Why are jobs so hard?

[Loop Stricken]

[sub]Quick backstory - had a job, was there for about five years, technology made me redundant, on benefits for about two years, just got a trial at a new place this week.
And I don't want to finish it. I just want to leave.[/sub]

Now, apologies for the misleading title - this job isn't difficult. It's very simple; the only thing stopping me from being superb from the start is relearning how to use the PC programs I haven't touched in two years, and the little nuances of the company.

But I just don't want to.​

What this job entails is essentially the same thing as I did in my previous one, but more of it, on older systems (still using paper copy for fuck's sake instead of being all electronic), and in the daytime!

No, what I meant to say in this thread was, why is it so difficult finding something that you actually want to spend the majority of your adult life doing, when you're not sleeping?

I've always felt that I'd much rather be poor and happy than well-off and dreading every day I go to work, but I fear that right now I'm about to find myself poor and dreading the workdays.

All I want, and it's ultimately a simple request, is a job where, on the way there, I feel like this;

... but as it stands I just have no idea what the hell that could be.

I'm not sure if it's a problem with me or just people in general, however. Personally, I feel that I could be interested in almost anything enough to not hate it, but just not fucking advertising. Please, somebody get me out of this!

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Anyway, ranting aside; how did you decide what you wanted to do with your life? Or are you in the same depressing boat as I am?

 

[tippy2k2]

Because there are very very very very very very very few jobs that are entertaining/awesome enough that people WANT to go to work and you (not you specifically, you is a general term here) are not going to be lucky/talented/whatever-enough to get one of those rare jobs. Unless you happen to be Adrian Peterson, in which case, "HI! I hope you can break the record this year!...can I have some Vikings tickets please?"

As to your actual question, I don't know if what I'm currently doing is what I want to do. I graduated from college with happy thoughts of becoming a graphic designer. It's been five years since I've been in college and that dream is very dead and buried as I am now working at US Bank as a Post Closing Specialist.

Now on the plus side for me, I've always enjoyed working with numbers (I was a math major before Calculus came and made me her *****) and so, while my exact job functions are not ideal (it's glorified data entry), the work environment and potential jobs later down the road greatly interest me. I basically fell into working at this place as a temp and it just worked out nicely that I am...well....enjoy is too strong a word but I don't hate coming to work like I used to at the call center (*Shudder) so that's a step in the right direction.

 

[Greg White]

The answer is simple: it's a job. You aren't supposed to like it. The only reason you're doing it is for the money/benefits.

In this day and age, you should consider yourself lucky to have a job, even if it's one you don't like, since that's a far cry better than being unemployed.

Take me, for example. I'm trained in computer networking, fiber installation, and system security, but more often than not I'm stuck handling phone swap-outs because my company just doesn't have as much business for that as I'd like, but ya gotta pay the bills somehow, and I still get to do those other things often enough to keep me where I am.

Being an adult sucks sometimes.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Is there anything you like doing in your spare time?

Well now, therein lies the rub. I can find interest in almost anything, but nothing stands out enough to make me think "Yes, I want to dedicate my life to this".

 

[RJ 17]

Anyway, ranting aside; how did you decide what you wanted to do with your life? Or are you in the same depressing boat as I am?

They're called dreams, my friend, it kinda helps if you have one.

Two quotes on the subject:
"I'm tired of following my dreams, I'm just going to find out where they're going and hook up with them later." - The late, great Mitch Hedberg

"What do you think I should do?" "Follow your dreams before they turn into nightmares?" - Sam and Max in Poker Night 2

Seriously though, there's two ways to go about it: have something your passionate about (i.e. a person who loves working on computers finds a job as a tech guy for a company so they can work on computers all day). At that point your job isn't so much "work" as it is getting paid for doing something you really like to do. Other than that, getting back to what I was talking to before: chase a dream. For instance, I've been wanting to become a great fantasy novelist for a very long time...I just need to get off my lazy ass and actually start writing. Until then I'm in the same boat as you: doing bullshit jobs that I really don't care about. I can do them, sure, but every day I just wish I didn't have to go. It could turn out that I'm a horrible writer and no one wants to buy any book that I might write, but I'll never know until I try.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

The problem is that in our current society we're expected to know what we want to do by the age of 17. And if you don't know what you want to do with your life, well then by god you're going to have a bad time.

It's not necessarily that it's hard to find a job that you would like to do. There is tons of interesting work out there. The problem is finding a job that you want to do, and which you are qualified for, and which you can actually earn a living on.

See, if you don't have what you want to do figured out, then you'll never get the qualifications necessary to get the job you want, because you won't know that you want it far enough in advance. Hell, even if you have all the correct qualifications, it still takes tons of luck and hard work to get the job that you really want. Getting a job ends up becoming a full time job on its own.

 

[SaikyoKid]

Like Tippy said, there are very few, if ANY, jobs that are going to be 100% awesome all the time. I could die happy if I could become Anthony Bordaine for a season and just globe trot for money, buuuut that's not ever going to happen. The trick to it is to really just find a job that you're good at and learn the small things about it that make you wanna stick around. At least, that's how I've made it so far.

For example, I work as transport in a hospital. It's usually pretty ball busting manual labor for ten hours a day, they usually under staff us for the amount of work we do, and the pay is alright, but far from what most everyone else in there is making. There are a lot of upsides to it though: Really good work experience, great people to work with, and the usually good stories everyone has. It's really not the best job in the world, but the good things tend to outweigh the bad for me for now at least.

