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According to this survey as a software engineer, I have the best job
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303772904577336230132805276.h...
How do you fair?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303772904577336230132805276.h...
How do you fair?
In reply to EeeByGum:
Rather depends on the criteria i think.
For me the thought of staring at a computer screen all day sounds like a living hell. (at least, thats what i assume software engineers do?!)
I certainly wouldnt trade it in for what i do: yoga teacher in the caribbean
Rather depends on the criteria i think.
For me the thought of staring at a computer screen all day sounds like a living hell. (at least, thats what i assume software engineers do?!)
I certainly wouldnt trade it in for what i do: yoga teacher in the caribbean
In reply to EeeByGum:
Sort of number 5.
Not bad,not bad.
However I work in Financial Planning rather than actually being a financial planner.
Sort of number 5.
Not bad,not bad.
However I work in Financial Planning rather than actually being a financial planner.
In reply to EeeByGum:
I'm number 3. I find it tedious, dull and with no satisfaction at all
I'm number 3. I find it tedious, dull and with no satisfaction at all
In reply to Sam_in_Leeds:
Do you bring the tea?? You are lucky mind, my profession, doesn't even come on the scale...
> (In reply to EeeByGum)
>
> Sort of number 5.
>
> Not bad,not bad.
>
> However I work in Financial Planning rather than actually being a financial planner.
>
> Sort of number 5.
>
> Not bad,not bad.
>
> However I work in Financial Planning rather than actually being a financial planner.
Do you bring the tea?? You are lucky mind, my profession, doesn't even come on the scale...
In reply to EeeByGum: "biologist" 27. Bit random though, as that doesn't really include the environment you work in, which i would think would make a big difference?
In reply to EeeByGum:
Hmm, well I'm in at 94 (Chemist) which puts me in a worse position than the bloke who fixes the vending machine but in a slightly better position than a Cosmetologist. Nice to know that a highly qualified position in the pharmaceutical industry is being rewarded by being a lofty 5 places above a flipping nail technician.
Hmm, well I'm in at 94 (Chemist) which puts me in a worse position than the bloke who fixes the vending machine but in a slightly better position than a Cosmetologist. Nice to know that a highly qualified position in the pharmaceutical industry is being rewarded by being a lofty 5 places above a flipping nail technician.
In reply to EeeByGum: I guess 'mind numbing tedium' wasn't one of the criteria, as that's what seemed to define my last role as a software engineer.
In reply to EeeByGum:
10th. Sort of. And I like it a lot.
I'd rather eat my own face off with a blunt, rusty spoon than be an actuary though...
10th. Sort of. And I like it a lot.
I'd rather eat my own face off with a blunt, rusty spoon than be an actuary though...
In reply to Miss Piggy:
Not quite.
I do the research/write the reports and he "schmoozes" and signs things off.
Not quite.
I do the research/write the reports and he "schmoozes" and signs things off.
In reply to EeeByGum: 16th and 66th for me, think I will go with the 16th place one though
Oh and I love my job!!
Oh and I love my job!!
In reply to EeeByGum:
>
Must...resist...spelling...pedantry...
Number 47 - accountant. "City Hall penpusher" wasn't on the list.
>
> How do you fair?
Must...resist...spelling...pedantry...
Number 47 - accountant. "City Hall penpusher" wasn't on the list.
In reply to EeeByGum: I found it a bit of a pointless survey - take, for example, physical demands. This survey rates physical demands poorly, yet there are plenty of jobs where physical demands are one of the selling points - mountain guide, soldier, fitness trainer etc.
In reply to EeeByGum: Yay! I'm training to be an optom, which is number 12. I used to be a civil servant, which made me want to kill myself. It doesn't feature in the list, perhaps it dropped off the bottom?
The thought once occurred to me that if one wanted to crush and destroy a man entirely, to mete out to him the most terrible punishment,one at which the most fearsome murderer would tremble, shrinking from it in advance, all one would have to do would make him do work that was completely and utterly devoid of usefulness and meaning. - Dostoyevsky
With thanks to DuckEgg and Annie for bringing that to my attention.
The thought once occurred to me that if one wanted to crush and destroy a man entirely, to mete out to him the most terrible punishment,one at which the most fearsome murderer would tremble, shrinking from it in advance, all one would have to do would make him do work that was completely and utterly devoid of usefulness and meaning. - Dostoyevsky
With thanks to DuckEgg and Annie for bringing that to my attention.
In reply to nickinscottishmountains:
I dunno. You can't really quantify enjoyment because it is so personal, but with regard to physical demands - they do count negatively because if you get injured, you are effectively out of work which kind of puts it on the same sort of zone as hiring prospects. Seems pretty objective to me.
> (In reply to EeeByGum) I found it a bit of a pointless survey - take, for example, physical demands. This survey rates physical demands poorly, yet there are plenty of jobs where physical demands are one of the selling points - mountain guide, soldier, fitness trainer etc.
