Do you love your job / career?

[corn18]

As a counterpoint to the "do you hate your career" thread, I offer a place to discuss the opposite vs. hijacking the other thread.

For me, I've had 2 careers. The first was from age 18-42 as a fighter / test pilot in the Navy. I loved that career. Changed jobs every 2-3 years and had a couple I didn't enjoy as much because I wasn't flying, but the rest were awesome. There were sucky parts about serving in the military, but I wouldn't trade those 24 years for any other career.

My second career is in the defense industry at a megcorp. So far, I have loved it. My long term goal has been to be the president of a company and I got that opportunity late last year. While very different from the military, it's also similar. Leadership is leadership whether it's leading people into combat or executing a strategic plan. I am also fulfilled in that I get to provide products to our warfighters that help them carry out the orders of the President of the United States. This is very meaningful to me.

I plan to do this until I retire in 6-9 years and then start my third career. I will find a way to rescue animals. Not sure what that looks like, yet, but I plan to do this in some way or another until I die.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No but I'm hoping to find one that I do. I've been looking at retooling and trying to do something in the same vein but different. We'll see.

[97guns]

best job i had was building minute man stage III ICBM motors for the US air force at united technologies, i was only there 4 years before we had a couple explisions and the Air Force yanked the contract. as much as i loved the job there were things i hated about it, long 12 hour shifts, sometimes 16, waking up early and several people in my group i did not like. i dont think there is a job out there where i could be 100% happy, ive never had one

[disneysteve]

I'm a family practice physician and have been in practice for 23 years this month. I love many things about it but medicine has changed so much over the past quarter century that it is really, really difficult to find a doctor out there today who truly loves what he does. We have so little control over any aspect of our jobs due to government and insurance company rules and regulations.

That's a big part of why I'm in the process of transitioning from private practice to urgent care. The new gig removes a great deal of the hassle factor from what I do. Do I love urgent care so far? It's a little too soon to say as I've only been doing it for a month, but it definitely has a lot of advantages over private practice, so I'm at least liking it quite a lot.

[DaveInPgh]

I'm a family practice physician and have been in practice for 23 years this month. I love many things about it but medicine has changed so much over the past quarter century that it is really, really difficult to find a doctor out there today who truly loves what he does. We have so little control over any aspect of our jobs due to government and insurance company rules and regulations.

That's a big part of why I'm in the process of transitioning from private practice to urgent care. The new gig removes a great deal of the hassle factor from what I do. Do I love urgent care so far? It's a little too soon to say as I've only been doing it for a month, but it definitely has a lot of advantages over private practice, so I'm at least liking it quite a lot.

I am not sure if the statistics support my observation, but it appears that a private practice is becoming very rare. In my area, there are a lot of GROUPS and Urgent Care centers.

Also, as a customer, I find the Urgent Care centers to be less of a hassle. Especially for minor healthcare needs.

[disneysteve]

I am not sure if the statistics support my observation, but it appears that a private practice is becoming very rare. In my area, there are a lot of GROUPS and Urgent Care centers.

Also, as a customer, I find the Urgent Care centers to be less of a hassle. Especially for minor healthcare needs.

Your observations are right on target. Being in independent private practice is getting close to impossible because the healthcare field is so outrageously over-regulated. The costs of doing business simply aren't manageable by a small group. We function very inefficiently because we need more staff but don't have the money or space to hire anyone else, so the staff we do have is stretched so thin doing multiple tasks and not all that well since they aren't focused on specific jobs.

As for Urgent Care, you're not alone there either. That's why they are popping up like weeds in many areas. The system I just joined has 5 up and running, a 6th opens in 2 weeks, and a 7th is coming in a few months. And I'm sure there are more on the drawing board. On one main road near my house, there will be 5 by the end of this year. That's on maybe a 5 mile stretch of road.

[TexasHusker]

I love my "job" of owning two companies + some real estate and I consider myself one blessed man.

