I have a career, but I career where I have reached as far as I can go in this aspect of it. And that is very frustrating. Sometimes I wish I just had a job I was really good at (and paid well), because being so passionate about my field and speciality becomes really frustrating when you realize there is no where you can go to move up.
H is a job person. He'd quit tomorrow and never look back if he could. Sometimes I try to take that attitude, but it only works for so long.
A career, that has taken quite the windy path lately. I don't know that I have great aspirations for another move any time soon so this may be it for a while (forever?), which means maybe it's a job too. I don't know that there's really all that much difference in a job and a career (job). Isn't a career really just a series of jobs? I have more or less satisfaction from my job depending on the day. But ultimately it is my non-work life that gives me the most satisfaction.
I have a career, but there is very little ability to move upward, be promoted, etc. I dislike that I don't have a lot of opportunity for raises and more money, but I have very little desire to move up, so it works for me.
But ultimately it is my non-work life that gives me the most satisfaction.
This is me too. And I don't see that as a bad thing? I mean, I would like to find a job that doesn't make me want to drive pencils in my eyes on a daily basis, but on the other hand my life outside of work is much more important to me, and my life outside of work is fantastic. That's what is really important to me. And though I am looking for a happier job, I think I would be perfectly happy with a job that was fine rather than affirmatively satisfying, because outside life is what I care most about. Maybe I lack ambition -- I don't know.
But ultimately it is my non-work life that gives me the most satisfaction.
This is me too. And I don't see that as a bad thing? I mean, I would like to find a job that doesn't make me want to drive pencils in my eyes on a daily basis, but on the other hand my life outside of work is much more important to me, and my life outside of work is fantastic. That's what is really important to me. And though I am looking for a happier job, I think I would be perfectly happy with a job that was fine rather than affirmatively satisfying, because outside life is what I care most about. Maybe I lack ambition -- I don't know.
I think I mostly feel like this?
I guess what I really want is a job where I'm doing something interesting much of the time, and I would prefer to do something I can feel proud of or like I've accomplished something when I look back at my life -not necessarily something major, but something. But I don't know that I really strive to be a CEO or director or whatever title. Honestly, I'm pretty sure I am not ambitious enough and don't really want to work the hours it would take. But I don't want to feel like I'm showing up at work only for a paycheck and waiting for 5pm to roll around. I want to somewhat enjoy what I'm doing while I'm there, and feel like I'm good at it.
Maybe part of my personal issue is that I'm in a spot where I don't love what I do AND I don't get paid that well. I mean my pay is fine, but it's only affording me a very modest lifestyle (that needs to become more modest, like, immediately). I could see working a job I hate as more "worth it" if it meant I got to do the things I wanted to do outside of work, but right now that's pretty limited. Yet whenever I get to this point in my thought process, I feel like a spoiled brat because I'm really lucky to do even the limited stuff I do and have the modest income I have, compared to a lot of people.
In regards to your second paragraph, no I don't think there is anything wrong just working a job. And yes, some people do aspire to be an administrative assistant or an office manager. Just because a career goal isn't prestigious or one that is going to make you wealthy doesn't make it any less of a goal.
Ah. I think I left out part of the thought I meant - do people aspire to be an office manager IN A PARTICULAR FIELD (i.e. they want to manage an insurance office becuase they like working insurance, or manage a program in education because they want to work in education) or do they just take these sorts of jobs wherever they are open because they fit the skillset they have?
Like I could probably qualify for a program coordinator/manager a lot of places, but is that the right move for me if there is a field I am particularly interested in? Can I reasonably expect to be happy and fulfilled for the next 35 working years if I take jobs in random areas/fields that fit my skillset, instead of staying in a particular area of interest? I know nobody can answer that personal question for ME - I'm just curious about others' mindsets, I guess.
For me, yes. I like fund accounting which is a bit of a particular field in and of itself, but I've known for several years that I want to be in the particular area of fund accounting that I'm in now. It took a couple of steps to get here. I don't want to give a ton of specifics here, but drop me a PM or a message on FB if you want more information.
Career based on the stated question, though that feels weird to say considering my fellowship ends in 9 months and I may have to find something else at that point.
I'm only in the infancy of my career at this point. I find it very satisfying but in a way that can be consuming. i hope to find a better balance in the coming months.
DH and I both work in the fields that we studied to be, but we would both say that we "work to live". We are both pretty happy in our jobs, work hard, are compensated fairly, but have no motivation to move up. We are happy where we are, and it's a great feeling.
I have a job and that's fine. It'll never pay a lot and I'm the bottom of the totem pole in education (classroom asst) but I love my job. Work to live for me all the way.