As far as how I wound up here? Luck and right timing really. I happened to know a guy who's worked here in my department for years and he told me about a job opening. Landed the spot and have been around ever since. Didn't even really think about joining in Radiology until one of my regular coffee customers from my last job suggested it to me and that store pushed me so far as to quit.

 

[Little Woodsman]

I had a "dream job" once....while I was working at a blood center. I got to work with the very best people in the world, the people who not only gave a darn, but after deciding they gave a darn were sufficiently motivated to do something about the situation. Working with these people I got to ask them all sorts of embarrassing questions, then put them on a donor bed, stick them with a needle, mess with their heads while I drained their blood, and then 90% of the time when they got out of the bed, they'd thank me. How awesome was that.
Then I got fired for other people's mistakes.
Life is rough.
My advice to you is that you need to find something that you really enjoy or believe in or are passionate about. Then you can start looking for a job related to that.

 

[Julius Terrell]

Who am I to talk. I'm making $8/hour as a janitor, but I get free food and awesome coworkers. Sure I've made more money but I do find myself saying how much I love this job. It's at a mall and the customers that come through tend to be dicks, but better than being unemployed. I'm sure 50 people would gladly take that job if I didn't have it.

A week ago I ran into a guy who was telling me that he had 3 kids and a wife to take care of. He was UNEMPLOYED! I was so happy not to be in his shoes. I'm sure I've got the potential to become something more, but maybe I'm happy just being a simple worker. I just want to make enough to live on and come home and watch TV or surf the internet and fill my belly.

I don't think I'm asking to much?

Edit: I wanted/want to learn how to code, but coding is quite difficult. That might be my dream job. What if I get it and I hate doing it? I'd rather make 15k/yr and love my job than make 50k/yr and loath everyday I have to work.

 

[Ratties]

Sort of don't give two shits about any company I work for. When people hear that phrase come out of my mouth, they automatically think I am a slacker. All I can say is that I usually keep my head down and just work until it's time to leave. My not giving shit comes from the fact that I just don't have a hard on for work like some people do. Pretty fucking annoying when you are already in a foul mood, then you have to go to work. Remember that I couldn't find my badge that I needed for work one time. Of course my badge does everything, clocks me in, opens doors, ect. Of course when I came into work and told my supervisor, he acted like I shot the pope. Told him it was in my room somewhere, yet every couple of hours, he would have to remind me about security issues at this place.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Join the military... you will never ***** about sitting at a computer pressing a few buttons again!

Serously though, work is what you make it. It's not the process you need to enjoy, it is the outcome! You can sit in any job that is minotonous or boring, as long as you are proud of what comes out the other end... and it is that which you should be focusing on when finding a job.

I love my job. I am in the RAF, and everything I do I know why I M doing it, how it fits the bigger picture and that I am doing for my country... it dsnt matter what I have done that day/week/year, I can be proud of what I have done.
Find a company you can really support, and take pride in what you can do for them, and that you are part of their team... and take joy in the benefits, like meeting colleagues.

 

[Terramax]

Because there are very few jobs that are entertaining/awesome enough that people WANT to go to work.

Pretty much this. Stating the obvious really.

How many people consider cleaning toilets a dream job?

 

[EeveeElectro]

My friend works for Ubisoft which I thought would be amazing. A few months ago she did 300 hours in one month, not all paid. She slaved her arse off and wasn't able to get much sleep. Every job sucks balls at one point, but if you dread going its time to get out.
It'll be easier if you're on a trial. Just tell them you don't think it's working out and don't wish to be employed.

Work is what you make of it. Either make the effort to go study in a field you want to work in, or go with it when you find a job and make it the best you can
The people I work with are great which always helps.
You need middle ground. There's few jobs that will be perfect but you shouldn't be miserable or depressed. It's better than being on benefits but not worth it if you despise the job.
You probably need time to get back into a routine. Don't think any job is beneath you either.

 

[nat_401]

My current job is working in an industrial bakery producing bread for a brand called Hovis (any Brits will recognize the name) I hate my job with a passion, I get more burns and scars every week, the conditions get worse, and the management will literally work people till they have a stroke... then lay them off for no longer being able to work. I never wanted to work in the food industry or a factory, and I only took the job because job contracts in Briton are rare as rocking horse shit and turning it down whilst 700 people apply for 1 job across the road would be stupid, there is nothing beneficial to my job apart from the money, which I need to pay my brother through university since he cannot handle his current job, and that gets me out of bed on time, cos I love the little bugger. If you cannot find anything worthwhile about your job find something worthwhile to do with the results of your job, if you don't then depression gets worse and worse till one day its easier to stay in bed and fuck it all instead of getting up on time. Well that's my opinion anyway.

 

[cikame]

I have a rubbish job but i get on with it because i don't want people to think ill of me, also i like to use my money supporting the video game industry.

I definately don't enjoy my job but i can't see myself enjoying any job or career, i offset that by doing just enough part time hours where i have money to spend and not working weekends, i work less than anyone i know and my life is so much better for it.

 

[tardcore]

I think its mainly due to the fact that anything really fun or cool people are quite willing to do themselves. Its all the dirty, dangerous, backbreaking, or just downright boring activities people hand off to some other poor sod along with what is a essentially a bribe to make sure they'll do it.

 

[Mersadeon]

Kinda in the same position - except with deciding what to study. Already put two semesters into Bioinformatics and Genome Research, only to slowly notice how that is not for me. I don't know what to do, since that was what I wanted to do for the last 5 years.