What does your job mean to you?

[Spinneret]

Everything

 

[luvnwdwgal]

When I was working full time over a decade ago it meant a lot to me. It was only a small company but they trusted me enough to practically run it single handed. It was alot of work but I liked it and the days flew by. I knew they appreciated me and everything I did. Plus my extra income allowed us to go on more vacations and stay at alot nicer resorts.

 

[WEDcryoHEAD]

I work with children and families and I have to believe that I am making a difference in peoples lives. My job is very important to me.

 

[ronandannette]

55 hours of my life per week, sold for a fat pay cheque.

 

[Smugpugmug]

It's just a job. I don't define myself based on where I work. I'm there so I can make money to pay my bills, save for my future and a little bit left over to go on trips. I like my coworkers and the environment, but I don't live to work.

 

[mrodgers]

What Smugpugmug (interesting name) said. It's a means to acquire money to pay for the things I need.

 

[jimmalru80]

Means to an end.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

A paycheck. Feel very similar to @Smugpugmug!

 

[TippyThomas]

It was farming and I'm glad to no longer be doing it.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I’m a teacher, and my job means a great deal to me. Since my cancer diagnosis I no longer let it define me like I used to, however. I’m replaceable at work. I’m not at home.

 

[holden]

As a stay-at-home mom, I like to think that my job is important, challenging, exhausting, ever-changing, demanding, heartbreaking, heart-mending, and inspiring.

 

[ronandannette]

As a stay-at-home mom, I like to think that my job is important, challenging, exhausting, ever-changing, demanding, heartbreaking, heart-mending, and inspiring.

I absolutely LOVED being a housewife and full-time mom for the 8 years that I did it. Happiest time of my life.

 

[tvguy]

For many years I lived to work. I got married, had kids and I transitioned to a mindset of working to live.
Even as I moved from living to work, I still liked my work, when I was allowed to do my job. But it got tougher to do my job because supervisors grew less and less experienced, to the point where at the end I worked for a supervisor who had never ever done my job or anything related to it. That made it tough because they would acknowledge I had correctly completed a requested task in a timely fashion, but questioned the way it was completed and would suggest changes to the process that would delay completion of the project, or prevent completion.

 

[Silver saucer]

just a paycheck

 

[starry_solo]

A good pension and retirement before I’m 60.

 

[Moliphino]

It pays for my house, dogs, and vacations. I am very much a work to live person.

 

[MamaMermaid]

It's hard to remember some days because it's all encompassing but... it's just a job. And I am replaceable at work. Family is what matters more.

I am a high school teacher.

 

[ronandannette]

For many years I lived to work. I got married, had kids and I transitioned to a mindset of working to live.
Even as I moved from living to work, I still liked my work, when I was allowed to do my job. But it got tougher to do my job because supervisors grew less and less experienced, to the point where at the end I worked for a supervisor who had never ever done my job or anything related to it. That made it tough because they would acknowledge I had correctly completed a requested task in a timely fashion, but questioned the way it was completed and would suggest changes to the process that would delay completion of the project, or prevent completion.

After so many years and with so much experience, were those supervisory roles never open to you? Was there some reason you never pursued advancement? You’ve mentioned your career countless times and have referenced stagnant wage growth and the frustrations of changes/downgrades in the quality of your working conditions and I’ve often wondered.

 

[kdonnel]

A way to earn money to live and vacation.

 

[tvguy]

After so many years and with so much experience, were those supervisory roles never open to you? Was there some reason you never pursued advancement? You’ve mentioned your career countless times and have referenced stagnant wage growth and the frustrations of changes/downgrades in the quality of your working conditions and I’ve often wondered.

They were always open to me. I never applied. Over 40 years managers morphed from experienced staff who had worked their way up, to people who were professional managers with little to no actual experience in the industry. My interest was in the work in the industry, not EEOC rules, HR rules, and at the end of my career juggling the needs of the company with covid requirements. And while I never actually knew what the pay was, in California as of January 1, salary ranges must be posted in job ads, and those salary ranges are pretty pathetic.
I was a team player. I could hit home runs and make contributions from my position, but I never wanted to be the team manager.