H has a career where he wants upward advancement over the years. He is also a work to live person though.
I thought that I had a career with the company that I currently work for. Within the last year, I have all but been outright told that there is no room for growth. Now I feel like I just have a job and am actively working toward making a career change in about 2 years.
I am in a career, I would say, but I don't really want to move up much from where I am. I like doing the work much more than managing people and developing strategy. I am a manager now and don't really want to be a director for at least 10-15 more years.
I feel like I have both & neither at the same time. I have a profession that took an incredible effort to get. But I walked away from the career aspect of it a decade ago when I had my first kid. I can turn around & go back to it (for myself or others) anytime...so I feel like it's still there. OTH, I recently had a job fall in my lap as an assistant/office manager/marketing/jack-of-all-trades to a 3-time Olympian that has her own fencing club. She met me randomly & talked me into coming to work for her (allows me to bring any/all the kids & work when I feel like it). I'm having a blast & learning so much about that world. It's very different than my "career" jobs. But I doubt I'll do it long term.
This. I'm a millennial but love the job security and benefits of my current job (which I've had for 8.6 years). Then there are some days when I want to go back to school to get a completely different degree and go a completely different direction. Unfortunately (fortunately?) all the MM talk about student loans has always stopped me.
I feel like I have a career but other people probably don't think so because of my job. I started out as an office assistant and am now an executive assistant for a VP at a Fortune 500 company. The jobs I took between were stepping stones (admin assistant jobs that each had more responsibility and higher reporting titles than the last). But a lot of folks think of admin jobs as just jobs, not actual career paths.
You know, I have a hard time putting a hard definition on job vs. career. I think what you describe is a career, particularly if you've made a deliberate choice to work your job because it's what you like to do or feel you are good at. If someone just took an admin job because they didn't know what else to do and it was a job they could get, I'd think of that as more of a "job" (and, you'd be stupid to hire that type of person as an executive assistant...that requires a lot more skill and experience than just anyone would have).
Post by loremipsum on Nov 22, 2014 16:26:38 GMT -5
I am a librarian and would say I have a career - I have a specialized degree and have taken steps and moved between libraries to get the role I want.
However, there's not a lot of upward mobility in my field - you can specialize in a specific type of librarianship, but there's generally not much vertical mobility unless you want to become a library manager. I have zero interest in budgeting or managing staff issues, so I'm happy to continue in a more specialist-but-not-managerial role. I'm also not exactly making it rain financially lol. So maybe I just have a job? *shrug*
Career, but I will say that my opinion changed when I changed schools. It was only a job when I worked in a highly-entitled, helicopter-parent black hole. Now I'm in a Title 1, high poverty school, where the parents and kids actually appreciate me (I know that sounds backwards, but this community actually thinks I know what I'm talking about and say thank you).
This thread is really rubbing me the wrong way. I know you're trying to find your way @buckybells, but some of the things you've said in here make me feel like your above these "jobs" and other people are less than because they have a "job" and not a career.
This thread is really rubbing me the wrong way. I know you're trying to find your way @buckybells, but some of the things you've said in here make me feel like your above these "jobs" and other people are less than because they have a "job" and not a career.
Hmm. I'm sorry if that's the impression I've given off. I think of job vs career as just 2 different perspectives - some people are content working jobs because they get paid and have other priorities that aren't job related. Some people think of their job as a career because it's something they are committed to in the long term and have made purposeful moves to be there. I don't think either is inherently bad, and I think for some people a job is probably better - in particular people whose priorities are elsewhere (parenting, volunteering, taking care of family, whatever).
I personally always wanted a career and have invested a lot of time and money into getting the education and credentials to support a career. I don't have kids or other huge hobbies so basically I work and hang around at home or with friends.I do feel that some jobs are beneath my skill set and education at this point - for example, the job I'm working. It would have been a fantastic job 10 years ago but at this point it's frustrating and settling for it or something like it long term is settling. Someone else might love what I'm doing because it's what they want and their effort up to this point in their life has been appropriate for this job.
The job titles I listed in my OP like "program manager" are great jobs. I think I didn't explain my point well because, for example, I think being a program manager in my field would be great, maybe even a step up for me. Applying for a program manager in a random department or field just because it's a program manager job - well, that's not a career move, it's a job. And maybe that's ok. It would be for anyone who is looking for a job as their goal. If I'm looking for a career, is it a good job for me? I'm not sure, because it's probably not moving me in the right direction if I want to stay in my field. Does it look bad to take a 3 years stint doing something else if I was in my field, left, and wanted to come back? Probably.
Anyway, I think there is someone well suited who would be happy in any job, and I'm thankful for that. I sometimes think I'm just a brat and not content in anything job related