As a millennial, it's challenging to escape blog posts with titles like: “How I Quit My Job to Travel the World,” “Ways to Avoid Having to Sit Behind a Desk for Eight Hours a Day,” or “How I Escaped the Corporate World to Do What I Love.” All of those articles are enticing and have valid points. Yes, travel is a vital part of life and understanding human nature as well as society. Yes, sometimes sitting behind a desk for eight hours a day really can cause a person to go crazy. Yes, it is important to make sure that when you plan your major to land a job after college, you are pick one with a path to a job you deeply care about or love. Through all of those important aspects in life though, I think the typical desk job has gotten a bad rap. This is not meant to offend or insult anyone working a job as a travel blogger, nurse, teacher, etc. If you are out there doing what you can with the talents God gave you, then more power to you. This is merely just to encourage those on the daily grind working toward a career in the “Desk Job” world.
So here are some of the little known perks of that “dreaded” desk job.
1. You work when everyone else is working.
In my opinion this is one of the best benefits of working a desk job. The hours you are working are usually the same hours everyone else in the world is also working, so you aren’t missing out on anything. Even Royals games are more or less scheduled around these hours. They are in the evenings on weekdays and during the day on weekends. Any sort of fun event at Power & Light or weekend festival will take place at a time when you are already off of work. There is also a nice sense of stability that comes from knowing your schedule and hours for basically the rest of your life—you never have to put anyone on hold while you wait to hear if you are working or not working on a certain day. In addition, you usually won't have to work on holidays.
2. Benefits on benefits.
If you have a full-time job, your company is required to provide you with health care options. In addition to the benefits of healthcare, you can also enroll for things like IRA contributions, which will set you up for retirement. That's giving you a good jump on being able to retire wealthy and early. In general, you also will be eligible for overtime pay, maternity/paternity leave and most corporations will help pay for you to continue your education past the undergraduate level. My last internship has invested more than $100,000 in each employee’s education after joining the company.
3. The social aspect.
Working a desk job is actually so much more than sitting at a desk and working. I attend countless networking events and know someone from almost every major company in Kansas City. My current internship has expanded my circle by 200 or more people, and I get to hang out with these people at our fun work events like Top Golf, Breakout KC and conferences at Disney World. I’m at a client site most of the time and meeting other people through working with them. The last five texts on my phone are from other intern friends who want to make plans for the weekend. Work is a place where several people share a common bond in the job they do, so naturally, it's a breeding ground for friendships and fun plans.
4. Travel and culture.
Working a desk job has allowed me to travel more than any other job I’ve had and more often than I’ve been able to afford on my own or through my family. I’ve been to Atlanta, Chicago, D.C. and Orlando just for my work. Every trip I’ve taken is fully paid for, down to the checked bags, my meals out, my hotel and my flights. As I grow in my career, I will only travel more as I visit client sites and locations. In our office there are people who have traveled to China, Canada, Oregon, California and more. Even at other companies travel is common, even if just to another location within the same business.
Finally…the last benefit is…
5. Working a desk job can actually be enjoyable.
Believe it or not, I wake up every day and know that I am doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing. I have found a company I love, thanks to my exploration through internships and hard work. The people I’m surrounded with each day are the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever met. My company engages in service work, socials and makes sure its employees live well-rounded lives. I am challenged with new problems each day that allow me to learn and grow. I never know what to expect or what my routine will look like that day because I don’t have one, my assignments change by the hour. One minute, I may be checking a spreadsheet for a client and the next I may be observing an inventory count for a different client.
The bottom line is that I never get bored. If I have a stupid question, I’m not afraid to ask my peer interns or adviser. If I need advice on advancing in my education or path within the company, I can go to my assigned counselor. If I need a friend, I have a countless amount of “go to” people who are with me eight hours a day.
I know several people may read this and say, “No, Lauren, it is not realistic that everyone can work at a company like that.” I disagree. If you are pursuing something that you feel called to and you work hard at it, you will end up in a place where you are happy in life because of your job. I began to pursue accounting my freshman year and had little idea as to whether it was something I would really enjoy. I decided to work as hard as I could in class, pursue internships and real life experiences with accounting and most importantly trust that God had a plan for me that would work out regardless. Now, one year away from graduating, I feel more secure than ever. Putting in work and exploring my options allowed me to find a desk job that makes me happy and fulfilled every day.
