No, I’m not so surprised by these results and kind of expected it. As Confucius put it, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”. For someone to enjoy working for another person, the work should allow them to grow and challenge them. It is like watching a movie. People will go watch a movie that they like and will enjoy their one hour and a half instead of spending the time to watch a boring movie that they dislike. I think doing something that is challenging plays a big role on how you look forward to working. If I was given this survey, I would have chosen exciting and challenging work. I am a person who likes to learn something new and not just do the same type of job every day. When I am introduced to some new or a challenge in a project, I get excited because I will have to literally come up with an idea to fix the problem. I enjoy doing that. Working with great people and career growth development is just a cherry on top that comes along with exciting and challenging work.
One aspect that is not so surprising is that only 17% work because they are making a difference or their job is meaningful work. The reason is when I shadowed surgeons at the St. Barnabas hospital, almost all the residents and attending physician told me not to go into medicine because of the hours, risk and it is not a great return on invest. On the other hand, medical students told me that medicine is great because you are making a difference every day. I feel like as you grow older priority change and making a difference in the world becomes the least of your worries. As a student (I do not know about you guys), I have that attitude and fortitude of changing world by doing something big primarily because we do not have as many worries as a couple with a child.