How many of you are happy with your jobs?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Ha – interesting topic. My work is perfectly suitable to my personality. It is not very exciting, but I don’t want a high-stress career. And it never gets too boring, either. Just the right kind of balance. The pay and benefits are better than I think I deserve, but that could just be my inferiority complex. For the most part, the people are cool. There is the occasional personality conflict that happens when people spend a lot of time together. You know more about the quirks and stuff of those you work with than you want to know, which takes away the mystery and causes people to get on one another’s nerves.

Overall, I think I’m very lucky with my job. It feels just right. I think no one winds up in a certain job or career path by accident. Even those people who claim they are in it only for the money must be suited for their jobs somehow, or else they would not have (sometimes subconsciously) gravitated towards their particular line of work. If a job is truly unbearable, and it’s exclusively for the money, I don’t think most people can last very long and stay sane at the same time. There has to be a certain degree of satisfaction and fulfillment. I have that, yep.

22

Oops…sorry about the double-post. Didn’t think it went through on the first try.

23

I’m a law clerk for a federal judge. I love my job. It doesn’t pay near what I could make, although it pays easily ten times anything I’ve ever made, and more than most peers. The low pay is offset a bit by the prestige factor, sort of like being a Presidential aide, I suppose.

It’s demanding and occasionally tedious, but overall fascinating and great work, intellectually stimulating, stuff that makes the headlines, etc. The only downside is it’s only for a term of a year, after which I have to leave and go find a less-prestigious-but-much-better-paying job. :slight_smile:

24

Yep. Pays well, great benefits, and I pretty much get to do my own thing.

25

I love my job. I’m a merchandiser for Hallmark cards so I pretty much wander into “work” whenever I feel like it, work as slow or fast as I want, have no co-workers to seethe at or argue with, don’t have to think much at all, but can still exercise a little bit of creativity in how stuff is displayed. I can check my orders online and blow off a day if there’s nothing to do. Nice weather? I go for a hike instead, or hike in the AM and work later. I don’t have a uniform or specific dress code. (I have a nametag and am supposed to look “presentable.”) The two downsides of the job are that although the pay is reasonable, there are few hours in between major card holidays, so it’s not a job for someone who has a family to support or anything. Secondly, the “light pop/rock” music most of the stores play really gets on my nerves. I noticed that the Targets I service play NO music, moving them up to the top of my “favorite store” list.

26

I had fifty-six jobs before this one. I have been in this one for twenty-two years. Yeah. I like my job.

I earn a median income, in a high priced area. I work shift work, and weekends and holidays. I have had one of the three promotions that would allow me to keep the part of the job that I like, and I gave that one back. I am basically a twenty-year veteran of an entry level job, who will never move up the ladder. I just got my first request for a vacation in a year denied.

I love my job.

If I take a day off, folks ask where I have been. If I take a week off, people tell me how much they missed me. When I have a regularly scheduled day off, people greet me with open arms, and exclamations of joy. (That’s not hyperbole, it actually literally happens, every week.) I know more about my line of work than half the degree holding professionals do, and after a few days, they begin to realize that. Most of them come to me for information. They do it because I give them the truth, not the politically approved answer.

The director of the facility believes me when I tell him things. He doesn’t always do anything about it, but he knows I don’t have the usual agenda, and don’t tell him anything but the truth.

I feel content. My job is not evil. I don’t do anything all day that is against my principles in any way. (OK, at times my break runs a bit over what it should. Forgive me.) And I get to mouth off with almost complete impunity when things go wrong! Even the folks I mouth off to don’t want me to leave. It’s nice.

Tris

27

Not me. I write articles and design graphics for several newsletters. The work isn’t too bad most of the time – it’s even been fun occasionally – and I like most of my coworkers.

The problem is my immediate supervisor. She’s gradually changed her attitude toward me over the past year, and I have no idea why. For example, one of the benefits of this job is that all of the employees have flex time. Well, last year she decided I’m not entitled to flex time any more. Just me. Everyone else in the office still has it. I also have to justify the rare occasions when I use a sick day. Yesterday I was coughing up a lung, and everyone else in the office told me to go home. My supervisor told me to tough out the day because even though I was clearly miserable, she didn’t think I looked sick.

