Job Satisfaction

Sections of This Topic Include
What is Job Satisfaction?
Career Satisfaction: Do You Have It?
Job Satisfaction: Is it Time to Stay or Leave?
Various Perspectives on Job Satisfaction
Career Satisfaction: Do You Have It?
Copyright Marcia Zidle
Do you “work to live or live to work”?
In a recent Leading News, e-newsletter, from Marshall Goldsmith, the premier executive coach, asked that question. Why? Because if you figured how time you spent at work – approximately one-third of our waking hours – then you realize that your job has a significant impact on your life.
He created an exercise to help people evaluate their job satisfaction and, mostly importantly, their career choice. There are three categories and you are to estimate the percentage of your job that falls within each category.
You Try It.
The first category is “play.” Thi s is job content that is fun and what you would tend to do regardless of whether or not you were compensated for it. We have all seen people readily agree to do a task that was beyond the job description. Why? Because it was a task they viewed as fun, as an outlet for untapped creativity or a channel for self-development. If I tell myself, “I‟m going to play,” then there is no
resistance or creative avoidance.
The second category is “work.” This is job content that is not play. It‟s work. This is an activity that, although not fun, you would agree to do for reasonable
compensation.
The third category is “misery.” Job content in this category is not only not play, but it is drudgery, and at times pure h-ell. And we can find all times of creative reasons
to avoid and procrastinate.
How do you see the composition of your work experience concerning activities that are categorized as play, work, and misery? Do you need to write yourself a new job
description?
Here are the typical survey results among professionals:
15 percent of what professionals do is considered play;
75 percent of what professionals do is considered work;
10 percent of what professionals do is considered misery.
Career Success Tip
Most professional jobs can be molded or shaped to allow for individual situations or for one‟s growth and development needs. Think about ways to add things to your job that will allow you to play more or take some things out that will allow you to be more satisfied. Then go to your boss and make a case for it – not that it will make you happier but that it can add to your productivity.
Job Satisfaction: Is it Time to Stay or Leave?
Have you lost that “loving” feeling?
You‟ve survived the layoffs, cut wages, reorganizations and other company changes.
You…re stressed out, fed up and ready to bolt（escape and rush out）.
On the other hand, the economy is going nowhere, the analysts aren‟t sure if we‟re in recovery, recession or something in-between and you‟re being told “you have a
job, be happy.”
So, should you stay or leave? Before you make that critical career decision, take a deep breath, assess your situation and do a cost benefit analysis.
First, consider the reasons to stay. For example:
1. Relationships matter more than money.
You may think you can find a job that will pay you more, but you will be leaving behind a wealth of relationships. When weighing your options, don‟t forget the value of the network, the friends and professional colleagues you have now.
2. You are doing well compared to your peers.
Research shows that many people under estimate their skills and their prospects and over estimate others. Take the time to do a realistic assessment of what you have to offer and its value in today‟s marketplace.
3. The grass is not always greener.
People, who are desperate to get out of a job, tend to see potential opportunities only outside their company. They enthusiastically take a new job and then realize they‟ve gone from the proverbial frying pan into the fire.
Now, consider the reasons to leave. For example:
1. Your relationship with your boss is damaged beyond repair.
You have tried to mend it but you‟re getting stonewalled. Yes, she may be a jerk but she is the boss and in a power struggle, you will probably lose.
2. Your values are at odds with the culture.
For example, your company is hierarchical and you want more influence over your job. It‟s very hard for one person to change a culture unless he‟s the CEO or has
been brought in to change things.
3. Your stress level is way off the charts.
It‟s affecting your p hysical or mental health and your relationships with family and friends. You‟re burnt out, burnt up and dread going to work.
So what will it be – stay or leave?
In looking at the reasons to stay and the reasons to leave, which will have the best impact on your personal and career satisfaction? What will provide you with the
most benefit today? What about tomorrow?
