How important to love the issues you work on?

[Anonymous]

How important is it to love, or be really interested in the issues you work on? In my current job I really enjoy about 70 percent of the issues I work on, but I got a job offer where I don't inherently care about the issues, but I'm considering the offer because it's a great organization with great people, high profile work, great commute and great money. It all seems great...except I am not sold on the issues within the portfolio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How important is it to love, or be really interested in the issues you work on? In my current job I really enjoy about 70 percent of the issues I work on, but I got a job offer where I don't inherently care about the issues, but I'm considering the offer because it's a great organization with great people, high profile work, great commute and great money. It all seems great...except I am not sold on the issues within the portfolio

I don't work with issues, so I can't answer that; but I will say it is important to be proud of yourself. You are doing it for 8+ hours a day. In my case, I have a job that, 20 years into it, continues to challenge me.

[Anonymous]

I thought a skill set is a skill set Until I worked at a place where I really didn't align with issues (in my case products). It was a totally different industry than where I spent most of my career. My eyes would glaze over when anyone started talking... My work quality suffered.

You need to at least identify with what you are working on or you'll never really give it your all..

[Anonymous]

I am about to do the exact opposite as you. I am at an org where the issue we work on is no longer interesting to me. But - great people, better pay and nice office.

I am moving to an org where the issue is exactly my passion, but the less pay, less benefits, small, no frills office (but hopefully the people are great).

For me, personally, I need to care about the issues. I will be better at my job and will be excited to come to work everyday.

[Anonymous]

I think there is a balance of caring about the issues and liking the people you work with/for (or the office environment, work/life balance, etc). I had a job where (within the same organization) I switched from feeling moderately interested in the issues but really enjoying my boss to feeling passionate about the issues but having a horrible boss. I determined then that the people I work with/for matter more than the issues. But as another PP said, you at least need to identify with the issues to some degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about to do the exact opposite as you. I am at an org where the issue we work on is no longer interesting to me. But - great people, better pay and nice office.

I am moving to an org where the issue is exactly my passion, but the less pay, less benefits, small, no frills office (but hopefully the people are great).

For me, personally, I need to care about the issues. I will be better at my job and will be excited to come to work everyday.

Honestly, I could care less about issues. I'm here for the money. College bills and retirement.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. I work for the paycheck. I work to live, not live to work. For me, it's important to like the people.