Doing work you enjoy makes a world of difference. But let’s be honest, sometimes life doesn’t give us that luxury. You might take a job that is available that will pay the bills, put food on the table, and gives you a bit of breathing space. And there’s no shame in that, work ethic is something to be proud of in this day and age.
But if you’re lucky enough to wake up in the morning and want to go to work, not just because you have to but because you genuinely enjoy what you get to do for a living, then you are in a very fortunate position. That’s the goal isn’t it? Finding a fulfilling career – one that lights a fire in your belly – is something many of us strive for.
Here’s My Story:
I started working when i was 17 (after my mom was convinced, I wasn’t applying for jobs and was happy earning my £25 per week pocket money). I went round the local Merry Hill shopping centre with my CV and heard…nothing. Another month went by, and my mom was really on my case, she printed me off 100 more CVs in her office at work, and off I went again.
I’d walked the length and breadth of the Merry Hill until I got to the last few shops and I had an unwavering thought of “oh my gosh, what am i going to do if I still don’t get at least an interview?… SHE WILL KILL ME” so the next shop I walked into I spoke to the manager and I said “my mom doesn’t believe I am handing out CV’s and thinks I’m purposefully trying NOT to get a job.”
A few weeks later, I had an interview and there it was…I’d landed my first proper job.
I can’t say I loved working in retail – or being at Merry Hill every night after college, for that matter – but I did love seeing that paycheck hit my account at the end of each month. Eventually, I moved into hospitality. Again, it wasn’t a passion, but the chance to rack up hours and earn good money? That was a win in my book.
It didn’t exactly light a fire in me. But it taught me a lot – especially about work ethic. If you want to earn decent money, you’ve got to be willing to put the effort in. And no, pulling pints or surviving the chaos of a Friday night fish special wasn’t rocket science, but it was character-building.
I learned resilience through:
- Standing on your feet for 12 hours, 6 days per week.
- Smiling through every interaction (even in moments you just wanted to frown).
- Delivering great customer service, even when you didn’t feel like it.
- Showing up, even when I’d rather be anywhere else.
Working a job you don’t enjoy can really wear you down. But I’ve always been a glass-half-full kind of girl. Those jobs funded my social life, kept my car running, and even paid for a few holidays.
Fast forward three years, and I landed a job in recruitment. People warned me:
“You’ll hate it.”
“No one stays in recruitment long.”
“It’s too much pressure.”
They couldn’t be more wrong.
I joined a company with good values and a genuinely ethical approach. I had good leaders who were honest and willing to teach. They set the tone for what good recruitment looks like. People would ask,
“Why do you stay late?”
“Why work weekends?”
“Why is your phone always on?”
The truth? I loved it. The honeymoon phase continued. And I used to think, wow – if I didn’t stop searching, if I had listened to those who used to rubbish me for working weekends, if I had listened to those who thought I would hate it, if I had just settled for that job, I would never get to do this, make a difference to people’s lives every single day.
Ask for advice, but don’t always take it.
People will offer you guidance based on their own experiences, what they’ve seen and heard. Listen with respect but take from it what you wish.
Don’t let mediocre be your forever.
If your job is just a pay check right now – that’s ok. But don’t stop there, don’t let “just for now” become “forever”. Keep a crack in the door for something better. Keep learning and keep it moving.
You’re in the driver’s seat for your own story
So, figure out what keeps your wheels turning. It won’t come overnight, it might shift along the way. But don’t coast through life on autopilot. Stay curious! Notice what lights you up and what wears you down.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, keep going. Whether you are 17 and looking for your first job or you’re 45 and thinking ‘something has to change.’
Show up for you. Work at something and do it well. Find your niche, the space where your strengths and passions meet. Do something you love, something that feels like you. Something you can be proud of.
But don’t stay somewhere you’re not valued or just taken for granted.
Reward isn’t just about money. It’s about respect, growth, and feeling like you matter. You could be in your dream role – but if you’re doing it for the wrong people and the money doesn’t match the amount of work you are doing. Or you are constantly having the carrot dangled. I’ll be the one to break it to you…It is time to put you first.
You deserve more than just getting by.
You deserve to thrive.
To be respected.
To do something that feels like you.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s what finding a fulfilling career is all about.
Take a look at our vacancies page and see if you can start finding your next fulfilling career move.
