The 50-year-old was asked to take over the reins when Alan Pardew left for Crystal Palace in January, completing a process which had seen him rise from the Academy coaching ranks to the top of the pile at St James' Park.
His reign may yet prove temporary - he was appointed initially until the end of the season as the search for Pardew's long-term successor was put on ice - but he has already experienced much of what could come his way if he gets the nod on a permanent basis.
In truth, there have been more lows than highs, and Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham is likely to prove testing both on and off the pitch as disgruntled fans call for protests before, during and after the game, including a mass boycott, as their fractious relationship with owner Mike Ashley comes to a head once again.
Asked if he both loved and hated his job, Carver said: "Yeah. You're right.
"It's the dream job, right? This is the dream job, but the hardest thing is taking the criticism from your own people. That's the bit I find really, really difficult - and some of it is deserved and some of it is not.
"Sometimes you're dealt the hand and you've got to get on with it, and this is the hand I've been dealt. When I took it on, if I hadn't accepted or if I didn't want it, then I would have been kicking myself. I wasn't going to not accept it, not have a go at it.
"I've said to this you, I genuinely believe that if I've got the right tools, I can do the job, and I think I'm getting the best out of the players I'm putting out on the pitch at the moment.
"But it is bitter-sweet. It's bitter-sweet and it's definitely a roller-coaster."
Carver has presided over just two wins in the 14 games for which he has been in charge to date, the last of them against Aston Villa on February 28, almost two barren months ago.
Since then, Manchester United, Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool and perhaps most damagingly, Sunderland, have each collected three points against the Magpies, who have scored just a single goal in the process. While Newcastle currently find themselves in 13th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone, their situation is significantly less comfortable than it appeared a few weeks ago.
Nevertheless, Carver remains unbowed.
He said: "That tells you something about me as well."
While the former Toronto boss has found himself in the firing line in recent weeks, it is Ashley who is the main focus for those who accuse him of putting financial gain ahead of football success. It emerged earlier this week that the club had banked in excess of #34million in addition to reporting profits of #18.7million for the last financial year.