Why you want to work

By Rhonda Campbell
Besides having money to pay bills, do you know why you really want to work? For example, do you want to work so your parents, siblings and friends will respect you? Or do you want to work because you’d feel bored without a job? Also, what experiences (i.e. mountain climbing, summer beach home living) do you want your work to afford? Your answers to these questions could hold clues to why you’re struggling to secure the job you  really want.

Don’t think so? Consider this. If you were single, had a job that required you to work 70 hours a week, a job were you earned $1,400 a week, at first glance, you might think this job would satisfy you. However, if your dream is to own a 3,500 square foot home, spend two or more hours a day with your family and friends, dine at a fine restaurant once a week, travel abroad two to three times a year and donate $10,000 or more a year to an organization you respect, there’s a good chance you’d start to feel frustrated at the $1,400 a week job.

Why? You wouldn’t earn enough from the job to enjoy the experiences you want. The hours the job would demand from you would also keep you from spending quality time with your family and friends.

Let this continue for several months, you pounding out 70 hours a week but not having the time or money to get experiences you want, and it wouldn’t be surprising if you started to feel like you were putting more into the job than you were getting out of it. You might even start to feel underpaid, under-appreciated, stressed and overworked. Can you see why it’s important to get clear about why you want to work?

If you’re not alert, you could start searching for someone to hang your disappointment on. For example, you might start gossiping about a colleague, talking poorly about your supervisor, etc. In time, you could even start to believe that your colleague or supervisor is why you’re not happy, the truth about your frustration having been diverted or — a better word — hidden from you.


The thing is, you could have avoided this if you had taken the time to find out why you really want to work (experiences you want money from a job to afford you) and what you enjoy (I’m talking absolutely love) doing for hours. Even if this hasn’t sunk in deeply, it’s something recruiters are getting.

It’s a reason recruiters ask you questions about your hobbies, personal interests, life goals, etc. Recruiters know that you actually might be able to force yourself to commute long distances, drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic, work long hours and take on one work demand after another for money. On the other hand, they also know that you’d likely only be able to force yourself to do this for so long.

To find out why you really want to work, take some time to ponder and write down experiences you want to have, including one-time and repetitive experiences. Don’t talk yourself out of anything. If it comes to mind, it’s an experience you may truly want to have and simply trying to talk yourself out of wanting the experience because you think you can’t afford it won’t get rid of the desire.

Then, write down activities you love doing for hours (and I mean LOVE doing). Make sure some of the things you love doing require you to connect with other people. For example, if you love to write, you better love connecting with readers if you plan on earning a living as a writer.

Next, list jobs that would easily allow you to do what you love and pay you enough to afford experiences you want. Network with people who are already working these jobs. Join professional associations that put you in touch with people who work/employ others in the types of jobs you want. Build job cover letters and resumes so they highlight your passion for the type of work you truly want. Search for jobs at company and organization websites. Also search for jobs at job boards that specialize in the type of work you want. Apply for jobs every day.

Also, consider starting a job of your own, freelancing, working as a contractor, etc. If you want something enough, there’s a good chance you’ll find a way!  And when you land the work you really want, make sure you give yourself the experiences you want to afford. As a tip, keeping your debt down (or clean off the slate), is a great way to afford wonderful experiences!

Remember, it’s a no brainer that you want to work because you want to have the money to pay standard bills (i.e. food, rent, clothes). What might not be as obvious is your desire to work so you can afford certain experiences. For instance, you may want to work to have money to travel, dine at certain restaurants, buy your family and friends gifts, buy material to build homes, buy fine art, attend major theater events, etc.

You also might have forgotten what it is you love doing for hours. This could be studying animals, developing computer code, acting, singing, helping other people resolve inner conflicts, decorating homes, gardening, teaching children, etc. As you consider the experiences you want to use money to enjoy and what you love doing for hours, you can get a clearer picture of the specific jobs you should pursue.