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I've come to realize I will never be happy with a job unless it materially helps people. How do I even start facilitating this? (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've worked in SaaS tech my whole life. Been out of a job for a few months now, and while I do have debts to pay that would be much easier with a paycheck from the tech field, I wouldn't be fulfilled with an office job.

The thing is, I'm not even sure what Id want to do yet. I've known my whole life that I was put here to help others, and there are so many causes out there I could work with that would help. So I think figuring that out is probably the very first step.

I'd also need to make above a certain threshold to be able to really function unless/even if I get a roommate (someone is checking my place out this month, so that might happen in January for me). Seems like figuring out what that number is between bills, rent, food, etc would be a good second step.

Beyond that, anyone else here made drastic career changes (I also don't give a shit about having a "career") that worked out for them like this? Would love any advice or tips! Tell me your story!

Thanks all, love you!

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 2 years ago (20 children)

Graeber had a bit in Bullshit Jobs about how the more societally necessicary or directly helpful a job is, the worse the pay is generally. Teachers, Firefighters, ect. He posited it was because subconciously in an time with so many meaningless or actively alienating jobs, to have a career that has a visible impact on the world is considered part of the pay package.

I know its not really an answer to your question, but I work in public service and i think about that a lot.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

i'd say cleaner/janitor/garbage collectors are the perfect example tbh
without those we'd all be dying of disease and they are some of the worst paying and looked down upon jobs

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago

He uses striking bankers vs trash collectors in the book as an example. Banker strike went on for weeks and people were trading checks like paper currency while the sanitation worker strike lasted 5 days after the city was swimming in garbage

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