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work v job - why work?
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work v job - why work?
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hi, I am high school senior and my mom is a member of this workforce group. i have been asking her a lot of question lately. I was wondering if some of you could answer these question? what is the nat
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Forums » Topic Forums » Work Views » work v job - why work?
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work v job - why work?
posted at 12/12/2001 8:24 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: 12/12/2001 Last: 12/12/2001 |
hi, I am high school senior and my mom is a member of this workforce group. i have been asking her a lot of question lately. I was wondering if some of you could answer these question? what is the nature of work? what is the difference bewteen work and a job? what is the major attitude about work in today's soceity and what is the purpose of work?
i am trying to find purpose in everything that i do and these questions will help figure things out.. thank all of you that contribute |
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work v job - why work?
posted at 12/12/2001 6:53 PM EST
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Posts: 495
First: 9/30/2000 Last: 8/19/2011 |
I have some strong opinions on your question that asks what is the difference between work and a job, as well at attitudes and the purpose of work. Please feel free to e-mail me with some specific questions, I'd be more than happy to respond. I'd love to feed your curiosity. |
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work v job - why work?
posted at 1/8/2002 12:07 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: 1/8/2002 Last: 1/8/2002 |
Might it surprise you to know that within your question you have your answer? See if you can get the book _Why Work?_ by Michael Maccoby. (I once saw it at a public library, and then had to get my own copy.)
Maccoby explains that workers come as various characters. Some people believe their role at a job is to be an Expert. Another set likes to see themselves as Helpers. Some choose to see work as a game (e.g., how to score more business deals, how to sell more homes, etc.) called Gamesmen. And others see that work is a means to a higher end, called the Self-Developers. Work means different things to different people. Actually, that can be said about almost any word that at first seems so universal. My other favorite 4-letter word is "love." What does love mean to you? * the baby says, "I love my mother." * the teenager says, "I love my girlfriend." * the patriot says, "I love my country." * the Beatles say, "All you need is love." * another rock group says, "Love hurts." I bet if you ask more people the same thing about "what" works means to them, you'll get many points of view, from people who love their jobs to people who feel they must work because they have no other choice. That too answers your other question about the purpose of work -- the Experts may speak only about profit, while the Self-Developers say something else. And they're all right! Yet the biggest question you'd benefit in defining for yourself is this: What does work mean to you? (NOTE: You may end up changing the definition several times during your life. Ain't love/work grand?!) |
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work v job - why work?
posted at 1/9/2002 1:40 AM EST
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Posts: 194
First: 4/30/2001 Last: 10/22/2002 |
I think that you also have to take into consideration, in determining whether a job is a "job", "work" or "career", whether the job is something that's well suited to an individual's needs and abilities. For instance, I've worked in jobs that were ill-suited to my needs and abilities, and I hated them--they gave me no satisfaction or sense of purpose in what I was doing. I referrred to those as "jobs". I've also worked in jobs that were much more enjoyable and I referred to those as "work" or "careers". However, my labelling system may be different from everyone else's. The most important thing to remember is that how happy and fulfilled you are at your job will determine how you label your job, regardless of your labelling system. I think that gmandel in the response above has it right: you have to find out what "work" means to you, and part of the way to do it is to assess what your expectations of "work" are and assess whether your "work" is meeting those expectations. Good Luck!!! |
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