During our Dream Job series I’ve had the opportunity each week to visit some Cross Point members on their job sites. This week I finally got my chance to get behind some large equipment! Enjoy…
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/2152720]
According to a report I read recently, 47 percent of those questioned by the General Social Survey said they were “satisfied” with their careers. Here are the 10 most gratifying jobs and the percentage of those who said they were very satisfied:
- Clergy 87%
- Fire Fighters 80%
- Physical Therapists 78%
- Authors 74%
- Special Education Teachers 70%
- Teachers 69%
- Education Administrators 68%
- Painters and Sculptors 67%
- Psychologists 67%
- Security and Financial Services Salespersons 65%
- Operating Engineers 64%
- Office Supervisors 61%
So here’s today’s all skate question. Do you feel like you’re satisfied with your career? Why or why not?
Men!!! Give ‘em a big truck and they get just as excited as their boys!!! Well, I guess it’s true…boys and their toys!
I bet that was fun…you got to lay a road, how cool! But, sadly, no, that is not my dream job!
Yes. I am a Senior Compensation Analyst and have worked in the Human Resource field for 15 years. I love knowing that what I do affects people’s lives and hopefully in a positive way most of the time. Because people come to me with their “issues” it gives me an opportunity to show the love of Christ through how I respond to them and meet their needs…even if it is from the corporate world perspective…
@Regina, That’s awesome!
I am a claims adjuster. I work with people who have been injured in accidents. I do not dread coming into work each day, just the time I have to get up. I actually don’t even mind the traffic. I love my coworkers. The biggest bonus I have is my company is paying for me to go back to school, and at Belmont, at that. BUT! i sit behind a desk ALLLLL DAAAAYYYY and I get stagnant. I feel like there has to be something else out there for me. I would love to travel and see the world…….I am VERY GRATEFUL for my job.
I’m surprised that I’m saying this but I am quite satisfied in my new career (second and hopefully last). I get to help others (professionals and others unfamiliar with the field) and for the first time, I can use my education and training in a positive way. It also gives me the opportunity to interact with all kinds of people and stretch my view of society. I just need to keep on stretching and connecting for God! I sort of envyed you on the big machines – not a guy but I really like that kind of power!! *grin*
No, I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied, but I’m not unhappy either and I recognized how blessed I am to have a job with flexiblity and with good people and that allows me to help people. At the same time, sitting behind a desk and drafting documents just isn’t as fulfilling as the work I did at PTM (but it does pay the bills, which is also important). I imagine I’ll strike a balance in the next few years.
I’m a nurse and I love it~ and I can’t believe nurses didn’t make the Top 10 cut…. AND we got beat out by Security and Financial Services Salespersons AND Office Supervisors! Actually I can believe it and understand why but it doesn’t make it any less sad… On a lighter note~ if I wasn’t a nurse I would totally want to run a backhoe around all day AND get paid for it!
Oh, forgot to say that I’m a paralegal in the state court system. Always a little wordy…
Uh…..No. Couldn’t honestly use the word “satisfied”.
I sell advertising. It’s sales. You’re trained to NEVER be satisfied!
If you look back at the list, the majority of the “most satisfying jobs” are those that serve others. That is the most satisfying for me.
I do try to truly “serve” my clients, and I’m here for now. My 5 year plan? I’ll be in a “service” field. I’m certain.
I think that any job that allows you to fulfill your God-given purpose will be most satisfying, whichever field it is in.
As a student? I guess so. At least what I want to do is at 87%!
Right now, my career is on hold. As I like to say, I’m on hiatus. I’m doing the best, most satisfying job on Earth … raising my children.
First, I have decided to leave the term career behind me. It brings too many assumptions along with it- the major one being a life focus on a secular position. I have a supervisory role in my technical occupation.
Second, I can’t answer a general question like the one you have posted because there are many aspects of my occupation that I enjoy and there are others that I don’t care for.
While I enjoy what I do ‘for-a-living’ my heart is elsewhere. I do treat my workplace as a missional opportunity but my gifts and passions aren’t aligned with general witness that I can provide as an active follower of Christ.
I see my position as a means to an end and would probably align myself with Paul who made tents when he need to but that did not define who he was or what he was about.
That is another reason that I shy away from the term ‘career’ because that word wants to define who we are.
How is that for an all-skate non-answer?
yes, i’m totally satisfied as manager of household. there are frustrations and sometimes rough days, but since i adore my “staff” i wouldn’t change anything!
NO more ponds in our backyard!
and by “staff” i mean our kids, not you!!!
I work in the nonprofit world providing affordable housing (no, not an oxymoon) to financially- & health-challenged families and the elderly. It’s hard work, it’s good work, and I love my job.
Driving large equipment looks pretty cool, too.
