Working a "job you love"
Discussion
It seems fairly common for people to give advise to younger people along the lines of "work a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life".
Coming to think of it, I don't think there's anyone I know who actually does this. Sure, I enjoy my job (sometimes..) and it's somewhat interesting on occasion, but I was wondering if there's anyone here who actually does do something they love?
I'm 22 and work in Engineering, so while (I believe) it's a good industry to be in, I do come into contact with lots of primarily older people who seem to just dislike what they do, but keep plodding on due to needing the salary.
It's a few hours into work on a Monday, and there are already people who seem they've had enough already
I'd value happiness and job satisfaction over an increased salary etc, but I've only been working for a few years so I'm likely just being naïve.
Have a good week all.
Coming to think of it, I don't think there's anyone I know who actually does this. Sure, I enjoy my job (sometimes..) and it's somewhat interesting on occasion, but I was wondering if there's anyone here who actually does do something they love?
I'm 22 and work in Engineering, so while (I believe) it's a good industry to be in, I do come into contact with lots of primarily older people who seem to just dislike what they do, but keep plodding on due to needing the salary.
It's a few hours into work on a Monday, and there are already people who seem they've had enough already
I'd value happiness and job satisfaction over an increased salary etc, but I've only been working for a few years so I'm likely just being naïve.
Have a good week all.
I'm a self-employed translator, and while I wouldn't say I adore my job all the time, I do love it most of the time!
Bits that I don't love: clients who think they know English better than a native speaker, excessively picky people, glossaries that I'm told I have to use when I can see they're full of errors, dealing with 40 emails an hour when I'm trying to get an urgent text finished, really boring texts, doing the invoicing - just mundane stuff like that.
But for the most part, my job is great - it's varied, interesting and flexible, I don't have to deal with people I don't like, and I get usually paid at least something a minimum of twice a week.
Bits that I don't love: clients who think they know English better than a native speaker, excessively picky people, glossaries that I'm told I have to use when I can see they're full of errors, dealing with 40 emails an hour when I'm trying to get an urgent text finished, really boring texts, doing the invoicing - just mundane stuff like that.
But for the most part, my job is great - it's varied, interesting and flexible, I don't have to deal with people I don't like, and I get usually paid at least something a minimum of twice a week.
Sycamore said:
It seems fairly common for people to give advise to younger people along the lines of "work a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life".
Seems equally common for people to give advise (sic) to younger people along the lines of "don't make your hobby into a job or you will stop enjoying it"I think it depends on how much control you have over the actual work, so for example if you are a pianist and you love Jazz and dream to open your own club playing edgy music, and then you end up working on a tour playing pop songs with John Legend then you may not enjoy it so much.
SGirl said:
I'm a self-employed translator, and while I wouldn't say I adore my job all the time, I do love it most of the time!
Bits that I don't love: clients who think they know English better than a native speaker, excessively picky people, glossaries that I'm told I have to use when I can see they're full of errors, dealing with 40 emails an hour when I'm trying to get an urgent text finished, really boring texts, doing the invoicing - just mundane stuff like that.
But for the most part, my job is great - it's varied, interesting and flexible, I don't have to deal with people I don't like, and I get usually paid at least something a minimum of twice a week.
Hi there, interesting post. I've got a couple of foreign languages under my belt, and I've often wondered about giving up my current job and doing some freelance translating. Is your work biased towards translating in or out of English, or is it a fairly even balance? Do you charge per piece or per hour?Bits that I don't love: clients who think they know English better than a native speaker, excessively picky people, glossaries that I'm told I have to use when I can see they're full of errors, dealing with 40 emails an hour when I'm trying to get an urgent text finished, really boring texts, doing the invoicing - just mundane stuff like that.
But for the most part, my job is great - it's varied, interesting and flexible, I don't have to deal with people I don't like, and I get usually paid at least something a minimum of twice a week.
I've always thought the only way that would happen is if the numbers came up and I could open a hifi shop without having to worry too much about making a good living. Not the best way to run a business but probably cheaper than the alternative of pissing it up the wall (or worse) with nothing to get up in the morning for.