If you’re overstressed and at risk for job burnout, you may feel that a major life overhaul is necessary for you to be able to enjoy your job and avoid burnout. Before making major changes, this article can help you to better enjoy your situation with a few minor adjustments, and give you food for thought on whether major changes may be necessary. The following suggestions can help you increase job satisfaction:
Be Clear About Job Requirements:
It‟s nearly impossible to do a good enough job at your work if you don‟t know what the requirements are. Unfortunately, sometimes it‟s difficult to know all of the requirements at a job when those in charge are poor communicators. Some bosses and supervisors are vague with expectations, assign new tasks with little advance notice, request new tasks without providing traini ng, and inadvertently set workers up to fail in other ways. While you can‟t prevent things like this from happening altogether, you can gain a clearer view of what you need to do and help your situation quite a bit with assertive communication skills. Learn to speak up for yourself in a respectful way and you‟ll improve your work life and your relationship, and decrease your risk for burnout.
Find Rewards and Recognition:
We all need to feel recognized and rewarded for what we do. If your job doesn‟t have built-in opportunities for recognition, or if rewards are infrequent, you may need to add rewards and recognition to your own life. You may decide to take yourself to a movie, have a home spa experience, buy yourself something nice, or give yourself other small but nurturing rewards when you complete a project or complete another month of hard work. You can also team up with a supportive friend and agree to listen to each other‟s successes and provide support to one another if you don‟t get that support and recognition from your job. These things can nurture you emotionally and remind you of the importance of the work you do, especially if you work in a job or field where these rewards are sparse.
Maintain a Balanced Lifestyle:
Keeping balance in your lifestyle is important; if it‟s all work and no play, you may find your ability to work beginning to wane(recession). In order to maintain balance in your lifestyle, the first step is to take an overview of your current lifestyle and see which areas are out of balance. Do you have enough time for relationships, hobbies, sleep, self care, exercise, healthy eating, and other important features of a healthy lifestyle, in addition to your work responsibilities? If not, the next step is to look at your priorities and make some changes so that your lifestyle reflects them better. (You can find tools for doing this at the end of this quiz, or with this free e-course.)
Think Positive:
You can usually change your experience of your current circumstances by changing your attitude about them. Developing an optimistic point of view and changing negative self talk patterns can go a long way toward helping you see the glass half-full, as well as actually making you more productive and less stressed! Assess your current state of mind, and make some changes in yourself so that you see things in a more positive light, and you may just find you‟re much happier where you are in life!
Know Yourself and Work With Your Personality:
Certain features of your personality make so me jobs a better fit for you than others. If you‟re in a job that‟s not well-suited for your personality, you may be putting yourself under unnecessary stress every day you go to work. The following are some good questions to ask yourself:
∙Do you like to work toward deadlines, or do you like your tasks to come in a relatively steady stream?
∙Do you like to work as part of a team, or independently?
∙Do you like things to be structured and routine, or loose and variable?
∙Do you enjoy being a …big fish in a small pond‟, or would you like to be a …small fish in
a big pond‟? (Meaning, would you like to be a small part of a large company or a large part
of a small company, or something else?)
∙Do you believe in what you do, and is it important to you that you do?
These questions and others can give you a better picture of what kind of work would be best
for you. If you find you‟re not in the type of position that‟s ideal for you, you can see if you can
make additional changes in your job‟s structure to make it fit better with your needs, or you might think of what jobs might be better suited for you and see if working toward a change in jobs is a good idea for you.
Happiness Index: Top 300 Careers With The Highest Job Satisfaction Ratings
1.
Singers
91.7
2.
Municipal Fire Fighters
90.0
3.
Aircraft Assemblers - Structure, Surfaces, Rigging & Systems
83.3
4.
Pediatricians - General
80.0
5.
College Professors - Communications
79.2
6.
Educational, Vocational & School Counselors
78.8
7.
Managers/Supervisors of Animal Husbandry & Animal Care Workers
78.6
8.
Criminal Investigators & Special Agents
77.5
9.
College Instructors - Other
77.3
10.
