Why do I love my job?

Believe it or not, I found myself asking this question the other night in bed?

No, I’m not saying this on a public forum to score points with Managers or my CEO, I can honestly say I love my job.

I haven’t been able to say this for a very long time and even considered leaving recruitment due to my level of dissatisfaction.

Did the dissatisfaction come from turning 40 and wanting more than just to be a cog in the corporate machine? Was I just needing a more creative outlet or more meaningful goal outside of the bottom line?

Upon reflecting on this, I came to realise that the main reason I am now no long experiencing the “Sunday blues” or the “I live for Fridays and the weekend and everything in between is just a means to an end”, boils down to my workplace allows me to be myself.

The word "authentic" and buzz words like “courageous conversations” have been thrown around so much it has almost lost its meaning. But when I break it down, my work allowing me to be an individual, not edited or diluted, not needing to “fit the mould”, is at the core of my job satisfaction.

Of course since Covid, there have been other factors in combination with this that have led to me being happy with a lot in my life.

Our business has changed dramatically to adapt to the new landscape of work. I now work a compressed 9 day fortnight, giving me time to feed the more creative side of my personality, develop interests and spend time on things outside of my core job. 

We work on outcomes, not set hours or working in one way. I’m still easily doing my 40 hours but this suits my personality so much more as I struggle to sit at a desk under neon lights for 9 hours straight without feeling like I’m in a cubic prison cell. I like working late from home while I listen to the news, then reconnecting again when I am in the zone. Having the freedom to go for a run outside when I feel that lull and the need for fresh air.

Lastly, I’m in a job and company that has enabled me to be successful. I feel competent in what I do and I’m not suffering from the dreaded “imposter syndrome” where you fear being exposed for being out of your depth. 

In prior years when I was younger, had you asked me “What would make you move?”, the answer was crystal clear, it was MONEY. More money, better bonuses. It was my driving force. This of course is still important, but now being older, no matter how much you threw at me, if it was an environment where I couldn’t be myself, with zero flexibility, or in an area I have zero interest or knowledge in, it would a be confident no.

So, the ability to be you, have flexibility, and feeling competent, is where I landed before I fell asleep as to why I now count myself as one of the lucky ones who loves their job.

Employers who are yet to get on the new flexible post-Covid work train will struggle to attract talent. 

Candidates have reflected during this pandemic and realised what it is that truly offers them well-being in and outside of work and they are not afraid to be honest in asking for it and are no longer accepting the status quo. Working from home, in a style and way that works for them, without impeding on precious family time is no longer negotiable if you want a happy and productive workforce.

 What is important to you when making the next move?