What is a Real Job? - seriously, just do what makes you happy

Hey all - it's Jules. So, I'm finishing up my last MBA class and just accepted my first job. I was telling a girl about it and she asked me "oh so when are you going to get a real job?" I was kind of taken aback by that, not sure when i haven't had a "real job" - but for this post I thought I'd talk about this.

So, about the position, it's with an internet marketing consulting firm (help companies build up their web presence and increase the leads and website visits), they also have a new social media program that has awesome potential. The company is only about 8 months old and has two employees. I'll be focusing on business development (finding leads, building relationships, making sales), and then I'll grow with the business and when I help it reach a certain point I'll be able to move up quickly. Also, I can work from home on my own hours and it's almost 100% commission. Uh oh, maybe that last part is what means it's not a "real job"

So, I "google" everything - and I searched for 'real job' and found this site called Life Reboot: It takes courage to reinvent yourself and there was a post 'what is a real job exactly'. Here's some thoughts

According to those I’ve asked, a real job is…

1. a full-time job with set hours.
2. a job in my major/field/area of specialization.
3. a job that pays more than minimum wage.
4. a job that pays salary.
5. a job with health insurance/sick leave/paid vacation.
6. a job with room for growth/advancement opportunity.
7. a position with a job title and description.
8. anything that’s NOT a temp job.
9. anything that earns a steady paycheck.
10. something that will make me feel like going into debt for a degree was worthwhile.

What’s fascinating about these responses is how nearly all of them focus exclusively on job details. That is, there is a common expectation for the job to satisfy the requirements for being “real.” The exception is #10, where the responder believes how they feel about the job is more important.

This exception among the typical responses made me wonder: Why don’t all people think this way? When asked to describe a “real job,” why don’t people concentrate on the feeling they’d get from it, rather than the actual job? Wouldn’t it be inspiring to hear people describe how a real job is…

1. a job that’s fulfilling!
2. a job that’s stimulating!
3. a job that’s challenging!
4. a job that’s rewarding!
5. a job that’s enjoyable!

In other words, shouldn’t the single defining factor of how “real” a job is be determined by how it makes you feel? After all, you listen to your feelings when you decide which jobs aren’t real — and it makes them easy to identify because jobs that aren’t real feel wrong.

So, I'm excited to work with a small business to help it grow. I think I'll be able to take my creativity to a whole new level. There's no hierarchy to go through when I think I have a novel idea. As I'm on commission I can do anything in my power to be successful, there's nothing holding me back - if I do the work to make a ton, then I'll get the money and not be set back by a salary. The company that hired me feels that I will be vital to them and they can see all the skills I can offer and they're EXCITED. That makes me feel good and that's what I want from an employer. So, I HAVE a real job thank you very much :)