Does a job sound boring or exciting to you?
Here’s a secret that I didn’t learn for far too long in life…
It can be whatever you want it to be! As corny as it might sound, it’s actually very true. We really can choose for a job to be a chore, or a daily source of satisfaction and enjoyment. In some cases this actually applies to the same job. Sort of a “glass half full / glass half empty” type scenario.
But ultimately, we are in control of what job we go after once we finish our schooling and get out into the world. If you have something in mind which you believe would be a wonderful job, make it happen!
Sure, it might not fall into our laps, but with some thoughtful consideration and a bunch of hard work, we absolutely can have a job that brings us rewards of all kinds if we go after it.
So today we’re thinking about what jobs are, what they mean to us, and inspiring some thoughtful writing – which might just help us understand just how amazing the opportunities ahead of us really are!
Let’s get into it…
How to use:
Try using one or two prompts which grab you as discussion points for a class of students. You’re sure to get a lot of interesting discussion going. Then have everyone go and write a piece on a second writing prompt.
It can be interesting to give several groups of young writers a different prompt each, and see what the resulting written work is as presented back to the class.
You may prefer to simply choose one prompt, and have all students write extensively on it – or for a given amount of time.
Alternatively providing the full list and allowing everyone to write about the prompt that most speaks to them. In the process of reading through the list you’re likely warming up those writing neurons too, stirring up all sorts of different opinions and ideas along the way.
Enjoy, happy writing!
19 Writing Prompts about Jobs:
- How do you think people end up working at a job they love to do?
- Over recent years lots of new jobs or ways of earning a living have emerged, such as being a professional gamer or a YouTuber. How do they make that their job?
- If you did not have to worry about money, what job would you most like to have? Why?
- Do you think most people finishing high school are certain what they want to do as a job? Why?
- How do the jobs of people around you such as friends and family influence what you think of as possible future jobs for yourself? Why?
- Have you met anyone recently that made you interested in what they did as a job? What was it about that job that caught your attention?
- Most jobs 100 years ago looked very different to jobs today, and many of those jobs no longer exist. There are many jobs today that didn’t exist 100 years ago. How do you think jobs might look in 100 years time?
- If there was a job that you’d really love to have, to you think it would be worth working and studying hard to achieve it? Why?
- Would you rather have a job that was difficult but very satisfying, or very easy to do but not at all satisfying? Why?
- Do you think what job you’re wanting to do will change over time? Why is that?
- Often when thinking about what job we might want, we think of jobs that are most “visible” to us – for example, doctor, firefighter, builder. But there are thousands of jobs that we never see unless we go looking. How can we discover more possible jobs?
- Some jobs are more meaningful than others, helping save lives, or helping others live a better life and so on. Would you rather have more meaning or more money from your job? Why?
- Different jobs can lead to different levels of happiness or stress in life. Would you prefer a job that leaves you feeling happy at the end of most days, but might not provide you much extra spending money, or a job that left you very stressed or unhappy at the end of most days, but which gave you huge amounts of money to spend? Why?
- If you think of all the different types of jobs people you know have worked at, are there any which you think would be great to try doing yourself? Are there any which you know you would not like to do? What draws you to one type of job, and puts you off another job?
- Would you prefer to work a single job that you enjoy for the rest of your life, or a different job every year? Why?
- Is there anyone that you look up to who has helped you understand that a job doesn’t need to be a boring thing you have to do? Who are they, and how have they helped you understand this?
- If you think of your group of friends, do you all want to go into very different jobs, or are there any themes around what work some of you are wanting to go into? Why do you think that is?
- If your best friend was unsure about what job they wanted to get, how would you help them think about it to try and find something they would enjoy and find satisfying?
- Would you want to do your hobby as a job? Why?
Needing more writing resources and printables?
Good news people, we have well and truly got you covered.
Try some winter writing prompts for a start. That not enough? Get a little deeper with writing prompts about yourself!
If you’re needing some prompts for younger students, try our collection of 2nd grade writing prompts.
As usual if you have ideas on what you’d like us to make next in the way of free resources and printables, just let us know. Our husband and wife team create new things for you to use for free all the time – seriously – check back soon and you’ll see what I mean!
Don’t forget to share this with others 🙂
Thanks,
Matt & Hayley