I think you are wise to recognise that youth/inexperience plays a part in what you are seeing in the world. Being able to "do what you love" can also be a bit of a luxury. Sometimes you just do what you need to do to pay the bills. But, whether or not you can be satisfied with whatever you do will depend on what you value. I think there are a few options for job or work-life satisfaction:
1) You get to do something you feel you are good at... sometimes you might not like who you work for or the industry you are working in, but you are getting to utilise your aptitudes and employ skills you enjoy to the objectives of your company/employer. That in itself can bring satisfaction...even if you don't like the company you can find pleasure and take pride in being able to be your best self at work.
2) You don't particularly like your job in and of itself...maybe you are not really getting to do what you love, but you like the company you work for, their values, and the product/service they offer. In a situation like this, even if you don't especially like what you are doing in the day-to-day, you can find pleasure in being a small part of something that you see as valuable and contributing, even if in a small way, to something you believe in. This doesn't mean it has to be a grand humanitarian enterprise...working for a company that cares about its customers and the quality of its product and services is rewarding (and you would be surprised at how often a commitment to excellence is just lip-service....and working in that sort of place is soul sucking).
It can be even better if you know that maybe you are starting at the bottom, but there is room to grow and move up the ladder and eventually you can do even more and not only get to work for someone / doing something you value, but eventually you can have the ultimate satisfaction of doing what you do best for an employer you respect or in an industry you like to be part of. That is, I think, the goal for anyone who places a lot of value on job satisfaction and it isn't always easy to get there.
3) Not everyone likes to work. I am a workaholic. I love work. I am at my happiest if I am doing good work for a company that deserves to have obsessively loyal and hardworking staff. But not everyone places work at the centre of their lives. My husband is good at what he does, makes good money, and doesn't like working at all but he does it because it enables him to have and do what he loves. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it all depends on what you value. Some people value time with family, or traveling, or a salary that enables a comfortable lifestyle so they can do/have the things they really care about. People who work to live are no better than people who live to work...just different value systems.
The problem I see in the workplace is that you have a lot of people like this (again, not a bad thing) who just won't admit to themselves that there isn't much that would make them satisfied in any job. (not necessarily lazy or work shy, just not work-centric). So, they are constantly miserable and often don't show much work ethic which has a negative knock-on for people who do care. Such people would be a lot happier at work if they took time to take stock of what they value in life and admit that work isn't high on the list. Then, make sure that whatever they do their job facilitates the achievement of what they actually value. Knowing this will bring its own sort of satisfaction even if they don't like their work or who they work for.
1) You get to do something you feel you are good at... sometimes you might not like who you work for or the industry you are working in, but you are getting to utilise your aptitudes and employ skills you enjoy to the objectives of your company/employer. That in itself can bring satisfaction...even if you don't like the company you can find pleasure and take pride in being able to be your best self at work.
2) You don't particularly like your job in and of itself...maybe you are not really getting to do what you love, but you like the company you work for, their values, and the product/service they offer. In a situation like this, even if you don't especially like what you are doing in the day-to-day, you can find pleasure in being a small part of something that you see as valuable and contributing, even if in a small way, to something you believe in. This doesn't mean it has to be a grand humanitarian enterprise...working for a company that cares about its customers and the quality of its product and services is rewarding (and you would be surprised at how often a commitment to excellence is just lip-service....and working in that sort of place is soul sucking).
It can be even better if you know that maybe you are starting at the bottom, but there is room to grow and move up the ladder and eventually you can do even more and not only get to work for someone / doing something you value, but eventually you can have the ultimate satisfaction of doing what you do best for an employer you respect or in an industry you like to be part of. That is, I think, the goal for anyone who places a lot of value on job satisfaction and it isn't always easy to get there.
