Looking for Work in ALL the Wrong Places

An August 24, 2006 survey on JustJobs.com reported that the number 1 interest of job seekers is a position with a good salary and benefits. The item of second greatest importance was work/life balance. Third , fourth, and fifth were: advancement opportunities, work environment, and nature of the work – the industry and function in which the job would be performed.
If we unpack these results, they tell us that the average job seeker does not really care which industry, field, or position they occupy, whether the environment is healthful or uplifting, and even if the job has real opportunities for advancement, as long as it pays well and gives good benefits. Since only 24% indicated that work/life balance is important, it might be said that the majority wants money and benefits and it would be nice if they could balance life and work.
As the old saying goes, “seek and you will find.”
Extending this a bit further, we might presume that an individual who seeks only the highest paying job and who doesn’t care what or where it is will most likely end up with a job she hates, that pays well, and enables her to spend some quality time with the people she cares about.
But, isn’t this what everybody’s been complaining about these past few years? When government statistics are released saying that over 80% of all workers are dissatisfied with their work, shouldn’t they be quoting this survey: “Government statistics released today have revealed that 80% of workers have chosen to do jobs they hate just because they pay well. But, instead of revealing their satisfaction, because they got what they wanted, they are complaining all the way to the bank.”
The reason why so many people are so dissatisfied with the jobs they have is because (to paraphrase the old Waylon Jennings country hit) they’re looking for jobs in all the wrong places. And they’ll never find the right job until they learn to look the right way.
There is a right way and a right place to look. It isn’t out there. It’ s in there.