Would you rather....

Question

....have your dream job - but with a terrible boss.. or have the best boss ever, but not be interested in the work you're doing?

Yaca Attwood · Answer

The boss is key, for me...one weekend, on my first job as a database administrator (DBA), I messed up reorganizing an IBM IMS database used in support of the B2. I called my boss, who came in and fixed the problem - I was expecting to be fired; instead he turned quietly to me and asked, ‘did you learn something?’ I said yes, and he said, ‘that’s all I need to know’. He never brought it up again, and I never made that mistake again.

I would have crawled over glass for that man because he had my back; he would not let others criticize our team in meetings, he would deal with issues in private. He was the best boss I ever worked for - he was 5’3” and I’m 6’2”, and we would laugh and joke about our height differences all the time.

Anonymous · Answer

I think if I'm strong enough, I mean if I'm outstanding in my profession, even a terrible boss can't do much to me.  If I'm good at my job, I believe I can easily find another opportunity, so I won't be stressed out by her/him. Therefore, I think finding a job that's I'm interested at is the most important to me.

Volition1028 · Answer

I’m going to have to agree with great boss because a terrible boss will make every hour at work feel like a lifetime of hell.

Jenny Willis · Answer

I'm not sure on this one.  Bosses are usually temporary, unless you work for a small private company or family-owned business.  If the dream job was with a big corporation, I would take the dream job.  If a job with no path for growth, and it's for a small company but a great boss, I would choose the great boss.  I've worked for large corporations my entire career, and I've had some bad bosses and great bosses.  Change is inevitable, so having a bad boss is not always that bad since change always comes along.

Anonymous · Answer

Would choose the great boss!

Anonymous · Answer

I think a horrible boss would ruin your dream job, so I would probably go good boss every time!

Anonymous · Answer

Great boss is more important than the work. I've been in situations where the work was stressful but the boss was great and took care of the people. It made the work feel challenging in a positive way. I'm in a position now where my boss is a nice person but not a great boss/leader and even though I excel at my job I hate coming in to work.

HILYEDUCATED · Answer

I have had the opportunity of experiencing both scenarios. Of the two  and had the chance to do it all over again, I would  choose the best boss and do the  work that I am not entirely interested in.     The boss sets the atmosphere and culture of the area they are responsible for. If their area is  filled with tension and stress because of their management style no dream job can compensate for that.  However, if your boss is positive and encouraging in motivating all positions,  then even filing is a pleasure to do. By the way I have always hated filing but in a pleasant surrounding  it isn't that bad.  I go for good bosses over worse bosses every-time.

Courtney Klein · Answer

Having had my dream job but a horrible boss, I'ma have to agree with the general consensus above and go with having a good boss.

Anonymous · Answer

I have my dream job. My direct boss is in another state and kind. His boss is great. The person in my office who holds the highest position and therefore has some say over my work and actions is a miserable unhappy person and reports me to both my boss and his boss all the time for petty things. (Like celebration of a coworker promotion without first asking her). I don’t know what to do.

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