Post # 1
Member
5189 posts
Bee Keeper
For the bees who work with the public – how do you react when clients, customers, patients, etc… ask you if you like your job? Is there any acceptable answer besides “yes”, even if you don’t mean it? It’s such an idiotic question that really bugs me. What am I supposed to say? “No, I hate this job. I wish I wasn’t here and that I didn’t have to be talking to you right now. I can’t wait to go home so I don’t have to see any more people today”. Arggh, maybe I’m just venting because I have to work the late shift in the ER tonight. But seriously, isn’t it one of the dumbest questions you can ask someone while they are at work?
Post # 3
Member
9681 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@Aquaria: Oh, I thought you meant friends and family asking, not customers. I don’t work with the public, so I’ve never encountered this. In my personal life though, I generally dislike any question I feel is too personal or nosy.
Post # 4
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
I’m a social worker at a domestic violence shelter, it’s the best and most terrible job ever. When clients ask if I like my job, I tell them that I love it.
Post # 5
Member
595 posts
Busy bee
Maybe you could highlight something you like. For example, “I love that this job allows me to work with people in need of assistance//a flexible work schedule” etc. That way you aren’t lying if you don’t enjoy your job.
Post # 6
Member
405 posts
Helper bee
My mom always likes to joke that “if it was fun it wouldn’t be called work.” So maybe make a joke about it?
Post # 7
Member
2269 posts
Buzzing bee
@Aquaria:
For my retail job: “It pays the bills 🙂 “
For my full time job: “Yes!”
(Because I actually do love it. )
Post # 8
Member
2437 posts
Buzzing bee
@Aquaria: I don’t mind be asked that question, but I love my job, so that could be why. 🙂
Post # 9
Member
11233 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Hm…I can’t say I’ve ever had a customer ask me that.
Post # 10
Member
2550 posts
Sugar bee
@Aquaria: I get asked every 6-12 months- by my boss. Like really? I’m going to straight up say “Actually, I really hate it but it pays the bills so I deal”… No way in hell! I put on a smiley face even thought inside I’m screaming to say the truth & just say “I do enjoy my job, yes”. I’m really hoping he doesn’t ask me when I’m PMSing or had a bad day, who know’s the truth may just pop out!
Post # 11
Member
5189 posts
Bee Keeper
It’s not that I dislike my job. I enjoy it for the most part. But if I was a hospital patient and I asked my caregiver if they liked their job and they said “no” I’d feel very uneasy and worry that I wasn’t receiving the best care possible.
Post # 12
Member
4523 posts
Honey bee
My go-to response is “oh yeah, living the dream over here!” and i’d say 98% of the folks I say it to are picking up what I’m putting down.
Post # 13
Member
2854 posts
Sugar bee
I used to work the front desk of a healthcare place. It got STRESSFUL! (I wasn’t the secretary, I just didn’t have to be on the phones all the time so got stuck up front).
When patients would ask if I liked my job…I would be like “I’m never bored and the day totally flies by!” which was true. I liked some of my coworkers, and I liked that my manager trusted me to do my work without checking up on me–I could do my own thing (of course I did my work too!). But I wouldn’t say I loved the job itself, or the work I was doing…also…some patients could get nasty…and that’s not fun at all!
ETA: I’m in grad school right now and I work part time as a grad assistant in a dean’s office. It’s easy work, so I like it well enough for a part time school job. I do enjoy my internship though, because it’s in the field I want to work in when I graduate.
Post # 14
Member
2440 posts
Buzzing bee
@Aquaria: you know, I think some people ask because they are curious for various reasons. I ask because I wonder if it would be a good fit for me. So I’d love for people to say “yeah, but it’s challenging because of blah blah blah” or to be honest and say “well, it’s all right” or “not really” so long as it won’t get them in trouble. I’d just like to know.
Post # 15
Member
661 posts
Busy bee
@Aquaria: I agree. I hate being asked this question. I find it just plain nosey and I think there’s an implied judgment there as well.
Post # 16
Member
5189 posts
Bee Keeper
@Asia: I’ve had some people ask legitimately because they’re considering going into the field themselves, or they know someone who is. It’s perfectly logical to ask in that sense. But other times it’s such an oddball question.
