A Job doing what you love

[Eclipse Dragon]

There was no way I could keep that title from sounding like a college advertisement, for that, I'm very very sorry.

Speaking of college advertisements, they seem to come in one of two flavors depending on your age. If you're an adult they say
"Go back to school and get a REAL job you lazy ****, it doesn't matter that you have a child and a family you can do it!"
(Maybe not exactly like that.)

If you're fresh out of school they'll say
"Start a career doing the things you love!!" "Like videogames? We'll teach you how to make them!"
-------------

In theory, it sounds like a dream job. Who wouldn't want to get paid doing what they love?
What those collages won't tell you about is the downside.

"Do you like playing videogames? Become a game tester today!"
They don't tell you you'll be playing Barbie's Princess Paradise until your eyes bleed, and you won't be paid very much.

I went to college hoping I could get a job in games or animation. I ended up with a job making art for graphic t-shirts. Although I love to draw and I love my job, I've found the LAST thing I want to do when I get home, after drawing for eight hours, is draw more. I can only imagine what it would've been like if I'd gotten a job in animation, I don't think I'd ever want to watch an animated film again.

So what do you think people of the Escapist?
Would you like a job doing what you love, or is it something you'd avoid for fear of no longer loving what you do?
Is your job the only way you CAN do what you love (for lack of supplies at home or other reasons)?
Is ANY other job better than the one you have now?
What's your dream job and why?

Or, you could just make fun of college advertisements with me...

 

[Esotera]

If I could go back a couple of years, I would forget going to university and got my younger self to just get into something with computers. Or to go for something like business instead of science and get a job that pays much better.

A job for me is pretty much getting paid for something I don't really want to do. Anything that I enjoy, I'd rather do on my own free time without a schedule or deadlines. Even if you're self-employed that's pretty hard to achieve.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

I do what I love, and due to the law, and lack of equipment I can't do it home!

This normally rules, but it does has it's downside... If it's busy I have to stay at work! And as my job is completly random whether it will be busy or not means planning can be shit at times! It's a good job I live within my jobs outer fence, and they provide all my food and living costs at a heavily subsidised rate, so it's all fine and dandy!

I seriously love my job though! I wouldn't do anything else!!

 

[Rastien]

Last i checked people don't get paid to sit on their ass and play games/read books so my dream job is out the window

I work in IT and its safe to say when i get home i love my PC but fuck working on anything IT related when my foot hits the outside of my office. I enjoy my job but i really dislike doing it when it's not directly benefiting me or my family/friends...

Anyone, who has ever repaired a PC or network will know this scenario

"hey you fixed my pc it's 3 months later and now its stopped working as i havn't done anything it must be your fault i demand you come and fix it for free"

i'm sure it has nothing to do with the 12 tool bars you have on your internet explorer, or all that porn you downloaded last week, no,no im sure it must have been me 3 months ago fixing this exact same thing. Die in a fire you ****.

Yeah you do someone a favour and it bites you in the ass fun times.

 

[The Abhorrent]

The fact of the matter is that any job, no matter how good it sounds on paper, is going to involve something you're not particularly fond of. There's a pretty good chance it's going to involve paperwork, probably on the administrative side of things; still, it's got to be done. Not to mention there's a strong probability that you'll have to leap through a few hoops before you get doing the stuff you really want to do.

Still, this doesn't mean there's no such thing as a "dream job"; just that there's usually a catch involved, but the parts of the job you enjoy more than make up for those issues. In fact, getting good at the parts you don't like is actually a very good idea; you can get them done and out of the way that much sooner, allowing you to focus on the parts you do like.

---

Just as an example, my idea of a "dream job" would be to get into bridge design. That's a specialized field within structural engineering, which is in turn a specialization of civil engineering. I've only received my bachelor's degree fairly recently, so I've still got a ways to go; nevertheless, I am on the right track. Unlike other fields, the degree is a definite requirement; professional liscensure and all that. In fact, the story behind there being a requirement for liscensure is because there were too many accidents from those who were self-taught.

