Career Peace

If you’re not happy in your current career, a new study at the University of Chicago could help explain why. The University’s National Opinion Research Center recently concluded that the happiest workers in the US are the ones who spend their days improving other peoples’ lives.

“We found that occupations that involved a high degree of prestige, particularly those involving caring for others…were the highest in job satisfaction,” Smith said in a telephone interview. Clergy ranked the highest, with 87.2 percent saying they were “very satisfied” in their careers.

Firefighters (80.1 percent) and physical therapists (78.1 percent) were close runners-up. Rounding out the top 10 were education administrators, painters and sculptors, teachers, authors, psychologists, special education instructors, and operating engineers.

These findings come as no real surprise. Most people define themselves by their career choice. To coin a line from the hit movie, Batman Begins, “It’s not who I am, but what I do that defines me.” So, I guess if you’re Batman, your job satisfaction is pretty high.

However, the study turned up one interesting fact that you might not expect. Medical doctors did not rate themselves very highly on the job satisfaction scale at all.

You might find this odd. Doctors certainly improve other people’s lives. Based on that you’d think their job satisfaction level would be higher.

What is it about being the medical profession that kills happiness?

The same study answers that one for you…

“Being a physician requires a lot more stress, a lot more danger of being sued, and this is something that lowers job satisfaction”

There’s your answer: fear of being sued creates a lot of job stress. It’s kind of hard to have a peaceful worklife if you’re constantly worried about a disgruntled customer hauling you into court to try to take everything you’ve worked for.

It would be like showing up to work every morning wearing a big bullseye on your chest - with a dollar sign in the middle.

So if you’re considering a career change to the medical profession, consider this fact of the job context. I’m not saying don’t become a doctor if you really feel called to be one. Just take this issue into consideration as you make your decision to become one.

Tags: Career Change, Career Planning