love and career essay

Your Job Doesn’t Have to Be Your Passion

by Lauren C. Howe , Jon M. Jachimowicz and Jochen I. Menges

Summary .   

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for a lot of people, causing us to reevaluate our lives and our careers. It’s natural to think: “If I’m going to spend so much time at work, I might as well do something I’m passionate about.” But there are also benefits to thinking about it differently: Instead of pursuing a career based on your passion, how can you career be a conduit to your passion?

• Pursuing a passion outside of work can be less risky. And some research suggests transforming hobbies into work can actually undermine your enjoyment of these activities.
• Instead, look for a job that will give you the resources — time, money, and energy — to pursue your passion.
• If time is your scarcest resource, look for a job that offers schedule flexibility so that you can structure your work around your passions.
• If money is the issue, look for a job that allows you to pay for the life you want to lead.
• When it comes to energy, don’t think of your passion as something that provides fuel to energize you for work. Instead, look at your job as giving you the security and income to pursue your passion.

The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted many of us to re-consider our career paths. In the past year, we’ve heard from our students, time and again: “The pandemic has given me time to think, and I’ve come to realize that I want to pursue work that I’m passionate about. How do I go about doing that?” Their curiosity comes amid a growing body of research highlighting the benefits of pursuing your passion at work, including higher job performance, job satisfaction, and career earnings.

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Life’s Too Short: 4 Reasons to Do What You Love for a Living

Money isn’t everything if you’re doing what you love for a living.

Table of Contents

You’ve heard the cliche that life is too short. You don’t know what tomorrow brings or where you’ll end up. So why waste your time in a career that doesn’t make you happy?

Studies have shown that happy people tend to earn higher salaries, and it stands to reason that these high earners are content – at least in part – because they have jobs they love.

Reasons to do what you love

Enjoying your career should be a priority over earning a high salary or flashy title, but that may not have been the case when you first considered what you wanted to do for a career . Here are four reasons to quit the job you’re unhappy with, along with four questions that can help you determine your next steps to finding a career you love.

1. You’ll feel more fulfilled.

Your job shouldn’t just be a source of income. If you don’t enjoy what you do, you’ll end up missing out on your life.

“As the lines between working life and personal life blur, a job is as much about personal fulfillment and growth as it is about a paycheck,” said Philip Ryan, managing partner at Ipsos Strategy3. “People don’t want to make widgets; they want to change lives, including their own.”

Your career should make you feel good emotionally, both in and out of the office.

“A job that you love … gives you extra motivation to meet your goals, and when you do, the sense of accomplishment is outstanding,” said Masanari Arai, co-founder and CEO of Kii Corporation.

You will carry and radiate that success wherever you go, helping you in other aspects of your life.

2. You’ll be more productive.

It’s important to feel motivated and inspired in your career. Without the drive to excel, your performance will lack passion and, in turn, your work may suffer. Productivity allows you to become more efficient, which makes room for downtime and encourages work-life balance.

“If you are passionate about your job, you are likely to take an active interest in learning every aspect of the business,” said Patrice Rice, CEO and founder of Patrice & Associates. “This not only sets you on the path toward success, [but] it also helps you get through the daily grind.”

3. You’ll inspire others.

Many people are too afraid to follow their dreams and do what they love. Think about what you would say to a friend or loved one. Would you discourage them from doing what makes them happy simply because it’s risky? When you take that leap yourself, you become an inspiration to others.

“As a mom who works, it is so important to me to be a role model for my young daughters,” said Keli Coughlin, executive director of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. “While there might be busy weeks that require more time at the office, my girls know that I love my job, that it’s meaningful to me and that I am proud of the work. It is my hope that, as my girls grow up, they are inspired to find a career that fulfills them and they are passionate about.”

4. You’ll succeed.

Michael Phillips, founder and CEO of Coconut’s Fish Cafe, said that when you enjoy your job, it doesn’t feel like work. “It makes it easier to get through the trials and tribulations of business ownership,” he added.

You won’t need someone to keep tabs on your work or motivate you to reach your full potential. You will do your best work because it’s natural and exciting.

“When you love what you do, you are compelled to push against yourself,” said Amir Zonozi, co-founder and president of Zoomph. “You want to be where you are challenging yourself and you are competing with yourself in achieving your vision.”

