A Job You Love vs. Better Pay

[Fluffie]

This is the dilemma I'm faced with. I guess you could say I'm just another casualty of the economy in search of work. I have a trade that I truly love, one of those kinds of jobs that for me doesn't feel like work at all. Unfortunately, however, this seems to be a bad time of the year for a job in this field. There's no doubt that in a month or two something will open up and I'll be employed.
With that said, I was offered a job at a local state school that doesn't really have better pay but has much better hours than anything I can find in my field. It's going to be one of these jobs that I know I'm both going to really hate and is going wear me to the bone really fast.
I have a few days to consider it, according the the HR lady at the school and with all other avenues pretty much exhausted at the moment I have two options: wait for the job I want, or take a job I don't want just to have a job. If I had it my way, I would wait since I know almost for certain I would have a job at least by October. But, at the insistence of my family and my finances I don't think I have that much time.
My fate's pretty much sealed up, but if you had the choice which way would you go?

 

[C.K. Storyteller]

It seems to be quite the conundrum you're in. In your particular situation, I think you need to err on the side of finances, and take the well paying job. Get yourself re-settled, then you can look into branching out.

As a general choice, however, I think you should always take the job that makes you happy over the job that makes you rich. Too many friends of mine make a lot of money, but are depressed at work and wish they could make the change. Trouble is, they are so accustomed to the high-wage lifestyle, they can't suddenly change gears.

I'd love more money as a teacher, but considering the schedule I have and the fun I get out of doing what I do, there's no way I'd leave.

 

[Deleted member 66627]

I hate questions like these. They're so difficult to answer. -- I'd honestly have to go with doing a job that I really enjoy. Having better pay is great, but the money wouldn't mean a thing if I was constantly miserable.

 

[PlayfulCarbonara]

I'd go with the better pay. I can't think of too many jobs I love... I personally would rather be home one way or the other. But if I am making enough money... I can put up with anything.

 

[Sandrock74]

I was in a similar situation. I went with the job I love. It didn't pay a lot for a while, but it is slowly...ever slowly...paying better as time goes on. I figured, the economy sucks, may as well do it now!

 

[minerva]

I'd definitely go for the job I love. You spend way too much time at work for doing something you hate.

 

[ShadowFyre]

This is a very difficult question to answer. For me, it would depend on how much better the pay is and how much more miserable I would be with the better paying job. In a perfect world, I would take the job I enjoy more, but if the pay gap was immense, I think that I would go with the better pay.

 

[vladtickleman22]

This is simple. Better paying job. Having a good time doesn't get the bills paid.

 

[milagros317]

One person's advice: IMO, if you can hold out for the job you love, then do so.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

A month ago I chose a job I enjoy over a job that paid better, so that's usually my answer.

Today however, when I'm broke as shit, I kinda wish I would have taken the better paying job. The grass is always greener.

 

[hotdog]

Why not pick one that has both qualities? Win.

 

[Bizkit]

Having better pay is great, but the money wouldn't mean a thing if I was constantly miserable.

No truer words have ever been spoken.


Everybodys' situation is different but I personally would do backflips for a job that paid less and didn't make me piss miserable,nonetheless a job I enjoyed.I would highly suggest avoiding getting a job that that you know is going to make you unhappy.I speak of it first hand because it's my life.For me,it lowers my moral,affects relationships with others,it's awful.

Obviously financially you do what you have to do but if you can hold off I wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[Oddjob0226]

There's another huge problem - the process of seaching for the job you enjoy can also make you miserable. Soon you aren't following all your leads, not checking intot hings they way you should, going back to the shotgun approach. And still ending up with neither, but now you're ground down.

This is why people who love saying "you made a choice" really should suffer at least temporary physical damage.

 

[tcklft]

Take the money for a short-term win; look for something more to your liking once the economy improves.

 

[Gothika]

i would choose the job i love

 

[..Glamorous..]

