I don’t talk much here about my job, because it’s really never a good idea to talk about your job online using any specific terms. Today I had an interesting conversation with my supervisor, however, and I wanted to discuss it a bit.
I am currently working through a very tedious part of the project we’re on. It’s fairly mindless, and it’s very mind numbing. My current technique is to put on my headphones, play some music or a podcast, and just bury myself in the work. I can only do this for so many hours a day, because eventually my brain demands to be stimulated. I’ve also found that an economic calendar has help improve my workspace.
We just received information that might make this tedious section last even longer than originally planned. My supervisor told me that she had to admit, she felt bad that I was working on this particular project, as she knew how tedious it was, and she knew I was only at this agency for a short period (for those of you just joining us, I’m currently ‘on loan’ to another agency until sometime in September). I replied that I didn’t really mind, because I knew that the work was important, that at the end of the day, it had to be done, and it would be used as part of the final product. Additionally, I knew that I was appreciated for what I was doing, and that made all the difference.
After I got out of that meeting with her, I realized just how true my statement was. Sure, there are moments during the day where I just want to cut and run, to skip out early and go hang out in a museum, or take sick leave for the rest of my day. But knowing how trusted and respected I am in this position and how important the work really is keeps me going. It doesn’t make the work fun, but the way I am treated and viewed makes all the difference in my attitude towards the work.
I don’t know that there are any jobs out there where an employee will enjoy himself or herself every single minute of the day. Every job has to have its downside, no matter how small. But a great work environment can do wonders for an employee’s attitude and view on the job that he or she is required to do, and I’m realizing the truth of that more and more every day. It doesn’t matter how big your paycheck is – if you aren’t respected, your view of your job will be quite different. So maybe it’s worth it to take a smaller paycheck for a job where you know that you are valued and are treated as such.
Megan is a 30-something government employee in the Washington, DC area. She got interested in Personal Finance when she got out of college and realized that her paycheck wasn’t going to go as far as she had hoped. Since starting this blog, she has managed to buy a house and make a solid start on her retirement goals, and hopes to help others do the same. Here is her story:
In 2007, I was a gainfully employed 20-something with no debt but not a lot of knowledge about personal finance. It was a co-worker’s comment about Roth IRAs that sent me to the internet, searching for information. It was then that I realized that I really didn’t know a whole lot about personal finance and that my current financial situation was due a lot to inherent frugal tendencies, generous family members, a fear of debt, and good luck. While that was working for me, clearly I needed a better plan.
While I had no debt, I was also pretty much living paycheck to paycheck and not worrying about going over budget (I say this as if I had a real budget) because I had an emergency fund set aside to cover any overages.
Except that’s not what an emergency fund is for.
So I did a lot of research, read a lot of blogs, and decided that I needed a plan. I needed to budget. I needed to know what I was spending my money on. I needed to prepare for the future.
I decided to create a blog not only to make myself accountable to others but also to share the knowledge that I gained along the way. I’ve learned so much from my fellow bloggers, and I hope that my readers can find something useful in what I have to share as well.
I know what you mean, I’m currently weighing my options and the more I think of it, my current job (with a five minute commute, great coworkers but a small paycheck) is looking better…
SO true. I have been fortunate to have pretty good working environments and some excellent bosses at all my jobs since college (and some during college, actually), and it really makes a huge difference. Just hearing your supervisor express their appreciation makes a crappy job much more bearable.
Definitely. My job is pretty stressful and I wish the project I was on could be done and over with. I’m finally getting the training I’ve been needing – attending a two day training conference and it is really helping to rejuvenate my interest in the project. It helps when you have a strong work ethic and people recognize that and just don’t take advantage. Good post.
I totally agree. I really believe that being in a good work environment will make a huge difference to how much you enjoy your job.