Questions to ask yourself before a career change

It’s one thing to know that you don’t love what you’re currently doing; it’s another to decide what you want to do next. To help you navigate your career path , consider exploring these methods to find a job you love.

1. What did you want to be as a child?

While it might seem strange to go back to your childhood dreams, they might not be far off from what you would be happy doing. Sure, not everyone can be an astronaut, but whatever that original goal might have been, the desire to pursue that career likely came from somewhere.

Think back to that dream job. Even if you no longer want it, the past goal could help you figure out what drives you. For example, those who wanted to work in law enforcement might be driven by justice or helping people. If you wanted to be a teacher, maybe you liked school or working with children. Tailor your motivators and your strengths to find that perfect position.

2. What would your friends or family say are your strengths?

Sometimes, talking to the people closest to you can help you make more informed decisions, as they see parts of you that you may overlook. Ask your loved ones what they think are your strengths, and consider what job would allow you to use those skills. You gain a different perspective when you get others’ opinions. What you consider your strengths may differ from your family and friends’ perceptions.

3. Who was your biggest role model growing up?

Similar to talking about your dream job as a child, you might think about whom you idolized while growing up. Did you love this person because they helped people? Did they have special skills that you desired? Did you find similarities between their abilities and your own? By thinking about why you looked up to this person, you might find a job that would suit you. Even if you did not consider it as a child, meditating on it now might help uncover your true goals and desires. [Read related article: 10 Ways to Become a Better Leader ]

4. What do you truly dislike doing?

It’s just as important to know your weaknesses as it is to recognize your strengths. Understanding what you dread doing can help shape your career path. If you don’t take this into account, you may find yourself back at square one and looking for another new career down the road. For example, if you hate working with spreadsheets, a career dealing with extensive amounts of data may not be right for you.

Follow your passion to build success

While you need a clear plan to monetize your interests, following your passion is a great way to stay fulfilled and motivated in your career. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a professional, pursuing the things you care about can make your time at work more rewarding and help you achieve success more readily. After all, life is short, so why not do what you love?

Tejas Vemparala and Nicole Fallon contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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Love or Career? – How to Make the Right Choice

Ever had to ask yourself this question, is it love or career? While it’s never really easy to choose, here are a few things you need to keep in mind.

When it comes to choosing between the two, it’s never an easy answer. You have the diehard romantics who’d tell you to choose love. And on the other hand, you’d have the ladder climbers looking down and yelling to give up your personal life and reach out to your ambition. But seriously, if it ever comes down to choosing between love and career, there’s never an easy way out. Unless one side wins by a mile or you have no regrets, whatever the decision, you’ll always be bitter, unless you’re whole heartedly convinced with your decision. Love or career – What you should know If you ever do find yourself having to make the big love or career decision, here are a few things you really need to understand. True love is hard to find Love is special, and that’s what makes it so rare. While falling in love may be easy, staying in love needs two soul mates that understand each other and are selfless in love. Do you have that relationship that makes you feel lucky at the end of the day? A better career can give you a better life There’s no beating around the bush here, a good career can make for a better life. You can have your perfect partner but if you’re suffering in a bad career, will you ever be happy in your “miserable” life?  True love can withstand all odds Now this is true. If both of you truly love each other, you don’t have to worry about separating for a few years or having to spend less time with each other. Instead of worrying about love or career, think of ways to make it work better. You’ll always be ambitious Will one promotion in your career satiate your ambitious heart? Will you ever settle down and be happy with what you have? All of us want more. And sometimes, we decide to give up on a perfectly good relationship and pursue something that will never really satisfy us. When it comes to deciding between love and career, we’ll help you understand what really matters to you and how you should deal with it. After all, every relationship is unique and all of us have our own requirements and paths to achieve happiness.

