It goes without saying that earning money is one, if not the most important and rewarding aspects of having a job, whether you are a company owner, a senior director or a firm’s newest recruit.
Indeed, career-related surveys will almost always see good salaries cited by professionals as their top career priority. However, the same polls frequently highlight other aspects of work that are important to people.
It goes without saying then that businesses need to offer more than just suitable pay. It isn’t just about fair salaries and workplace perks, its also about company culture and a warm, welcoming, friendly and equitable working environment.
So, outside of pay, what are the key highlights of employment that can help you to love your work?
The people
We spend a pretty substantial portion of our lives at work, so it’s possible (and even probable) that the people we meet in our jobs could end up being lifelong friends.
As well as simply being a nice benefit, strong workplace relationships can be a vital part of the overall performance and efficiency of a business. People who feel happy and comfortable around each other are more likely to feel relaxed in the workplace and ready to take on challenges with the support of their colleagues.
Personal development
Having a good job provides many opportunities for people to develop and enrich themselves, not only from a professional perspective but outside of work, too.
If your work involves regularly meeting new people from different backgrounds and building relationships with clients, for example, this could help you to broaden your horizons and develop new social skills that will enrich your life outside of work.
Contributing to society
As trite as it might sound, making a valuable contribution to society is one of the things that can help you feel positive about your job and employer.
Beyond the basic financial element of doing your bit for the country by paying tax, having a job can open up many opportunities to take part in fundraising events for charity or support the local community.
Furthermore, it’s possible to work for organisations whose entire ‘raison d’etre’ is to do good, such as charities and environmental protection groups.
New life experiences
Many jobs provide opportunities to enhance yourself and your life by experiencing new things, whether it’s travelling to far-flung locations or meeting people you would never have encountered outside of work.
Your primary reasons for visiting certain places or meeting people might be professional, but that’s not to say there is nothing else to be gained from these experiences on a personal level.
Doing (or discovering) what you love
Some people are lucky enough to do what they love, and for these individuals every day offers rewards on a personal and a professional level.
If you haven’t yet discovered your passion or settled on a particular career choice, taking a chance on a new job or business venture could be the ideal way to discover what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing.
In work, like in many other parts of life, being bold and trying something new can deliver exciting results.
Image courtesy of iStock/DisobeyArt