Therapists, Other
77.1
11. College Professors - Psychology76.9
12. College Instructors - Vocational Studies76.7
13. High School Teachers - Vocational Studies76.3
14. Counselors, Other75.0
15. Coaches & Scouts75.0
16. College Professors - Business75.0
17. Religious Workers, Other75.0
18. Veterinary Technologists & Technicians72.9
19. Chief Executives72.4
20. Physician Assistants72.2
21. Supervisors/Managers of All Other Tactical Operations Specialists71.4
22. Life, Physical & Social Science Technicians, Other71.2
23. Rehabilitation Counselors70.8
24. Clergy70.8
25. College Professors - Philosophy & Religion70.8
26. Private Detectives & Investigators70.8
27. College Instructors - Education70.4
28. Self-Enrichment Education Teachers70.0
29. Middle School Teachers - Vocational Studies70.0
30. Athletes & Sports Competitors70.0
31. College Professors - History70.0
32. Arbitrators, Mediators & Conciliators70.0
33. Education, Training & Library Workers, Other69.5
34. Mental Health Counselors69.0
35. High School Teachers - Special Education68.0
36. Actors67.9
37. Computer & Information Scientists - Research67.9
38. Travel Guides67.9
39. Commercial & Industrial Designers67.9
40. Skin Care Specialists67.5
41. Bus Drivers - School67.2
42. College Instructors - Medicine & Health Specialties66.7
43. Managers/Supervisors of Police & Detectives66.7
44. Engineers, Other66.7
45. Chiropractors66.7
46. Lodging Managers65.9
47. Physical Therapists65.8
48. Court Reporters65.6
49. Operating Engineers & Construction Equipment Operators65.6
50. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) & Paramedics65.5
51. Financial Examiners65.4
52. Training & Development Managers65.4
53. Radiologic Technologists65.4
54. Middle School Teachers - Special Education65.0
55. Cost Estimators65.0
56. Recreation Workers65.0
57. Cooks - Other65.0
58. Community & Social Service Specialists, Other64.8
59. College Professors - English Language & Literature64.5
60. Training & Development Specialists64.4
61. Instructional Coordinators64.4
62. Medical Equipment Preparers64.3
63. Dispatchers (except police, fire & ambulance)64.3
64. Computer Software Engineers - Systems Software64.3
65. Tax Preparers64.3
66. Education Administrators - College64.1
67. Operations Research Analysts63.9
68. Photographers63.9
69. Grounds Maintenance Workers, Other63.9
70. Wholesale & Retail Buyers63.8
71. Dietitians & Nutritionists63.6
72. Occupational Therapists63.6
73. Technical Directors & Production Managers63.6
74. Correctional Officers & Jailers63.3
75. Massage Therapists63.3
76. High School Teachers63.2
77. Chefs & Head Cooks63.2
78. Human Resources Managers, Other63.0
79. Personnel Recruiters63.0
80. Librarians62.9
81. Social Workers, Other62.9
82. Mechanical Engineers62.8
83. Medical & Health Services Managers62.8
84. Statisticians62.5
85. Packers & Packagers62.5
86. Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers & Weighers62.5
87. Job Printers62.5
88. Human Resources Managers62.5
89. Social Science Research Assistants62.5
90. Pharmacists62.5
91. Counseling Psychologists62.5
92. Military Officer Special & Tactical Operations Leaders/Managers, Other62.5
93. Dental Hygienists62.5
94. Copy Writers62.5
95. Web Developers62.5
96. Construction Managers62.5
97. Materials Engineers62.5
98. Creative Writers - Authors, Poets & Lyricists61.8
99. Art Directors61.7
100. Middle School Teachers61.6
101. Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors61.6
102. Environmental Scientists & Specialists61.5
103. Teachers & Instructors, Other61.5
104. Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers61.5
105. Employment Interviewers61.4
106. Medical & Public Health Social Workers61.1
107. Bus Drivers - Transit & Intercity61.1
108. Managers/Supervisors of Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers61.1
109. Installation, Maintenance & Repair Workers, Other61.1
110. Education Administrators - Elementary & High School60.7
111. General & Operations Managers60.7
112. Directors - Religious Activities & Education60.5
