Does your job define you?

asim · 14 Dec 2006 at 23:52

cleanbluesky said:
After coming out of uni I have not known what career to take for 3-4 years. That's a long time and whilst I have been doing other things in that time, I would have liked to have had direction quicker.

Don't waste time doing what is expected of you if your heart isn't in it...

I feel like I could be in that very same position. Graduated in July. Yet to take on anything.

RoboCod · 15 Dec 2006 at 00:06

Zefan said:
I'm a student, so yes.

Get a job

I'm manager of a leisure centre. I have to act nice to visitor's and talk crap all day. Butt kissing my superior's get's me everywhere and I have become a terrible pervert with the large contingency of young female worker's there. On paper it's a good job but it's anal. I'm looking forward to joining the RAF though so I can gain a role in which I will be truly happy/fulfilled. There I think I can combine work with learning, hobbies, physical challenge and a lot of fun

Wren · 15 Dec 2006 at 01:16

Captain Planet said:
Get a job

I'm manager of a leisure centre. I have to act nice to visitor's and talk crap all day. Butt kissing my superior's get's me everywhere and I have become a terrible pervert with the large contingency of young female worker's there. On paper it's a good job but it's anal. I'm looking forward to joining the RAF though so I can gain a role in which I will be truly happy/fulfilled. There I think I can combine work with learning, hobbies, physical challenge and a lot of fun

I used to be a manager in retail, I can relate.

-westy- · 15 Dec 2006 at 03:09

I work in a pub - have worked in various ones for a few years.

Yes, my job defines me very well, but at the same time, I think it's helped me develop as a person. Before I started working on the bar, I was very shy and quiet person. If you ask any of my friends now, they'll say that i'll talk to anyone, and be confident with it.

Yes, I think my job defines me, as thats the kind of person I have to be, and to be honest, I like it like that

wordy · 15 Dec 2006 at 09:14

My 1st job did, however my current one doesn't

afraser2k · 15 Dec 2006 at 09:21

My current job as an IT support technician does, sadly, define me. Maybe that's why I'm so fed up with the place?

Pookie Bear · 15 Dec 2006 at 09:45

No, my job doesn't define me. It pays for me to get drunk and make a fool of myself and, sadly, that does define me to some extent. So maybe it's indirectly responsible.

Damn job.

eddiemcgarrigle · 15 Dec 2006 at 10:06

My job pretty much defines me, spending all day playing snooker and watching tv (if the great uneducated are to be believed).

HangTime · 15 Dec 2006 at 11:12

asim said:
Some people must feel like all they do is work and sleep. In saying that, does your job define who you are?

I Don't get much freetime on weekdays (maybe 3hrs tops) and it is a bit of a grind, but I wouldn't say my job defines who I am. It's extremely rare I ever communicate with work colleagues outside of work.

If you work in IT, is it because thats your interests?
Do you feel happy waking up in the morning and knowing you are going to work? I'm talking about job satisfication. Its not about the money, but whether you enjoy the job.

Not really... it's more the fact that as a byproduct of my interest in computers, I've got the skills/knowledge to work in the industry. But I certainly wouldn't say I enjoy my job and it's not the sort of thing I saw myself doing 10 years ago. I do it to earn a living and would gladly take a pay cut if I didn't have to work. I hate getting up and going to work, I work 37.5hrs/week and then spend around over 13hrs a week travelling.

Or does the rest of your life define who you are? Is work just a way to support everything else that you do?

Career or life orientated?

Just some questions I've been asking myself while trying to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life. Whether I want to be focused on my career or outside interests like hobbies, family and socialising.

Career and life orientations aren't mutually exclusive. The whole 'work hard, play hard' thing comes in for some people and they are successful both inside and outside of work.

dirtydog · 15 Dec 2006 at 11:15

asim said:
But the majority of everyone's time is spent working. Unless ofcourse they are filthy rich or don't require the money.

That isn't true is it.

In response to the thread title, no it doesn't define me.

asim · 15 Dec 2006 at 12:38

dirtydog said:
That isn't true is it.

In response to the thread title, no it doesn't define me.

Might be, might not be. You inherit the cash then you dont really have to do much. Some stay at home or have their partner who works to support the family.

Working to pay the bills, but it should be more than that.

Nice to see quite a few differing opinions.

Archibald0 · 15 Dec 2006 at 12:47

MrMoon said:
my job defines me: I lock people up for a living

Same here mate, my force have longer wrking days (10hrs) but more days off, maximum of 4 shifts on at a time, works out at about 6months off a yr, including annual leave, which aint bad

But like a lot of the folks in here when you are working, you feel like you just work and sleep all the time

MookJong · 15 Dec 2006 at 13:01

My working time is mainly spent thinking about all the fun stuff i'll be doing when I get home.

dirtydog · 15 Dec 2006 at 13:17

asim said:
Might be, might not be. You inherit the cash then you dont really have to do much. Some stay at home or have their partner who works to support the family.

Working to pay the bills, but it should be more than that.

So it should, which is why I have made sure my costs of living are low so that I am not a work slave.

riddlermarc · 15 Dec 2006 at 13:31

MookJong said:
My working time is mainly spent thinking about all the fun stuff i'll be doing when I get home.

Too true, but usually never happens.. I get up at 6.30am, run the missus and son to work/school, get to work at 8.30am. I leave no earlier than 5.30pm, get home for 6pm and eat/get my son ready for bed so I don't actually "sit down" until gone 7pm.. often I will log into work to check server/site status or I'll tinker with the pc whilst my fiancee is watching her daily quota of soaps.

I think your work can define your life pattern - I would love to have more time to do other things but because I really *do* like my job (programmer) I find I will read books/manuals at home to keep up with current trends etc. I want to implement new things at work, so I have to read up on it.. simple as.

To say one is limited only by one's determination isn't always realistic. In an ideal world I would like to jack my job in and become a forester, I hate having to work in an office but the pay, location and availability of forestry jobs makes it an unrealistic option.

I think home and job situations mutually influence each other

Beren · 15 Dec 2006 at 13:54

Probably

Though oddly working with people talking and interviewing them all day has actually made me less social at the moment. I spend all day talking to people being interested in them and listening attentatively to them. So when I get home I like to switch off.

Before I started the job I was the person everyone talked to to help sort their heads out as I was able to listen and ask them questions in a way that helped them understand the problem themselves rather than me just giving them my opinion.

Then again I don't see this job as forever, I see it as long enough to buy and pay for a house before probably moving on to something else.

crystaline · 15 Dec 2006 at 17:21

Well firstly I defined it.. then it gradually defined me a little more.. then I put it back in it's place. Now we have a good relationship..

However, being so involved with your job can get detrimental at times, eventually I would like to do something else for a little while alongside this, just to make things interesting..

And also the pressure of making an even wage month to month is difficult too when self employed. You don't know which months are going to be good or which will be bad.. so that is defining in a way..

..but overall, yes I have a cool job, I enjoy it, and right now I wouldn't quit for the world.