[Outdoorsygal]

I love my ebay and amazon stores, but overall, am just greatful for a job since my injury. Greatful to be able to work at all and cycle to keep the pain under control.
No more owning a business, at least not for a few years. All I have is a few hrs of paperwork, 5 clients to supervise (from the mental institutions Gov Brown is closing), good medical benefits,life & disablility and the ability to pay off the CC medical bills quickly. Paying our land payment is something I appreciate.

Once our CC (medical bills) are paid off, I will likely own a business again. Doing something I completely enjoy.

I doubt most people love their job or career. Likely tolerate it or enjoy it much of the time. If you love your job, you're blessed. Life is short.

[QuarterMillionMan]

In social work I wish I could say that I love my job. Don't get me wrong though I'm appreciative for being gainfully employed but having to listen to other peoples problems day in and day out gets tiring real quick. From the delusional, to schizophrenics, to bipolar, paranoids, narcissistics, etc. The golden handcuffs definitely apply to me. Being that numbers and math seems to come so naturally for me, I wish I had gone into accounting or finance.

[MonkeyMama]

Yes. I am in accounting, which is a perfect fit for my personality.

I feel like my job is the best of all worlds since it's pretty much consulting with an employer and a steady paycheck. I've never really had much supervision, but I don't have to deal with all the collections/marketing/etc. that I would have absolutely no interest in. I can just do the part of the job that I actually enjoy.

The specific area I work in is not known for the pay or the work-life balance, but my employer is very good on both these fronts.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

QuarterMillionMan, my son is marrying someone who is in the numbers side of social work. I think it is called statistical analysis for public policy. Very numbers intense. Probably you already are aware of the field. It also gives her options for private employment at some very high wages, as it is very mathematical...If you have time to pursue it, it could get you out of daily client work and provide a good income as well.

[Nutria]

QuarterMillionMan, my son is marrying someone who is in the numbers side of social work. I think it is called statistical analysis for public policy. Very numbers intense. Probably you already are aware of the field. It also gives her options for private employment at some very high wages, as it is very mathematical...If you have time to pursue it, it could get you out of daily client work and provide a good income as well.

You almost certainly need a degree in Statistics for that.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I wasn't thinking just your usual MSW would get you the job. Her graduate degree was awarded by a social work department, but most of the work was math. It offers a way for someone with both strong rational & empathetic proclivities, and also public mindedness to have a tailored career.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I have just the MSW, no statistics. I also have a M.Ed., which is a master in educational administration in higher education, not K-12. The M.Ed. that I have is a catch 22 degree. In order to get an admin. job in higher education, a minimum of 5 years experience in that field is required but the degree is not a requirement, hence the catch 22. To me a worthless degree. Okay rant over (lol).

[GoodSteward]

I loved my last job (the main part of it) and I love my newest career. I used to drive a truck, but it was for a small local company. It was mostly in state, and I never had to be out overnight. I was home every night, and off weekends. I love driving, and I miss it. However, I was only making 11.50/hr when I left with only a little overtime. That was just near the end, around the last 6 months, that I was making that much. I was with the company a total of 7 years, and I was only making 10$/hr for 4 years before getting a couple small raises. The recession was a large reason, but also a company getting greedy. They did VERY well as a wholesale building supply company with very little overhead. I did warehouse work, pulled orders, loaded and unloaded trucks with a forklift, and drove them. There were only 3 drivers, and we all had to do the same job. It was a flatbed, so we had to tarp if it rained. We didn't get paid extra for that, and it was a PAIN. I loved driving but did not like the rest.

My current job is a dream job working in IT that I didn't think I could get. I had never gotten a degree, but I did get a couple certifications in computers before I got married 12 years ago. I started a home business fixing computers, and it got the attention of a friend who worked there. Four interviews later, and I have been with them for 4 years in August It is a fantastic job. I am in AC all day (no more working in the warehouse and 100 degree weather), I can come and go as I need to, I don't clock in and out, my boss believes in family first and does NOT want us working over 40 hours unless we absolutely must, and I make very good money for the small town LCOL area we live in.

So, I guess I loved part of my last job, but the pay hurt us and I didnt want to find another job putting me away from home all the time. My current job is awesome, and I really enjoy it. I still don't feel like I should have it. I am blessed! Thank you, Jesus.