Job Placement: An Idea on Happiness
Have you ever walked into a grocery store, a restaurant or gas station and immediately felt sorry for whoever worked there? Have you ever interacted with a service-industry worker and immediately pitied, or worse, snubbed, him or her for working in that position? Have you ever wondered, “Why don’t they get a better job?”
I’m certainly guilty, in some form or another, of the above. I immediately pity the cashier when I walk into a 7-11 at midnight and feel sorry they have to work there. But, why? Why do I do that? Sure, some people probably don’t like working there or in similar positions. That’s their prerogative. But why do I feel the urge the squeeze myself into the equation and feel anything at all? It’s one thing if they’re visibly miserable or upset; empathy would be natural in that case. But, honestly, those jobs have their place in a number of peoples’ lives and some people even like them.
That’s amazing, in my opinion. Sometimes, for some people, the status of a position has little to nothing to do with their search for employment. They’re interested in meeting their needs (or the needs of those they’re caring for), and maybe something they enjoy, and that’s pretty much it. It is so judgmental (and personally draining) to judge other individuals for their employment circumstances or choices. I know a few people, personally, that work at my local Whole Foods Market. They have master’s degrees in an array of fields, and they probably could search for other employment. And yet, I think the average person sees them in the grocery aisle stocking the shelves or at the cashier and immediately think they’re poorly educated or at least lack the drive to do something better. But who’s to say “what’s better” than their current position?
Having worked at Whole Foods Market, I can say that it’s amazing. It’s a fantastic group of people to work with, and there is no other company of their size working to empower their employees and seeking to improve local and global communities. If I had to choose between making a large salary at a job I hate and earning less at a place I love, so long as my needs are met, I couldn’t pass up on the job that would enrich my life beyond the professional sphere. Yet so many people would, and I think that’s a sad fact. Working should mean more than making a salary. For some, that means interacting with and smiling at the customers at the gas station. Others, it’s helping customers explore healthier and alternative eating options at the local health foods store. And others still may enjoy interacting with younger people while working in a cleaning position at a university.
For many, finding work is more than just earning a paycheck. And it’s not about a “lack of drive” or “education” for some people. Don’t get me wrong, some times it absolutely is. And even beyond lack of drive, there is also a severe lack of opportunity. Disadvantaged communities would pursue other career opportunities if they had the means. If anything, this is more reason to be respectful of those working in the service industry. You don’t know why they’re there; I’ve found that, most of the time, it’s not the lack of drive or work ethic, it’s either lack of opportunity or lack of interest in pursuing other careers (because they’re right where they want to be).
I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve looked down on some positions in the past, not because of the pay or environment, but merely because of its status. “I have a college degree, I have experience, I’m above this,” I sometimes say to myself. Whether that’s true or not is irrelevant. If it’s a job that allows me to meet my needs and it’s something I enjoy, I should jump in feet-first. Fellow college graduates may see me in the drive-thru or see my LinkedIn status and think, “Why is he doing that job?” It doesn’t matter, and it shouldn’t matter. What matters is if I’m stable and happy.
And that looks different from person to person.
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.”
Header photo courtesy of Financial Tribune.