113. Computer Operators60.4
114. Helpers - Installation, Maintenance & Repair Workers60.0
115. Internists - General60.0
116. Construction & Building Inspectors60.0
117. Musicians60.0
118. Surveyors60.0
119. Maintenance & Repair Workers - General60.0
120. Loan Interviewers & Clerks60.0
121. Radar & Sonar Technicians60.0
122. Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses60.0
123. Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians59.7
124. Treasurers & Controllers59.7
125. Medical Records & Health Information Technicians59.6
126. Electronics Engineers59.6
127. Producers59.4
59.4 128. Molding, Coremaking & Casting Machine Setters, Operators & Tenders - Metal and Plastic
129. Teaching Assistants59.0
58.9 130. Military Enlisted Tactical Operations & Air/Weapons Specialists and
Crew, Other
131. Adult Literacy, Remedial Education & GED Teachers58.8
132. Hairdressers, Hairstylists & Cosmetologists58.6
133. Child, Family & School Social Workers58.5
134. Network Systems & Data Communications Analysts58.3
135. Automotive Master Mechanics58.3
136. Construction & Related Workers, Other58.3
58.3 137. Cutting, Punching & Press Machine Setters, Operators & Tenders - Metal and Plastic
138. Surgical Technologists58.3
139. Marriage & Family Therapists58.3
140. Health Educators58.3
141. Credit Analysts58.3
142. Stock Clerks - Stockroom, Warehouse or Storage Yard58.3
143. Health Technologists & Technicians, Other58.3
144. Purchasing Agents58.3
145. Social & Human Service Assistants58.1
146. Machinists58.0
147. Engineering Managers57.9
148. Human Resources Assistants (except payroll & timekeeping)57.9
149. Truck Drivers - Heavy & Tractor-Trailer57.8
150. Computer Software Engineers - Applications57.8
151. Managers of Non-Retail Sales Workers57.8
152. Interior Designers57.8
153. Fashion Designers57.7
154. Designers, Other57.7
155. Managers, Other57.6
156. Property, Real Estate & Community Association Managers57.4
157. Fine Artists - Painters, Sculptors & Illustrators57.3
158. Bus & Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists57.1
159. Electronic Drafters57.1
160. Civil Drafters57.1
161. Special Forces57.1
162. Public Relations Managers57.1
163. Computer & Information Systems Managers56.8
164. Welders, Cutters & Welder Fitters56.8
165. Healthcare Practitioners & Technical Workers, Other56.5
166. Architects56.5
167. Administrative Services Managers56.5
168. Sales Managers56.3
169. Managers/Supervisors of Agricultural Crop & Horticultural Workers56.3
170. Mechanical Drafters56.3
171. Airfield Operations Specialists56.3
172. Aerospace Engineers56.3
173. Managers/Supervisors of Construction & Extraction Workers56.1
174. Construction Carpenters56.1
175. Management Analysts55.9
176. Family & General Practitioners55.8
177. Storage & Distribution Managers55.8
178. Social & Community Service Managers55.7
179. Registered Nurses55.7
180. Airline Pilots, Copilots & Flight Engineers55.6
181. Electrical Repairers - Commercial & Industrial Equipment55.6
182. Payroll & Timekeeping Clerks55.4
183. Editors55.4
184. Managers of Mechanics, Installers & Repairers55.4
185. Nuclear Medicine Technologists55.0
186. Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants55.0
187. Occupational Health & Safety Specialists55.0
188. Plumbers55.0
189. Industrial Production Managers55.0
190. Graphic Designers55.0
191. Electrical & Electronic Equipment Assemblers55.0
192. Merchandise Displayers & Window Trimmers55.0
193. Maintenance Workers - Machinery55.0
194. College Professors - Engineering55.0
195. Medical Assistants54.7
196. Elementary School Teachers54.7
197. Pharmacy Technicians54.7
198. Financial Managers, Branch or Department54.6
199. Network & Computer Systems Administrators54.6
200. Sales Engineers54.4
201. Cooks - Restaurant54.3
202. Construction Laborers54.3
203. Marketing Managers54.3
204. Opticians - Dispensing54.2
205. Film & Video Editors54.2
206. Human Resource Specialists, Other54.2
207. Preschool Teachers54.0
208. Public Relations Specialists53.8
209. Managers of Production & Operating Workers53.8
