Imagine checking out at your local grocery store. There are only two registers open, yet employees are leisurely talking and walking about. Then, when you think the line can’t get any worse, it starts wrapping around the paper products aisle.
After 20 painstaking minutes, you finally make it to the cashier who greets you with an apathetic nod that only furthers your negative experience. You leave the store feeling frustrated, vowing to never return.
Compare the grocery store scenario to a typical experience at the Department of Motor Vehicles, a doctor’s office or any other bureaucratic office.
With each encounter there is an identifiable trend, a lack of passionate employees.
Only 23 percent of U.S. workers are passionate about their current jobs, according to Deloitte’s 2010 Worker Passion Survey. With over three out of four employees lacking enthusiasm in their job, it’s no surprise that our typical encounter at the grocery store is disappointing.
Outside influences like money, family pressure and education requirements heavily affect a person’s career choice and influence people to settle for a job instead of a career. The difference between the two is distinct: a job is something that you do to earn money regardless of interest; a career is a platform for personal and financial advancement.
The best part is that anyone can tap into their personal interests and orient a career around it. Everyone has a different answer to the question, “What makes you feel alive?”
First, envision your goals and dreams. Now, think about how you can apply your passion to those goals and dreams.
Typically, something distinct comes to mind.
And that, my friend, is the place to start.
Your only interest is shopping?
Got it.
According to Forbes, a personal shopper is an unusual job that pays surprisingly well.
The idea is simple: move your passions and career from two distinct spheres into one overlapping one.
It seems daunting to discover your passion, but each person has a unique skillset that they can use to serve humanity.
For employers, hiring passionate individuals is integral to the success of the company.Passionate employees are more productive, motivated and satisfied. This explains why employers often choose a candidate with a good attitude and enthusiasm over a candidate with ‘x’ number of years at ‘y’ school.
More importantly, however, passionate employees are more likely to find innovative solutions to problems within their field. When you do what you love, you will likely go out of your way to grow as an employee. You might attend that extra training session, participate in research or obtain an additional certification if you truly care about the position you’re in.
The workplace is where we spend approximately one-third of our lives, so it seems foolish to settle for a job that doesn’t capture your interest.
Use your passion to your advantage by showing employers you care. By identifying and honing your skills, you can prove to employers you’re a clear stand-out.
If it’s apparent that an employee treats their job like a chore, it not only reflects poorly on the individual, but also the company for which they work. If the company and its employees can’t generate a positive experience for a customer, that customer is likely to find a different brand to interact with.
Simply put, passion matters.
Alaina DiLaura is a 20-year-old international studies and mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Opinion: Passion is vital to employment choice
January 28, 2017