Apart from having to gain experience and continuing education (a master's degree seems to be an eventuality at this point, though not an urgent one), there will be a few things I won't enjoy doing but will have to do as well. The aforementioned paperwork issue is a big one, and management (both in the design office and on the construction site) is another I'll likely have to deal with; keeping track of costs will be a particularly big thing I'll have to deal with.

But the real question isn't about the job being perfect, it's about the caveats being worth it to do the things you want. That's the nice thing about bridge design, you get to see the idea in your head go onto paper and then into reality. And to top it all off, it's definitely appreciated... at least once the construction is done and out of the general population's way, they really don't like their morning drive taking a few extra minutes.

The final questions: How well does it pay? What are the hours? Is there work? As an professional engineer (or even just an EIT), you're pretty much guaranteed a good salary; it's unlikely that you'll make millions (unless you decide to start up an engineering firm, which is adds in the details of running a business), but you're almost certainly not going to be under-paid. Unfortunately the hours aren't always going to be the standard 40-hour week, and you probably won't get overtime either; you're working the job, not the clock. The amount of work available is substantial, but you might have to go into other areas within your field (i.e.: doing general structural and/or transportation projects instead of bridges specifically) depending on the current situation; nevertheless, engineering is one of those professions where there should always be work (society needs infrastructure to be built and maintained, period).

So yes, it won't be a perfect... but hey, I get to make an actual bridge (eventually).

---

In the cases of video games as you main interests, making them might not always be the right path; being entertained and entertaining can be entirely different things. You have to really think about why you like them, because it doesn't end at the fact you're interested in them. For example, I'm not really into programming; so I'm not about to get into game development as a programmer. I could take a look into level design (and I've certainly dabbled with the CK for Skyrim in that regard), but I've already got something similar planned with my engineering; still, it's not a bad as a pasttime or hobby.

Another possibility is that you find the process of inputting controls and getting results to be enjoyable. This, believe it or not, has a fairly strong parallel to something in real life -- operating heavy equipment. Skid-steers (aka: bobcats), cranes, back-hoes, front-end loaders, excavators, and so on. All of these have plenty of levers, pedals, and buttons to use; quite frequently all of them at once. They're also a ton of fun to use too, and good/experienced operators are always in high-demand (and are often paid fairly well for it). If you like playing games, it might be an interesting option to look at; it doesn't require an advanced education either (there may be some courses involved, but nothing technical), but getting experience might be a bit difficult (probably have to put in some time in as a labourer to get started).

 

[burningdragoon]

"Love" as defined as "that thing I'm good at and enjoy doing" yes, I do want a job doing that (in my case programming). Though really, I at least want a job that I don't hate, which is more or less why I left my last one. It only occasionally involved the thing I signed up for and was so mentally draining that I couldn't muster up the energy to do that what I was hoping to get out of it at home.

I don't really have a "dream job" though if the games industry wasn't notoriously shitty as far as working conditions go, I guess that would be it. I do have a few, um... key things I'd like my job (whenever I get that next one) to fulfill though.

I could pretend that I'm totally not swiping these from Cracked, or I could just post the Cracked article about stupid video game school commercials, so I think I'll do just that. [http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-6-stupidest-video-game-school-commercials/] Hilariously awful, is what those are.

 

[purplecactus]

Well, the job I have now is unpaid work in an outdoor kit shop, which wouldn't be so bad if my parents didn't own it... When I move back into my term time residence I'm hoping to pick up paid work in an outdoor kit shop that my parents don't own. That would make me an extremely happy bunny.

I'm in university studying for a degree in adventure tourism management, and while I don't plan on managing anything at any time soon, it's slowly but surely paving the way for me to get into my dream job. The job in question is essentially a freelance outdoor instructor (which technically I am now, but all I can legally coach right now is paddle sports). Why that particular job? I love all that sort of thing, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, snowboarding... anything like that. All I need to do to further my as yet fledging career as a coach is get qualifications in the areas I want to coach and do some unpaid coaching to get a good set of references.

Then I travel.

Of course, it probably won't be as easy as I say it is, but I can live with that. If things go wrong, well, sign me up for a job in a library.

I have to say, one thing I could never do is go for a job in games testing. It would involve far too much sitting still and staring at screens. That would drive me to an early grave, I reckon. I can't sit still for that long (also, no cubicle-bound jobs, ever!).

