Careers: Money or happiness?

Originally Posted by washyu64

As long as I am enjoying my work, I am willing to continue moving up the ladder. Once I hit that point of tedius > enjoyment, I will stop or move on to new experiences. Why work when you don't enjoy it? If your doing that, what reason is there to go to work?

So you can afford to do the things that you do enjoy. At least, that's why I choose to take a supervisor position that causes me to work an extra 5 hours per week. That's also why I chose to go to college even though it's not exactly the funnest place on Earth. I could quit and try to become a director or an author, but I can't afford the equipment I need for directing and even the more successful authors only receive 8-20% of what the books sell for.

I understand exactly about where you're going with working at a place you enjoy and moving up the ladder of success, but to have financial security along the way is very tempting as well.

I'd stick with more pay. Sure, it'd be rough. But Work is called Work for a reason.

Kind of a broad way to look at it, but I enjoy any job where I can acquire new skills. I had one a few years back that involved being an Undergrad Technician for some air-particle machinery. I didn't enjoy the subject matter and the tinkering got repetetive, but I'll be damned if I didn't learn how to use and name most average tools, connectors, and parts as a result of it. Plus, the pay was quite nice ($8.50/hr).

I'd like to believe that if you work hard, you will get far in life.

So I'd choose happiness. Choosing a tedious job that pays well, the chances of your longevity and success in that field is low. Besides all that mental anguish isn't worth any amount of money someone can give me. Enjoying what you do will increase your success in that field, which will inevitably lead to more money. Perhaps not crazy money but every field as positions and places that pay very well to live well beyond comfortable.

Yes even garbage men and janitors. There are mangement positions available and if you start your own janitorial company and it's successful, there is money out there to be had.

As someone studying for the next four years to become qualified for a notoriously underpaid job I seem to be choosing happiness by default.

I was raised in a household where you were taught to do "what you have to do" before you do "what you want to do". I'm a college student very much in a conundrum because that belief has been beaten into my brain. Should I work towards a job with security, steady pay, benefits and the like; or should I work towards that far out something that I truly desire to do?

At the current time, I guess I'm leaning towards the former. It's not like I truly hate what I'm going for, but I'm not too psyched about it, either. At this point, enjoyment of my job seems like it'd be a bonus, not a necessity.

Well my dad insists on the money part, very insistent I might add that he thinks other courses I might end up taking are worthless and therefore undeserving of his time and support.

So I'd rather a balance money and happiness thanks.

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

It seems to be a trend that I see a lot.

People compromise their happiness in their career for a higher pay. "I will put myself through hell just to make more money."

Which is more important to you:

- Enjoying your work, despite whatever pay you make.
- Working for the money you make, no matter how tedious it can get.

Personally, I think if you enjoy what you do, you're much more likely to excel and reap your own personal benefits that aren't in a form of currency. You have your sanity, you like getting up every day to go to work, but you make just enough to live on.

Maybe some people just believe that money can bring them happiness and maybe it does. Who is to say wither it is more important to make less money and do things to make you happy rather than make more money and have less time but are happy because of the money? It may be illogical to believe but sometimes money cannot buy happiness but it can provide a pretty good substitute for happiness when someone is holding it.

I have a Master's Degree. I cannot even get an interview in my field for a job in my field that only requires just a Bachelor's or even a High School diploma. (In my field, the main employer used to be the largest employer in the country, before Wal-Mart, so you would think it wouldn't be that hard to land an interview.) I chose a path that I thought would be low-paying yet rewarding. I worked my ass off for 19 years of school and have nothing to show for it. Now, I get all of the low pay and none of the rewards. Being able to choose between $ or happiness is a f'in luxury...

Go for the $ kids - with $ you can just buy the place where you'd like to work and then work there...

This is where doing things in the right order is important. When you have no one depending on you except yourself, it's much easier to quit a job that you're unsatisfied with. But for those of you saying that if you ever get to the point where you hate your job you'll just quit, I say that's pretty unrealistic. Because by the time you're 30-ish, you're most likely going to have a family that depends on you and you're not going to be able to just up and quit your job because you don't like it anymore.

If you're young and single with no kids and you hate your job, NOW is the time to get out of it. Do something you love now while you still can and forget about making tons of money. You'll have the rest of your life to do that.

Originally Posted by AliceNWondrland

This is where doing things in the right order is important. When you have no one depending on you except yourself, it's much easier to quit a job that you're unsatisfied with. But for those of you saying that if you ever get to the point where you hate your job you'll just quit, I say that's pretty unrealistic. Because by the time you're 30-ish, you're most likely going to have a family that depends on you and you're not going to be able to just up and quit your job because you don't like it anymore.

If you're young and single with no kids and you hate your job, NOW is the time to get out of it. Do something you love now while you still can and forget about making tons of money. You'll have the rest of your life to do that.

Yea, i agree with this. It is considerably harder to quit a job when someone relies on that job like a family rather than a teenager quiting a job at a super market kinda thing. i also advise the idea of finding a sutible carrer before it is too late, better waking up to a job you like than one you don't like but cannot quit...

Happiness is definitely an important aspect of whatever my future career will be, but I'll be honest and say that my income is MORE important. Of course, I can't find myself waking up every morning and finding the inspiration to go to a job that I couldn't stand working at. I won't make the mistake of living that much of my life in regret, wishing I could have done more with my life, wishing I could have made more of an impact on society. Don't see working in a warehouse doing menial labor for the rest of my life.

