Who Likes Their Job?
I keep remembering how my dad would respond when I would complain about one job or another. He always said that “they wouldn’t pay you for it if it were fun.” My dad was right about a lot of things, and he was a very responsible business man during his life. But I have to say that he really didn’t get this advice right for me.
I know that nobody likes every single task they have to do to complete their work. But I do think that it is possible to find a job that is right for a person, and that people can derive a lot of satisfaction from that one right job And I really do believe my dad did like his job, and he never really saw himself doing anything else. So I’m not sure why he gave me this advice. Maybe it was because he knew that a person has to go through some jobs that are not so pleasant so they can earn their place in the sun!
Year of the I Hate My Job!
A survey done in 2009 reported that only 45% of Americans found their jobs satisfying. This was down from 49% in 2008. And this is from those people who were lucky enough to have a job.
Don’t think that last statement means that I am preaching though. You’d have to know me, but I have quit jobs before without having a clear idea of how I was going to meet next month’s bills. Despite all of the good examples and good advice I’ve gotten, I have done some impulsive things because I hated a job.
I don’t think its all about money either. I love my work now, which is mostly freelance computer and internet related. I honestly believe I would make more money and have better benefits if I would have/could have stuck out the corporate thing. But after 20 years of cubicles, commutes, and mind-numbing computer algorithm fixes, I had enough. OK?
Reasons Americans Give for Job Dissatisfaction
- Jobs are not interesting.
- Salaries do not keep up with inflation.
- Health insurance premiums cut into take home pay.
So some of it is about salaries, but notice reason number one. People are forcing themselves to do mind numbing tasks, and I have found that people can only do that for so long with no break.
Do You Hate Your Job?
If you really dread getting out of bed every morning, it may be time for a change. As Hermes sings in Futurama - When push comes to shove/You gotta’ do what you love/even if its a bad idea…../ But as we turn 50 or 60, it gets harder to contemplate a job change. On the other hand, many people have found renewal in an over 50 job change!
Look at some of our past articles that have been popular for several months!
- Top Jobs for Over 50 Career Change
- Fast Skill Training for In Demand Jobs
- Home Business for Seniors
- Low Cost Business Startups You May Not Have Thought Of
These are all about starting a business or switching careers in mid-stream. We also have an active forum discussion on over 50 jobs and business startups. People are asking questions about ways to switch careers in mid-life, or even about starting their own midlife or retirement business. Some of this interest is about money, but a lot of it is about satisfaction!
Now I am not going to advice you to do anything foolish. You probably have bills to pay, and you need an income to meeet obligations. But I am trying to tell you that nothing is stopping you from looking around in your spare time. Think about what you always wanted to do, how you could obtain work like that, and if it is possible for you to come up with a plan for a change. There may never be a better time!
Do You Love or Hate Your Job?
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