What is a “Real Job,” exactly?
I keep hearing people use the phrase “Real Job.”
I’m only doing this temporarily until I can find a real job. — My parents are adamant about my need to get a real job. — Why don’t you get a real job?
The phrase seems silly to me. Isn’t a job just a job? What makes one job more real than another? And what is a “Real Job,” exactly?
Anxious to understand, I started asking people who used the term what they meant by it. Unsurprisingly, to different people it meant different things.
According to those I’ve asked, a real job is…
- a full-time job with set hours.
- a job in my major/field/area of specialization.
- a job that pays more than minimum wage.
- a job that pays salary.
- a job with health insurance/sick leave/paid vacation.
- a job with room for growth/advancement opportunity.
- a position with a job title and description.
- anything that’s NOT a temp job.
- anything that earns a steady paycheck.
- something that will make me feel like going into debt for a degree was worthwhile.
What’s fascinating about these responses is how nearly all of them focus exclusively on job details. That is, there is a common expectation for the job to satisfy the requirements for being “real.” The exception is #10, where the responder believes how they feel about the job is more important.
This exception among the typical responses made me wonder: Why don’t all people think this way? When asked to describe a “real job,” why don’t people concentrate on the feeling they’d get from it, rather than the actual job? Wouldn’t it be inspiring to hear people describe how a real job is…
- a job that’s fulfilling!
- a job that’s stimulating!
- a job that’s challenging!
- a job that’s rewarding!
- a job that’s enjoyable!
In other words, shouldn’t the single defining factor of how “real” a job is be determined by how it makes you feel? After all, you listen to your feelings when you decide which jobs aren’t real — and it makes them easy to identify because jobs that aren’t real feel wrong.
Consequently, you’re anxious to leave them. You may stay put for longer than you’d like (under the influence of sensibility and reason), but the feeling of displacement is undeniable. You’re always on the lookout for something better, something more real, something that feels right.
Amazingly, while writing this article I received a coincidental email from a friend I haven’t seen since high school. After reading some of the articles on LifeReboot, Rich contacted me to share the details of his own “life reboot.”
I majored in computer science, but I didn’t want to get a programming job right out of college — I wanted to come to Japan instead. My guidance counselor commented that as far as prospects for getting a good CS job went, “One year in Japan won’t kill you.” Four years later I’m still here.
I’ve reinvented myself as an English teacher. Teaching in high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools has been a far more rewarding experience than coding ever was. For the past year I’ve taught exclusively at elementary schools. The kids’ energy, seeing their smiles, having them motion for a high-five and say “Higher! Higher!” and then muster all their energy to jump and smack my hand — it’s all awesome. My classes are simple and modest, today I taught kids to say things like “I’m going to the sea” and “I’m going to the mountains.” Even so, just seeing how happy the kids are and the unbelievable energy in the room during a great class — it’s awesome.
Not only my job, but simply living in Japan is great. I’ve made so many new friends, I’ve done so many new things I wouldn’t have dreamed of in the states, and even now my daily life can be an adventure. One of the best things about living here is meeting a new Japanese person, talking with them for a good hour or two in Japanese, and having them say things like “Wow, I’ve never talked with a foreigner (non-Japanese) person before. It was so interesting meet you. And your Japanese is amazing!” It feels like I’m really making a different and impact in the community, not just at my work, but in my daily life as well.
Some don’t consider this a “real job.” My parents keep bugging me to go back to the states, and my brother (who now has a programming job in Tokyo) wants to get me a job at his company next summer. I could go back to a computer job, but I have more fun doing other things. I like talking with people, I like being in front of a crowd, I like writing, I like telling stories. And although coding was fun for me back in the day, I feel like there’s something more I want to do with my life than write parsers and scan databases.
I don’t really know where my intro into self betterment, self improvement, or whatever you want to call it started. I suppose I’ve changed a bit since I’ve been here. One of my college friends came to visit me and she said, “Rich — you’re different. I don’t remember you being this energetic, this happy, this full of life when you were in college. It’s awesome!”
I can easily relate to many of Rich’s points, especially the notion of family members who encourage you to get a “real job.” The thing is, when you allow yourself to be influenced by the perspectives of other people, especially family, you miss out on the opportunity to define a “real job” for yourself. Remember, to different people it meant different things.
The intentions of Rich’s family are good. They’re only trying to “save” him by encouraging him to do something they believe is practical. What they fail to realize, though, is how Rich doesn’t need to be saved. He’s found a job that’s personally fulfilling that simultaneously rewards those around him.
What could possibly be more real?
