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I think you're over-interpreting a standard phrase.

To me "a passion for what you do" means that you care about your work and you don't half-ass it.

But I expect that it probably means other things for other people, including your interpretation of "tons of overtime".

Maybe it’s cynical but I feel like halfassing your work is a very good tactic in some situations. Eg your manager halfassed the project idea, he halfasses spending the time to understand what’s going on, he halfasses setting the team up correctly, etc. In that situation I’m going to halfass the project and spend the other half going out to eat with my friends at other companies, learning something new and relevant, and planning my finances so I can weather any sort of lay-off etc

The phrase “a good work ethic” to me describes what you are saying exactly.

I am not passionate about computers, I like solving problems and streamlining the tedious. Personally I don’t have a passion for my company either. I like them, I like what they pay me, and I like the benefits and culture.

I see my paycheck as a business transaction that is favorable to both myself and the company I work for.

With that being said, I do actually enjoy the work I do, but would never use the word passion to describe it.

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