I was recently musing the idea that there seems to be quite a bit of overlap between jobs/careers that are stereotypically considered "mundane", "boring", "dull" and "soul-crushing" and the sorts of jobs usually considered appealng to SJs due to their structured, methodical and steady nature, which makes them, at least theoretically, well-suited for said tasks.
However, these jobs are also pretty much considered synonymous with disillusionment and drudgery and giving up on your dreams, like in
this comic by Chris Guillebeau.
My questions, then, are, for the SJs: do you find fulfillment on those jobs, or do you simply feel a duty to "keep on trucking"? Does it depend on particular aspects of the job? Do you feel those jobs are represented unfairly in media such as Guillebeau's comic? Do you, indeed, thrive in those environments? Are they close to what you consider your "dream job"?
Thank you in advance.
Firstly, I don't think the comic is all that related to the jobs you're talking about. It's a generalization of what it's like, in general, to live a life that's too safe. Only walking the path that's been laid out for you, making no real decisions of your own. Sure, some SJs live lives like this, but others don't. The whole comic is a call for bold action and critical thinking, and SJs are just as capable of that as anyone else.
Implying that the comic represents SJs also suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be an SJ. I almost want to go through the comic, panel by panel, to refute it, but that would be too time-consuming.
Secondly, the stereotype of SJs being the ones that do mundane/boring jobs comes from the fact that we're very methodical, linear thinkers, very task-/goal-/detail-oriented, and satisfied with our jobs when we know that we're part of something greater. This means that SJs are a natural fit for methodical, linear, detail-oriented jobs within large, impersonal companies/organizations, because even if we get bored by those jobs -- which we often do! -- we're good at them, we can find entertainment elsewhere (e.g. talking to coworkers), and we're motivated by The Greater Good. Whereas, NJs might have a harder time staying in constant contact with that source of motivation (and would instead get intensely bored), and Perceivers would have a hard time focusing on such J-ish jobs.
It's important to note here that everyone needs job satisfaction -- that's not something that some types are excluded from. SJs aren't so self-sacrificing that they'd all work jobs they hate for their entire lives, for no greater cause. They'd need a reason to work there, some kind of deeper appreciation for the work they do. For SJs, the type of satisfaction that they'll want from a job would probably be one or more of these:
- The feeling of being part of something greater than yourself
- Being part of a like-minded community
- Being appreciated (and paid!) for the work that you're good at
- Fixing imperfections in the system, or maintaining the current working order of the system
- "Making the world a better place"
And, most importantly...
- Doing what you love.
Everything else -- job security, predictable work schedule, etc -- comes from being a J and seeing chaos and unpredictability as your enemy. Other Js want these same things, but other factors can get in the way.