Why so many people hate their job?

Published in El Pais, 18 March 2018

Why is it that people hate their job so much? On Friday at noon people already are sheering to thank God it is almost weekend. And the opposite happens on Sunday night, when people complain already that tomorrow is Monday and hell starts again. Isn’t it strange and sad that we feel miserable on something we spent almost 50% of our walking time on?

My tutor at the university always told us “Make you sure you study something you like, because there might be the risk that you are doing that the rest of your life”. The problem however is we pick the job we want others to be impressed with and that starts with impressing our parents. They insist on high grades, on being the best of class, on being the favorite of the teacher and while some appraisal is good for motivation it might end up worse.

About two years ago the deputy secretary of justice of the Netherlands got into a political problem and he was forced to resign. In an interview he told that he wanted to do something different and he was doubting, becoming a Major, truck driver or bus driver. To my surprise he opted for the last one and he was not ashamed to do an interview and even lured other people into this profession.

I think that most people do not really hate their job, but they are more afraid on what other people think of them when they hear and judge the kind of work they are doing. Since we worry more on what other people think of us and not what we ourselves actually like, it is easy to feel miserable.

A few months ago I talked to a friend who has a PhD in Economics, and worked many years in an economics institute. He gave it up and became a forester. I asked him if went nuts? He told me to shut up and said he was feeling much better now, less stress, closer to home, feeling healthier and 40% less salary was totally worth it. He didn’t care what other people were thinking.

My tutor was right. Do not worry about what other people think about you, they are probably worrying more about what you think about them. Don’t get tempted, do what you like. People will be impressed and wonder how come that guy is so happy with his job?