When ‘Just a Job’ Is Exactly What You Need

‘Just a job’ or ‘Career’

How often have you heard someone say they’re “just looking for a job”? It can almost sound apologetic. In a world that celebrates career ambition, professional development, and qualifications, those simply seeking a job can feel like outsiders. But should they?

Early Pressure to Define a Future

At school, the careers advice I received centred solely around university: “What degree will you take?”, “Which universities are you applying to?” If you weren’t following that path, you quickly became an afterthought. There was no advice (certainly back then!) for any alternative path or ideas.

But teenage years are rarely the best time for life-defining decisions. Many young people are managing far more than exam timetables - mental health struggles, family upheaval, grief, bullying, the list goes on. In those moments, being asked to 'pick a career' can feel unrealistic.

The Accidental Career

Twice in my life, I wasn’t chasing a dream job or planning my five-year path. I just needed work. A job.

And yet, both of those roles ended up as a ‘career’. I ended up really enjoying the work and the people I worked/work with. I invested in qualifications. I stayed. The ‘career’ emerged not from any design or strategy, but from random luck and opportunity, which is far more common than we acknowledge.

The Value of ‘Just a Job’

For a wide variety of reasons, some people aren’t interested in career progression. They don’t want further study, extra pressure, or constant upskilling, they have enough going on in life already, and that’s absolutely OK. These are often the individuals who give 100% in their roles every day, who show up, deliver consistently, and quietly keep a business running.

They are the engine room of any organisation. And not every company can accommodate endless training or promotions, nor should they have to.

Let’s Shift the Narrative

We must move away from the idea that a 'career' is more admirable than a 'job'. People need different things at different times in life. A job can be a stepping stone, a lifeline, a sense of purpose or simply a way to pay the bills. All are valid.