The Pros and Cons of an Office Job
Career Paths

The Pros and Cons of an Office Job

Each office worker has a specific function and job description. Typically, office hours are set. It may be a 9 am to 5 pm workday, as an example. For some, it may sound like a dream come true, for others an unmitigated nightmare.

An office job is commonly associated with bureaucratic and administrative functions. It involves typing and other computer work, filing, phone calls, and meetings. This is where the managerial functions of organization and leadership take place.

Each office worker has a specific function and job description. Typically, office hours are set. It may be a 9 am to 5 pm workday, as an example. For some, it may sound like a dream come true, for others an unmitigated nightmare.

Here are some of the pros and cons of having an office job:

The Pros  of an Office Job

1. A salary

Office work comes with a monthly salary attached to it. It is sometimes bolstered by incentives that you can earn.

2. Timekeeping

Since office hours are set, late coming and early departure are frowned upon. Therefore, you learn to be on time for work. Set tea breaks and lunch times are allocated to most office workers. As there’s an official end to the work day, you leave at a specific time. You can then go home and not have to worry about work until the next day. 

3. Social skills

When you work in an office, you are surrounded by people. You quickly learn the interpersonal skills necessary to get on and communicate with diverse groups of people.  Bonds and friendships can be formed with the most unlikely people because you met them at the office. You also learn diplomatic skills. An office situation teaches you to resolve conflict and accept differences without causing offense.

4. Creativity and experience

Being with people in an office, you learn a great deal from your colleagues. Their approach to a situation may be completely different to yours. You can learn from that. You’ll also see people’s creativity when it comes to problem-solving. This is an invaluable experience.

The Cons of an Office Job

1. Noise and interruptions

An office is very seldom quiet. If you’re the type of person who can’t tune it out, you’ll struggle with an office job. People are constantly talking, phones are ringing, and there’s an endless stream of people moving past you. You can expect to be interrupted in the middle of a task. Then you must get back into what you were doing afterward.

2. Sedentary lifestyle

Office work requires a lot of sitting at your workstation. This sedentary practice can result in weight gain and a lack of fitness.

3. Stressful relationships

Relations between colleagues can become strained in an office environment. You spend so much time together at such close quarters.  Invariably, people get irritated with one another. That’s when a slip of the tongue in a moment of frustration can cause a lot of trouble.

4. Uncomfortable workspace

You might find yourself at an uncomfortable desk directly under the air conditioner. Your chair might be hurting your back. The area could be ill-lit. In an office, there will be discomfort factors. The organization may not be able to solve them, so you must put up with them. You could find yourself experiencing health problems as a direct consequence of your job.