210. Sales Representatives - Wholesale & Manufacturing53.7
211. Police Patrol Officers53.6
212. Structural Metal Fabricators & Fitters53.6
213. Radio & Television Announcers53.6
214. Artists and Related Workers, Other53.6
215. Speech-Language Pathologists53.3
216. Helpers - Production Workers53.2
217. Transportation Workers, Other53.1
218. Manicurists & Pedicurists53.1
219. Physicians & Surgeons, Other53.1
220. Sales Representatives - Technical & Scientific Products53.0
221. Computer, Automated Teller & Office Machine Repairers52.8
222. Eligibility Interviewers - Government Programs52.8
223. Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers52.8
224. Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors52.8
225. Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technologists52.8
226. Veterinarians52.8
227. Accountants52.7
228. Media & Communication Workers, Other52.5
229. Computer Programmers52.4
230. Personal Care & Service Workers, Other52.4
231. Billing, Posting & Calculating Machine Operators52.3
232. Business Operations Specialists, Other52.2
233. Food Service Managers52.1
234. Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians52.1
235. Claims Examiners - Property & Casualty Insurance52.1
236. Security Guards52.1
237. Database Administrators52.0
238. Bill & Account Collectors51.9
239. Hosts & Hostesses - Restaurant, Lounge & Coffee Shop51.7
240. Dancers51.7
241. Personal Financial Advisors51.5
242. Managers/Supervisors of Office & Administrative Support Workers51.4
243. Healthcare Support Workers, Other51.4
244. Bookkeeping, Accounting & Auditing Clerks51.3
245. Concierges51.3
246. Production Workers, Other51.2
247. Managers of Food Preparation & Serving Workers51.1
248. Loan Officers & Mortgage Brokers51.0
249. Purchasing Managers51.0
250. Civil Engineers50.9
251. Personal & Home Care Aides50.6
252. Sales Representatives - Other Services50.6
253. Computer Support Specialists50.2
254. Painters - Construction & Maintenance50.0
255. Pharmacy Aides50.0
256. Compensation, Benefits & Job Analysis Specialists50.0
257. Chemical Engineers50.0
258. Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs50.0
259. Heating & Air Conditioning Mechanics50.0
260. Library Technicians50.0
261. Electronics Engineering Technicians50.0
262. Building Cleaning Workers, Other50.0
263. Computer Security Specialists50.0
264. Managers of Personal Service Workers50.0
265. Office & Administrative Support Workers, Other50.0
266. Software Quality Assurance Engineers & Testers50.0
267. Cooks - Institution & Cafeteria50.0
268. Lawyers49.4
269. Home Health Aides49.3
270. Telephone Operators48.9
271. Demonstrators & Product Promoters48.9
272. Electrical Engineers48.8
273. Financial Specialists, Other48.8
274. Sales Agents - Securities & Commodities48.8
275. Truck Drivers - Light or Delivery Services48.8
276. Medical Transcriptionists48.7
277. Medical Secretaries48.6
278. Material Moving Workers, Other48.5
279. Dental Assistants48.3
280. Auditors48.3
281. Paralegals & Legal Assistants48.2
282. Driver/Sales Workers48.2
283. Electricians48.1
284. Computer Systems Analysts48.0
285. Team Assemblers48.0
286. Telecommunications Equipment Installers & Repairers47.9
287. Procurement Clerks47.9
288. Reporters & Correspondents47.9
289. Computer Specialists, Other47.7
290. Nannies47.7
291. Advertising & Promotions Managers47.6
292. Real Estate Sales Agents47.5
293. Managers of Helpers, Laborers & Material Movers - Hand47.5
294. Door-To-Door Sales Workers, News & Street Vendors47.5
295. Sales Workers, Other47.5
296. Preschool & Elementary School Teachers - Special Education47.4
297. Multi-Media Artists & Animators47.2
298. Meeting & Convention Planners47.2
299. Psychiatric Aides47.2
300. Financial Analysts
10 Psychological Keys to Job Satisfaction
Do you get a pleasant satisfied feeling after a hard day at work?
If some job satisfaction surveys are to be believed then as many as a third of us are considering a change of job. Clearly many are finding it hard to get that feeling of satisfaction from work.
