Sourced from NPR | Feb 1, 2022
You are often told that you should find a job that you are passionate about.
Whether you are graduating from college or changing fields, this is a commonly shared belief to sidestepping a dull career or prevailing in a difficult industry. But is it that easy?
In her book, The Trouble With Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality, sociologist Erin A. Cech says maybe not. She shares new research on the "passion principle" — the idea that you should pursue passion in your career, before fair compensation or job security.
There's nothing wrong with finding fulfillment at work. But passion takes it further. It's loaded with expectations that you will do whatever it takes for your career, which Cech says can lead to exploitation and inequality in the workplace.
Cech explains why passion is valued so highly in the workforce and how pursuing it is more complicated than simply just "loving what you do."
Erin A. Cech is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Michigan and the author of The Trouble With Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality.
Left: University of California Press; Right: Photograph by Moni Valentini
Passion hasn't always been a priority.
Prioritizing passion is a new concept when it comes to job searching. Back in the 40s and '50s, careers were centered around stability, and workers were encouraged to land positions that would support them and their families. Then eventually came the 70s, 80s, and 90s, where self-expression overtook stability as the main motivator.
The work we do has become more precarious. Industries known for long-term, stable employment outsourced their labor abroad. Workers do not stay at one company for decades anymore. Careers are out; gigs are in. College-educated workers have now begun circling around the idea that passion should fuel workers, not job security.
When we praise passion, we reward privilege.
Steve Jobs’ infamous quote on work, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do, if you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle" emphasized the role of passion in work during a commencement speech at Stanford University.
Jobs, as well as many of his peers, followed their passions by dropping out of college and pursuing business ideas that changed their industries and made them wildly successful and wealthy. Their stories make pursuing passion feel not just romantic but destined.
However, finding success after following your passion is hardly guaranteed.
Low income or first-generation college students are much less likely to have the financial safety nets or the springboards from their social networks to translate the things that they love into employment that aligns with both their passion and draws a decent salary, says Cech.
Based on her search, people from wealthier families are more likely to be employed in jobs that speak to their passions and are stable, compared with people from less wealthy backgrounds.
Employers can take advantage of workers who work for passion.
People motivated by passion are more likely to work harder than people who aren't personally invested in their work. Some aren't necessarily paid anymore.
The lack of compensation is by design. The reason why many employers want to hire people who are passionate about their work is not only because they think they will be hard workers, but they expect that people who are passionate will also put more work in without the demand to increase pay.
Newsflash: Pushing passion doesn't guarantee better work.
People who work in education, healthcare, social work, journalism, and other fields prioritize passion and are known for their long hours and devotion to a shared mission. Working overtime though could lead to burnout, resentment, and resignation.
If you are a teacher, to be kind, considerate, helpful, and attentive to a child is one thing. It's another to perform work as though that's the soul or core piece of one's identity, says Cech.
Untangling the number of extra hours you put into the job can actually be good for you, your boss, and your team in the long run. When we give workers time to rest, more control over their schedule, and more vacation time, they are actually more productive. More resilient and creative, says Cech.
Passion wasn't always a priority for workers. If you don't feel that you are personally fulfilled with your job, it doesn't mean that you are not capable of doing it well. Instead of drawing your passion from just one place, ask yourself:
“What are the other things that excite me out of paid employment? How can I invest my time, energy, and attention in cultivating passion in that space?
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