Making the right choice It isn’t easy to meet the right partner and find your soul mate, so if you genuinely think you’ve met the one who can warm the cockles of your heart for the rest of your life, then decline the career opportunity. But if you’re not very happy in your relationship and think you deserve something better, go full speed ahead and choose your career. If you’re not happy with your relationship today, what are the odds that you’ll feel better after giving up on your career? And you’d definitely feel worse about giving up on your career on those tough relationship days.  But whatever you decision may be, stick with it and never look back. Life is a box of mysteries and no matter what you decide to stick with, love or career, coincidences and circumstances have its own way of playing your life out. Why we think love wins over career Weighing the pros and cons could help you decide between love and career, but if they’re both even or if you’re confused, we’d still suggest you stick with love. It’s a gamble, yes, but one that can have a huge payoff for the rest of your life. True love can give you more happiness than money ever can. And at the end of the day, you want to earn more money to create happy memories and spend more time with the one you love. But if making money means having to give up on love, what are you fighting for anyways? All of us need someone in our lives to share the happy moments and those sad times when we need a hand and a hug. Love can make your life so much more fulfilling and worthwhile.  Today, you may assume you don’t need anyone to share your life with. You may love yourself too much to care about anyone else. But as the years pass by, you’ll soon see that self-love, career promotions and money will have no value, when you have no one to share it with. Love completes you when you share it with someone selflessly, and gives more meaning to your life. You can earn all the money in the world, but it’ll never really give you the happiness that a happy smile or a warm hug from your lover can give you. If you have a tough choice to make, always close love when it comes to choosing between love or career. Better a romantic with lasting memories and happy times than a workaholic with no life and all money. But then again, when you have to make a choice between love and career, are you really happy in love or do you think you deserve better? That would make all the difference to your answer.

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How To Say “I Love My Job!” in 9 Steps

“I love my job!” Don’t we all dream of saying these words regularly?

In the last two years, tens of millions of workers took a leap of faith and left their existing jobs in what’s become known as the “Great Resignation”. In 2023 alone, almost 96% of workers were planning a career change. The lockdowns  gave people a chance to reevaluate their lives and look for their dream career. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a role with the most merits possible alongside the fewest faults. In other words: the dream job!

If your current position isn’t living up to your expectations, it’s time to start asking whether you can make some changes .

Don’t let years pass you by waiting around in a position that’s merely “ fine” . You deserve to work in a job you find stimulating and enjoyable. 

Use the clickable menu to navigate through the article more easily:

Why I love my job: an easy question to answer?

• Find a purposeful mission
• Look for a challenge
• Ensure there’s room for progression
• Check how impactful the work is
• Be mindful of your work-life balance
• Think flexible
• Ask for a fair salary
• Find a positive work culture
• Find a leader who sets goals and listens
• Key takeaways

How can you be sure it’s the right time to switch up your career?

If you’ve been in your current role for a long time, it’s possible that comfort and habit have set in, and it won’t be so easy to tell how satisfied you actually are. If you’re not sure whether you ought to be leveling up your career, a good starting point is to write a list. 

Title it something like “Why I love my job”, and write down everything that you enjoy about your daily work life.

Your list should, hopefully, include points such as:

• I work with supportive colleagues who make me smile
• I work in an area that interests me and inspires me to learn
• I believe my work has an impact on the company as a whole
• The company’s values align with my own
• I can see a clear path ahead, with room for growth
• My managers appreciate my efforts and encourage my development
• My role involves challenges, which I am able to overcome
• I am respected as an employee, and not treated merely as a number

If you find yourself filling the page easily, you know you’re in a good spot. If, however, you find you’ve run dry after only a couple of bullet points, it’s time to take the next steps toward finding a position you truly love.

9 steps to say “I love my job”

1. find a purposeful mission.

Let’s be honest: you’ll always struggle to love your job if you don’t believe in the work you’re doing — at least to some extent. You don’t have to decorate your car with branded stickers or fly the company flag from the roof of your house, but you should feel that your work has a genuine purpose and that you’re making a change in the world in a way that makes you feel proud. 

If you’re not sure yet, try reading our guide to answering that pesky question “What should I do with my life?”

2. Look for a challenge

Everybody enjoys the occasional quiet, easy day — only a couple of new emails, an empty in-tray, and no long meetings. Too many, however, and life gets monotonous. It’s important to feel challenged and tested in your career, as overcoming obstacles is a major part of growth. 

There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from solving a complex puzzle, and with a career that offers the right level of challenge, you’ll be leaving the office with a smile on your face each day.

3. Ensure there’s room for progression

To feel satisfied in your career, it’s crucial to feel you’re heading somewhere. If opportunities for advancement are zero — no possibility of promotion, no skill-boosting seminars, no training days — then not only will you feel frustrated and stagnant, but the business may soon lose momentum as a whole. 

Instead, find somewhere with the space to flourish, a clear route of progression, and open-minded leaders who want to see you advance.