3) Not everyone likes to work. I am a workaholic. I love work. I am at my happiest if I am doing good work for a company that deserves to have obsessively loyal and hardworking staff. But not everyone places work at the centre of their lives. My husband is good at what he does, makes good money, and doesn't like working at all but he does it because it enables him to have and do what he loves. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as it all depends on what you value. Some people value time with family, or traveling, or a salary that enables a comfortable lifestyle so they can do/have the things they really care about. People who work to live are no better than people who live to work...just different value systems.
The problem I see in the workplace is that you have a lot of people like this (again, not a bad thing) who just won't admit to themselves that there isn't much that would make them satisfied in any job. (not necessarily lazy or work shy, just not work-centric). So, they are constantly miserable and often don't show much work ethic which has a negative knock-on for people who do care. Such people would be a lot happier at work if they took time to take stock of what they value in life and admit that work isn't high on the list. Then, make sure that whatever they do their job facilitates the achievement of what they actually value. Knowing this will bring its own sort of satisfaction even if they don't like their work or who they work for.
SilverSixer said:
Hi there, interesting post. I've got a couple of foreign languages under my belt, and I've often wondered about giving up my current job and doing some freelance translating. Is your work biased towards translating in or out of English, or is it a fairly even balance? Do you charge per piece or per hour?
You always translate into your native language, unless there's a good reason for translating out of it. (Finnish to English translators are in very short supply, for example, so my clients usually get Finns to translate and native English speakers to proofread). I charge translation and copywriting by the word but proofreading, editing and miscellaneous faffing (technical term ) by the hour. Some clients (mostly in Germany) require charging by the line.They reckon it takes at least 2 years from starting out to getting enough freelance work to call it a full-time job. I kept the full-time job and freelanced evenings and weekends until I finally left and set up as a full-time freelancer. I could probably have left after 6 months or so (due to some unusual language combinations and loads of contacts in the industry!), but I ended up staying for 4 years for family reasons (and nearly wrecking my health in the process because I was doing the equivalent of two full-time jobs for most of that time).
So you need to know when is a good time to leave your full-time job, but personally I wouldn't recommend leaving as soon as you set up because it can take ages to get enough work to live on. I know someone working Spanish > English only, and even after at least 8 years she's still only doing the job on a hobby basis because she simply doesn't have the work available.
Oh, and one other thing. Do you have a track record in translation and/or writing? If not then it might be worth doing a course in translation or something before you go for it. It might sound a bit obvious, but to be able to translate you need to be able to write your own language decently as well, and translation isn't usually as straightforward as just taking a foreign text and turning it into English.
HTH.
Edited by SGirl on Monday 6th February 12:23
Do I work a job I love? No not really, but then I don't have to drag myself out of bed every morning. I certainly enjoy it, and it is varied enough to keep me interested, but it is by no means my 'dream job'. However, in reality it is about as close as I can reasonably expect.
It is good advice, many people are only focussed on the money and find they don't have any time to do any of the things they enjoy. This can't be good for long term happiness.
xkcd (as ever) hit the nail on the head here:
It is good advice, many people are only focussed on the money and find they don't have any time to do any of the things they enjoy. This can't be good for long term happiness.
xkcd (as ever) hit the nail on the head here:
I do genuinely love my job. I've only been doing it for 9 years which might help. Yes when my alarm goes off at 5:30am on a Sunday I don't exactly spring out of bed but once at work the job is challenging and the people I work with are, thanks to the recruitment process, mostly like me so we mostly get on well. Will I love it after 30 years service, maybe not but I count myself lucky when I see people staring blankly at screens 8 hours a day every day doing something they don't enjoy. It has never occurred to me to look elsewhere for work and our retention rate is ridiculous, virtually no one leaves which tells me something.
SGirl said:
SilverSixer said:
Hi there, interesting post. I've got a couple of foreign languages under my belt, and I've often wondered about giving up my current job and doing some freelance translating. Is your work biased towards translating in or out of English, or is it a fairly even balance? Do you charge per piece or per hour?
