Bullshit Jobs: Time to Quit Those Absurd Roles!
Have you ever woken up, placed your feet on the floor, and immediately felt a vast, soul-crushing emptiness? You linger under the shower, wondering why you’re about to waste another day in a bullshit job, filling out pointless spreadsheets. Spoiler alert: you’re not alone.
According to a study by Randstad, 29% of French believe they’re in a job they consider utterly useless—often referred to as a “bullshit job.” That’s a lot of people scrolling through LinkedIn, hoping for a divine revelation or a miracle career switch.
But before you throw in the towel, let’s ask the crucial question: Is your job really absurd, or is it the way you experience it that makes it unbearable? Because sometimes, it’s not the job itself that’s empty—it’s how we’re living it that drains us. And that’s where things get interesting.
Does My Job Even Matter?
It’s 8:42 AM.
The coffee is slowly cooling on the corner of the desk, beside a screen showing an endless, soulless Excel spreadsheet. Jason watches the lines scroll by, but deep down, he knows: what he’s doing right now holds no real meaning for him.
His title? Officially, he’s a financial analyst. Unofficially, he spends his days filling out reports no one reads, attending pointless meetings, and sending emails that only get a “Received, thanks” response.
Jason wonders: What if my job is completely meaningless?
Totally Useless… Or Just Misaligned?
Unless you’re paid to blow air at windmills, it’s rare for a job to be entirely useless. The issue is often that we can’t see the impact of our work.
Take Jason’s colleague, Ben, for example. Ben is an accountant, and at first glance, his job might seem like the ultimate snooze fest. He spends all day aligning numbers. But Ben knows exactly why his job matters. His neatly organized spreadsheets save companies, prevent costly mistakes, and allow people to sleep soundly at night. In short, his work has a real impact—and that makes all the difference.
Ben isn’t the only one who finds meaning in his work. According to a survey by Denjean & Associates in partnership with The Student and Compta Online, 26% of students wishing to become accountants are driven by a genuine interest in the field. Some even say:
“I love accounting.”
“Accounting has always been my passion.”
Honestly, if some people can get excited about accounting, why couldn’t we transform any job into a personal playground? What if the sense of emptiness doesn’t come from the job itself, but from how we experience it?
It’s Not Always the Job’s Fault
Sometimes, it’s not the job that’s hollow—it’s the disconnection with the team.
Jason works at a company where everyone’s in zombie corporate mode: open offices, constant meetings, zero real communication. It’s no wonder he feels like he’s doing nothing. He doesn’t see anyone relying on his work, and he has no idea what impact his efforts have.
Rebuilding those connections can change everything. Ask what your job really contributes to. Find out who depends on it. Chances are, you’ll be surprised.
What If We Stopped Expecting Our Jobs to Transcend Us?
Sometimes, a job is just a means to fund your real life: your passions, your travels, your projects. Take Ben, the accountant, for example. On the surface, his job seems about as exciting as watching paint dry. Numbers, balance sheets, bills to pay… But for Ben, his job has never been a burden. It’s just not the only thing he wants to do with his life. And he’s found a way to make it work for him.
He injects a personal challenge into every task. He seeks precision in his calculations, strives to understand every nuance of tax law, and never settles for “good enough.” For him, every task is an opportunity to measure up to his own standards and improve. And that gives him personal satisfaction. While his job doesn’t make him jump out of bed with joy every morning, he finds enjoyment in striving for excellence—even in the most mundane aspects.
So instead of enduring his job, Ben chose to approach it as though he were tending to his own personal garden every day. Because, in the end, it’s not the job that’s inherently boring—it’s what you make of it.
And What if It’s Still a Bullshit Job?
If, despite everything, you’re still counting down the hours and wondering what you’re even doing there… then, yes, maybe it’s time for a change. But before you quit, ask yourself again: Is the problem truly with this specific job, or is it the environment you’re in that’s suffocating you?
Sometimes, a simple change of scenery can bring new life to a role that once seemed stagnant. Other times, a career shift is necessary—something more aligned with your passions. “The grass is always greener on the other side,” they say. Many dream of it, but if the issue doesn’t lie in the color of the grass, but in your relationship with work, every new opportunity might turn into just another bullshit job.
Changing your perspective might be exactly what you need to transform a “pointless” job into something that allows you to grow, evolve, and fulfill your potential. Because, after all, the real bullshit would be spending your life merely enduring: a job, a routine, or worse… yourself.