I dunno. You can't really quantify enjoyment because it is so personal, but with regard to physical demands - they do count negatively because if you get injured, you are effectively out of work which kind of puts it on the same sort of zone as hiring prospects. Seems pretty objective to me.
In reply to EeeByGum: #21, not quite sure exactly what to make of that list, I absolutely love my job yet there are specialised fields in it that could be ranked at no1 or no 200 equally, yet still carry the same title.
In reply to EeeByGum:
Mine doesnt appear on the list at all but I dont need anyone else to tell me how shit it is.
Mine doesnt appear on the list at all but I dont need anyone else to tell me how shit it is.
In reply to EeeByGum: It's the Wall Street Journal, so it isn't suprising that being outside in the countryside isn't a factor, but salary and employability are. Dental Hygienist? No.3? You're kidding!
In reply to EeeByGum: Where is Brothel Manager in the list?? Take the punters money and hand out the towels.. Should at least be better than Dental Bloody Hygienist!!!!
Is Climbing Centre Lackey in there too??
Is Climbing Centre Lackey in there too??
In reply to kieran b:
Sometimes it's utterly tedious, a lot of the time it's just work, quite often it's pretty interesting, and occasionally my hands shake from the excitement and I can't type fast enough. I'm being quite serious.
I think I'd find teaching yoga a living hell though, so horses for courses and all that.
> (In reply to EeeByGum)
> Rather depends on the criteria i think.
> For me the thought of staring at a computer screen all day sounds like a living hell. (at least, thats what i assume software engineers do?!)
> Rather depends on the criteria i think.
> For me the thought of staring at a computer screen all day sounds like a living hell. (at least, thats what i assume software engineers do?!)
Sometimes it's utterly tedious, a lot of the time it's just work, quite often it's pretty interesting, and occasionally my hands shake from the excitement and I can't type fast enough. I'm being quite serious.
I think I'd find teaching yoga a living hell though, so horses for courses and all that.
In reply to EeeByGum:
I'm down at 120 (nearest I can get) but wouldn't swap for higher scores. My job has plenty of plus points, so I'm happy.
I'm down at 120 (nearest I can get) but wouldn't swap for higher scores. My job has plenty of plus points, so I'm happy.
In reply to Nutkey:
lol!
But i guess the point is that i am really into yoga and therefore im doing a job in a field that i love.
That seems to be what makes people happy
> (In reply to kieran b)
> [...]
>
> [...]
>
>
> I think I'd find teaching yoga a living hell though, so horses for courses and all that.
> I think I'd find teaching yoga a living hell though, so horses for courses and all that.
lol!
But i guess the point is that i am really into yoga and therefore im doing a job in a field that i love.
That seems to be what makes people happy
In reply to EeeByGum:
Can't place myself on this as even I'm not sure what I do, I do seem to go to an awful lot of meetings though, we even have meetings to decide what to have meetings about.
Can't place myself on this as even I'm not sure what I do, I do seem to go to an awful lot of meetings though, we even have meetings to decide what to have meetings about.
In reply to Mooncat:
You're not working for the UN by any chance??
My ex worked for UNDP and all she ever did was have meeting after meeting
You're not working for the UN by any chance??
My ex worked for UNDP and all she ever did was have meeting after meeting
In reply to Liam M:
Yes, and Actuary is no 2??????
If there's a definition of mind-numbing tedium that's it...
Nos 44 and 47 in this house, as it happens..
> (In reply to EeeByGum) I guess 'mind numbing tedium' wasn't one of the criteria, as that's what seemed to define my last role as a software engineer.
Yes, and Actuary is no 2??????
If there's a definition of mind-numbing tedium that's it...
Nos 44 and 47 in this house, as it happens..
In reply to EeeByGum:
I don't even make the list! Although I have a degree in computing and am planning to make a nice side business out of 1, so does that mean I qualify?
I don't even make the list! Although I have a degree in computing and am planning to make a nice side business out of 1, so does that mean I qualify?
In reply to John_Hat:
Ha. Well I'm no. 2 on the list, and the role within that space can vary hugely. My current job is very interesting - lots of interaction with the most senior members of the company; mathematically complex; market driven.
People who say actuarial work is dull don't have an understanding of what an 'actuary' does. One actuary may work on pension funds valuations, another may look at natural catastrophe risk such as APAC earthquake regions. Vastly different jobs with little crossover.
Ha. Well I'm no. 2 on the list, and the role within that space can vary hugely. My current job is very interesting - lots of interaction with the most senior members of the company; mathematically complex; market driven.
People who say actuarial work is dull don't have an understanding of what an 'actuary' does. One actuary may work on pension funds valuations, another may look at natural catastrophe risk such as APAC earthquake regions. Vastly different jobs with little crossover.
