What I learn from Working For an Exciting Job
Why You Might Actually Want a Boring Job
"You know the difference between me and you, Edward?"
"We're both Virgos, but you crave stability while I'm chasing excitement. I want something really good here in the United States. Thus, I am starting a drop-shipping business here in the States."
My friend's excitement over his drop-shipping business was great, but I couldn't help but wonder—is excitement really worth the chaos? After all, there's something to be said for stability, which he seems to dismiss.
I hang out with this guy once every quarter.
This time, we met up because our birthdays were close.
I remain silent, although I disagree with every word he says.
Ever since starting this business, he has told himself (and everyone) that a 'boss life' is glorious.
Although he tries to make ends meet, he is working on something exciting.
Something that he is passionate about.
But here's the thing - what if a boring job is actually good for you?
Hear me out.
Are you really miserable in your workplace?
Most of us go to work not because we want to but because we must. We all need to work to put food on our table.
We end up spending a big chunk of our workday doing stuff that's just not fun. But that doesn't mean we spend 8 hours of our time being miserable.
Ever watched The Office?
Yeah, it's a hilarious take on boring jobs.
If you want to know what a boring job is, the office has depicted them to a ridiculous degree.
Jokes aside, one thing I found interesting about the office is how comfortable places it is to work.
You found people who will stick around, sh*tting on their bad bosses who don't give their employees rewards.
They get to stay at lunchtime a little bit longer than everyone else because they can.
Also, because the job itself is predictable enough.
We watch these shows for the comfort of binge-watching, but we also are secretly jealous of this guy (gals) because we subconsciously also think that working with these people in the boring job may not be as miserable.
The BullSh*t that all the Advice of a Career Influencer
"Find a role you love, so you won't have to work ever."
These quotes have been roaming around the internet for decades.
These words sound intriguing.
But how does that translate to reality?
Let's Be Honest, Not Every Job Is a Dream
It's easy to get caught up in the idea that exciting jobs are where it's at. But let's talk about the real cost of chasing those roles.
Lots of attractive jobs out there are preferable to any other jobs for various reasons:
Prestige
Money
Let's take software engineers, for example. There are companies that are more "exciting." You get to do the work that you are actually passionate about.
It is also not a coincidence that these companies are usually startups.
Because startups are the ones that have all kinds of crazy ideas that haven't gotten product market fit yet.
Although it is exciting, what kind of cost does it come with?
Irregular hours.
Unpredictable job description.
Inevitable of the layoff economy.
Startups are usually terrible to work for, except if you are passionate about the mission.
Your equity is usually equivalent to a lottery ticket—you must be really lucky to be one of the few to experience a successful IPO.
What People Will Die for - Prestige
How about something more prestigious, like a C-level at Fortune 50, doctors and lawyers?
It gives a good impression to people and friends who know what you do for a living.
Their eyes usually light up when you say you are working for a prestigious profession or company, and girls will look at you like you are 10 feet taller than usual.
What is the cost that comes with a prestigious job, though?
This role comes with an expectation of very long and irregular hours. And it also required grueling study and corporate butt-kissing needed to get the job in the first place.
But the trade-offs are clear: you are doing it not because you love them but because of prestige.
Sociologists like Catherine Hakim have pointed out that many individuals pursue careers in prestigious fields not just for financial gain but for the social capital and status it confers. Social capital refers to the benefits that come from being part of a network of people who have influence. However, these jobs typically come with less personal freedom, irregular hours, and an 'always-on' work culture, which erodes quality of life. People may be attracted to the title, but the reality of the job can often be far less desirable than expected.
These prestiguous jobs oftened linked to "overwork culture". And these culture are driven by allure of status, financial rewards, and perception that putting an extra hours demonstrates dedication and success.
These prestigious jobs are usually short-lived because people often quit due to not being able to handle them mentally.
You won't love it forever
Even the most exciting jobs that you can imagine will have a lot of boring work that comes with them.
For instance, you can work for Tesla, which has a mission of making green energy more accessible to the world, but during your day-to-day work, you may need to do QA on software devices before they ship. Looking closer now, do you think working for Tesla is as exciting as you think?
For all of these reasons, you should treat a job as a job. You work for the money and use that money to enjoy things outside of work.
Some Perks of Boring Job
I mentioned all of these reasons for an exciting job without telling you about some of the perks that come with a boring job.
So here it is.
The first surprising thing about a boring job is that it pays quite well.
All the old big companies, such as Oracle, IBM, and Workday, may not be as innovative and exciting as Meta, but they are actually pretty decently paid.
But more importantly, they come with predictable paychecks.
You will not gamble on your next promotions or commissions for executing good work.
Consistent income is an underrated form of freedom, especially if you are looking for long-term financial stability.
A Boring job will be much easier to get than a more prestigious or exciting company.
If money is not yours, then there is one more perk of a bor— job - it is usually genuinely more enjoyable.
I have worked at a boring company in my career and also at an "exciting" company before. And I can confirm that my quality of happiness is better at a boring company.
Why?
A boring company is more likely to be filled with employees and managers who realize that a job is just something people do to put food on the table.
This type of culture results in more productive place relationships. It doesn't expect you to think of your job as your life.
The managers at these companies are usually also managers who have been in the company for decades and are not ambitious about moving up the ladder.
They are not going to backstab you or take your personaly if you asks for a raise or a reference letter.
I saw manager who are very ambitious and that take it personally when I asks for a raise because they will require to do more work not for the sake of their promotion but for their direct reports.
Or worse yet, I have a manager who wants to use me as their promotion doc. Thus, they deliberately assigned me more work than expected because that was good for their performance.
You often have company restructure at these boring jobs, which equals to fewer turnover managers. Manager who stays in a company for a long time will know a lot of possible problems that may exist in the company because they have experience in the company long enough to undergone that.
Trust me, you want to work with a tenured manager rather than a manager who just wants to prove themselves at the "keepers test."
Closing
Overall, working for a boring job helps keep for the longevity of your career.
You may initially feel excited about a high-paying job, but if you zoom out to 20 years later in your life, does working for that specific exciting job matter?
Yes, if you are lucky enough to ride the wave on the right tide. However, the probability is minuscule.
So, before you write off that "boring" job, think about what it could actually offer you: freedom, stability, and a chance to enjoy life outside of work.
Who knows? That boring job might just be your ticket to a better life.
What are some of the boring jobs that you encountered that ended up becoming a pleasant journey in your career?