RelatedEntries
- You Don’t Have To Work Steady To Make Money
- Seek Out Low-Risk Opportunities With A Potential For High-Reward
- Accept That You Can’t Make Everyone Happy
- The Necessity of Struggle
- How And Why I Quit Playing An Addictive Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG)
- Stephen Hopson Interview Part I of II
- Words Fail Me
15 Responses to “What is a “Real Job,” exactly?”
I agree Shaun. A real job is something you are passionate about, a job that is stimulating, rewarding and enjoyable. I do have a real job, I teach Kindergarten children and I could not imagine myself doing anything but what I am doing now. You see, it is an art within…it makes me happy, pays most of my bills and I wake up every morning wanting to go to work and face the challenges each day has to bring.
Keep on writing. I enjoy reading your articles.
a job that’s fulfilling!
a job that’s stimulating!
a job that’s challenging!
a job that’s rewarding!
a job that’s enjoyable!
Aye, I’m lacking them, no wonder I feel so lifeless. I need a life reboot
Shaun, this certainly was a thought-provoking article.
I’ve always equated a “real job” with one of two things:
1) A job with an income that takes you above the point of subsistence so that you can start to accumulate assets.
2) A job that fits into the grand categories of prestigious or respectable (e.g. most professional jobs).
Unfortunately, neither of these things presupposes either fulfillment or making a positive contribution to the world around you. These days, “real jobs” rarely provide guarantees of stability either.
Good article!
I think everyone’s ideal job is one that you love. Rich certainly has found it and I hope that he sticks with it!
A real job is something offered by people who wants to own you. Or people who are
afraid to be blamed when free people make mistakes. “I told you to get a real job,
now look what happend!” Guess what: Mistakes are part of life and people are free to
make mistakes and learn from them. If you don’t make mistakes, it’s because you’re
standing still with no chance to learn anything. If you’re standing still you’re
just waiting to die. R.I.P.
I don’t know about you, but I want to live. That’s why I read this blog - Shaun is out there growing stronger, taking responsibility for his life and doing some serious living.
I completely agree with what you’ve said.
Having quit school, I’ve experienced a lot of people thinking that I’m not doing anything “real”. But personally, I’ve learned and gained a lot more after I’ve left school.
I think at the end of the day, what’s “real” is an individual thing, but society always tries to define it for you.
in my experience, a “real job” has been one that has been defined by someone else as what I should be doing. of course i have no real interest in it. ideally, a real job should be one welove, however given the way society works, i think bill watterson of calvin & hobbes puts it best: “A REAL job is a job you hate.â€?
people who truly enjoy what they do probably don’t define it as just a job.
You have been tagged for The Personal Development List. I would love for you to participate.
Aye, Shaun. I just wish that my extremely stimulating, rewarding, and fulfilling job wasn’t so darn hard, exhausting, and emotionally draining so much of the time.
this article was extremely satisfying to read. i am happy with my career choice, and am excited to get things rolling, so i don’t really ‘need’ much of the advice you give in that respect.
but i did need to find something straightforward, POSITIVE, and still realistic.
this article said to me “not only find a job/life/plan you LOVE, but also APPRECIATE IT for what it is!” and that is the part that made it extra great! Thanks
Tell me about it! While most of my family is supportive of my decision to try my hand at writing and web design (and a few other projects that keep me plenty busy), I can’t tell you how many times I’ve introduced myself to someone, told them about all my projects and jobs, and then the say something like, “So, do you have a job?” or “Must be nice not to have a job!”. I’m talking about seemingly nice and intelligent people!
Then there’s a couple family members who seem to want me go into teaching… as if that pays sooooo well where I live. Those and others manage to bring up all sorts of “jobs” that I could do, like tutoring, private lessons, substitute teaching, etc.
I’d say that the big factor is salary. My husband and I actually own a company, but since I do work for the company without actually receiving a salary at this time (since we’re using the money to invest further into the company), I’m just a “housewife” in some people’s eyes (nothing against housewives - I’m just not one). Fortunately, my husband is very supportive and realizes how much work I do.
My parents always were on my case about getting a real job. I didn’t know what was “right” for me out of high school so I delayed doing anything with college. I ended up doing something that was originally more like a hobby.. working with computers. Even though I work at a private firm (Shaun’s fav place), I still really enjoy what I do and I now have my own own netorking and web hosting companies. I’m pretty sure my parents are proud and I know they were looking out for me in a way. I don’t think you should ever get to the point where ever day you wake up you hate your job. Life is too short for that.
Awesome article man! (Not that I’m biased or anything haha)
A real job is like a friendship with a yak - you never know what you’re gonna get. Oh wait… maybe that was supposed to be “box of chocolates”? Nevertheless, love the Rich reference.
Blog or die,
BK
Hey Shaun! You are fabulous. Your writing style is so simple. How can i write like you??