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well I was once told that your dream job is something that make you smile when you wake up to get into work everyday.
Make what you will out of that statement, I mean they are people who do like their job even if they still doing it after work (as you already mention job that involve art). Maybe it could be both as in doing both work and after work activity in moderation not all the time.

Also I not sure what my dream job is but I do like being creative but there are times when I just can't force out an idea (also no my current job isn't like that but I don't hate my job).

 

[Lunatic High]

I would be afraid that doing something I love for a living would cause me tp lose interest in why I loved that particular thing the first place it would be sweet for a while at least

 

[irmasterlol]

Well, the job I have now is unpaid work in an outdoor kit shop, which wouldn't be so bad if my parents didn't own it... When I move back into my term time residence I'm hoping to pick up paid work in an outdoor kit shop that my parents don't own. That would make me an extremely happy bunny.

I'm in university studying for a degree in adventure tourism management, and while I don't plan on managing anything at any time soon, it's slowly but surely paving the way for me to get into my dream job. The job in question is essentially a freelance outdoor instructor (which technically I am now, but all I can legally coach right now is paddle sports). Why that particular job? I love all that sort of thing, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, snowboarding... anything like that. All I need to do to further my as yet fledging career as a coach is get qualifications in the areas I want to coach and do some unpaid coaching to get a good set of references.

Then I travel.

Of course, it probably won't be as easy as I say it is, but I can live with that. If things go wrong, well, sign me up for a job in a library.

I have to say, one thing I could never do is go for a job in games testing. It would involve far too much sitting still and staring at screens. That would drive me to an early grave, I reckon. I can't sit still for that long (also, no cubicle-bound jobs, ever!).

That actually sounds like it rocks. But would you make any money with that? I have a high maintenance lifestyle that requires I keep several prostitutes and kilos of cocaine in close proximity at all times.

 

[purplecactus]

Well, the job I have now is unpaid work in an outdoor kit shop, which wouldn't be so bad if my parents didn't own it... When I move back into my term time residence I'm hoping to pick up paid work in an outdoor kit shop that my parents don't own. That would make me an extremely happy bunny.

I'm in university studying for a degree in adventure tourism management, and while I don't plan on managing anything at any time soon, it's slowly but surely paving the way for me to get into my dream job. The job in question is essentially a freelance outdoor instructor (which technically I am now, but all I can legally coach right now is paddle sports). Why that particular job? I love all that sort of thing, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, snowboarding... anything like that. All I need to do to further my as yet fledging career as a coach is get qualifications in the areas I want to coach and do some unpaid coaching to get a good set of references.

Then I travel.

Of course, it probably won't be as easy as I say it is, but I can live with that. If things go wrong, well, sign me up for a job in a library.

I have to say, one thing I could never do is go for a job in games testing. It would involve far too much sitting still and staring at screens. That would drive me to an early grave, I reckon. I can't sit still for that long (also, no cubicle-bound jobs, ever!).

That actually sounds like it rocks. But would you make any money with that? I have a high maintenance lifestyle that requires I keep several prostitutes and kilos of cocaine in close proximity at all times.

Several prostitutes in close proximity? I do believe I should have this requirement as well. Heh, it won't make many people rich, that's for sure, not unless you get into coaching pro-athletes and the like, and that isn't something I ever plan on doing. I guess if I want those prostitutes I'll have to get 'em the hard way...

 

[Realitycrash]

If there were a college-education that said "YES! Take this education and you will have a 100% chance to work in a bookstore!" then I'd be all over it.
I wanna work in a Sci-fi/Fantasy bookstore. Right now, it's my dream-job.
Other than that, I have no idea.

 

[SweetNess_666]

I would adore to go back to school and study harder, do every inch of homework and don't get distracted by those idiots that never wanted to do anything other than piss off the teachers n distract everyone.

I wanted to work in a bank a long time ago before I messed school up so I think I'd do that, alternatively I'd be a game tester but I suppose a lot of people on here wd say that

 

[dfphetteplace]

I already do what I love. I'm a paramedic.