Vocational Identity

Achieving vocational identity is part of the emerging adult. The current trend, in this society due to jobs requiring more education, is that people are going to school longer than ever before. Unlike previous generations, jobs are becoming less technical. Because of this, achieving this vocational identity is taking longer.
One thing I have noticed is that the younger generation seems to have a certain idea that their job may be more satisfying than it actually turns out to be. And rightfully so right? Because he or she may have taken longer to fulfill the educational requirements and it may have taken longer to actually find a job. So, why wouldn't we want to be satisfied?! I even see a difference in the way I tend to think about a job earlier in life as opposed to my sister who is 4 1/2 years younger than I am. I tend to think you kind of just need to "bite the bullet" and do some time to gain credibility. After doing your time, you hope to move on to something more ideal. The younger generation seems to look at a job as a defining characteristic of themselves. Like we need to do things that fulfill us on many different levels. I think this is so difficult to find. Also, while we search for these types of fulfilling jobs, we are often losing money. We have be able to afford to live.
I think, over time, it seems to become harder and harder to define oneself by our careers. I also find that being a nurse, I tend to enjoy aspects of my job, and despise others. Isn't this kind of normal though? I don't know....I guess I always figured that the word "job" meant that much of it was going to be work....which tends not to be so fun after all.
What I do know is that "emerging" into adulthood isn't always easy as the realities of life tend to hit you square between the eyes.