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I am almost 50 and on my ninth job. I haven’t been “passionate” about my job ever. It has always served as no more than a means to support my addiction to foo
by scarface_74 3y ago
I am almost 50 and on my ninth job. I haven’t been “passionate” about my job ever. It has always served as no more than a means to support my addiction to food and shelter.
- Epa095 3y agoHow booring. Has there really not been anything fun and exciting in any of your nine jobs?
- DinaCoder99 3y agoLike what?
- rad_gruchalski 3y agoLike having a little bit of fun? You know, like just for yourself, liking it a bit?
- DinaCoder99 3y agoWhile I do have a lot of fun coding, I can't say I've ever had this experience at a paid job. Maybe if I had the opportunity to write open-source software but that seems like rather a niche career path at this point.
- eastbound 3y agoLike helping the new marketing girl grow from a noob in everything to an absolutely master of a PO, Like building a product so well made that it makes people say “I’ve searched for 15 years for this product”; Like watching this self-absorbed geek grow from a 40-yo single to a polished mannered person with a girlfriend. I mean no-one is excited to build an accounting software, but I’m excited when people grow. Actually, I’ve once heard that an army of psychologists will never take a man out of depression, but give them a hammer and they’ll get to work, get recognition and gain positive experiences. And the opposite: Being barred from working, from giving your labour, to a company that appreciates it, is an extenuating experience for men.
- DinaCoder99 3y ago> Like building a product so well made that it makes people say “I’ve searched for 15 years for this product”; The fact that software is a "product" and not a "collective resource" tends to put a damper on that enthusiasm. After two decades in the industry it's abundantly clear we're condemned to rewrite the same software over and over again in the name of profits—a colossal waste of humanity's efforts.
- neilkk 3y ago[flagged]
- javaunsafe2019 3y ago[flagged]
- com 3y agoYou know you’ve succeeded in a role when there’s a list of people you’ve supported in growth who are really sad you’re going, worried how they’ll manage without you, but who you know 100% have totally got this. I’ve gone back years later to a couple of ex-workplaces and seen with my own eyes how those uncertain (or over-certain ;-) folks are in their power and confidence and capability. Others I run into in professional settings and get feedback from others about them not just being great people but awesome professionals. Knowing you’ve smoothed the way, helped out with existential fears, fed growth of good people when they needed it is the most awesome part of my career. Better even than much of what the paychecks bought me - blurry photos, fatty-liver and electronics in landfill.
- Epa095 3y agoIdk, depends on what tickles your fancy I guess. But I have never had a job where there's nothing fun or interesting. It can't all just be that mundane and easy? Personally I find joy in two different settings - the hard problems, where I have to go for a walk around the apartment, and think about it when I shover. These are rare. - putting on some music, pouring myself some coffee, and just coding up something relatively easy while in the flow. Making something which did not exist before.
- tock 3y agoI do find some joy building hard stuff. But if I didn't need the money I really wouldn't work. When I fancy hard work I'll just contribute to OSS.
- sersi 3y ago9 months ago I early retired (I'm in my 40s)... I've just decided to find a new job because I'm bored. Opensource is fun and I did contribute somewhat but I find that working on an interesting problem in a team is just fun and I missed it.
- tock 3y agoMy Dad actually had the same problem when he retired. Took him a few years to get out of it and find other things to do. It's weird because he was always stressed out when working. But the lack of stress made him believe he was worthless :/
- taurath 3y agoCan’t do it that long if the work doesn’t speak to you in some way
- xboxnolifes 3y agoYeah you can, it's called bills.
- twojobsoneboss 3y agoDude, look out your window, most jobs/“careers” are like this and people just endure cause they have to
- lanthade 3y agoThere’s a whole class of people working in manufacturing who are lining up to disagree. I recall seeing a woman on a TV show once who had been doing the same job in a sausage plant for 40+ years. She wasn’t a beaten down slave, she just found her joy and identity elsewhere.
- mantas 3y agoA good boring job allows non-boring life outside of job.
- xetplan 3y agoI have had about the same number. Of course there have been things that are fun and interesting but I don't drone on about it, pretending it is like I am getting paid to drink at a bar and flirt.
- bogota 3y agoif you have hobbies it’s much more fun to spend time on that.
- mooreds 3y ago> served as no more than a means to support my addiction to food and shelter. Haha, that's a poetic way to put it. How do you set boundaries? Any tips?
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- JustExAWS 3y agoWell first, always be prepared to look for another job 1. Develop a strong network 2. Keep an updated career document with a list of your accomplishments in STAR format 3. Keep your skill set in line with the market 4. Live below your means and keep a cash cushion 5. Don’t be a “ticker taker” work on having projects with scope where you can talk about things “you led” or “you designed” Now worse case, you can find another job quickly. I was PIPed from AWS last year and found another job within three weeks because I was prepared. I also lived enough below my means where I didn’t need “FAANG money” to be comfortable. On the other hand, you need to know how to talk about trade offs within the holy trinity of any project - on time, on budget and meets requirements. When one changes, the others have to change.
- mooreds 3y agoGreat advice, thanks!
- sweetdreamerit 3y agoI asked gpt about the STAR format. The answer: The STAR format is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing. Here's what each component stands for: 1. *Situation*: Set the context for your story. Describe the event or situation that you were in. This could be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event. 2. *Task*: After describing the situation, you talk about the actual task or challenge that was involved. This is the problem or issue that you were confronted with. 3. *Action*: Explain the actions you took to address the situation or task. This should be a detailed account of how you tackled the problem. 4. *Result*: Share the outcomes or results of the actions you took. Ideally, this should be a positive outcome that demonstrates how you effectively handled the situation. Using the STAR format in a career document helps to clearly and effectively convey your accomplishments in a way that highlights your problem-solving and task management skills.
- jeffrallen 3y ago> addiction to food and shelter You didn't get hooked on dihydrogen oxide? That's the worst, a very difficult addiction to kick. Hang in there!
- erwincoumans 3y agoIf you like dihydrogen oxide, I highly recommend you try to inhale a mix of 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen once in a while.
- jeffrallen 3y ago"Huffing ox", very dangerous indeed.
- nh23423fefe 3y agoi like a little argon when i huff. people say it makes no difference, but i can tell!
- dennis_jeeves2 3y ago> I am almost 50 and on my ninth job. I haven’t been “passionate” about my job ever. You sir, were a wise man even when you were young (Not being sarcastic). A very rare trait among people young or old.