Job satisfaction is important not just because it boosts work performance but also because it increases our quality of life. Many people spend so much time at work that when it becomes dissatisfying, the rest of their life soon follows.
Everyone's job is different but here are 10 factors that psychologists regularly find are important in how satisfied people are with their jobs.
1. Little hassles
If you ask doctors what is the worst part of their jobs, what do you think they say? Carrying out difficult, painful procedures? Telling people they've only got months to live? No, it's something that might seem much less stressful: administration.
We tend to downplay day-to-day irritations, thinking we've got bigger fish to fry. But actually people's job satisfaction is surprisingly sensitive to daily hassles. It might not seem like much but when it happens almost every day and it's beyond our control, it hits job satisfaction hard.
This category is one of the easiest wins for boosting employee satisfaction. Managers should find out about those little daily hassles and address them—your employees will love you for it.
2. Perception of fair pay
Whatever your job, for you to be satisfied the pay should be fair. The bigger the difference between what you think you should earn and what you do earn, the less satisfied you'll be.
The important point here is it's all about perception. If you perceive that other people doing a similar job get paid about the same as you then you're more likely to be satisfied with your job than if you think they're getting more than you.
3. Achievement
People feel more satisfied with their job if they've achieved something. In some jobs achievements are obvious, but for others they're not. As smaller cogs in larger machines it may be difficult to tell what we're contributing. That's why the next factor can be so important...
4. Feedback
There's nothing worse than not knowing whether or not you're doing a good job. When it comes to job satisfaction, no news is bad news. Getting negative feedback can be painful but at least it tells you where improvements can be made. On the other hand positive feedback can make all the difference to how satisfied people feel.
5. Complexity and variety
People generally find jobs more satisfying if they are more complex and offer more variety. People seem to like complex (but not impossible) jobs, perhaps because it pushes them more. Too easy and people get bored.
To be satisfied people need to be challenged a little and they need some variety in the tasks they carry out. It sounds easy when put like that but many jobs offer neither complexity nor variety.
6. Control
You may have certain tasks you have to do, but how you do them should be up to you. The more control people perceive in how they carry out their job, the more satisfaction they experience.
If people aren't given some control, they will attempt to retake it by cutting corners, stealing small amounts or finding other ways to undermine the system. Psychologists have found that people who work in jobs where they have little latitude—at every level—find their work very stressful and consequently unsatisfying.
7. Organisational support
Workers want to know their organisation cares about them: that they are getting something back for what they are putting in. This is primarily communicated through things like how bosses treat us, the kinds of fringe benefits we get and other subtle messages. If people perceive more organisational support, they experience higher job satisfaction.
Remember: it's not just whether the organisation is actually being supportive, it's whether it appears that way. The point being that appearances are really important here. If people don't perceive it, then
for them it might as well not exist. That's why great managers need a politician's touch.
8. Work-home overflow
Low job satisfaction isn't only the boss' or organisation's fault, sometimes it's down to home-life. Trouble at home breeds trouble at the office.
Some research, though, suggests that trouble at the office is more likely to spill over into the family domain compared with the other way around (Ford et al., 2007). Either way finding ways of distancing yourself from work while at home are likely to protect you against job stressors (Sonnentag et al., 2010).
9. Honeymoons and hangovers
Job honeymoons and hangovers are often forgotten by psychologists but well-known to employees. People experience honeymoon periods after a month or two in a new job when their satisfaction shoots up. But then it normally begins to tail off after six months or so.
The honeymoon period at the start of a new job tends to be stronger when people were particularly dissatisfied with their previous job (Boswell et al., 2009). So hangovers from the last job tend to produce more intense honeymoons in the next job.
10. Easily pleased?
Some of us are more easily satisfied (or dissatisfied) than others, no matter how good (or bad) the job is. To misquote a famous cliché: You can't satisfy all the people all the time.
Still, some jobs do seem better suited to certain types of people. A lot of work has been done on person-environment fit but because jobs vary so much it's difficult to summarise.
One generalisation we can make, though, is that people get more satisfied with their jobs as they get older. Perhaps this is because the older people are, the more likely they are to have found the right work for them. There's little evidence for this but I'd certainly like to think it was true.。