Does it matter what your employer does?

[bitchstewie]

I also work in IT and I consider myself lucky because I get paid to do what is basically a hobby.

Personally I'm not sure it matters massively what your employer does if you enjoy your job and I can't help but think that job fulfilment isn't simply measured by what rolls off the production line of the employer - there's a whole bunch of factors at play.

Put it this way, would an accountant enjoy their job more based off what the product was?

I don't know but I'd be surprised as presumably numbers are numbers.

[Cyder]

bhstewie said:

I also work in IT and I consider myself lucky because I get paid to do what is basically a hobby.

Personally I'm not sure it matters massively what your employer does if you enjoy your job and I can't help but think that job fulfilment isn't simply measured by what rolls off the production line of the employer - there's a whole bunch of factors at play.

Put it this way, would an accountant enjoy their job more based off what the product was?

I don't know but I'd be surprised as presumably numbers are numbers.

Interesting question, I design bits of cars and I'm quite certain I find it more rewarding than I would if I was designing bits of washing machines or toasters.

I'm sure the buyers at work who are into cars enjoy it too because of the industry we work in.

[DJRC]

No. Im a we - the only important question is how much and where.

[Muzzer79]

It makes things slightly more interesting but ultimately I'm there for the job, not the company product

[basherX]

bhstewie said:

I also work in IT and I consider myself lucky because I get paid to do what is basically a hobby.

Personally I'm not sure it matters massively what your employer does if you enjoy your job and I can't help but think that job fulfilment isn't simply measured by what rolls off the production line of the employer - there's a whole bunch of factors at play.

Put it this way, would an accountant enjoy their job more based off what the product was?

I don't know but I'd be surprised as presumably numbers are numbers.

It appears that, yes, you would be surprised. The accounting profession is ever so slightly more than spreadsheet monkeys and there's quite a lot of specialism: it's a very broad church in terms of roles and industries.

[MikeGoodwin]

So what should you say in an interview?

Why this company, what interests you about this company etc.

hard to lie when it was the job spec and salary I was looking at to begin with.

[KarlMac]

Not really bothered what They make, as long as they take pride in it.

I've worked for a number of companies that have gone through financial difficulties but they've always been saved by care and attention they put into the product.

[9mm]

There are a few groups/organisations I won't work with (self employed) because of a clash of values/ethics or my concern about risk but generally a challenge is a challenge anywhere.

[was8v]

To me, yes. I work for less pay in an industry I really believe in the values of.

I could make more working for a less worthy cause but I choose not to.

Its down to the individual.

[colinjy]

In IT for a Biotech company doing cancer drugs and research

[Munter]

Does this not depend on what you consider the company to do.

I work for a British company that pays taxes into the British economy, brings in foreign cash to the British economy and creates employment for people living in Britain and abroad.

Or

I work for a software company selling specialist software to (typically) large companies, who then provide a better service/create higher profits/reduce prices to their consumers.

[edc]

Munter said:

Does this not depend on what you consider the company to do.

I work for a British company that pays taxes into the British economy, brings in foreign cash to the British economy and creates employment for people living in Britain and abroad.

Or

I work for a software company selling specialist software to (typically) large companies, who then provide a better service/create higher profits/reduce prices to their consumers.

Going a bit off topic but how many employees know anything about the financial affairs of the company they work for let alone the trickery of taxation.

Another variant on the above might be - I work for a UK Ltd company whose ownership structure I am unaware of and I do not know the inter-relationships between the company I work for and any other group companies whether in the UK or abroad.

[IainT]

944fan said:

When I first started my career I worked for a police force as a developer. Whilst the pay was poor I felt like my job was in someway achieving something.

Do you care what you employer does? Should I actively seek out companies who have a product that interests me?

Since starting my career in IT 16 years ago I've had some jobs where it was pointless (service or product) but the work was interesting, others where you could see a real impact on consumer of doing well and ones in between.

For me it's the variety and challenge of the job that matters most but the perfect world would marry that to something that makes a real difference to the world around you. I'm luck in my role now - both challenging, varied and has to potential to make a real difference to people's lives even if that is at a remove having moved to a team aligned to finance and CI. Working with the scientists researching and developing new drugs was very cool.