Doubts About Your Profession: Are You Struggling With Your Job?

Germans spend an average of over 52,000 hours of their lives at work. Ideally, this time is spent on activities that provide fulfillment, purpose, and a sense of contributing positively. However, for many, the daily commute to work is met with listlessness, often stemming from the feeling that their labor is not useful.

According to a survey, a significant portion of people in Germany believe their work is meaningful. Yet, approximately 15% grapple with the sensation that their job contributes nothing of value. This feeling is disproportionately common among those in marketing, sales, and craft industries.

The situation becomes more severe when individuals feel their work supports or even causes harm. This can lead to guilt and stress, eroding their sense of self-worth. Some may even lose their conviction of being a good person. Such experiences can have lasting effects, requiring time for reorientation and self-reconciliation even after leaving the job.

Die Zeit is seeking reader experiences on this topic. They ask: Do you find your work meaningless? Or even harmful? How do you feel about it? What keeps you in your job despite these feelings? What would you rather be doing? Readers are invited to share their stories via a form or email, with selected contributions to be published, anonymously if requested.