I went to my parents on Sunday to eat dinner and the conversation turned to the inevitable topic of what I wanted to do once I graduated. My parents were more than a little shocked when I said that I didn't know and that it didn't really matter what I did as long as I got paid pretty good money for it. My parents insisted that while it is good to get paid well, that I'll be happier if its a job I like to do. While this is true, this is a paradox. A job that I like to do. The thing with me is that I've never had a job I liked (although one came close because I worked alone and got to listen to my ipod and no one got on my ass if I was slacking-the reason this job was not a job I liked however, was because it was at Wal-Mart-no, not working for Wal-Mart...just working at Wal-Mart for Frito-Lay). I know what you're thinking. Obviously, none of these jobs are fun because they're jobs everyone hates but has to work when they're young because they can't get anything else. And you'd be right. However, the fact of the matter is that all of the things I like to do, I can't get paid for doing. So, I'm "selling out", which is what my friends and I call it, when a person goes to work at a job they know they'll hate but get paid a lot of money for it. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter what I do. I just want a 9 to 5 job that pays well, where I don't have to take much of it home so I can do the things I do like to do which is spend time with my wife and my friends, play in my bands, watch movies, play video games, read books etc. Is that so bad? Maybe, I'll be more ambitious in the future, and try to find better careers that suit me. But right now, the only thing that matters is being at home, and whenever I'm away, I won't be happy no matter what job I have.
3 comments:
I guess I've "sold-out" too, although my job doesn't pay a WHOLE lot, it pays pretty well. I'm just like you I've never had a job I've loved, most of the time if I like a job it's because I've had a good boss and good co-workers and am appreciated. Unfortunately, the jobs I would love to do don't pay hardly anything either. The sad thing is this is just one of those things about life, don't worry you get used to it after a while. I've been working for 11 years now and I think this past year I just finally got used to it LOL, sad but very true. Remember, one day at a time, you can get through anything one day at a time, trust me on this one.
I like the work I do. I really enjoy my job. The only thing I hate is my boss and the other managers who, in my opinion, don't do a good job. They can make working for my company unbearable at times. However, I've learned to deal with them and those feelings, and have re-learned to enjoy my job.
I believe you can have a job that you love. You just have to be motivated to do the work to get that job. The key is to find something you love that is useful to a company. The best thing I ever did was to take that military ASVAB test. At the time, I wanted to get my degree in creative writing. I was torn between doing something I love and doing something that makes money. The ASVAB told me I would be a good Technical Writer. I didn't know what that was so I did some research to find out. It's been the perfect job for me. I can take pride in my work.
You're getting a college degree. That's worth something. But no one is going to hand you a good job. You're going to have to find it and earn it by proving you can do the work. Try looking at www.careerbuilder.com and taking some of their career tests.
I think it is a self-correcting process. You start out working at a job you don't love just because it pays well. But eventually that gets old, so you start thinking more about what you really want to do. But I do think that "testing" out jobs helps you to learn what you do and don't like. Not that I think a person should job hop, but it's sort of like dating. The only way you find the right one is by knowing which ones are the wrong one.
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