What do you do?

I don't like it when people ask me what I "do." What they mean, of course, is what job do I do. But I don't like the idea that I am defined by my job, by the title "receptionist." Of course, if I'm honest this probably has something to do with the fact that I don't particularly like my job (I complain about it far too much, it's not all that bad...it provides me with plenty of opportunity for creative thinking!) and that for somebody with a 2.1 in History being classified as a Receptionist doesn't seem right. I'm sorry, I know that's terribly snobbish and everything. I never said it was right!

But I just feel there's so much more to who I am than the job I do. It seems to me that the things I do when I'm not at work (or at least, the things I'm not paid to do) are rather more worthwhile than what I am paid for. They're often also much more fulfilling. Organising events at church, even making tea and coffee. And then the singing and performing I do with my two G&S groups (and occasionally elsewhere), not mention the organising behind the scenes. I'd much rather people judged or remembered me by than my job title.

I do wonder if the way we often judge people by their job has something to do with a utilitarian view of people. We can often seem to judge people by what the can do for us rather than valuing them for themselves, and for talents or qualities that aren't necessarily 'useful' for a job.

This kind of mindset makes it hard for anyone who doesn't have a paid job, whether that's because they have chosen not to (eg for childcare reasons) or because they are unable to find one. I know far too many graduates who are unable to find work, and with the current economic situation that's only going to get worse. But in a society which (even if it doesn't realise it) equates work and a job with value, to be unemployed can all to easily give you the impression that you have no worth, no value to society. This leads to low confidence levels, which makes it harder again to get a job.

But that's simply wrong, in my opinion. Being unable to get a job (or having one which is below your skill level) has nothing to do with your ability to contribute to society, or your personal worth, or even your ability to do a job. And some people choose to put a career on hold for personal reasons- to take a gap year, to care for children or others who need help. Those people are certainly still contributing to society. But do we always recognise that? Other people may use their time out of work to do voluntary work- helping in charity shops, running youth clubs- such things can give them a sense of worth and boost skills.

But trying to get potential employers to recognise that administering and organising a church or performing society event- often with a budget of several hundred pounds- means that you're more than capable of doing the job they're recruiting for. Sadly there seems to be the impression that if you're not paid to do it, a task has less value.

So what would I like people to ask when they're trying to get to know me? Well, "what do you do?" isn't in itself a bad question. I think people need to realise, though, that this should encompass more than "what is your job?" I try to give people some idea of what else I do- I mention my job, then go on to more interesting things, the things that, in my experience, make me me. Perhaps if our society began to realise that we can gain value through other things besides our jobs and what we own, we would have a society that was less attached to just gaining as much money as possible, and perhaps it would be a happier one.