You always translate into your native language, unless there's a good reason for translating out of it. (Finnish to English translators are in very short supply, for example, so my clients usually get Finns to translate and native English speakers to proofread). I charge translation and copywriting by the word but proofreading, editing and miscellaneous faffing (technical term ) by the hour. Some clients (mostly in Germany) require charging by the line.They reckon it takes at least 2 years from starting out to getting enough freelance work to call it a full-time job. I kept the full-time job and freelanced evenings and weekends until I finally left and set up as a full-time freelancer. I could probably have left after 6 months or so (due to some unusual language combinations and loads of contacts in the industry!), but I ended up staying for 4 years for family reasons (and nearly wrecking my health in the process because I was doing the equivalent of two full-time jobs for most of that time).
So you need to know when is a good time to leave your full-time job, but personally I wouldn't recommend leaving as soon as you set up because it can take ages to get enough work to live on. I know someone working Spanish > English only, and even after at least 8 years she's still only doing the job on a hobby basis because she simply doesn't have the work available.
Oh, and one other thing. Do you have a track record in translation and/or writing? If not then it might be worth doing a course in translation or something before you go for it. It might sound a bit obvious, but to be able to translate you need to be able to write your own language decently as well, and translation isn't usually as straightforward as just taking a foreign text and turning it into English.
HTH.
Edited by SGirl on Monday 6th February 12:23
SilverSixer said:
Cheers, good insight. No track record in translating nor writing (I've been working sales and IT jobs since leaving university 25 years ago, having graduated in languages). I'll have a look into the kind of courses you suggest - do you have any specific recommendations? I've got 4 foreign languages and I'm confident of being capable enough in all of them to translate, along with a high level of confidence in my written English. Perhaps I could make it work.....although I'm a shockingly poor/slow typist. Graduated before the computer era, and did all my degree in longhand! Bloody fountain pens, mostly. Seems unthinkable now.
You're welcome. I'm afraid I got into the industry before everyone starting demanding MAs in translation, so I can't recommend any particular course. There are a few translator forums around, have a search for those. They should have some decent info that can help. (Sorry, I'm not a member of any so I can't think of any names off the top of my head!) You don't have to be a quick typist these days, although it does help. I use Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software, it's increased my productivity by about a third (if you also factor in translation software - no, Google Translate
). My degree was in longhand too, jolly glad it's not like that any more! 
Best of luck if you decide to go for it! It's a great job if you can make it work.
I'm self-employed and have a job I love
I have always loved animals, and after I was made redundant at 50, decided to semi-retire and run a pet care business. I'm a dog walker/pet sitter and have regular clients in my home village, with occasional clients in villages close by. As I get closer to retirement age my plan is to concentrate more on the house-sitting side of the business.
House sitting is great, I stay in some really lovely houses while the owners are away, looking after their pets and homes. I take my own bedding/kitchen gear/food etc. - it feels like a mini-holiday for me too
I have always loved animals, and after I was made redundant at 50, decided to semi-retire and run a pet care business. I'm a dog walker/pet sitter and have regular clients in my home village, with occasional clients in villages close by. As I get closer to retirement age my plan is to concentrate more on the house-sitting side of the business.
House sitting is great, I stay in some really lovely houses while the owners are away, looking after their pets and homes. I take my own bedding/kitchen gear/food etc. - it feels like a mini-holiday for me too
I work in IT. Was self employed for ~15 years and got a bit worn down in the last few doing pretty much full time for one client. So quit December 2015 and joined a Tech company in Jan 2016. I can honestly say I love the job. Sure, we all get a bit pissed off with things occasionally, but I'm challenged on a daily basis and am constantly learning. We have a positive learning culture, and nice perks, and in general we're well taken care of.
It's an office full of oddballs, it's a cliche but you have to be crazy to work there They party pretty hard which isn't something I'm into, but nobody pressures me and were happy enough to let me enjoy my Stein of Cola on the xmas night out!
It's an office full of oddballs, it's a cliche but you have to be crazy to work there
They party pretty hard which isn't something I'm into, but nobody pressures me and were happy enough to let me enjoy my Stein of Cola on the xmas night out!I'm 5 years into my engineering career and quite happy to say I love it.