I put in more time than many of my coworkers, take on extra projects, pitch in to finish my coworkers’ assignments during their absences, and generally bend over backwards to do my job and improve our products. The higher-ups in the company love me. My supervisor does nothing but complain. (And yes, I confronted her about this. She blew it off as her own stress.)

I should also mention that she recently chewed me out for not looking happy enough at work.

(sigh) And my editor wonders why I’m looking for a new job.

28

I rather like my job, but I don’t love it. I work in customer service, and (this is weird) enjoy it most of the time, because I like the people interaction stuff. It is, however, very boring when the store isn’t busy, and sometimes I have to deal with frighteningly rude or clueless people.

It’s not my dream job, and I’m planning on trying something else pretty soon- I wouldn’t want to move up in the company, though. I don’t want to manager for a retail chain. Too little personal decision making. Something entirely different.

29

I had a huge life change three years ago, leaving a higher profile music industry job with all the fun and interest that entails. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world; it was great, being in the blues world at that time was wonderful, and I learned a lot about life from some incredible artists/great people. I listened to their stories, and heard an unwritten history of how hard life can be here in the good ol’ USA, and was blessed to hear the amazing creative response to it. Most of those old guys/gals I knew closely have died now; the wheel turns. I was lucky to hear it all.

Now, I work in a nursery speciallizing in native plants, and also work at a wildlife shelter. Both have undergone an upheaval of ownership/leadership that has been painful, but I can honestly say I love what I do every day. The music biz was hip and exciting, but it also had late hours and all kinds of fucked-uppedness(ego struggles, backbiting, substance abuse) that will wear you out. My current situation is outdoors most of the time, watching how nature unfolds, and passing that appreciation on to other people.

I never would have thought I’d be doing what I am now, but it’s a joy, and I’m quite lucky to have found that balance! :::elelle todders off into her retirement years::::slight_smile:

30

I like my job. I’m a pest technician, and it’s a job, not a career. That’s what I like about it.

It has its challenges, but that mostly keeps me on my toes. I get to work independently, deciding my own schedule. I work alone, and get to drive around, which I like. When I worked in an office, I was getting up from my desk every hour or so just to break the monotony.

I get to meet and become sorta friendly with a lot of my clients. I get the satisfaction of solving their problems and making their homes or businesses nicer environments. And they recognize my worth and appreciate me.

When the weather is nice, there’s nothing better than being out, doing my job. No strain, no heavy lifting, a little creative problem-solving, and the sun and fresh air.

Mostly, as I said at the start, it’s not a career. For years I thought I had to have a career, be on the upwardly mobile track, and I was miserable. I didn’t want to live for my work, I wanted to work so could live. Even though I like my job, try my best to be the best I can be at it, I could leave it tomorrow and have no regrets.

31

I love my job!

It doesn’t pay the bills (I have to teach at the Community College on the side), but it’s got flexible hours (I make 'em) and we watch cartoons all day long!

I’m a writer and producer in a sound studio which records voice dub scripts for Japanese Anime.

:slight_smile:

32

Well, it’s only been one day, but I like my job. Good enough pay so that I can move to Brooklyn next month, and finally get out on my own.

Great environment (law firm), challenging work. And I’m out by 5:30.

I feel lucky to have work right now!

33

I work in theatre. I actually HAVE a job working in theatre. Life is good.

34

Been there, done that with the soul-crushing employment, but for now…

I’m fairly happy. I work in a small district office of a medium size energy related corporation. They hired me away from the company I had started and run for over a decade.

It’s a public (NYSE) company, and the other company the corporation owns (with whom we share offices) is the fourth largest of its sort in North America. IOW, it’s a real, solid company. Our CEO is a forward looking guy, and I have a lot of confidence in his judgement.

I’d guess we employ around 650 people and are worth ~$1 billion.

Our district office is meant to act as its own independent energy company, and thus our core complement (Geologist, Landman, Geophysicist (moi) and Engineer) were all people who’d run our own companies before. We’ve since added a few staff technical people (two geologists and another geophysicist). For a company of this size, I operate with a fair degree of autonomy. And I have unfettered access to the CEO and my own V.P.

When they offered me the position (I wasn’t looking), the offer was such that my partner, who well knew that my leaving would likely lead to the demise of our ventures, told me I’d be crazy not to take it. And sure enough, three years later, we’re puttin’ the gun to the old mare’s ear.

