# Are you happy in your career? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761 "2006-06-22T19:46:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/41 "2006-06-23T11:56:16Z")
Yes I am happy, in the main. My job and I aren’t a particularly good fit but I enjoy it and I’m too old to train for something else. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/42 "2006-06-23T13:17:54Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] What **Dinsdale** said except less hate, more boredom. [/QUOTE] Sorry if I gave the impression I “hate” my job. I fully appreciate the lifestyle it permits. But it is almost like every day I go through 8+ hours of suspended animation. My job is not regularly unpleasant. People aren’t pinching me or anything. But at times I wonder if the lack of intellectual/emotional engagement at work transfers over and makes me generally less enthusiastic and saps motivation from other areas of my life. I guess when I was going through school and such I didn’t know enough of who I was and what I wanted to do/be. Not sure if you realize that - like you - I am also a bored lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/43 "2006-06-23T13:18:40Z")
I wouldn’t say I’m happy with it. It’s tolerable and some days are better than others, but I don’t look forward to working. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/44 "2006-06-23T14:56:14Z")
Generally satisfied. I’m getting paid well, I have a good amount of time off, my commute’s short, and the work itself is satisfying. My biggest complaint at this point is the cycles of boredom and craziness. It’s either very little to do or 5 zillion things all at once and I’m still new enough not to know how to prioritize them yet, which leaves me stressed over how to get everything done. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/45 "2006-06-23T15:18:39Z")
> [@](#): > > **Dinsdale** :Not sure if you realize that - like you - I am also a bored lawyer. No, I knew. That’s why I affirmed your statement…because you summed it up so perfectly (which you did yet again, btw)!!! Are you a govt. lawyer too? I am really torn between good pay + extremely good working hours (45 max) versus BOREDOM along the lines of which I never imagined. Some days are okay, though. Like I said, if the regional counsel decides to give our office this major program area I’ll have actual brain-requiring work to do. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/46 "2006-06-23T15:18:29Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > So – are you happy in your career? Yep - it’s not really a career - it’s a job. I’m an AA. > [@](#): > > Is it the best job you can imagine? Nope. > [@](#): > > Is it what you wanted to be when you grew up? Hell no. > [@](#): > > Ae you making as much money as you think you deserve? Probably more than I deserve. > [@](#): > > Are you happy doing what you do for a living? Define “happy”. It’s ok - it’s a job - I really like the people I work for, I am proud of the company I work for - I make good money - they have kick ass benefits - I have flexible work options up the ying yang - so life’s good. Am I happy? I’d be much happier doing what I love doing and this isn’t it - but then again, I want to be Queen of the World too, so there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/47 "2006-06-23T15:30:43Z")
I think once I learn the ropes, it will be bliss. I hang out on the streets in a garish top hat and swallowtail jacket made of terrycloth and make balloons. I get happy children being polite, and grown ups giving me money. Last weekend, I made a bunch of balloon sabers and told kids “Remember young padawan, fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to the dark side. Beware the power of the dark side.” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/48 "2006-06-23T15:38:27Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] Are you a govt. lawyer too? [/QUOTE] Yep. Fed. 20 years last week. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/49 "2006-06-23T16:40:57Z")
[QUOTE=Dinsdale] 20 years last week. [/QUOTE] Happy Anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/50 "2006-06-23T17:01:22Z")
IANAL, but this: [QUOTE=Dinsdale] Pays quite well, demands little, encroaches minimally on my personal life. OTOH, it is mind numbingly boring, and I derive not one jot of pleasure, satisfaction, or accomplishment out of any aspect of my work duties. [/QUOTE] comes close to how I feel. I dread it and feel grateful for it at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/51 "2006-06-23T17:59:16Z")
> [@](#): > > **Dinsdale** :Yep. Fed. Oh, me too. I think boredom is part of the job description. _sigh_ My bane is the internal presentations I have to give on various federal laws to other employees of the agency the most. Right now I’m working on a FOIA presentation that makes me want to hang myself by my Chuck Taylors (at least we have a laxer dress code out here). Then again, a full 80% of my graduating class seems to report “vaguely satisfied” to “mildly dissatisfed” as their state of mind, no matter who they work for. Mild malaise seems to be the most popular state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![bluetrust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@bluetrust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluetrust)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/52 "2006-06-23T18:17:57Z")
I own a business and hate it. I feel like I’m drowning. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/53 "2006-06-23T19:05:57Z")
Count me as another, “relatively satisfied by the benefits/freedom, yet horribly bored by lack of creativity/variety.” After spending a year unemployed, it’s hard for me to be too critical of this job, but I’m working as a sort of web-design assistant and accomplisher of various other tasks, which could be very cool. I have moderate web skills and a very strong sense of what looks good, what is convenient for users, and how to deliver content in a friendly, efficient way. I am far from an expert, though, and would love to have projects that stretched my abilities using CSS, PHP, JavaScript, or any other web implementation technique. Sadly, this job doesn’t ever seem like it will require much more from me than basic (uber-basic) html layout with some styles. It’s making working on the computer boring, and won’t offer any oportunity for professional growth. Add to that a 50 minute, 50 mile commute each direction, and it might be easy to see why lately I’ve considered looking for another job. Though, my relative scheduling freedom does allow me to persue my other quasi-professional interest; music and musical theatre. Finding another job that would let me, say, take a week off to travel to Boston to play a show, or let me go home early three days a week for three months to make rehearsals might be quite hard. So, I’m very torn. Sorry for rambling; this has been on my mind a lot lately. Long story short, I’m pretty ambivelant about my career (well, more about my _job_ more than my career), but appreciate the freedom it gives me to persue other interests. ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/54 "2006-06-23T19:20:47Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] Oh, me too. I think boredom is part of the job description. _sigh_ My bane is the internal presentations I have to give on various federal laws to other employees of the agency the most. Right now I’m working on a FOIA presentation that makes me want to hang myself by my Chuck Taylors (at least we have a laxer dress code out here). Then again, a full 80% of my graduating class seems to report “vaguely satisfied” to “mildly dissatisfed” as their state of mind, no matter who they work for. Mild malaise seems to be the most popular state of mind. [/QUOTE] Let me just add another BORED OUT OF MY MIND in the government employee ranks. I feel like screaming everyday and that there are approximately 100 other things I would rather be doing just to actually DO something in a day; to feel like there was a reason I existed. But the good news: I’m quitting!!! I’m going to do my own gig - I don’t know if it’ll be a success, but I can’t go to my grave without trying. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/55 "2006-06-24T06:06:34Z")
I’m self-employed, and being paid to do work in a field I’m passionately in love with. So yes – I am, indeed, and at last, happy in my career. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/56 "2006-06-24T06:19:18Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] I am torn between the fact that it pays really well and encroaches minimally on my personal life and the fact that frocking law school was more interesting than what I do. [/QUOTE] As someone who is about to enter law school, may I ask what “frocking” is? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/57 "2006-06-24T06:39:21Z")
I’m pretty happy with things right now. I just turned 24 and I’m the acting editor of a newspaper in addition to writing most of the stories. It’s a new challenge, which is what I realized I needed when the opportunity came up. I should be promoted to full editor in another week or two, barring some unpleasant turn of events. I don’t plan to do this forever and I’m not getting rich, but this is good. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/58 "2006-06-24T06:45:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **Walloon** : As someone who is about to enter law school, may I ask what “frocking” is? I try not to swear when I’m on my computer at work. Frock = dress = fuck. It’s a usage I lifted from _Born Confused_ which is a pretty funny YA book about growing up Indian in the United States. My parents also speak in British English so I get a kick out of substituting it for fuck and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/59 "2006-06-24T11:17:33Z")
I am very happy in my career and my job, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding, and I work with good people. I also know that I’m doing something that benefits other people. I have flexible hours and generous pay and I get a lot of vacation days. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761/60 "2006-06-24T23:42:58Z")
I like my job, and the pay is very good. However, it involves a lot of travel. That was fine a year ago. Now I have a little baby daughter, and it’s a damn far way from fine. I was away from her for four days last week and it literally made me sick, actually physically ill. I hate it. So I’m looking for employment with less travel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-happy-in-your-career/361761.md?page=4)