I get what OP means, but it very much depends on the circumstances. Even within my employer, there's a programme run by engineers waiting for retirement, and another programme run by engineers that have a good laugh and a passion for the job. Yes there are days the crud piles high, but by and large we enjoy what we do.
It is a job though, but one I take enjoyment in. And whilst I appreciate the comments on work and play mixing, I could never do what I do for work as a hobby. It would be hugely expensive and borderline illegal for a start!
I get what OP means, but it very much depends on the circumstances. Even within my employer, there's a programme run by engineers waiting for retirement, and another programme run by engineers that have a good laugh and a passion for the job. Yes there are days the crud piles high, but by and large we enjoy what we do.
It is a job though, but one I take enjoyment in. And whilst I appreciate the comments on work and play mixing, I could never do what I do for work as a hobby. It would be hugely expensive and borderline illegal for a start!
anomie said:
3) Not everyone likes to work. I am a workaholic. I love work.
Yes indeed. I have worked since I was eleven years old and worked every chance I got. I had several distinct careers after graduating from university...(1) Trained to be a Chartered Accountant ( Monty Python theme here) with a major global firm and worked for them in multiple countries, which gave me a chance to think globally
(2) Joined a large Railroad in Canada as Chief Accountant, rose to VP by my late thirties. On the way up got involved on the IT side as the world was changing and ended up on the Advisory Boards of HP, Compaq and Lotus. Became Chief Information Officer. Took over Strategic Planning and led the restructuring of the railroad. After its IPO joined a major Canadian Telco
(3) Became President of Shared Operations, running IT,Customer Service,Procurement and Real Estate, staff of about 10,000. Negotiated a $600 million investment by a tech firm in the Telco. Rebuilt its technology. Did that for 12 years. By then I was 60 and left
(4) Next week was hired by a major tech firm to review its very senior sales staff around the world who were selling into the Communications. Media and Entertainment world for major customers ( $100m annually per customer). This was an amazing experience...Europe, US and Asia
(5)Now, at 68 am on a number of public company boards of directors which is surprisingly hard work, as well as being an investor. I do not work as hard as I used to ,but could not imagine a life of doing nothing. I have lots of non work interests...cars (of course), wine collecting, travel, photography, keeping fit and so on, but it would all bore me to death without work.
Were there moments I hated? Moments I failed? Career Pauses? Missteps?....all of these - times when it was depressing or uncertain. Yet, the adrenalin rush of being in the centre of things, making risky decisions, trying to navigate uncertain futures was all addictive. It still is. Right now am involved in lots of decision making. Keeps the mind keen and keeps me very current.
Evanivitch said:
I'm 5 years into my engineering career and quite happy to say I love it.
I get what OP means, but it very much depends on the circumstances. Even within my employer, there's a programme run by engineers waiting for retirement, and another programme run by engineers that have a good laugh and a passion for the job. Yes there are days the crud piles high, but by and large we enjoy what we do.
It is a job though, but one I take enjoyment in. And whilst I appreciate the comments on work and play mixing, I could never do what I do for work as a hobby. It would be hugely expensive and borderline illegal for a start!
I got an apprenticeship when I left school, and studied in my spare time. Got my HNC in Mechanical Engineering by the time I'd finished it, and now I'm studying a degree in my spare time while working full time still. It's time consuming but I'm sure it'll be worth it some day. I enjoy my job, but like most jobs it has its down days. I get what OP means, but it very much depends on the circumstances. Even within my employer, there's a programme run by engineers waiting for retirement, and another programme run by engineers that have a good laugh and a passion for the job. Yes there are days the crud piles high, but by and large we enjoy what we do.
It is a job though, but one I take enjoyment in. And whilst I appreciate the comments on work and play mixing, I could never do what I do for work as a hobby. It would be hugely expensive and borderline illegal for a start!
Although I did mix work & play at my last employer as I ended up dating the admin girl
still together now, mind.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff