Working a job for satisfaction over higher pay?

[commoncentsmike]

I'm sure many people at some point in their working career feel jaded/unfulfilled by their line of work and consider taking a different path. I'm wondering what the general consensus is on taking a new job that enables you to learn something you appreciate or allows you to work for a cause you believe in....even if it earns you far less than your current position.

[rennigade]

I guess it depends how much money you're talking about? If you're thinking of taking a job where you get paid so little that you cant take care of yourself or pay the bills...thats a problem.

There are lots of people that gladly take a pay cut for better work environment, better hours, less stress, shorter commute, etc etc. I couldnt imagine being miserable everyday just to make a little more money.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

As long as you can make your bills. But from experience if you do something you like/love it's more likely you'll make more money. Because you'll want to excel and enjoy it and it shows. When you punch a clock you tend to do "just enough". But the more you like it? The harder you work even during the same amount of time.


Think about it? People who work for themselves? Might fail but many work really hard because they like it.

[phantom]

For me, it's not as simple as money vs. satisfaction. Picking a job is a nuanced decision.

There's definitely a minimum amount of money I need to make working worthwhile. If a job pays less than I need for a comfortable lifestyle, it doesn't matter how good it is in other ways. There's also a minimum amount of enjoyment I want out of a job. If I dread going to work everyday, I don't care how good the pay is, I'm not going. If forced to pick between jobs that are unacceptable in one way or the other, I'd take the job I dread. But, such extreme decisions seem rare.

If we're talking about a pull of jobs that pay well enough and that I don't mind going to, I'll take a job that I'm excited to go to everyday over a job that pays significantly more money. A year ago, I was at a job I didn't hate but didn't really like either. When a job I knew I'd like much better came along, I didn't hesitate to take a slight pay cut for it. (Although, I did negotiate so that it would only be a slight pay cut rather than a significant one.)

I like to tell recruiters that pay isn't my top concern, but it's the easiest one for me to evaluate accurately. Sure, salary vs. hourly, bonuses, and monetary benefits can complicate things, but with enough math, you can usually tell when one job pays better than another. But, short of glaring red flags, it's hard to tell what group of people you'll have more fun with everyday, what projects are likely to present the most interesting challenges, and what companies really respect and value their employees.

[Gailete]

I remember a job interview for a position at a nursing home. By the time the interview was over, I already knew that I didn't a job with them. One interviewee sat at a desk in front of me and the other sat behind me! Trying to look at both and answer their questions gave me a royal headache. Only later did I learn that some set up and interview climate in such a weird way to see what the prospective employee would do about it. Me I thought it was rude and silly. When they asked if I had any questions, and I asked one, they looked shocked and asked what business was it of mine. I just wanted to know what their nursing aide turnover rate was, as in a nursing home that is one good example of how good the place is to work for. Do the aides stick it out or leave?

Later I got to come back and review their records for the DPW - All the things they didn't want me to know about I could ask any question and they had to answer me!

So, whether a job might look like a better opportunity, it isn’t' always once you get to the interview. I never stayed too long at any one nursing job, but I have stuck out with my selling on line for many years now - no office politics, no people squealing on you telling lies to supervisors, no more punching the time clock, and more importantly as a nurse, I only had one job where I could leave the building at lunch time! I wouldn't get paid for lunch time worked but if something came up I had to get back to work even if I hadn't eaten yet. The job where I could leave, I felt like I was playing hooky. Yesterday and today I took 4 hour naps. What job would allow that?

[TexasHusker]

Interesting topic. What is just as interesting is that job satisfaction is even a topic, when one considers that choosing an occupation according to its level of fulfillment has only been contemplated in the last 80 years or so of human history.

Amazing thing.

[disneysteve]

I think being happy in your work is critical. Job satisfaction comes in many ways. It might be loving what you're doing. It might be how you are treated on the job. It might be how much you are paid or what other benefits you get. Realistically, it typically is a combination of all of those things. Some people are paid extremely well but hate what they're doing. Some people don't earn a lot but love every minute of their job. Some people are treated poorly and no amount of money would compensate for that.

Years ago, I left a good paying job for one that paid far less but where I was treated far better, had a better schedule, and just overall a more satisfying situation. It's not all about the money.

[Shewillbemine]

I would never consider taking a job that didn't have some fundamental thing I loved about it; the one possible exception would be if said job offered a ridiculous amount of money that I couldn't possibly turn down. For example, if someone said I get paid $10 million a year to be a plumber, sure why not. I'd do it for a solid year then go do something else. No offense to plumbers on here.

What I can also tell you is that after working at the same company for almost 20 years and making good money, I finally left to do my own thing.

Yes, it's challenging but I love knowing that every second I put into it lines my own pockets. Also, not bad that I've doubled my annual income versus my previous job in the same industry.