What do you do for a living?
It’s a common question, but deceiving all the same. People do a lot of things, may carry several job titles at once or over the course of a lifetime, but this question carries a bit of judgment with it – there are conclusions from how someone responds, certain societal definitions of self-worth that mingle in with one’s reaction to an answer. In short, there exists a concern of being pigeonholed, categorized, boxed in a label simply based on one’s current profession. It’s somewhat ridiculous.
Recent graduates are encountering this question nearly weekly, daily. It is a constant rumination for some, while others who found employment may struggle with climbing the ladder; they strive toward using their degree or vocational education to its fullest. Starting an entry-level job can emit feelings of gratefulness (especially in this economic downturn), but sometimes, it doesn’t calm the feeling of defeat churning in one’s gut. Still, some peers have achieved this goal (or threw out the instruction manual to the major-laden expectations of pursuing a certain field), and have followed their interests, carving out a career path that has nothing to do with their educational background.
Whatever a person does, others usually want to know. People want to know if someone feels satisfied in their field – content, yearnful, disappointed. People look at benefits, salary vs. hourly wage, lifestyle fit, and personality vs. employer match. One of my relatives is considering a job offer at this moment. She is still a college student, but offered a relatively lucrative part-time position; it would not only offer the largest hourly rate that she has been given so far, but excellent experience and networking opportunities. In taking that offer, she would scale back on her enrollment for the semester and leave another part-time job with a great, considerate boss. There are more factors that go into play when considering job contentment – sometimes, the pay cut is worth the payoffs, but I have a feeling that philosophy is somewhat more rare to find than simply performing a job to make ends meet, to support oneself or one’s family, and if possible, to pay for some leisure and luxury on the side too.
Am I known for more than my title – for my passion, integrity, and decency as a human being, maybe even my (usually corny) sense of humor? When I tend to jump in the water, I dive right in, submerging myself in its depths. I feel like I am allowing myself to drown at times – I give too much, realize a few seconds too late that I put too much into my tasks, take things seriously, and believe in my employment’s mission – I am an advocate for change, for utilizing company time to its utmost potential, and to strive further. Although I am not necessarily seeing this current situation as being an end-all or stepping stone for greener pastures, I would like to use my graduate degree more relevantly, whatever that means. I did not study human behavior for the paycheck, and I surely get personal satisfaction out of what I do now. There is enough fight and energy pumping to settle yet – this is only the beginning of my earning years, of my adventure.
Plus, there comes a bit of freedom in not having a business card – I am still young in my current field, any field. It’s time to push aside any feelings of doubt or insecurity and enjoy the river. The current is smooth enough with mild, manageable rapids for an amateur, and I have to stop exerting so much energy into analyzing the gentle curves of the riverbed. There are only two nagging, metaphorical fears – 1) The river will drop off into an irresponsibly foreseeable waterfall at the last moment that will have me scrambling for dry land or 2) The river will empty out into a vast ocean that will leave me begging for shore. The river can only last so long and I am unsure of where I am on the map at the moment.
So, what do you do for a living?
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