On a scale of 1 to five (1 is hating, 5 is loving), how do you feel about your job?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Right now, on your scale, it’s a 3, but it’s probably closer to a 2.5, and in the not to distant past it has been down to a 1, where I was tempted to quit on the spot, money be damned. I work as a software engineer for the government, and that brings up the two big issues. For one, the government, and especially working as a contractor, brings up an enormous amount of red tape. It can be truly soul crushing to have see great ideas not just get completely dropped or destroyed, but morphed into something that just makes everything worse. Imagine taking a simple idea intended to automate or streamline a process and then building in so many unnecessary one-off adjustments that it just becomes a mess. It’s awful seeing some people’s ideas given more merit just because they have a higher rank or paygrade but, often, the value of their opinions from a technical standpoint drops inversely relative to that. And, of course, everyone has their little kingdoms, and the politicking about who controls what and changing things just for the sake of having input in a project to put on their resume or to ruin it for someone else is tiresome.

The other part that gets me is that it just isn’t challenging enough most of the time and it doesn’t involve enough of the things I like to do to keep my interest. Of course, some of that is the politics, that they just want whatever solution they deemed best, even if it’s terrible, but other times, when I get creative input, it can be a lot of fun.

I’m really not sure there’s more than a handful of people who actually truly enjoy all the bureaucratic stuff, but I could imagine just getting to design and implement, I could be up near 4, but I don’t see that happening with the government, and quite possibly not within this field at all. There are things out there that could rate at a 5 or even one of the proposed 6 or 7’s upthread for me, but frankly, if I hit the lottery, assuming I played, or otherwise came into enough money to not need to work here, I’d hand in my resignation the money I got my hands on the money. Seriously, I’d probably draft the email, accept the check, and send it from my phone 30s later. But then, I’d go and try to find one of those types of jobs where I’d want to pay to work there.

22

I don’t have a job.

I just wanted to complain that there hasn’t been any cheesecake in a while. I think to make up for this you should FedEx some to me. I’ll PM my address to anyone who is willing.

Of course I mean the dessert.

23

I like my job quite a bit. However, it’s a lot of work and a lot of stress. If I had 10 million bucks in the bank, I’d stop by now and then to say hi, but my working days are over. You don’t have an option for “I’m not working anymore,” but otherwise I’m a 4.5 in terms of job satisfaction.

24

I really love my job - and yes, if I were independently wealthy, I would still do it. Not for free, which is why I voted 4, but I’d still do it - I love the people, I love the duties, I love all of it. I just hope they find a way to hire me - they said they’re trying their best - so we will see (it’s a temp thing.)

25
  1. Meh. I found out a few years ago careers were over-rated. So I treat my job as just a job. Oh, I always do my best for my employer, and I am professional, and I work hard to help other people be successful, but it is just a job. And when I go home at the end of the work day, and on weekends, I rarely, if ever, think about my work or company (unless there is a big project going on).

I need the money and the benefits to support my family, and the people here are smart and good, but I chose other things in life to get excited about - the job is just a means to an end. Glad to have it, and it is not terrible, but it is not my passion.

26

I voted a 5. For years I’ve told people “I have the greatest gig in the world – I get to run my mouth, and play with animals”.

I’m very, very lucky in the satisfaction level of my job. Unfortunately though, I’m not independently wealthy and, despite the satisfaction, on a practical level I wish the compensation could be greater.

27

I’m a four. For the first time in a long time I really enjoy my boss and coworkers.

Plus, I’m generally challenged, but still have time to spend with my family with essentially zero overtime required.

And I’m making the most money I’ve ever earned in my career.

Altogether a pretty sweet deal.

Can’t give a five as I work because I want nice things, not because I love work.

28

I guess a 4.
I like my job and feel very lucky to have it but if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t.

29

This is me. I love my job, it pays excellent hourly, it makes full use of my degree, it’s people-friendly and engaging, and intellectually stimulating.

