The Ideal Job
I’ve been waaaay too busy this year (well, in the last month) going up to Brisbane to work crazy long hours, and getting called back more than once. I wrote the following analysis of my previous jobs on the plane on the way home after 8 days of 12 to 21 hour working days:
Things I want in a job
- Some time outside (ie in the natural environment)
- No ridiculous high-pressure situations or expectations
- Not totally dependent on (annoying) computers
- No stupid meetings (non-stupid meetings allowed)
- Not too much responsibility for stuff-ups, or not too large consequences from stuff-ups
I proceeded to judge my previous jobs on these criteria, giving scores of 0, 0.5 or 1 on each point. Here’s what I came up with. (Note: jobs are obfuscated to protect the innocent – ie myself)
| EB | TTh | TKa | EP | EInt | Gard | TWa | TStr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total |
3½ |
5 |
7½ |
7½ |
5 |
9½ |
5 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
½ |
4 |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
½ |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
0 |
The results are illuminating. In one exhausted, unhappy moment of brilliance, I seem to have captured the essence of what I want in a job.
Posted Monday, February 26, 2007