Pete, do you think that clergy is number 1 because it is true or because we pastors are too ashamed and embarrassed to say that we may not be satisfied right now with the calling of God? I look at some of the prophets and see in their lives a heart groaning almost saying, “THIS SUCKS GOD! WHY?” But we stick it out anyway. I love my student ministry. I do…. But I have to be honest, there are times and days when I wish that I could operate a lawn mower for a living.
YET, at the end of the day, I feel God breathing into me most when I am working with teenagers… But heaven forbid we(pastors) feel like we aren’t satisfied yet…
Just a thought… Not a presumption that it applies to all, but to me it does…
I am very blessed to be able to stay at home with our children. I love the fact that my husband, Nate, encourages, supports, and strengthens me in this job – I know not all are so lucky. I can’t imagine doing anything else right now; however, there are days that I wonder – did I go to college for this? What about my degree? Will I ever feel professional again? However, those questions pale in comparison to the satisfaction I feel knowing that I can be wherever my children need me without having to fill out an absence report. Perhaps one day I’ll focus on a different “career”, but right now I’m feeling quite satisfied.
btw: I’m with Brandi – no more ponds – do you even know how many frogs they attract!!??
somedays i am, but other days i am not. i know that in the near future if i want to keep this career i will have to run for a political office. i am not big on campaining. i also don’t know if i want to keep witnessing people’s crimes silently. to have to look the other way and pray that i won’t see the imagies as i sleep.
i once had a vision of really helping people. i used to reach out more, but since i have started working in the court system i have pulled back. i know the sins of most people in this small town and i fear. i fear that if i truly allow myself to love, i will be abused just like the drugs that fill their veins.
I am satisfied with my job. I’ve been a stay at home mom(23 yrs) with odd jobs on the side from waitressing, office manage, owning my own furniture business to now being a logistics coordinator. I LOVE the work and I love how it fits into our family so well. I feel productive and fulfilled. I am thankful for this position even tho its a high stress job. God is good.
No I don’t feel satisfied with my career. I try to be thankful, but I feel very stuck. There is no way to move up in my job (title clerk at a car dealership) and I don’t make much money at all. I’m a single mom and I don’t have the time or money to go back to college and I don’t know what I would want to do if I could go back. It’s frustrating because I feel that I’ll never be able to really provide for my daughter unless I do something else. I do provide for her, but we live in my parents house since I don’t make enough to pay rent. Like I said, I’m trying to be thankful for a roof over our heads and the fact that I have a job at all, I know times are rough, but I still feel there is something else I could do better.
@pgowesky I thought the same think. I was really surprised that “clergy” was #1. I got a feeling a few people were not real honest.
I would love to hear what some of the other church staff and pastors think.
Anyone?
I love my job, I work out of my house for a major Van Line, moving company. I provide customer service, plan logistics, and ease their fears. Sometimes, based on the flow of conversation I can throw in some prayers. I am a people person, the only downside is I don’t leave my house until Sunday when I attend Cross Point, still new to the nashville area and haven’t made any friends, so sometimes I do miss the daily interaction with a real live person.
i noticed ‘real estate agents’ are missing from your list
“I just fixed the dagum road!”
I think what they call you is a kid in a candy store.
And would that guy let you take your boys there? I’m thinking you would have father of the year in the bag.
Job fulfillment would be n/a in my world. But I love my role as the go-to person for my friends. Whenever someone has a story to tell or needs an ear, I’m the one they call… probably because they know I never leave the house so I’m available.
Even my niece who lives a few hours away called the other day with a homework question because, and I quote, “I couldn’t get a hold of mom and I knew you’d be home.” 
So, no job or career potential, but a happy niece with her homework done.
I would love to get you up in an airplane here at Southwest, however I do not think the camera crew would fit as well in the cockpit. Being a pilot and flying for a great company is a ‘dream job’, still though it can be hard work. I still think your Top Gun video was the gutsiest move you have ever made.
100% self employed. I am a professional organizer and pampered chef consultant. I love my job(s)! What I love most is the flexibility that I have! Wouldn’t trade it for anything.
G
@gretchenannie, I”m sitting here wondering what you could do with the mess on my desk. You have an open invitation.
Satisfied,no, not at all. I ended up here through familial pressures and really have no way to get out of where I am. I understand that God will use me wherever I am but it feels like I am being forced to work 180 degrees in the opposite direction of my gifts. Well, that is me.
I am in no way satisfied in my career. I am a paralegal in a law firm dealing with estate administration. I like helping people through difficult times, but my job becomes basically pushing paper. My passions are in creativity and music, not numbers and desks. I have worked on my contentment and am certainly thankful for the opportunities my job has provided, but I am not satisfied. That is why I am moving on after the first of the year. Trusting for God to direct my steps towards what I feel he has called me to in music.
