Do You Have A ‘Grown-Up’ Job?

Posted On 24 Mar 2021

Do You Have A ‘Grown-Up’ Job?

24 Mar 2021
Do You Have A ‘Grown-Up’ Job?

Candidate Resource, Employable, Employer Resource, News & Events

Do You Have A ‘Grown-Up’ Job?

I don’t think I do, and for your sake, I really hope you don’t. Read on, and I will explain….

Recently on a short hospital stay, I had time to watch and listen intently to the comings and goings of the nurses and doctors and caught myself thinking, “ah, that’s what’s it’s like to have a ‘grown-up job’”.

(As a side note: observing and watching is incredibly helpful for working on your own self-awareness!).

I have never viewed myself as having a ‘grown-up job’ – simply because I feel so lucky to have fallen into a job I love (that word again!) and enjoy so much. When I used to think of being ‘grown up’, the word ‘burden’ would also come to mind. With the career I have chosen, I never feel burdened. It must be this comparison that makes me believe I don’t fall into the category of having a ‘grown-up job’.

I have often wondered if I could be a little biased (we can’t avoid it), trying to understand the prevailing norm of how we see our jobs instead of the exceptions.

Sometimes I check, and give myself a little squeeze, pinch just to ensure it is my reality.  Of course, there are moments and times when the challenges in my job almost seem too much. But, ultimately, so far, love wins out.

I gave pause to consider these ‘grown-up jobs’ because, when I was younger, I aspired to be a doctor. After seeing a documentary about doctors working in South East Asia & Africa, it tugged at my heart. Unfortunately, chemistry and physics tugged at my brain, and I was never to be a doctor and thank goodness for that!

The attraction to being a doctor was the desire and motivation to help people. I am sure you can relate to my story and find a similar narrative in your own early experiences. How many of us pursue careers, jobs and promotions based on what we think the job can deliver for our inner needs and motivations, only to be disappointed?

From my career interviewing and meeting so many people, I can tell you, this figure is significant. Unfortunately, people tend to stick with a job or career choice they made long ago, and it is a rarity to be open to review and rethink options and realities.

The world changes all the time, as do we. Over time, the ‘mental costume’ we wear may become too small or tight. Or maybe it stretches. But then, how do we ‘breathe’ in it. Does it limit our movements, sore spots, or allow us to have freedom still?

People often think its too late to change careers. Perhaps they have ‘invested too much’? I understand this thought process – but I have the privilege of the big picture view – I see what happens 10, 20 plus years on when people ‘stick’ to the wrong job. It manifests, and the discontent can grow exponentially. The negative feeling spreads onto other parts of your life. For how can it not? A good job and career choice are all too important – it interconnects with all aspects of your world.

For many people, 2021 has presented the opportunity to revaluate career and job choices and see if their job satisfies the inner needs, desires and motivations.

This emphasis has given many people the freedom to rethink their beliefs, including well-established opinions.

The danger, of course, is to make too swift a decision.  I am not a vocational guide, but from my years of meeting and interviewing people, I have some simple tips and thoughts to share with you:

  • It is completely normal and natural to not like your job on occasions.
  • It is entirely normal and natural not to like certain parts of your job all the time.
  • Just like any relationship, the relationship with your job will go through its ups and downs, and the excitement and thrill part taper off – replacing it instead with comfort, stability – but you should still have some thrills!
  • It will be up to you to create, recognise and nurture these thrills.
  • Just like I thought being a doctor would satisfy my inner needs and desires ‘to help’, what are your inner needs?
  • Learn to distinguish your ‘discontent’ between the job, environment, and employer. It may not be the ‘job’ after all.
  • Do not change everything at the same time. A sea change to the country? Try not to make a career change at the same time.
  • It is not too late to change careers or jobs – it just requires analysis, reflection, flexibility, a detachment from the habitual way of thinking, courage, compromise, acceptance, and an openness to vulnerability (there is no courage, change etc. without vulnerability). Being ok in displaying your vulnerability is a crucial ‘state’ and requirement to any change.
  • On your very best day at work – capture the feeling – write the adjectives down – without thinking – the first words that come to mind. What happened that day to make it so magical? How to replicate that? Who and what was a part of that experience? What else is going on in your life at the moment, that’s joyful – because it is connected.
  • On your very worst day at work – as above.
  • It might be valuable to give yourself a bit of a test – Would you still do your job if it paid $10k or $20k less?

So, do you have a ‘grown-up job’? Are you fortunate enough to straddle and balance a job of worth and importance with pleasure and joy?

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”  Ella Fitzgerald

About the Author

Roxanne Calder

As Founder and Managing Director at EST10, Roxanne has an all-encompassing role that includes building and growing the business, as well as actively recruiting and consulting.

After completing a Bachelor’s Degree at Monash University, Roxanne began her recruitment career with renowned recruiter Julia Ross. From there, Roxanne worked in HR and recruitment with a number of global players and boutique businesses throughout Australia, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong for over 20 years. She has been responsible for managing large teams and projects, implementing RPO models, managing and assisting businesses to an IPO and assisting companies in setting up their recruitment teams and processes.

Following completion of her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, Roxanne launched EST10 in July 2010. In doing so, she hoped to combine the flexibility and high touch service levels of boutique agencies with the structure and strategy afforded to larger firms. Roxanne believes in high-touch, high-care consulting and is always on the lookout for consultants that share this vision of recruitment.

About the author
Roxanne Calder
Managing Director

As Founder and Managing Director at EST10, Roxanne has an all-encompassing role that includes building and growing the business, as well as actively recruiting and consulting.

After completing a Bachelor’s Degree at Monash University, Roxanne began her recruitment career with renowned recruiter Julia Ross. From there, Roxanne worked in HR and recruitment with a number of global players and boutique businesses throughout Australia, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong for over 20 years. She has been responsible for managing large teams and projects, implementing RPO models, managing and assisting businesses to an IPO and assisting companies in setting up their recruitment teams and processes.

Following completion of her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, Roxanne launched EST10 in July 2010. In doing so, she hoped to combine the flexibility and high touch service levels of boutique agencies with the structure and strategy afforded to larger firms. Roxanne believes in high-touch, high-care consulting and is always on the lookout for consultants that share this vision of recruitment.