So I don’t sweat a lot of stuff that I used to have to make sure happened, for a lot more money. Other people address administrative stuff, and I do exploration geophysics. And for a couple of years I got to use as my primary vendor a company in which I was a 50% stockholder - nice little side bennie (and yes, I filed a Conflict of Interest Statement detailing my association and the vendor was approved).

On the downside, I see my management responsibilities gradually increasing, as the company grows the workload is increasing, it’s a public company so who knows who my boss might be in two years and it’s a corporado existence - there are political issues present that demand strategic thinking, often on one’s feet.

But, as noted, I’m financially much better off, I’m covered in bennies and I can bring spendin’ capital to a project. And I like doing exploration geophysics.

And they make me take my vacation time.

35

I am happy, but not content with my housepainting/restoration job even though in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d enjoy this work.
I absolutely love the feeling of accomplishment at the end of every job, the happy faces of the homeowners when we restore their fire-damaged homes. It’s fun getting dirty and learning new things and pushing my body. And being the only woman on the crew.

I don’t like the spotty hours, the low pay (8 buck/hr) and the idea of being a subcontractor instead of on a company payroll. And being the only woman on the job.

But the KILZ buzz is worth it all. :smiley:

36

I’m an interior designer and I have to say I love it. Can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s a bit stressful - and things can and do get hairy on a regular basis, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

37

I’m a writer, always have been. I’ve worked at various jobs all of my adult life, and have hated every fucking one of them for taking time away from writing. I’ve worked with people who were agreeable and people who weren’t and in jobs that were interesting and jobs that weren’t. But it all sucks because it’s not writing the stuff I want to write.

I’ve written several complete novels and have half a dozen or so in progress, along with many short stories. I’ve made about $20,000 from my writing over the last few years, a drop in the bucket compared to the scum-sucking scut work I’ve done for morons over the years.

I’ve never figured anyone owes me a living simply because I want to write, which is why I’ve always worked, but frankly, I think the world would be better off were I simply given a stipend and allowed to write, because I can’t see that all the crap I’ve done for the peabrains I’ve worked for has been worth even a penny, though I’ve been paid well for it.

38

It’s only been two weeks, but I love my job. It’s an 8-to-5er, but boring’s about the last word I’d use to describe it. I’m working directly for the owners of a small company who I think will wind up becoming a big one. Yes, I answer the phones, something I vowed I’d never do again a year ago. I’ve also got free rein to build systems to make the company run better. It’s challenging, fast-paced, and utter madness at times, but I’m working with great people (although I now know why the two other women I work with looked so happy to see me when they first hired me). It is exactly what I wanted and exactly what I needed, except maybe in terms of money. They even make good, practical products and are looking to expand the range of products they make, so they should be in business for a good, long while.

Oh yes, they also know I use this board as a resource for obscure factual information, and no, my boss isn’t looking over my shoulder while I type this post. He did, however, watch me ask a question in GQ, and he’s impressed with you folks. Apparently hanging out here can be an asset.

I’ve no doubt the honeymoon will end sometime – among other things, I might want a chance to catch my breath, but for now, life and the job is good.

CJ

39

I’m pretty happy with mine.
I teach conversational English at a language school here in Japan.
I love my hours (3:30-9:30pm), it’s pretty easy work, I only have to wear a tie half the work day, and I to teach both adults and children, getting the best of both worlds - people who I can actually have a fairly decent conversation with and the exuberence and freshness of the kids.

40

I love my job.
I had to overcome a lot of workplace bullying, but I have prevailed.
What the guys don’t know, is that I have a real love for woodworking. When the “Get Forbin” campaign intensified, I just applied my self to the job at hand, and ignored them. Benchtime, shorthand for the actual “work” of my job, saved me. I wasn’t getting any social rewards for being close to my co-workers, so I turned the shop into a production mill, and got my satisfaction from a job well done.
It has paid off. I work for a large firm, and have an excellent reputation with all client departments, and a lot of people to boot. When my boss had to be away recently, he left me in charge. I just know that drove some of the guys crazy, but I didn’t care.
These days, it seems, when something critical comes up, and precise complex work is called for, management inevitably says, “Let’s give this one to Forbin.”
I no longer even worry about the bullies. What they do has come to be nothing more than ankle biting. I’m passing them by, leaving them in the dust, as it were.