Working a "job you love"

[Hoofy]

100SRV said:

Spot on.

I was made redundant last year(along with many others),we were deep into a challenging project which was also rewarding to work on because each day a problem was solved and we made progress. I'm now earning more working with another great team but have next to zero job satisfaction because (just realised this) there are more challenges from mismanagement than technical aspects.

Not sure what to do for the best now.

Keep raking in the cash until you can't take it any more then bail. See if you can get another job with decent pay. At some point, you won't be able to bear it and prefer instead to spend quality time with your family/friends. In which case, find the lower paid but rewarding job.

[exelero]

For me it took quite long to realise what I like to do. After two failed universities and getting on from agency to agency I started working in transport. I am part of a good team at a very well known company and I absolutely love working here. There are some downsides like working 12 hours shifts nights, but is very challenging and that is what I see myself doing in the future. It is disgusting though, that as soon as you get paid less if you are permanent employee rather than agency. Other than that I still have like 3 months on agency to earn my experience after that I think I can move on to another company who pays something like 2 grand a month (in hand). I love this job, I really do. (apart when we have to work on a Saturday night and nothing is happening at all, really nothing you are just sitting there browsing Pistonheads which gets boring after like 8 hours )

[Vron]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Genuinely interested as to how you got into local Government. It's a conversation we have often in our office (private sector) particularly the NHS.jobs vacancies. Today a colleague was telling me that there is a scoring system if your application is above the line drawn on the graph you will get an interview as that is the policy EVEN if the job has already been appointed internally (which it usually has).

I consider myself pretty intelligent but some of those jobs I really cannot understand what they actually are?!? When you look at the 16+ page application forms for some of them then see some of the people in these highly paid (NHS Management) positions I really cannot fathom how they have even managed to complete the application form let alone be appointed.

Is there some secret formula to getting a job in the public sector?

[anomie]

Vron said:

Is there some secret formula to getting a job in the public sector?

Tick "yes" in the disability box. They will almost guarantee you an interview.

[rog007]

Vron said:

Genuinely interested as to how you got into local Government. It's a conversation we have often in our office (private sector) particularly the NHS.jobs vacancies.

Is there some secret formula to getting a job in the public sector?

I can certainly speak for the NHS having provided support to a number of clients looking to take up management and leadership roles there.

It's very competitive, very vocational and whilst it requires top notch qualifications, it's still a vocation looking after people in their time of need. That vocation requires a clear set of values and behaviours that don't exist in all industries. Those that are successful in securing roles have a great blend of qualifications and attitude.

[Vron]

rog007 said:

Vron said:

Genuinely interested as to how you got into local Government. It's a conversation we have often in our office (private sector) particularly the NHS.jobs vacancies.

Is there some secret formula to getting a job in the public sector?

I can certainly speak for the NHS having provided support to a number of clients looking to take up management and leadership roles there.

It's very competitive, very vocational and whilst it requires top notch qualifications, it's still a vocation looking after people in their time of need. That vocation requires a clear set of values and behaviours that don't exist in all industries. Those that are successful in securing roles have a great blend of qualifications and attitude.

So what are these clear sets of values and behaviours then?

Please give examples of a 'great blend'.

I guess Empathy, organizational skills, calm under pressure, first class honours degree, man management experience, evidence of meeting targets in multi billion dollar businesses etc, member of Government voluntary organisations don't count because fundamentally you will be viewed as a Capitalist from the private sector.

I spoke to a woman (Director in public sector) yesterday and all I could get out of her after spouting various acronyms for 10 minutes was that she sat on 'steering groups' ???????????

[0000]

Vron said:

So what are these clear sets of values and behaviours then?

Turn up to interview with a copy of the Guardian tucked under your arm, an I love unions badge on your jacket and quietly singing JC 4 PM 4 me.

[schmalex]

I'm lucky enough to work in a job I love. I work for a defence business and am responsible for new business generation in emerging markets (otherwise known as "lairy places"!). I get to travel to all corners of the globe as often as I wish and meet with fascinating people and organisations. I love the flexibility, I'm extremely proud of things that we do and I work alongside some extremely intelligent and interesting people.

[Vantagemech]

I work in motorsport, have been in the motor industry pretty much all my working life.
Until recently Ive been running a fairly small workshop for some nice blokes looking after their race cars.
Sounds great, but in reality its odd hours, stressful meeting deadlines and as I found out in January after 8 years, very little security as Im now looking for work after some little bds broke into and burnt out the team race transporter.

Less working a job you love, more getting into a field of work that wont let you do anything else, especially after being self employed 16 years. Its one of those professions where its who you know as much as what.

[housen]

I work in financial markets now

its hard these days but does still pay well

when its good its good

and vice versus

but my favourite job was when I was 19

which was apple picking ..I did it with my friend ...it rained a lot and didn't pay well

but it was soo much fun

[Frimley111R]

housen said:

which was apple picking ..I did it with my friend ...it rained a lot and didn't pay well

but it was soo much fun

I've lost count of how many people, when younger, said their best job ever was working in a pub.

[Frimley111R]

My friend's Dad loves woodworking and makes amazing wooden toys which her gives away to charity shops but said he'd never do it as a job as he's be on deadlines, quotes, finances all the time too.

[housen]

Frimley111R said:

housen said:

which was apple picking ..I did it with my friend ...it rained a lot and didn't pay well

but it was soo much fun

I've lost count of how many people, when younger, said their best job ever was working in a pub.

worked in pubs ...I didn't like it

[Poshbury]

When I was a kid I wanted to be an engine driver.
After a couple of years on the Railways as an engine cleaner I joined the UK armed forces. After that I worked as an engineering manager then joined the Police. I did that for just 5 years then rejoined the Railways as a train driver.
So, in the end I realised my childhood dream. Great job, driving all over the country and very good money too. I loved it.
I retired early at 62, bought my Conti GT and a Chateau in France which we now run as a B&B. That too is great fun as we gets some wonderful guests from all over the world, including a good few celeb's.

I also paid as much into my pensions as possible. Definitely thankful for that decision.

Really enjoying life now.

[arm3000gt]

I worked in the commercial newsprint industry for a while. I think that is as close to loving a job I've got so far. I had to leave it as there was no job security and with ever dwindling circulation numbers head had to rule heart. I really liked the shift work, tight timescales, the constant 'go' as soon as you turned up for work to the minute the next shift turned up. It was hot, noisy, physical, tiring and often messy (wife loved the spots of cyan and magenta ink on the sofa). There was something rewarding watching the forks loading tons of newspapers on to a lorry that I'd just help produce. I sometimes found myself just watching the press churning away spewing thousands of newspapers 30-40' in the air on conveyors before disappearing next door to the folders, binders, inserters etc.
Now I occupy a much less enjoyable job but it is secure as jobs can be at the moment.

[housen]

oh heres a modern one from my real job now

when I first started in the city

I was a execution dealer

and we had 3 shifts

uk us and japan/aus

man the night was amazing ...extra pay ...only 3 people in the office so no bullst ...I had Chinese for breakfast each evening ...and when the storm of the uk shift came in I got to go home in my car with no traffic and sleep 10 hours till the next evening .

brilliant