What Are the Most Important Factors in Choosing a Job?

[cschin4]

What are the most important factors to you in choosing a job? The job itself, the type of boss you will have, the salary, the benefits, the hours, etc? Has what you wanted changed over the years? I personally find a flexible schedule to be of utmost importance to me. What about you?

[thekid]

What are the most important factors to you in choosing a job? The job itself, the type of boss you will have, the salary, the benefits, the hours, etc? Has what you wanted changed over the years? I personally find a flexible schedule to be of utmost importance to me. What about you?

Well, for me it really is finding a good mixture of all those. I have had the luck to achieve most of that criteria, save for the "job itself" component. I was at a very high long term pay employer with somewhat good benefits, but bad hours (a lot of hours giving little to no family time) and switched to a similar current pay employer (without the long term dramatic upswing) and gained good working hours for my field and better benefits (defined pension plan). The work itself stayed fairly similar. I somewhat enjoy it, but bore easily in it. I am currently thinking of switching to my dream "job itself" job, but that entails significantly lower pay. Still debating how much I am willing to go all in to achive "job itself" satisfaction.

[cschin4]

A "dream job' is often not what you thinik it will be, espiacially if you are getting paid less money. You might not mind that at 20 but at 40 it can be a tought pill to swallowl

[zetta]

To me, the actual project I will be assigned to and my role (programmer vs team lead) are hugely important. When I've been in jobs where I disliked the content of the work I was very miserable. Equally important (perhaps more important now that I am a mother) are the number of hours required -- I want a life outside of work! The manager and coworkers are next, although I've never worked anyplace with bad politics so I haven't been burned in that regard yet. Salary and benefits are pretty much last on the list as long as I am not being underpaid compared to my peers and the job market.

In contrast to the last poster, I'm trying to figure out if I can create my dream job, and I'd be definitely willing to make less money in exchange for part-time hours, flexibility, and work I find interesting. (Note this is only feasible as long as my husband is willing and able to be the main breadwinner.)

[fairy74]

who you have to work with on a daily basis...may not necessarily be the boss, that's why I like to work on a contract basis, I can avoid long term drama or the need to be someone's psychotherapist (which is totally inappropriate for the work environment).

[disneysteve]

I have had 2 jobs in my professional career. The first one, right out of school, was pretty demanding. Lots of hours, lots of responsibilities, heavy work load, very inflexible schedule, not particularly friendly boss. However, the pay was fair and I learned a ton about the business and art of the job. I really don't regret much of anything about the 7 years I spent there. After 7 years, however, I had enough. My daughter was older and I wanted a lifestyle change. I wanted to be home on weekends. I wanted to not be getting woken up at all hours with phone calls. I wanted to not be driving 400 miles a week to work and hospital rounds. And I wanted a more flexible schedule so that I could take vacation when I wanted to or take a day off or partial day if there was some event I wanted to attend.

So I found a job in another practice with a doc who was much more laid back and flexible. I took a big pay cut initially. In fact, I was only part time the first few months. My hours and pay gradually increased as I built up a patient base. Now, I've been there for 7 years and I'm very happy. My boss lets me pretty much call the shots regarding my hours. If I need time off, I can reschedule hours accordingly. I can take my vacation time whenever I choose. The whole work environment is more relaxed and friendly.

That probably isn't what I wanted or needed when I first started working though. I'm 14 years older now and have more outside interests and responsibilities. My job isn't my whole life. So yes, I think things do change over time.

[Aleta]

Steve: What is your specialty if you don't mind saying.

[jodi]

My jobs preferences have changed a lot over the years. When I graduated college, I took anything that payed me and gave me benefits. After a year, I was dissatisfied with the work I was doing and found a more challenging job that paid slightly better. After I burnt out in the field (social work), I got my real estate license because 1. I wanted to make my own hours, and 2. I wanted unlimited earning potential (in my previous jobs, I could only make so much, regardless of performance). Finally, my current job happened to fall into my lap at a time when I wasn't even looking (6 weeks after my first child was born). The pay was great, the location was great, and the hours were the best - half time. At this point in my life, working hours are my main concern, in combination with benefits since DH does not have a steady job yet with benefits. Pay is not so important, but it does help that I have a good paying job. I have been lucky to mostly have good co-workers, which makes a big difference in a so-so job.
Ideally, when DH gets benefits and my kids are school age, I would love to find a job that I enjoy going to every day - don't know what that it yet though

[tgavin71]

For me it is definately flexibility.

[disneysteve]

Steve: What is your specialty if you don't mind saying.

I'm a family practice doc. July will be 14 years in practice.

[gackle]

I think the most important thing is finding a job that you love to do. I see so many people who come to work because it's a paycheck, then complain and moan all day or perform at an inadequate level. When you find something that you love to do then work no longer becomes work.

[MonkeyMama]

Oh yeah, things change. My first job was VERY demanding, but the experience was awesome, I was young and free. & I lucked into this job which has been great for family life.

ITem #1 is loving my job, without a doubt, everything else is gravy.

But some items important to me are a good boss with lots of feedback, integrity, who is not a micro-manager, etc. Which basically means a lot more felxibility. The same with co-workers, and since my work is so client-based, good clients are key. Good pay and benefits come a little farther down on the list, will settle for a little less for all of the above. I have really found though having a good boss and a good tone at the top, just sets everything else in place. I have had a few difficult co-workers, but they either never last very long, or you learn to deal with them. I know I can talk to my boss about the problems and work past them. & I have worked 2 places that were really good about weeding out bad clients. " Hungrier " CPA Firms put up with a lot more and take on more risk as well, a very litigous industry. Plus it is an industry that is very hard to find work/life balance in but I have found twice bosses who value work/life balance and just don't push too hard for the overtime. Frankly most places expect you to work 60 hours/week and forget your family. At least I have found in interviewing most places are pretty upfront and has been easy to weed out where I would not work with 2 small kids at home.


Anyway, I have been pondering this because I have had 2 magnificent bosses in my professional career (most of my career) and right now I work for a wonderful sole proprietor who is retiring soon. I have been meditating on what are the odds I will luck out again. But I think I just have to be picky until I find the right fit, when it is time to move on. I have decided most of what I love about my job comes from having such a great boss. I have no interest in working for myself when I have found such wonderful people to take on all the risk of self-employment and give me a nice paycheck, flexibility and good benefits.

[Bluezy]

I found a fab job. It's a family oriented firm with some of the greatest people I've ever worked with. This job met all my needs and exceeded expectations.

First, I am not penalized when my CJ gets sick and I must take the time to care for him. My bosses have children CJ's age so I've found that makes the difference.

Second, my health insurance premium is picked up 100% by the firm. I didn't know that existed! I pick up CJ's premium with his high deductible HSA plan at a cheaper rate.

Third, my bosses were willing to train me as a new paralegal. Another perk I did not know existed anymore.

Last, even at entry level, I am paid significantly higher than other firms.

[kateochang]

Actually all factors are considered important. So a mixture of it will be good. As for me, the utmost criteria that I will look for is the salary, benefit and flexibility.

Talking about choosing a job, I am in the middle of changing my job..hope I will find a better one soon..

[project15]

My wife just went through this decision. She was formerly in a high stress job with about average pay for the field. She was offered a job with slightly lower pay, but much less stress and her own office. She decided to take the new job due to the stress factor and I support that decision.