4. Check how impactful the work is

When you’re interviewing for jobs, try to discern from the interviewer how much of an impact your work will have on the business as a whole. 

Will you be making meaningful decisions? Or will your work be left unseen in some distant, gloomy corner (metaphorical or otherwise)? 

A key factor in job satisfaction is creating impactful work, and directly witnessing the impact of said work. Even something as small as receiving a mention in the monthly company newsletter can make all the difference. Nobody wants to feel like a tiny part of an incomprehensible machine.

5. Be mindful of your work-life balance 

It’s easy to get sucked into the mindset of working every spare minute, particularly when you’re new in a role and are determined to make a positive impression.

Too many late nights and early mornings, however, can lead to a lack of sleep, thereby increasing stress , and in turn leading to even less sleep and even more stress.

Yes, there are times in every business when a little extra is required from employees, but a company must respect the work-life balance of its employees, not bury them beneath a mountain of unpaid overtime. 

Listen for hints that this might be the case during the interviewing process, and read reviews on sites like Glassdoor to discern whether a company is considerate of its employees’ home lives.

6. Think flexible

The standard nine-to-five is on its way out. If you’re looking to yell “I love my job” from the rooftops, flexible working is a crucial component to look out for during your job search. 

This could mean flexible working hours, remote or hybrid working options, or a good amount of paid holiday. All of these benefits give you the option to work in a way that suits you, giving you time to thrive outside and inside the workplace. 

It’s mutually beneficial: flexible working attracts top talent, makes employees happier, and has been proven to increase productivity.

7. Ask for a fair salary

If you’ve put years into studying, growing, and honing your abilities, don’t undersell yourself! 

Even a fun, fulfilling job can start to feel pointless if the remuneration is far below what you’re worth. While it can definitely sometimes be worth taking a pay cut if it means you’re able to break into an industry you’ve been wanting to, in the long run, fair pay means you’ll be able to work your dream job without the stress of wondering whether bills are getting paid. 

And a little security can work wonders for overall happiness.

8. Find a company with a positive work culture

Company culture starts with the CEO and flows down. You’ll be able to sense whether a company has a positive (or not-so-positive) culture early on—sometimes, as early as the interview process. 

Is the HR department warm and open to chat, or do they have little interest in pleasantries and putting you at ease? If the latter, it’s probably fair to assume things won’t improve much when you’re hired. So seek better!

A rich company culture can mean many things.

It might mean a creative, inspiring office space. It could mean team-building activities. It might mean yoga classes, skills workshops, or engaging company all-hands meetings once a week. It might simply mean a lot of laughter during the working day. 

You’ll know it when you find it—because you’ll feel at home.

9. Find a leader who sets goals and listens

Good management can be a huge factor in career fulfillment. If you’re being micromanaged, given unreachable targets, or if all your ideas are ignored, it’s unlikely you’ll feel like sticking around. 

For true job satisfaction and that blissful “I love my job!” feeling, seek out a company where the management sets clear, measurable goals that are challenging yet achievable. 

Further, seek out a company where your voice is heard, and your expertise is both listened to and appreciated. This is what good leadership looks like.

How to say “I love my job”: Key takeaways

Consider this list as a series of suggestions, rather than absolute requirements. 

We haven’t written them in order of importance—that’s down to you to decide. We’re giving you a rundown on things you should try to consider. 

Of course, in reality, everybody’s vision of perfect career happiness looks a little different. You might prefer less flexibility and rigid, tight deadlines to help keep you motivated, or you might like strict hierarchies that give you a concrete sense of where you stand within the company.

You might not want any kind of challenge in your career, you might passionately hate work socials, or your only concern might be finding a job that’s future-proof.

All of that is perfectly fine. Finding your dream job—the one that gets you all excited to go to work in the morning—isn’t about following a set formula as much as it’s about being aware of what’s out there, and what suits you.  

Why not begin now? Make a list of your priorities, using this article to help you, and see where it takes you. This could be the moment you’ve been waiting for. If you’re unsure what you might be best suited to, try our free job career quiz .

If you’d like to learn more about switching up your career, these articles are packed with information to help you:

• “What Should I Do With My Life?” 15 Questions to Find Your Path
• “I Hate My Job”: What To Do Next
• 5 Ways to Prepare for a Major Career Change
• How To Successfully Change Careers in 2024: Your Step-by-Step Guide

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.