poll: job satisfaction?

[silverwhisper]

just a random question: what properties must a job have for you to be happy with it? i'm talking realistic ones here, mind: no "oodles of cash for zero resonsibilities" type stuff, please.

ed

 

[bisexplicit]

Something either intellectually or emotionally satisfying - or both, if possible.
While I know I'm not /really/ working (like, to support myself), its the reason that I opted for working as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor this summer, which pays less than minimum wage, rather than working in retail or something.

 

[EJFan]

i need to be stimulated and compelled to grow with the job... as important is that my bosses, supervisors, managers, what have you, understand that i need to grow and help me facilitate a progression through their company AND through my profession en mass.

i want responsibility too... and faith from superiors that i can handle responsibility.

 

[MasterNico]

Challenge me. Make the job interesting to me. Give me a new problem to solve, and change things up so it doesn't get boring. Throw me an "atta boy" now and then and I'm good.

I'm also lucky to have found exactly that. It's nice to want to go to work.



a few more girls in the office might be nice...

 

[Ricwilly]

I like my job just fine.

 

[Eilan]

Long-winded

Something either intellectually or emotionally satisfying - or both, if possible.

What she said.

Right now, as most of you HT regulars know, I'm a stay-at-home mom. And, YES, it's a job. The pay's lousy, and the hours are long, and I don't get a lot of intellectual stimulation from the kiddies, but emotionally, it's THE most rewarding thing I've ever done, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Back in my working mom days, I was exploited by my employer. I allowed it to happen, particularly when I was at a point in my life in which I really needed the money. Even then, it wasn't entirely about the money (after all, the pay STILL sucked). It was about making a difference for others, even if they didn't always want/appreciate the help.

When I went back to work after my oldest child was born, I was overwhelmed by my desire NOT to leave her in the care of others, even though I had relatives caring for her. I never thought I'd feel that way, because I'd always assumed I'd have a career and children. This became an issue between my ex and me.

Even though I can have my job back any time I want it, I feel really strongly about staying at home with my kids. My family has implied that I'm wasting my education by doing so. However, my husband and I have discussed it, and right now, my working would COST us money once child-care costs, gas money, and vehicle wear-and-tear are taken into consideration. Our financial situation doesn't require me to work. AND I get to volunteer in my kids' classrooms and attend all their activities. Right now, that's my priority.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

Ideally, one big property it should have is to be enjoyable. I tolerate my current job because the pay is good, but I can't see myself doing this for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, if I were to quit to do something which I really enjoy, I would most likely end up homeless with a big sign in front of me saying: Will write or make pretty pictures for food.

 

[Undomiel]

Well I'm currently working in a supermarket, just to pay the bills. But career wise I wanna do astronomy. I wanna work at something that totally fascinates me.

 

[oddity83]

Pays good, doesn't wear me down (both mental and physical) gives me forty hours a week and set days off so I can enjoy the rest of my life.

 

[sapos]

I have almost the perfect job for me. I work alone, have deadlines that are achevable, no "take home responsablitys", I get time with my son (I'm a part time stay at home dad), good pay, great benifits, and I get to piss off the union on a reguler bacis. Sad thing is I miss the human contact from my old job (I used to be a massage therapist)

 

[bronzeage]

I can't get no....

Job satisfaction, for me, was always directly related to the pay. The same work for more pay is alway more satifying. I did not think it could be any other way. When I moved from production (real work) into management (rearranging other people's work) I was introduced to new kinds of job dissatisfaction. It was a real shock to find my performance depended on the performance of other people. A boss above you demanding things the people below can not deliver and demanding more, no matter how much gets done. I worked hard, was well paid, and did not like it one bit. I wish I could say I took an opportunity to get out, but opportunity over took me. One of our demanding execs had siphoned off all the cash and covered the difference with corporate credit. When the bills came due, there was no cash or credit and the company folded. It was scarey at first. I had always had group medical insurance and all the other benefits of working for a large outfit. Now I own my own business. I have never worked harder for less money in my life, but now everyday is like a blank canvas. I set my schedule, deal with my clients, go to lunch when I want to, and at the end of the day, I feel like I have really done something. That is real satisfaction.

 

[Succulent-one]

I need to love getting up in the morning and looking forward to going to work. I need to be in charge of my own destiny. I do not like direct supervision. And I like variety during my day......I have had a couple of jobs I loved, so I guess I am lucky.

 

[silverwhisper]

my checklist of things i want in a good job:

1. the knowledge that what i am doing is being done ethically.
2. the awareness that my responsibilities let me add things to my resume.
3. colleagues that i can respect.
4. the compensation (salary & benefits) is commensurate to the demands it places on my attention, time and body.

ed

 

[Willing and Unsure]

- ethical job duties
- mentally stimulating
- not taken for granted
- ability to drop everything for urgencies (i.e. death in the family, really sick family member, etc.)
- pleasant atmosphere
- friendly coworkers
- clean environment

 

[SlyKitten]

Autonomy. I can't stand being constantly watched and supervised. Ideally, being my own boss.
Working atypical hours; sounds funny but since I started a regular 9 to 5 job, I have a feeling it'll get old pretty quickly so either irregular (rotating) schedules or atypical hours.
A challenging and intellectually stimulating job.

 

[rip_1_4_u]

In the past I needed to feel like I was really good at my job to enjoy it.

Now, it's more important to feel like even in a small tiny way, I have to feel that I'm helping someone grow/change/learn, in order to feel good about my job. Luckily, I have a job where I can do that.

I also need to respect my boss, and they have to respect me, or I hate my job. I also need to be trusted by my boss, and regularly given "atta girl's".

I could care less what my co-workers are like. At this job, I really enjoy the majority of them (there's almost always at least one whiner at every job, and often many jobs have one psycho). But I've had lots of jobs where I had absolutely nothing in common with my co-workers, and that's just great too. Then I don't get involved in their strange work-family dynamics!

I was brought up to see my job as a vocation, not as a means to make money. So I finally have that now. Making money is important so you have a roof over your head and food on the table, but I've worked at minimum wage jobs and practically lived in my car and was happy since I loved what I was doing...but I grew up poor so I really don't need a lot of stuff to be happy...

 

[pleasteasme]

just a random question: what properties must a job have for you to be happy with it? i'm talking realistic ones here, mind: no "oodles of cash for zero resonsibilities" type stuff, please.

ed

1. Challenging

2. Makes me use my mind & problem solving skills

3. Something that I can feel that I have made a difference

4. I think, the most important part: I am excited to wake up and go to work.....not moaning and groaning and feeling tempted to call in sick.


This will be my 4th year teaching *next year* and although it is never "perfect" I truly do enjoy my job. I wish everyone could say the same.