In reply to SARS:
I did a lot of work last year on TASM, hence my comment... I'll admit it was pension funds...
> (In reply to John_Hat)
>
> Ha. Well I'm no. 2 on the list, and the role within that space can vary hugely. My current job is very interesting - lots of interaction with the most senior members of the company; mathematically complex; market driven.
>
> People who say actuarial work is dull don't have an understanding of what an 'actuary' does. One actuary may work on pension funds valuations, another may look at natural catastrophe risk such as APAC earthquake regions. Vastly different jobs with little crossover.
>
> Ha. Well I'm no. 2 on the list, and the role within that space can vary hugely. My current job is very interesting - lots of interaction with the most senior members of the company; mathematically complex; market driven.
>
> People who say actuarial work is dull don't have an understanding of what an 'actuary' does. One actuary may work on pension funds valuations, another may look at natural catastrophe risk such as APAC earthquake regions. Vastly different jobs with little crossover.
I did a lot of work last year on TASM, hence my comment... I'll admit it was pension funds...
In reply to EeeByGum: 72 here joint with brick mason. but have a hobby of 15. is that sad?
In reply to EeeByGum: Wahey! I've recently had an (Ahem - unconditional) offer to go begin my training for number 4 in september. Can't wait to be the old one.
In reply to John_Hat:
Any job can be dull. I worked on a derivatives trading desk in Japan for a while. At times I was tearing my hair out with boredom.
Actuarial jobs can be good or bad - it's specific to the role. Hard to generalize, especially as in your case where you did one loosely actuarial job for one very specific area of finance. I've been in this area for more than 10 yrs and have had all types of roles.
Any job can be dull. I worked on a derivatives trading desk in Japan for a while. At times I was tearing my hair out with boredom.
Actuarial jobs can be good or bad - it's specific to the role. Hard to generalize, especially as in your case where you did one loosely actuarial job for one very specific area of finance. I've been in this area for more than 10 yrs and have had all types of roles.
In reply to EeeByGum:
One of the daftest lists I've ever seen, because it's based on the fallacy of weighing up immeasurable and incompatible data. It presupposes some hidden value system that's not explained; and even if it were, it could not of course be quantified. It also presupposes, surely, that the person doing the job is successful enough at it to be in work or get regular work. Yet the notion is lurking that the more difficult a job is to get the 'worse' it is. This nonsense results in some of the (surely) most satisfying jobs on this planet getting such low scores, e.g. being an artist, an actor, a publication editor, a conservationist, or a broadcaster. What I do now (author) is the most satisfying job I've ever done by quite a long way, yet it comes in at position 101 (just above a 'sewage plant operator' ... that has to be a joke, and a very good one too). The second most satisfying job I ever did was as a film and music editor, and that comes in at a derisory position 121. Just who are the wallies who've made these clever 'calculations'?
Final joke is 'Lumberjack' at the bottom, in position 200. Another good one. So Monty Python got it wrong all that time ago?
It just has to be an April fool.
One of the daftest lists I've ever seen, because it's based on the fallacy of weighing up immeasurable and incompatible data. It presupposes some hidden value system that's not explained; and even if it were, it could not of course be quantified. It also presupposes, surely, that the person doing the job is successful enough at it to be in work or get regular work. Yet the notion is lurking that the more difficult a job is to get the 'worse' it is. This nonsense results in some of the (surely) most satisfying jobs on this planet getting such low scores, e.g. being an artist, an actor, a publication editor, a conservationist, or a broadcaster. What I do now (author) is the most satisfying job I've ever done by quite a long way, yet it comes in at position 101 (just above a 'sewage plant operator' ... that has to be a joke, and a very good one too). The second most satisfying job I ever did was as a film and music editor, and that comes in at a derisory position 121. Just who are the wallies who've made these clever 'calculations'?
Final joke is 'Lumberjack' at the bottom, in position 200. Another good one. So Monty Python got it wrong all that time ago?
It just has to be an April fool.
In reply to EeeByGum: God I am No60! I knew I should of tried harder in School
Dental Hygiene is pretty good career- Treating patients all day, helping people, good money (often you can work 2-3 days a week and still do OK for yourself).
You'll have to look hard to find a miserable hygienist.
You'll have to look hard to find a miserable hygienist.
In reply to EeeByGum:
I was a Human Resource Manager for over ten years.
I'm now a hedgelayer and drystone waller.
If,. by best job, measured by someone else's criteria, in this case the Wall Street Journal then HRM is at number 3.
But, if you mean by my criteria, Human Resource Manager is 50 and hedgelaying and drsytone walling is number 1.
I was a Human Resource Manager for over ten years.
I'm now a hedgelayer and drystone waller.
If,. by best job, measured by someone else's criteria, in this case the Wall Street Journal then HRM is at number 3.
