On the Job

There is mystery in every job, even those of students, whose jobs are to study and contribute to school, family, and community life. How do we learn the secrets of doing a good job at our work? Folklife! Occupational culture is one of the dynamic areas of Folklore Studies. By closely observing work spaces and interviewing people about their work culture, we make fascinating discoveries. A lot of the learning for any job is informal, picked up from others, repeated practice, and shared tricks of the trade. Here you will find a decoder to understand any job, the Occupational Culture Survey. During the global pandemic, many have lost their jobs or are working from home, while those who have essential jobs are still at work.