40 a week.
3. I would prefer to have more time flexibilty I want to spend more time with my son. Unfortunatelly my company is not open to telecomuting or flex time. So I plan to start making side money as a freelance writer so I can switch to part time which is offered at my job. I would work mornings, be a mom in the afternoons and write in the evenings, that is the plan.
4. Is job satisfaction or dissatisfaction negatively affecting your family? No impact really...

[Justice44]

Re: How Do You Feel About Your Job?

1. dislike
2. boring, no job security. I was promoted 8 months ago, but haven't been put on any projects since then. I often wonder why they keep me around.

Hi Project,

I understand what you are going through. Most of the jobs that I have had were boring. It is one of the reasons why I was terminated from some of them. However, it is not an excuse.

3. yes, I was seriously looking into getting into the Air Traffic Control field, but it looks like it would be a long hard road especially with all the current responsibilities I have

What would it require for you to enter this field?

4. A little bit. Sometimes I come home stressed out and worried if I'll have a job next week or not. Recently, I've come to terms that it's not in my control right now and have been happier.

That is a good attitude. These are some of the reasons why I started my own business.

[Justice44]

RE: How Do You Feel About Your Job?

[QUOTE=DC Metro Crab;232831]I am grateful to have a job right now after a period of unemployment. My specific skill set and interests kept me in an industry rife with instability. I have never had any sense of job security. Despite that, I loved what I did but hated my last job because of management. Commute was terrible to add salt to injury. It definitely affected my personal life.[QUOTE]
Were your managers abusive towards you at your last job? I am asking because you stated that it affected your personal life.

I'm at a fork in the road with how I want to shape my career and having a tough time picking between boring and viable or building out my interests in an area that may be phased out in the long term.

I understand, I constantly dream of pursuing many careers that are not viable or incur major financial risk.

[Justice44]

RE: How Do You Feel About Your Job

As I get older, I do have more contentment with my job. I don't need to have some "perfect" job. My job affords me a good lifestyle, an interesting career and so forth. I enjoy my life but my job is not my primary enjoyment in life but allows me to pursue things i truly enjoy.

Excellent. I would not contend that generally an individual's career should be one's primary enjoyment. However, I think it is ideal for a career to be ranked below friends on the value list. Afterall, many people spend over 40% of their hours awake at their workplace.

[Justice44]

RE: How Do You Feel About Your Job?

3. I would not pursue another career. My long-term goal is to not have to work near as much, and I can settle for a much more low stress niche (like temp worker, or bookkeeper, or something along those lines).

Hi MonkeyMama. I was wondering how do you plan on accomplishing this?

[Justice44]

RE:How Do You Feel About Your Job?

[QUOTE=cschin4;232726]I both like and dislike my job. There are aspects I like. I like the actual work I do which is challenging and rewarding. I don't like office politics.[QUOTE/]

I have experienced some office politics at my former job. It is absolutely a drag!

I can't stand listening to the constant nitpicking of coworkers toward other coworkers or anything else they don't like and constantly gripe about. In fact, I avoid going into the "lounge" as I don't want to listen to these whining lounge lizards.

This is the reason why I would like to work for myself.

I like the hours, the flexibility of my career and the work itself. If I could go to work and not have to deal with the nonsense that surrounds any job, it would be great.

When I was an overnight manager, I have to admit that I did like hours that it provided me. I liked the idea of working only 4 days a week.

However, I do not "love" my job. I have a great career and trained many years to do what I do. I do not need to "love" my job. It is what I do. And, I do it to the best of my ability every day. But, I could do any job. To me, you work and work hard at whatever your job is. I love my family and my dog. And, I try not to take work problems personally, though that can be difficult at times.

I understand your point. However, it would be nice if you loved something that you invested 40 hours per week in. I understand how difficult it is to not to take work problems personally. This who you are for at least 40%-50% of your waking hours.

[Justice44]

Re: How Do You Feel About Your Job?

But I mostly prefer just to work less and skip the stress.

I agree on that one. I don't know why people want a job that takes over their whole life, demands most of their time and is "challenging" all the time.

Hi Cschin. I Guess some people see it as a way out of the ghetto. If a job provides a lifestyle that allows your family to live in a safe suburb rather than a ghetto that is a warzone, which one would you pick? For many people, money does not simply mean nice cars and houses. It means a completely different way of life.

And, now when I read the classifieds I can read between the lines. If the job as advertised as needing a "high energy person for challenging work", etc, you can bet that you will be worked like a dog, get very few lunch breaks or be alloted time for lunch, etc. No thanks.

I completely agree. I run from those ads.