But, if you mean by my criteria, Human Resource Manager is 50 and hedgelaying and drsytone walling is number 1.
In reply to EeeByGum: what a completely stupid idea-who can say what is the best job? How do you measure that? How does that measurement relate to individual attributes, skills etc. Cretinous.
In reply to EeeByGum : We are treating this all wrong! Its a list of people who are most likely to read the wall street journal. So they can feel all smug. How many dairy farmers and lumberjacks read it compared to those at the top........
Its a self gratifying conspiracy
Its a self gratifying conspiracy
In reply to Removed Userena sharples:
I don't think this research does a good job, but it's I think it's perfectly measurable with a decent questionnaire - ask people how satisfied they are with various aspects of their work, including some good summary statements
e.g. Which do you agree with
- I would rather kill myself using a stapler than go into work tomorrow
to
- I love my job so much that I have cut off relations with everyone I love to focus on it with every fibre of my being
and you could do a perfectly good piece of research.
I think this survey falls down a bit by trying too hard to be objective. It's the likelihood that you will enjoy your job that is the measure of a good or bad vocation. There is the complication that if the job doesn't suit you, that means you won't like it, but while some people make bad choices, I think most people end up doing something they're suited to. And good research would make a decent attempt at accounting for this in the analysis.
> (In reply to Removed UserEeeByGum) what a completely stupid idea-who can say what is the best job? How do you measure that? How does that measurement relate to individual attributes, skills etc. Cretinous.
I don't think this research does a good job, but it's I think it's perfectly measurable with a decent questionnaire - ask people how satisfied they are with various aspects of their work, including some good summary statements
e.g. Which do you agree with
- I would rather kill myself using a stapler than go into work tomorrow
to
- I love my job so much that I have cut off relations with everyone I love to focus on it with every fibre of my being
and you could do a perfectly good piece of research.
I think this survey falls down a bit by trying too hard to be objective. It's the likelihood that you will enjoy your job that is the measure of a good or bad vocation. There is the complication that if the job doesn't suit you, that means you won't like it, but while some people make bad choices, I think most people end up doing something they're suited to. And good research would make a decent attempt at accounting for this in the analysis.
In reply to EeeByGum:
Does anyone remember the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch 'The worst job I ever had'? They said it was pulling lobsters out of Jayne Mansfield's *rse (blame them, not me, I'm just the messenger)
Does anyone remember the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch 'The worst job I ever had'? They said it was pulling lobsters out of Jayne Mansfield's *rse (blame them, not me, I'm just the messenger)
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:
It can be done - economists do it all the time - but it won't apply to any single person in a very meaningful way.
> One of the daftest lists I've ever seen, because it's based on the fallacy of weighing up immeasurable and incompatible data.
It can be done - economists do it all the time - but it won't apply to any single person in a very meaningful way.
In reply to EeeByGum:
166 for me. Looks like I'm going to have to force myself to enjoy work less then.
166 for me. Looks like I'm going to have to force myself to enjoy work less then.
In reply to EeeByGum: Number 9 for me.
In reply to Jon Stewart: In this case though, they weren't looking at the proportion of people who say they enjoy their jobs. They were looking at static measures such as employment prospects, work environment, physical demands etc etc. I know many Software Engineers who hate their jobs and I am sure there are a similar proportion of lumberjacks that love theirs. That wasn't what this survey was about.
In reply to EeeByGum: Was at 27....now at 47...oo dear
In reply to DavePlews89: Dental Hygiene is a damned good career. The training centre at Cardiff uni has 6 places for the hygeine / therapist Bsc, and has around 500 applicants per year! There's a reason why.
In reply to EeeByGum:
they've not included enjoyment or satisfaction in the calculation (something everyone seems to be missing!).
However the 5 things they have included don't appear to help any objective I can think of. It appears to be utterly pointless in every respect.
One of the daftest is that phycial demands are obviously taken as a big negative looking in the list - I'm sure a good number of people on here (as climbers and at least somewhat active and outdoorsy) would prefer something more phsical to sitting at a desk all day. (sadly I sit at a desk all day )
can anyone explain any way they could use this list for any real purpose?
they've not included enjoyment or satisfaction in the calculation (something everyone seems to be missing!).
However the 5 things they have included don't appear to help any objective I can think of. It appears to be utterly pointless in every respect.
One of the daftest is that phycial demands are obviously taken as a big negative looking in the list - I'm sure a good number of people on here (as climbers and at least somewhat active and outdoorsy) would prefer something more phsical to sitting at a desk all day. (sadly I sit at a desk all day )
can anyone explain any way they could use this list for any real purpose?
In reply to EeeByGum: my mobile wont show list. Either that or i need to login. Which i wont. What number is pest control. I have over 20 years of various fields and pest control is, by far, the best job I've ever had. And i work for the big boys!
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