But it’s a PT rich person’s hobby job, and I am not there yet. I couldn’t imagine leaving for a full time job that’s something less.

30

I have literally (as in truly, and accurately) thought longingly of the leisure to read and think that one would have in prison. The separation from Celtling necessitates my avoidance of this restful break.

But, you may say, the violence! The constant vying for favors to obtain the simplest necessities! Why, you can’t even sleep for fear of who might be sneaking around!

Precisely. At least in prison you can call a guard to help you!

In all seriousness, I love what I do, when I’ve done it with different teams. This team is by far the worst I’ve ever had to deal with; I very much wish that Congress would get its act together so our competitors would start hiring again!

31

I went with 3, though it occasionally edges down to a 2. The job as a whole isn’t nearly as intellectually stimulating as I’d like on a day to day basis, but it pays the bills, which is what makes it a 3. The fact that some people that I have to deal with regularly (and that are paying my company, so I have to be polite) are giant, raging assholes pushes things down a bit. Oh well, not too worried about it, I am going back to grad school in three more months…!

32

I picked #4 because that’s probably closest, but it’s not accurate. I like my job a lot, it’s the job I want to be doing for a long time. However I’d much rather be doing it for a different company, in a different location for a lot more money. The hours are brutal and I’m underpaid as a lingering side-effect of the shit economy, plus my commute is a kick in the dick.

While there isn’t a realistic job out there that I’d rather be doing right now, I sure as hell wouldn’t be doing this for free. And if I did win the lottery I’d be doing for my own company with plans to take over the world.

33

I don’t really agree with the definitions of your ratings. I was going to pick 4 until I read the definition. If I hit the lottery I wouldn’t stay, so I picked 3. But I like my job, I like my career, but not with so much passion that I would still do it if I were independently wealthy. There are other things I would find more rewarding but I’m not willing to take the dramatic pay cut to do them. I would like to be a jazz guitarist but I would get paid about 1/4 - 1/3 of my current pay. So I do it for free on the side :slight_smile:

34

I picked 4, however with the caveat that I definitely would not be working if I was independently wealthy. However I do really like my job.

35

3.5.
It’s probably one of the best jobs that is a realistic option for me. Sometimes it is interesting and even fun. However, I’m always happy to leave and if I didn’t need the money, there are a ton of other things I’d rather do with my time.

36

4.5.

There are some days I like to work here, but there are QUITE a few days I just love it. My wife is here with me, my boys can come and work too or volunteer. There are some employees who try to get me down to a 3, but I just don’t allow them to control my feelings w.r.t. how I relate with them day to day…they either work with me, or they will have the 1, 2, or 3 that day…it really depends on them on how they want their day to go.

37

I say it’s about a 3.5. Definitely not a 4, because I enjoy my free time way to much. But my job is about as fine as can be, without saying it’s something I absolutely, postively lurve.

38

I run a small business of six employees. It is a startup, even though one of my former employer’s larger pharma clients jumped ship and came over with me.

In my former job, I ranged from a 2 down to “just kill me” on a daily basis. When most days became “just kill me”, I knew I had to make a change and decided to form a new company with one off my former colleagues.

We’ve been in business since November. Things are beginning to pick up. Right now I’d say I am at a 2 pretty consistently, but that’s only because I took a substantial cut in pay, I personally funded the business with $100K from savings, took out a $250K business loan, and am now paying $5400 a month rent for an office, not to mention payroll for six employees and the corresponding payroll taxes, all of which gives me a bad case of insomnia.

I am confident it will all work out as we are seeing signs of growth already, in addition to providing excellent services for our clients. Right now, however, it is not much fun. So yeah, a 2.

39

Another 3 and a half.

And though I would quit my job if independently wealthy, it’s not because I don’t enjoy my job. It’s because life has made extraordinary demands on my time and energy.

40

Yeah 3.5 would be about right. It’s a good job with good people, and that can’t be said about too many places in my industry, but if the Financial Freedom Fairy visited then I think I have some other living to go explore.

Until then I will enjoy this gig just fine.