That being said, if I had to choose between being completely satisfied and going for whatever my dream job might be, or going to a job where I'd be less happy, but make a lot more money, I'd decide on the latter without so much as a second thought. Some have already stated that money equals happiness, and while I won't say that's true entirely, having a nice ("comfortable") income will definitely make me proud of the job I'm doing being a provider for my family. To me, working hard to give my future family what they want, and being able to live life without any worry of finances is a very happy thought, and that's where I'd like to be in life. However, my family's wishes would be important too. Finding that balance between work and personal time is important, but it's never been easy.

However, is it entirely impossible to find your dream job, AND get paid handsomely on top of that? That's not a rhetorical question; maybe it can't happen with some people. That's what I thought I was going for when I decided to become a materials science engineer, but I soon realized that qualification doesn't equal happiness. Again, I'm trying this approach with becoming a doctor, but I might quit that after getting a reality check from a different university. I'll do what I can not to end up in a career I hate, but I might have to settle on something I don't love so that I can make the kind of money I want to.

Money is of very little importance to me as I ascribe to the idea that as long as you have a roof over your head, plenty to eat, and people that love you you're set. So honestly as long as we can eat well and pay the bills I'm good. What's the point grinding yourself into a wreck to get money that you can't even enjoy because what you do brings you down so much? Besides people can live well on a lot less than you'd think if you run things correctly.

Originally Posted by speculative

I have a Master's Degree. I cannot even get an interview in my field for a job in my field that only requires just a Bachelor's or even a High School diploma. (In my field, the main employer used to be the largest employer in the country, before Wal-Mart, so you would think it wouldn't be that hard to land an interview.) I chose a path that I thought would be low-paying yet rewarding. I worked my ass off for 19 years of school and have nothing to show for it. Now, I get all of the low pay and none of the rewards. Being able to choose between $ or happiness is a f'in luxury...

McJobdom is what I was afraid of. Due to lack of jobs a lot of people--even those with Doctorates--are having trouble finding jobs within their major. You are definitely not alone in being unable to find a job in larger fields.

Originally Posted by Max Biggs

However, is it entirely impossible to find your dream job, AND get paid handsomely on top of that? That's not a rhetorical question; maybe it can't happen with some people. That's what I thought I was going for when I decided to become a materials science engineer, but I soon realized that qualification doesn't equal happiness. Again, I'm trying this approach with becoming a doctor, but I might quit that after getting a reality check from a different university. I'll do what I can not to end up in a career I hate, but I might have to settle on something I don't love so that I can make the kind of money I want to.

It is possible, but it takes a lot of luck, skill, and connections to pull it off. If you can use nepotism or favors to your advantage, then it's more likely.

Why not both? I think it's quite possible to acquire both. Though reaching that goal may require some hard work.

What exactly are people's "dream jobs"? Is it getting paid for doing nothing? I think that's just being unrealistic and stupid. My dream job is to play video games all day and make lots of money! Though it is somewhat possible, gold farmers etc, it's quite unrealistic.

I think it's ultimately up to the person. The work force is HUGE. There's always going to be a job that you will enjoy and get paid well. However, it might require higher levels of education, in most cases.

Actually a friend and I were talking about this the other day. The situation is that I finally get offered a job that pays only decent and I want to move out, but I am currently in the middle of a recruiting process for a job that pays really good.

I am taking the job I am being offered, but if that other job comes a knocking, do I quit and go after that job even if its only been 2 months into the other one?

I think that if I like the current one than i am going to stick with it despite the huge amount of money i would be getting from the other job.

Originally Posted by Trigunnerz

Why not both? I think it's quite possible to acquire both. Though reaching that goal may require some hard work.

What exactly are people's "dream jobs"? Is it getting paid for doing nothing? I think that's just being unrealistic and stupid. My dream job is to play video games all day and make lots of money! Though it is somewhat possible, gold farmers etc, it's quite unrealistic.

I think it's ultimately up to the person. The work force is HUGE. There's always going to be a job that you will enjoy and get paid well. However, it might require higher levels of education, in most cases.

With many jobs, hard work and connections (with a degree) is mainly what people need. However, there are quite a few people who say "All I know how to do is act, I have to be an actress," or "I want to be a drummer in the hottest rock band in the world." The work force is huge, but the thing is, it's huge in the kinds of jobs that people don't want (fast food, factories, etc.) and it is very limited in the jobs that many people do want.

Granted, if your dream job is an engineer or a gaming designer, there's a safe bet that you'll be able to find a job with good pay. However, most of the time you have to choose between working at a boring office job with good pay/benefits, or go for the wilder dreams and end up playing guitar in a mariachi band for a Spanish restaurant.

Even with the retiring baby-boomers, McJobdom is still in full-swing. For every J.K. Rowling and Brad Pitt, there are tens of thousands of people who end up penniless and undiscovered like Emily Dickenson and Van Gough (unlike Dickenson and Van Gough, these people are rarely ever discovered). I do agree that hard work is the main ingredient to achieving both, and that achieving both is possible, but chances are most people will have to make the choice...unless they can settle.

Originally Posted by CetteHamsterLa

Money is of very little importance to me as I ascribe to the idea that as long as you have a roof over your head, plenty to eat, and people that love you you're set. So honestly as long as we can eat well and pay the bills I'm good. What's the point grinding yourself into a wreck to get money that you can't even enjoy because what you do brings you down so much? Besides people can live well on a lot less than you'd think if you run things correctly.

That is so true! People think they "need" state of the art cell phones, satellite TV and designer shoes, but those things are just extras. The "keeping up with the Joneses" attitude is why everyone has kids they don't see, mortgages they can't afford and credit card debt that they will most likely never pay off.

Money really isn't that important to me at all... from what I've heard, an excess of it can really screw you up.

And it's a good thing I feel that way, because all the things I enjoy and am good at will bring me NO money in the long run...