Working on the job

BY JEROME C. VARON

OFTENTIMES, we come across notices on the Classified Ads section of newspapers of companies inviting applicants for available employment positions they need.

The qualifications of prospective employees are always included in these notices together with the requirements that applicants need to bring along when they apply.

In some companies, applicants have to pass the other phases of qualifying tests including interview, written examinations, and sometimes, practical simulations of what has to be expected in the job environment.

On the management’s point of view, the process intends to achieve the end of rightly choosing the “right peg on the right hole” for the organization. Needless to say, only the best among the applicants get the job.

The management, on the hand, hopes to realize from the new hires to deliver what is expected from them. This brings to fore the truth that not too many of the unemployed are employable.

But of course, there’s the sad truth, especially in government service, that it doesn’t matter what you know but “whom you know” in order to land a job. That really speaks a lot of the image and performance we’ve been exposed to and experienced from many government employees.

The essence of work as against that of a job is entirely different in some aspects. Work refers to accomplishing what needs to be done. Job is just needing to move within the regimental motion of doing things. Thus there is this thing called “job description” which provides parameters and limits for one to accomplish something.

On the other hand, work goes beyond these parameters to achieve a satisfactory result. For many, the concept of work is that it should be a meaningful activity and it should be fun to execute. With it is the sheer love to work and its ultimate rewards would provide enormous satisfaction to the worker. For him, work is what makes him complete to be in this life.

Work needs to be enjoyable, regardless of comparison on the compensation. At times one could only wonder why a construction worker goes home with a smile after a hard day while a top executive wears a frown as he drives home aboard a luxury car after spending most of his day inside a well-furnished air-conditioned office. Perhaps it is the fact that the former enjoyed every effort in his work while the latter didn’t.

The measure of contentment is indeed relative. Thomas Edison once said, “There’s no substitute for hard work. Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration!”

Work then should be considered as a way of expressing the emotional cravings of joy and understanding the benefits of life.

The great philosopher, Voltaire, observed that work keeps us away from three evils: boredom, vice and poverty. With this mindset, we can always value work by looking at its benefits, keeping in mind that we are not paying for its price, rather, enjoying its benefits./PN