Who actually TRULY enjoys their work/job?

[DancingFool]

You seem to have a very narrow view of "if I don't like doing this, then nobody else can like it either." Thankfully, people come in all shapes and sizes with a huge variety of different skills and interests and inclinations. Satisfaction comes in many forms. For someone who likes numbers, working out the kinks in the budget is satisfying and gives a sense of accomplishment. Just because you don't like it or get it, doesn't make the other person disingenuous in their satisfaction of a job well done.

[chickadeedee]

"Office job" is a relative term these days. I have an 'office job', but I work from home 3 days a week and am only in the office for 2 days a week. If you choose your career wisely you can get an 'office job' and end up working from home most of the time or all the time due to the ability to connect to work remotely via computer. So these days if you plan wisely, you can get a job that has all the benefits of an 'office' or corporate job, but be able to have the freedom to work from home and manage your own time there.

[Zuri]

I would be very unproductive if my job required me to sit at a desk. And work from home: very little would get done. I think I'd enjoy sitting but I'd get fired for being unproductive.

I'm a public high school teacher. Most days I love my job but it takes a certain type to successfully do the job. I NEVER sit at my desk anymore. If I sit I pull up a chair and sit at a station with the kids (I teach science). I had one kid light a fire in class while sitting at MY desk years ago. And when I was a noob back in the 90's I had a kid light up a joint in the back of the room!

And now with cell phones.... They must be watched. Some days I just sit and stare into space a few minutes or 30 minutes after dismissal because I'm exhausted but it's a good exhausted most of the time.

Anyway, I'm off topic. I might love a desk job? But I'd be fired for unproductivity for sure.

[Fudgie]

I do a mix of office work as well as clinical work (direct work with patients, taking care of them). I think it's the best mix. I don't mind office work and don't feel like it drags me down, but I don't want to do it ALL the time. I really enjoy seeing patients and taking care of them and helping in procedures but it's also hard to do that 100% of the time because it's a very physical job.

 

So I like having both!

 

I also am getting the experience I need before I continue school and I also only need this one job, not multiple. It's not 9-5, I work nights sometimes and sometimes weekends, but I enjoy it.

[overthemoon86]

Hi there,

 

I LOVE MY JOB - I am a Corporate Recruiter and On-boarding Specialist for one of your highest grossing recruitment divisions ("desk" job). I work for one of the best recruitment companies in the business and I couldn't imagine doing anything different. I lead our talent sourcing for our various field offices accross the country and drive the on-boarding and training process once they get hired. Every day is different, I interface with senior management all the time, and I get to market one of the best companies in recruitment. I guess saying I love my job is an understatement

 

Find something you love to do! It is not only how you make an income, but it is also what you do 40+ hours a week!

[Traveler27]

You seem to have a very narrow view of "if I don't like doing this, then nobody else can like it either." Thankfully, people come in all shapes and sizes with a huge variety of different skills and interests and inclinations. Satisfaction comes in many forms. For someone who likes numbers, working out the kinks in the budget is satisfying and gives a sense of accomplishment. Just because you don't like it or get it, doesn't make the other person disingenuous in their satisfaction of a job well done.

 

My view on this topic may be interpreted as "narrow" as you put it for the simple reason that it is my own personal opinion and we are all unique individuals. I am posing a thought/question to get others replies as to if they genuinely enjoy their 9-5, office based work. It is not a personal attack on those that do, and your reply did not address my question. I'll take the defensive tone of your reply as a "yes, you do enjoy office based work".

[Heather Dawn]

So, that was my thread and I'm a digital marketing account manager. Some days I'm at my desk for ten hours, other days I'm visiting clients all day. I have total autonomy and independance, enjoy a huge mix of marketing, creative work, relationship nurturing, sales and more - and my days are NEVER boring. It's fast-paced, always different, and the nature of my position means I can work at home if I need to, my hours are super flexible, and I can come and go as I please.

 

Not to mention our company culture: we have beer every Friday at our desks, have lavish celebratory meals at insanely expensive restaurants every quarter, get free tickets to all types of events, and even have a couple of guitars floating around the office for whomever wants to strum them. I DO love my job - the work itself, the environment my company has cultivated, and the clients I interact with daily who often become friends.

 

Incidentally, I also get paid well (salary plus bonuses), my health insurance is amazing (and they pay 80%), and my 401k is fantastic. And my office is in the same, beautiful town in which I live.

[Trinity11]

Haha science class is always interesting. I remember we had a science teacher who used to always stand behind the desk who looked like Mr Bean. Once the boys got the chalk and ran it along the desk. He used to sway when he talked and ended up with a line of chalk on his pants. Pretty sure he didn't spend quite as much time at the desk after that.

I think coming out from behind the desk is definitely going to make the kids more involved. If you seem interested and energetic, then they will pay more attention. He wasnt a bad teacher, I just tended to zone off every now and then because the class was sometimes a bit monotone. We pushed him a little, which was good int he end, we had a laugh together and he figured out a way to make the class speak to us.

[Traveler27]

Yes, indeed it was. Thanks for providing inspiration for this interesting topic.

 

Incidentally, many of the points you mentioned are why I dislike the semi-traditional, 9-5 ,9-6, 9-10, 9-whatever, of primarily office based jobs (with the exception of independence and degree of freedom which I think is fantastic). No matter how you spin it (and I use the word you in the general sense, and realize this may not apply to everyone), you're still sat at a desk for a good deal of life, and once you've been at the same company after X amount of years, there is usually burnout involved at some point for SOME individuals. This thread has proven that there are in fact some who seem to genuinely enjoy their office based work. My experience at desk jobs (even those that involved heavy client interaction and occasional travel) left me feeling completely and totally unfulfilled, frustrated and bored, even when they were highly demanding which is why I am curious as to what is it is that makes other people "love" it.

 

As I said, to each their own. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Fudgie]

Remember that not all office work is the same. If you truly love what you do, ie not just sitting at a desk but what you're actually doing at that desk, then it's very possible to enjoy office work.

 

Burnout happens when you're overworked and stressed. May or may not happen.

 

Now, some folks really just want a more physical job and hats off to them, they are out there.

[Heather Dawn]

I think what you're missing is that different people find enjoyment from different things. So, for example, some people prefer to work with their hands, getting dirty and physical. I can't understand it, but that's because that isn't what I enjoy.

 

Out of curiosity - what DO you do, OP?

[Traveler27]

I think what you're missing is that different people find enjoyment from different things. So, for example, some people prefer to work with their hands, getting dirty and physical. I can't understand it, but that's because that isn't what I enjoy.

 

Out of curiosity - what DO you do, OP?

 

I'm not missing anything. I appreciate that people find fulfillment in different capacities, however, when people say they "love" their job, I find that to be rather strong language in reference to a job. To address your curiosity question, I don't wish to disclose identifying details such as my current occupation or even industry on a public message board. This is not a thread about what people "DO" as you put it. Let's try to stay on topic and keep the replies focused on my initial question. You enjoy your office based job, got it.

[Fudgie]

Why do you find that "love" is strong language for talking about a job? Office job or not (something more physical), many people derive a lot of meaning and personal significance from their work.

[Capricorn3]

Thread has run its course.