I am not satisfied and that breaks my heart every day. I currently work 2 jobs to help ends meet around here. As a wife and mother I do so because I feel I should. But as a woman with dreams and hopes I feel very unfulfilled by going to jobs that are not my passion. I encourage everyone who loves what they do and is blessed to so it, to thank God every single day.
I am satisfied….I work as a counselor with teens in a residential program and I can honestly say I LOVE what I do….not only do I get to work in an environment with other believers but I get to pour the love of Christ into teens. I also attend grad school and with my love of learning I am satisfied with that too
)
God has blessed me tremendously with my job and I am so thankful to Him!
I am satisfied, wait I am not satisfied…goes both ways…love what I do when I am doing it…add alot of value (people person) but at the same time when what I do is slow (it is going to be, the nature of where I am) I am bored…vital part of a great team…compensated very well & organization is in excellent shape providing for many…I am beyond blessed!…great family and job security…however, I sense the Lord knocking on my heart, saying your too comfortable…let’s take a risk and become uncomfortable…sounds big time exciting to me, let’s go!…but with lots of kids & the expenses that come with it?…listening and ready to answer…
I’m content and happy — really finally growing into what God has had in mind for a while (why are we so slow sometimes on the uptake?) I work in the communications area of our church and also am self-employed as a scopist. I get to do almost all my work from home. Who wouldn’t like working in their jammies?
Hi Pete! I couldn’t tell exactly what the source of your data was from your post. I went to the GSS site, but didn’t see anything detailing job satisfaction. Each occupation links to an average salary site, but again I couldn’t find job satisfaction data. Only asking because I’d love to see the data. Thanks, Mark
What a great video. The position that i am currently in is probably the first time that I feel satified at work. Its the first time that I feel appreciated and my work is valued.. which in turns makes me want to a good job. But prior to this.. i really hated working.
I try to be satisfied with my job…but a lot of time that doesn’t happen. I am a team lead at a hospital. I work crazy hours and in my heart I feel like I am selling myself short & should be doing something else.
I was blessed with this job (I applied for a different position a few months before, didn’t get it and then was called & offered the job I currently have) and WAY under qualified when I was hired. I know God put me here for a reason and that is what I try to focus on when I am still sitting at my desk after 15 hours…
Praying for each of you that is wrestling with a lack of satisfaction these days.
This is so cool. It’s like Dirty Jobs except you stay clean.
I always have been until today….
I realized that it is now time to take a good look at what I have been doing and possibly make a change.
Sad part is, I love what I do.
Problem is, the bulk of my business just went out the window due to our wonderful government getting involved in our school system.
Oh well…thats how life is.
I’m trying to be. My “career” is raising the kids and taking care of the home. While I love that I can stay home with the kids, I don’t like the housekeeping part of it. It’s so easy to get burned out and there’s no real recognition as with “real” jobs where you get a paycheck and a pat on the back. There’s no one there to see all the little successes with the kids or the work with the house and say “hey, nice work cleaning up that spill” or “way to handle that meltdown!”
Back when I was working at an animal hospital, we would often give each other positive feedback for jobs well done. I miss that.
I am a hairdresser. That involves public relations, psychology, psychiatry, fashion, make-up, listening, teaching, creating, and generally making people feel good. They say that if you would do the job that you are doing for free, then you are doing the right job. Sometimes people have to remind me that they need to pay me! I LOVE my job.
I have not been satisfied in my current job for the six years+ I have been there. I have also learned a lot during this time of discontent. I have learned that life is not always, if ever, about my satisfaction. It has been a humbling and finally gratifying experience. I have learned about being content in whatever situation I am in. That has been rewarding and life changing. My life is not about me but about serving God wherever he want’s me. This has been the hardest lesson of my life and God has used this job to do it. I am very thick headed evidently so it has taken him almost 7 years.
I hope I live long enough to learn all of the other lessons I need to learn.
I can’t say that I’m satisfied with my job either. This is not where I pictured myself at this stage of my life. But, after having worked in a 2-person office for years and years, I now work in a company of a few hundred, and I embrace the opportunities that God has given me to make friendships and to, hopefully reflect His light. It’s not just about the job I do, but the way I choose to live my life while I’m doing it.
“I am paving the flippin’ road!” LOL!!!
fascinating… i’m gonna go fight fires!
I’m a stay at home mom …. wouldn’t do anything else! Love the mass amounts of ministry I get to do too. My husband is the “paid minister” in the family, but I enjoy it too. Totally know how blessed we are in that!