I would pick the job I enjoy the most.. Sure money is great but, I quickly lose motivation and interest when doing something I hate. Which in the long run, will most likely get me fired and I'd be back at square one.

 

[steph]

Been on both sides of this coin. In the end, I find we spend far too much time at work over the course of one life to settle for something that makes you miserable, no matter how much it pays.

Here's the problem with being filthy rich~you spend your entire life trying desperately to hold on to it, how not to lose it, how to make more. I've about 3 couples in my carasse that are millionaire or approaching near millionaire status. Only one couple is truly happy, the others are at each other's throats 24/7. You do the math.
XOXO

 

[giantfan121262]

I was in a very fortunate situation until just recently (when I got laid off). I was making very good money in a job that I enjoyed. What made the job really enjoyable were the people and camradarie. Everything was great until the new CFO (in his case Chief Fuck Off.

If I had a choice, I would choose a job that I enjoyed doing. If I was in a job only for the $$, and I hated what I wa doing, I would feel like I am selling my soul to the devil

 

[Homer28]

I would go with job you love. For me this became clear when I was working at a telemarketing job (yes I know) but was making good money, flexible schedules and bonuses all the time. BUT the quotas were making my life hell and I HATED going to work. I quit and starting working for a homeless shelter. Shitty pay (just above min wage), more stress but I loved it. I went from hating 4 hour shifts at my old job to enjoying 16 hour shifts at the shelter.

Money is important, but how much is it going to help in the long run when you have bleeding ulcers or a heart attack from all the stress?

 

[meangry]

The job I'd love would equate to the great pay, so I go with that.

 

[lilone4sir]

Job you love... satisfaction is good to wake up to every morning.

 

[Fluffie]

This has been a strange day indeed.

For an abridged version just skip on to the last line.

I was called in for a second interview at the job that I didn't particularly want and to make a long story short,I didn't get the job. The interview itself went fine, IMO albeit I wasn't hired. The supervisor I spoke with explained that the jobs they had listed were rather polarized with incredibly unskilled work and incredibly skilled work. Of course, having no experience in the health field or any kind of state school I applied for the unskilled work.
"I called your references and took to mind what one of your prior supervisor's had said 'She does a good job and you can tell she loves what she does' (she read this from a bit of scratch paper she had on her desk as if she'd written it verbatim though I didn't think they were supposed to tell you what they discuss... then again, she didn't tell me which supervisor at which job she called either). Can you honestly say you'll be happy working here?"
I felt like I was put on the spot, like there was a right answer to this but I didn't know what it was. So, putting my foot in my mouth, I told the truth.
"I don't mind it, really. I like to stay busy doing anything that is expected of me. The economy is so miserable I don't feel like I have much choice but to not be picky." ... in hindsight, maybe I said too much.
Right there, in one stupid instant, I let a potential employer know I probably wouldn't stick around forever, that in time I'd likely move on.
So in short she let me know that she thought I would be a good worker, but I would be a better worker if I stayed in my trade. Maybe it was just a really nice rejection, hell I dunno. I was a bit perturbed by the outcome at first, aggravated enough that I was hell bent on getting a job SOMEWHERE. So I went to where I dropped my first application, even though for the position I applied for wasn't open yet, and pretty much begged to be considered for anything they had left.
This led to a one hour conversation with a supervisor that really made me feel alot better about my employment prospects with them. Since they're under a hiring freeze, they can't hire yet, but from what she said, they are still short and will be hiring again sooner than later. She said she would urge the director to pull my application from the pile for further review and that I would receive a call. After we spoke, as i was leaving, she asked for my name a third time and smiled. "Keep at it, it took me 6 months to get on here but it finally happened." So, we'll see.

In short, I was denied a job I didn't want and given hope the job I DO want would pan out soon.

 

[Excess]

Like most here, Job I love. Unless it's paying so badly that I can't afford to spend time doing it, but otherwise any day. 😀

 

[Angel77]

I'd definitely go for the job I love. You spend way too much time at work for doing something you hate.

Agreed!