Let’s talk about the meaning of a job. I had arguments with my parents about the point of having a one. I started my job hunting process in the summer of 2017, and my parents would constantly send me job postings they believed were a good fit for me and I should apply for. These postings were mainly random jobs they believed I should apply for because of how much they paid and the benefits that they offered. One of the jobs that sticks to my mind was my Dad sent me was an opening to be a police dispatcher. He stated I should apply for the role because it paid about $3500 a month plus benefits. This was so profound to me as to why he thought I would want to apply for this job let alone thinking I would be interested in it. And that’s how I learned about the difference with the meaning of a job between myself and my parents.
I have a saying I try to live by. “I rather have a job where I’m making medium, little to no money, but I love it, rather have a job where I’m making great money but I hate it”. The saying is simple; I believe that everyone should have a job that they love and enjoy to do. No matter what it is. And the money will come with that position you are in. If you enjoy making a career out of being a manager at McDonald’s, then no one should tell you differently that you can be making better money somewhere else.
I have a question for you. Do you wake up every morning excited to get to work to see what the day brings you? Do you feel as if you are making a difference? If you answer, yes, then you are in good spirit. The money shouldn’t control your happiness. It’s one thing if you feel that you want to move away from the company to pursue better opportunities, or move up in a higher role for the company, but if you are happy with what you do, that’s all that matters.
When regards to older generations, they might think otherwise. My father worked straight out of high school. He took any job that was presented to him, moved between different companies and industries such as banking, rental cars and mortgage broking, and worked his up to be successful. He believes that I am not open to take any job presented to myself like him. I’m trying to find that perfect job, but that does not exists according to him. He even told me about the first job my Grandmother worked when she first came to the United States. My mother, who I constantly but heads with when I first started job hunting, was adamant about me applying for a state job because it would be easy for me to get in, plus it pays well and I receive good benefits. My reasoning for not wanting to work there was that I feared that I would become complacent there and stay for years to come.
To clarify, I am not against people who work in these types of jobs. All the more power to them if they enjoy working for the state with that stability. That’s their prerogative. I also do want to have a good salary and benefits. I have bills to pay and insurance is expensive! But if the job is something that I am not interested in or have no desire to do, then why should I go after it? I understand the point that they are trying to make, but does this make me entitled or selfish?
Maybe I am being stubborn. All I know is whatever job field I get into, I want to enjoy it. My mother told me that the perfect job doesn’t exist unless you create it. You become your own boss. I beg to differ. I believe the perfect job is out there for people. It does help if you are your own boss but even if you’re not, then I do think the perfect job is on your horizon. I think where the baby boomers and the millennials clash on the point of a job is for them, they worked to work. They got thrown in the work force, regardless of their education background, and work to have that job security and pension, seemingly working their selves into a grave and not enjoying life around them. I sort of believe my Mom does not enjoy her job. Looking at a lot of these job descriptions, they offer work life balance to make sure their employees do not stress themselves out. I also think there is close mindedness with our older generation as the job market has changed drastically over the last 30 plus odd years. They do not understand how hard it is for us to secure a job in today’s market. Companies ask so much from us now. But that’s a different topic for another day.
For me, I must enjoy what I do. It is a possibility I might not like the first full time job I get, but if it’s in the industry I want to work in and it’s at least leading me somewhere, then it will work out in the long run. Working random jobs for hell of it just because “I need something” does not always help what you might try to do. We already do that with part time roles thanks to how the job market is built. So why do it again for a full time role?
I also want to feel respected by peers and managers when it comes to looking for a job from the company. The company should stand by their employees. My last part time position, I was working at a local golf course. I believe that the manager who oversaw the entire club did not respect his employees. He saw them as expendable, making late or false promises to us and listened more towards members inquiries and pleasing them more than listening to his own staff and figuring out how to make their jobs easier.
For anyone who is struggling to currently find a full time job, you will find that solid footing soon. I encourage you to find something that you enjoy and work towards it and THRIVE in whatever you do. We possibly have to work jobs we don’t want to do, odds are we are doing that already regardless of being part time or full time, but we might have to. We were not given a blueprint of how adulting was going to be, so why not make our own then? Do not sell yourself sort. Make sure you are happy with your career. There are a lot of people in this world who do not like what they do for a living. You do not deserve that. You deserve happiness. Keep your head up and keep the search going. Even if it’s not something you want stay in long term, work towards your actual long term career. We only have one life on this Earth, so let’s not be part of a mundane process.
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