The "L" Word

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

It’s the American Dream – love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life. We teach our children to follow their dreams and to find that job that they’ll love. So what’s wrong with the “you need to love what you do” mindset?

1. Creates more stress. If you’re in a job that you aren’t crazy about you become dissatisfied and think you need to find a new job. Can lead to job hopping.
2. Less free time: You really want to love what you do so you’re willing to work overtime and weekends in order to keep that job.
3. You’re still replaceable. Just because you love your job, doesn’t not mean it will love you back.
4. Doesn’t place focus on the 5-9: Happiness doesn’t always come from what you accomplished during the 9-5. Make the 5-9 an equal (if not higher) priority.
5. Love is just an emotion: If you look for jobs to love, you could easily confuse love with lust. You might be looking at jobs that are really attractive and think that you’re going to love it. Instead, be realistic about how much you’re going to love (or like) your job. If you go into a job thinking it is for sure the one, you may end up disappointed.

So, Should I Love My Job or Not?

Get into a realistic mindset about what it means to love your job. Just like a relationship, the butterflies and excitement may wear off. That doesn’t mean you no longer love your job. Maybe it just means you’ve finally realized that your job isn’t perfect. The question you have to consider is whether you can live with and appreciate those imperfections or whether you need to cut the cord and move on.

If you realize you need to move on, you need to make a list of ideal items for your next job and make sure that it meets your requirements before job hopping. A new job may seem exciting and you may “fall in love” with it at first glance but this isn’t a feeling that will last. Instead, here are a few main points that should determine if a job is something you want to pursue.

1. Working Hours: This can be a hot button for many employees. If you don’t relish the thought of working after hours, make sure you find out what’s accepted before accepting a position.
2. Vacation Time: Make sure to get in writing how many vacation hours you get each year to see if it’s a job that has long term potential. If you are looking for 3 weeks’ vacation and the job offers 1 week, you’ll probably feel unsatisfied.
3. Working Environment: Before you accept any offer, make sure you check out your working environment. Will you be crammed in a corner, cubicle or have your own office?
4. Benefits: If you are thinking about saving for retirement, check to see what type of 401K or other savings options the company offers.
5. Company Culture: Define exactly what you’re looking for in a company culture. Maybe you want to see company happy hours in your future or maybe you don’t even want to have lunch with coworkers. Decide what you want in your next company culture and make sure it fits the bill before signing on the line.

Make sure your next job meets your criteria before accepting to enjoy and you’ll find yourself in an enduring romance over an exciting, but short-sighted, fling.

What do you think it means to “love” your job? Share in the comments below.

-Elizabeth Becker, Marketing Manager at PROTECH.