Does your job show who you are?

December 20, 2011|Interesting Facts, Tips At work| No comments yet

Your job only shows who you are if you let it. In American society, when we ask people we’ve just met what they “do,” we expect to hear an answer about their job. Since we spend a good portion of our weeks doing our jobs, it is natural to respond with our jobs as the answer to the “What do you do?” question. However, it is not always necessary to do so.

If you really enjoy your job and are passionate about it, tell the person so who asks you what you do. You have found fulfillment and purpose in your job, and you should be proud of that. If your job brings you a satisfaction that you could not find anywhere else, then say, “I am a. . .” with confidence.

Should you not enjoy your work as much as a person who always wanted to be an artist and now is paid to work as one, you might change how you answer the question. Instead of saying, “I am a. . .,” try saying, “I work as a. . .” Follow this statement up with one of your passions or hobbies that actually gives a peek into who you are.

Your view of your job and what you want others to know you as is up to you. Don’t feel constrained to answer the “What do you do?” question in a formulaic way by responding with, “I am a. . .” If you truly enjoy your job and derive great pleasure from it, you might wish to say, “I am a. . .”

The next time you hear, “What do you do?” think carefully about your response. How you define yourself is how others will define you, too. You have the option to follow the conventional response to the question and let others know what you do makes you proud by the confidence in your voice and your smile. You can also say, just as happily, “I word as a part-time receptionist. I am a mother to my children.”

You are in control of whether your job says who you are. However you decide to respond, do so with pride. Let the world know you are thrilled to be who you are, whether you spend 14 hour days doing something you love or you spend your nights after work reading the latest mystery novels.