Wednesday, April 25, 2007

What makes a good job?

I've heard people say that you should work doing something that you would do even if you weren't getting paid.

Since there are few jobs that pay you to eat or shop, and even fewer that pay well, I've decided that the above advice is nice in theory but may lack in feasibility.

When you decide to look for your next job, what are the criteria that come to mind? How does one determine whether a job is good, bad or simply mediocre? Of course, this is all subjective, so everyone's answer will be different.

Money
Like it or not, money is essential if you don't have a trust fund from a rich dead uncle. But obviously, money is not important enough to override things like a bad working environment or inability to advance.

People
Your boss, coworkers, and customers will probably be a huge make-or-break point at your new job. The only way to avoid working with jerks altogether is to take a position as an enbalmist...and no, I'm not interested!

Location
I hate commuting. You may love it. That could make the same job a dream job or a nightmare, depending on who's interested.

Perks
A casual dress code is a dream of mine. It makes me feel elated. Lunch on the boss/office is nice too. But jeans....oooh, I'd be in heaven. Time off to take care of personal things as necessary is also a must-have.

Room to Advance
Unless you've found the "it" job, chances are good that you'd like the ability to move up or learn a different position. I've interviewed for great jobs that had no possibility of advancement. They're also known as 'dead-end jobs.'

Appreciation
There's no substitute to having an appreciative boss and coworkers. And it's even worse if other bosses do a good job at recognizing excellence in their subordinates and your boss doesn't. You'd think that they'd teach all bosses this at boss school, but unfortunately, some of the best supervisors fall short of being great because of this.

As soon as I find my dream job at the end of summer, I'll let you know!

1 comment:

Caryl said...

Ok, I've given this subject a lot of thought. I can't deny that money is good, but can it make a not so wonderful job wonderful? Well, it can't hurt, but for me, money is not everything. Working from home is a big plus, especially in these days of almost $3/gallon gas, but that is not it either. For me, the biggest thing is to feel like I made a difference. Did I do the best I can today? I'm not a researcher who will cure cancer or aids in the next few years. But, I get satisfaction from the services I provide the university I work at and know that I'm the best at what I do. The next thing on the list is the coworkers. Let's face it, we spend more time at work then we do with our loved ones. I don't expect to be best friends with my coworkers, but I do expect a cordial atmosphere. A quick how was your evening at (enter place or event here), how was your weekend, or did you see (enter show name here)? If I have to spend the majority of my waking hours with these people, they better be nice! Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck job hunting!

Caryl