Wedding Woes

I'm a banker longing to be an anthropologist

Dear Prudence,
I graduated from college about five years ago with a degree in anthropology but now work in banking. What do I say when people (including co-workers) ask me if I like my job? The honest answer is, "Good Lord, no! I’d much rather be a museum curator," but I know that's not what they want to hear, and that I wouldn’t want my boss to overhear. But I'm at a loss for finding nice things to say about my job without sounding ungrateful. "Well, it pays the bills!" Doesn't cut it. What do you think I should say?

–Lost for Words

Re: I'm a banker longing to be an anthropologist

  • He can play Indiana Jones on the weekend.

    Me thinks that he tried to find a job as a museum curator when he finished school and couldn't, thus the career in banking.

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  • I don't understand people who can't figure out a simple white lie.  It doesn't even have to be remotely true.  If you bestie or your mom asks if you like your job, that's one thing; if a coworker asks, I'm pretty sure you can say yes without worrying that they'll give you a polygraph or something.

    Lying is often the answer, people.
  • Heffalump said:


    Lying is often the answer, people.
    YES!  I don't understand people who can't figure out how to fake the funk when making polite conversation. 

    Also, how many times a day/week is this person being asked if they love their job?  I mean, I only get asked when I meet someone new and they ask me what I do OR I see family/friends that I haven't seen in a long time and they ask me how work is going.  No one is asking me daily about it and/or is expecting some super enthusiastic response. 
  • Heffalump said:


    Lying is often the answer, people.
    YES!  I don't understand people who can't figure out how to fake the funk when making polite conversation. 

    Also, how many times a day/week is this person being asked if they love their job?  I mean, I only get asked when I meet someone new and they ask me what I do OR I see family/friends that I haven't seen in a long time and they ask me how work is going.  No one is asking me daily about it and/or is expecting some super enthusiastic response. 
    Yeah, it reminds me of when you pass someone in the hall at work and they say "How's it going?"  It's a simple little social thing, they don't really want to know that you're exhausted because your husband forgot to make sure you were in bed at 9:30 on the dot, or whatever.  "Good, thanks, how are you?"  Boom, done. 

    Shouldn't an anthropologist, of all people, understand this?
  • i think he should start carrying around sparklers or glitter cannons in case he can't lie effectively - at least then he has a distraction. 

    He can play Indiana Jones on the weekend.

    Me thinks that he tried to find a job as a museum curator when he finished school and couldn't, thus the career in banking.

    I don't understand why people don't think about this shit while they are going to school. I totally get the desire to live your dreams and all, but come up with a fallback plan that you can live with - especially when you're going into a field with minimal jobs/demand. 
  • Heffalump said:
    Heffalump said:


    Lying is often the answer, people.
    YES!  I don't understand people who can't figure out how to fake the funk when making polite conversation. 

    Also, how many times a day/week is this person being asked if they love their job?  I mean, I only get asked when I meet someone new and they ask me what I do OR I see family/friends that I haven't seen in a long time and they ask me how work is going.  No one is asking me daily about it and/or is expecting some super enthusiastic response. 
    Yeah, it reminds me of when you pass someone in the hall at work and they say "How's it going?"  It's a simple little social thing, they don't really want to know that you're exhausted because your husband forgot to make sure you were in bed at 9:30 on the dot, or whatever.  "Good, thanks, how are you?"  Boom, done. 

    Shouldn't an anthropologist, of all people, understand this?
    Maybe that's why he is overthinking it? He's trying to find the deeper meaning in his personal interactions, but in reality:


  • I can unfortunatly relate to this on a personal level :/ while I understand and agree he shouldn't say anything, it is incredibly hard to find a job in the field, that's what my degree is in as well, I'm a receptionist at an autobody shop because it is next to impossible to get a job in the state I live in (I followed love, which I am so glad I did, but left my job in my field of study.)
  • There has to be a museum of small town local history he can get a job at and moonlight on the weekends for an extra $40... 
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