Job satisfaction: what’s it mean to you?

While writing another article I suddenly thought about job satisfaction and what it means to people. Is it something people consider when taking a job? How important is it to them? Is it even on their radar?

I think in many ways people don’t think about job satisfaction until they already have the job. Other parameters have our attention: the pay, benefits, flexibility (if any), overtime, proximity to our home, etc. Not that these aren’t important; if we are honest they often are the driving force behind the jobs we take – and for good reason. We have to have money to pay bills and hopefully save for retirement and we need benefits, like insurance, to survive. After that though, the rest is often prioritized based upon what we as individuals want and what’s important to us.

Now, in my eyes that isn’t a problem at all. Life is short as is, we aren’t promised tomorrow, and we all have things we value over others. We all have our priorities and act on them accordingly. But I do wonder just how much job satisfaction plays out when it comes to selecting a career?

I did some thinking about this once the topic came to mind. I can’t come up with a single person I’ve conversed with in the recent past who has said they chose a job based on satisfaction. Most take a job based on pay. Some take a job because of benefits. I know guys who work in the trades and their job provides the money and their wife works for benefits.*

*NOTE: The above is not saying that it must be necessarily so; rather, the point I am trying to make is that many focus their attention and decisions based upon what they want and /or think they need. I work in the skilled trades and have been successful as far as that goes. We are a single household income, with my wife being a stay at home mom, and we still manage to not only pay the bills and provide benefits but also save for retirement. If people wanted to do this in the skilled trades they could and I am living proof. The point I want to stress is that though people set their lives up in this manner it’s because they want to. It isn’t because they can’t do it with a single income in the skilled trades because that’s horse crap: I do.*

Even so, with all the decisions made regarding work it seems job satisfaction comes in at dead last. That is, until you get the job. Experience has taught me that the first six months is the honeymoon stage. Then reality sets in as you work past six months. It becomes much more important by that time. By then, pay isn’t as important, neither are the benefits and that’s because you’re miserable. What really matters is you once looked forward to going to work but now you dread it. You thought the money mattered – but now it doesn’t. You don’t feel satisfied, and if you were honest with yourself, you’d admit you never have. Satisfaction with pay shouldn’t be confused with satisfaction in the work itself.

Why job satisfaction matters

If the situation above isn’t applicable to you then count yourself fortunate. It seems the lack of job satisfaction is pretty common and all across the board; no job is really immune from it. Now, to be sure, some are better than others. This prompted me to look for comments about this topic – because I’m naturally curious AND there happens to be an article I want information for. I found quite a bit by the way of job satisfaction.

Glass door asserts these are the top 20 careers with the highest satisfaction. I find it interesting to note (at least to me) construction managers made the list.

Another “professional” list I found.

Yet another list detailing highly paid jobs with satisfaction, with a professional angle.

This was an interesting list I found discussing meaningful jobs.

Here’s a article about job satisfaction that’s a little more than just surface information.

And here is the article that I read recently which got me thinking about job satisfaction in the first place:

I had a hunch most job satisfaction sites would be tailored to those occupations labeled “professional” and I was right. Not to chase that rabbit trail too far but what makes an occupation “professional” anyway? (I think I have another post idea).

I was intrigued with the one list that included jobs from all walks of life; seems as though they were trying to be more comprehensive. All things considered, though, I wonder why when lists are compiled or surveys done the skilled trades arent consulted? Think about it: few, if any, of the skilled trades are ever listed and if they are it’s usually denigrating them (think wages of high school diploma vs those with a college degree here). Alas, I digress.

Skilled trades absence

Notice anything odd with those job satisfaction ratings? The first glaring thing to me is the absence of skilled trades. I spent some time contemplating why that is and offer some thoughts on it below.

I believe one reason why there is an absence of the skilled trades voice here is simply because we enjoy our careers. Sure, there are guys who don’t want to do physical labor all their careers but that statement asserts two incorrect things: skilled labor is SOLELY physical and that someone aspiring a managerial role is leaving the skilled trades. There is so much more to the skilled trades than mere physical labor. Yes, it plays a part but it isn’t the whole.

Also, if you come up through the trades and subsequently move into supervision you very much are still in the skilled trades – and are actively promoting them. That’s not being dissatisfied with a job; rather, that’s expressing gratitude for the skilled trades.

Another reason I believe skilled trades aren’t considered is because people have erroneous views about the skilled trades. I could write a whole post about this but a sentence or two will do here. Skilled trades are not the ditch diggers ignorant people assume all who work in the trades are. When we look past that ignorance, there is the sheer fact we just aren’t considered, period. That is, until our services are needed and then people are astonished at the cost. Imagine that, people actually making a good living outside of the college lie? (I couldn’t resist).

Yet another reason is simply most good craftsmen are working. With limited free time they don’t participate in surveys when they enjoy their jobs. Sounds like a simplistic reason but usually the least complicated is preferred. Occam’s razor is at work here.

Where does job satisfaction rate?

When I consider those I know in the skilled trades, many take jobs because of the money they get. Some though, will take them because they thoroughly enjoy them. Guys clamor to get on that high rise, plot to get on that job to build a bridge, or erect that roller coaster. Why? Because they want bragging rights and that’s job satisfaction at it’s finest.

You see, I believe many in the so called “professional” world are not happy with their jobs because they see no end to them. They don’t have the satisfaction of looking back at a day’s work and seeing something accomplished. The skilled tradesmen I know can look back at their work from years ago. You almost get sick of having guys say “I built that” over and over – until you say it too. You know what that is? Job satisfaction at it’s finest. This isn’t the case with many who work in an office environment or “professional” job; over and over you see this played out.

I haven’t done official polling or any census to conclude the above. Rather, I am relying on my experiences, various discussions over the years, research, humorous and at the same time sad comments people make, and observations over the course of my career. I find this topic interesting for a number of reasons and believe it is worth looking into, if for no other reason than to assure yourself you are getting the most out of your job/career.

I am curious though as to how many pick a job/career because of job satisfaction. It strikes me as something often overlooked. When I weigh it out, I believe we make certain decisions when we are younger that we wouldn’t make when we age and gain more wisdom. Many a man chased money when they were young and when they aged some different priorities manifested themselves. The youth aren’t concerned with time off – they want some overtime. The aged, in many cases, are the opposite; they want to slow down some. At what age, if any, do individuals select jobs/careers because of the satisfaction they believe they will get? It’s interesting how these things play out, to be honest.

What’s more, I haven’t really wrestled with how it works out with passion vs opportunity, which is another post I’ve smartly written.

How job satisfaction fits in with this post is a conundrum, to be sure. On one hand, I assert you shouldn’t follow your passion, instead following the opportunities afforded you. Then this post is asking about job selection based upon job satisfaction. Seems counter to one another, doesn’t it? In the end it’s good to wrestle these things out in your own life because each one of us is different. One size fits all doesn’t apply in so many cases. In the end, I think we are better off following opportunities, seizing them when we can, and finding satisfaction in what we do.

Curious: how many choose a job and/or career path based upon satisfaction? Where does it fit in? How do you measure it?