I really like what Brandi said. That was pretty fabulous….even more fabulous that she clarified that you weren’t on her staff. Yay. So I am pretty content with my career choice. I get lost in the details though because we have to play politics on both continents but when you come down to it and my amazingly hot husband (and by that I mean sexy) and I get to feed kids…there really is nothing more rewarding and satisfying at the end of the day. I can’t imagine doing anything else but if God lead us to something else…I am sure we would follow because I think it all comes down to obedience.
Satisfied – No. Thankful I have a good job during these times – yes. Up until early this year, I could have said I was satisfied and truly loved my job. But this summer, I decided to move back to Nashville to be near family. I moved without having a job lined up and had to take the first job offered to me to pay the bills. When I moved, I believed family was more important that having a job you truly liked. Now, I’m not so sure and most importantly I realize I moved too hastily. I should have waited until God blessed me with a job before moving. Now, all I think about is moving again and getting my old job back. I haven’t done so out of fear of disappointing my family though… that and what if God wants me to be here and has a better plan for me down the road??? I’m excited about this new series and I hope it helps answer my questions and lets me see Gods plan!
I love what I do. As a writer/speaker, I get to choose my topics, speak about my passions and impact others with words. I love knowing I’ve motivated someone to change for the better because of something I wrote or said. My job is flexible and I can work it to be fulltime or not. I love that to with two kids. They come first. I have the daytime while they are in school to work my ministry. One live matters to me. I’m all about touching one life and pointing them to God.
I travel to different colleges and buy college textbooks from students, the only problem is it is seasonal..I do like it and the variety of people I meet. The only problem is it isn’t all the time so I need to look for fill in work. That’s the down side. I have taken up writing and am trying to get a book together to publish. I feel like a fish out of water sometimes…I don’t know where my place is, but I do know God is using me whereever.
BTW…loved the video Pete…that’s a wonderful series
I am 100% satisfied with my career choice. I am a Registered Nurse – how can you not be satisfied with helping people every day?? I am currently not in the position I necessarily want long-term, but it’s a stepping stone to get to where I really want to be. So right now I take the good with the bad, because in the end I know I’ll get there. So right now I may not be 100% satisfied with my job – but with my career, I’d say I am!
Some nurses may be unsatisfied with their job, but sometimes I think they’re more unsatisfied with the workload put upon them than the actual job.
I love my job! I am a speech-language pathologist. I have been in the field for 30 years, with 9 years off while my own 2 kids were young. I work primarily with preschoolers whose speech is unintelligible. Such an awesome job to spend time with those innocent young things. It always amazes me to see their individual unique personalities at such a young age. I am so blessed!
I am a degreed physicist, research scientist, entrepreneur, business owner, CEO, president, newspaper boy, believer and I’m sure I missed something. Then God said, “but would you be a janitor?” Yep!
It’s been a great experience. It is a lot like being handicapped and in a wheelchair. People want to help, just so long as they don’t get dirty doing it.
God bless the janitors of the world! Look them in the eye and give them a hug. God may call you next.
Pete,
I was watching the Titans game last weekend and I saw this commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpaKh4EmGww
I thought it was a good representation of this series. I know, football isn’t what we would think about as “God’s calling”, but nevertheless, as the commercial depicts, these guys were designed to play ball. By pursuing what was fun, what energized them, they were moving toward their purpose, and developoing the skills they would need.
As you said, too often we think that serving God’s purpose equals misery, when in reality when we are fortunate enough to find it (through our job, our relationships, our service), it’s bliss.
My favorite part of the commercial is the last shots. The two players totally slam into each other, which for the rest of us would be a tearful experience, but they get up and pat each other on the shoulder as it cuts to the final scene showing each of the boys falling into bed at the end of the day laughing.
How cool is it that when we do what God designed us to do, more often than not, we can fall into bed each night “laughing”.
Thanks for prompting this perspective. God is an AWESOME God!
Julie
No. I am not satisfied with my career. I am a cashier at a well known store and I dread going to work everyday. I actually don’t consider it my “career”. It’s a job to get me through school. I am studying to be an Court Reporter and do Closed Captioning. The schooling for this particular career is very tedious and draining, but the end benefit of a profession that is in high demand, pays well, and I can do from home, is the reward. I have to say, working with the public today is extremely challenging-even for a Christian. People are very rude, impatient, inconsiderate, and grouchy! I waited tables for 10 years back in the 90′s, and working in retail is ten time worse. I guess the combination of rude people, and not being able to do what I really desire to do, is what makes me feel unhappy about my job. For some people being a cashier makes them complete, but for me, it drives me insane! A note to everyone out there, next time you go into a Wal-Mart and the lines are super long, and you’re growing impatient waiting your turn, remember… the cashier waiting on you just might be a single mom putting herself through school, trying to enjoy a job that is draining and pays very little!
GOd Bless you all