How do I choose between jobs I hate, but pay much, and jobs I am driven to do, but don't pay enough?

[Anonymous]

[kdizzleforizzle91]

What do you mean by “enough”, exactly? If I can pay my bills and take care of the necessities and have a little bit left over for savings and/or a little fun once in a while, that’s enough to me. Finding a job you love and loving where you do it and who you do it with, having good work life balance and a positive and supportive team culture are invaluable. I’m in my early 30’s and consider myself blessed to have figured that out as soon as I have. Those will always be my priorities going forward now that I’ve found them and realize how important they are to my mental and physical health. The money will come in time with growth and advancement.

[Asker]

Enough means being able to pay a rent, to go to the restaurant to have some food and drinks with your friends, to provide for your family and have two children, to afford gas for your car, to go on holiday abroad once a year, to buy more healthy food etc

[kdizzleforizzle91]

I still stand by what I said about things that I feel should be prioritized. When I was in a position that was toxic, it seeped into my relationships with family and friends and just made me a miserable person. Even with money, I was very unhappy and unhealthy which negates the perks that come simply by having more money. This is just my opinion.

[petitedollbabee]

You’ve got to decide which is more important - high income, or a job that you enjoy? Personally I’d go for high income. Even with a job that you enjoy, eventually you’ll get tired of that job and stop enjoying it, so is the low pay still worth it at that point?

[Asker]

But if you enjoy that job, you feel driven to perform better and there is a higher chance to advance.

[BCA6010]

In my opinion and experience, the job you think you actually want will still burn you out eventually, so you may as well chase the money while keeping yourself open for new opportunities.

I've ended up unexpectedly hating what I thought would be my dream job twice.

[Asker]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience.
But how can you keep yourself open to new opportunities if you work 9 to 5 with many days of extra time from Monday to Friday and unless you rest during the weekends, you experience burnout and extreme fatigue.

[mobiusforniner]

Dude, if I could, I’d love to play music at random gigs while flying bush planes to remote locations in the wilderness.

But neither of those pays over 120k a year. I’d rather stick with my job because it pays for me to enjoy doing what I want outside of work

[Asker]

But how can you enjoy what you are doing outside your work if you know that some people play music and they made it? You can never become better than them because you stick to your job

[mobiusforniner]

Because satisfaction doesn’t come from comparing myself with “them”.

[Insecure2]

Unless you have some financial commitments that use up most of your income, choose the job you like more. Doing something you hate for the greater part of the week can be draining and can lead to burnout which causes problems in the long run. There is always a chance to get promoted and earn more later on.

[Asker]

But if you lack experience in the jobs that pay more, you won't be able to catch up at some point

[Insecure2]

Well, IT all depends on the kind of jobs. If, for example, you can choose between being a manager and a regular worker let's say in a shop, then choosing the lower paid job can also be beneficial when you get a chance to be promoted. You know what needs fixing and how to cope with some problems better and that would make you a better manager in the future. However, if you have a choice between being a manager in a big company and a bartender (two different fields) than yes, you won't gain any experience in the better paid job. But nobody says than you cannot be a temporary bartender and after some time search for a job in a different field. Most of us try to do just that. The important thing is nit to linger too long on one job.

[madhatters4]

i think depends on the pay difference. can you live happily on the job you like but doesn't pay as much? i'd lean towards the job you enjoy but then you do have to balance the compensation and whether or not the differences will be so significant that your financial stability will be greatly impacted.

[exitseven]

The reason some jobs pay more than others is because they suck and companies have to pay people more to do them. If you have rich parents and they pay all your bills you can be a wildlife photographer or an animal rights activist or maybe even a fashion designer

[Asker]

They have enough money to give me, but they are getting older and I can't rely on them forever. Their health is not perfect

[RavVid]

I am a big advocate for doing a job you like and enjoy doing. If it doesn't pay well enough than I guess you need to make a commercial decision or find an aspect in the better paying job you do like or do the work you like as a hobby.

In a lot of jobs you do the crap stuff to do the stuff u find rewarding. Not unusual.

[PetLover24]

Very simple.

Take the job that pays more & make sure you make time for hobbies, etc. you enjoy.

That's what all professionals do.

[Asker]

But that means not being able to be an achiever in your job and maybe not being able to enjoy your hobbies enough because you come from work tired and angry with your boss

[PetLover24]

Then get another job.

[Apulu_Imback]

I'll say one thing, either make your job your passion or turn your passion into your job, otherwise you'll sink and end up killing your mental peace and find everything suffocating and toxic.

[midnightmoon05]

Work the crappy job, save up. Buy a place with no mortgage…leave, get the job you like.

[Flatmanlewis]

Do both. Find a job that pays well AND you enjoy. It’s really not too hard unless you want it be an artist, musician, or something subjective to people’s tastes.

[Asker]

Well, I want to be a writer. Voilà!

[RedInnocent68]

You’re young, go for the money and the experience, you go for values (and probably have you pick) after. Although, context is everything, and there are specific exceptions. For example, a prosecutor that becomes a private defence attorney…

[RedInnocent68]

Jack Welch has a good discussion on this, including a decision matrix, in his book, ‘Winning’.

[Asker]

But what one values also requires experience. You can't be such a good writer if you don't have time to read and write because you have another job

[Asker]

Sounds interesting

[RedInnocent68]

Ernest Hemingway had a day job (granted as a journalist) before he became a writer too. Again context is key.

[Asker]

Journalism in my country is a minimum wage job. I would no it, but as a man, you can't really provide for a family with such a job.

[Asker]

Would do*

[RedInnocent68]

Sadly, it is in most countries nowadays, unless you’re on television…

[IslaTheWitch]

Hard to say; I do, what I love, and they pay plenty ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If you can wait for an increase or promotion, then I would go for the job you love.

[AviatorTom]

When in doubt, follow your gut. That almost always gives the best answer.

[Asker]

It has been working so far in high school and university

[SotiCoto]

If they don't pay enough, isn't that... illegal? Or are you just prone to living above your means?

[Asker]

To me, not enough means to make ends meet

[colaman94]

This question deserves framing and srchiving in a hall of greatest questions ever.
❓

[colaman94]

*archiving. Such a great question. I don't know the answer. Flip a coin lol cook 😄

[colaman94]

Typo again, ignore *cook it's cion lol

[colaman94]

Coin sigh 😔

[Anonymous]

you know what. at this point. might as well go for the jobs that pay extremely well. and then after work, you can do what you love.

[Asker]

After work means 5-6 hours at best, in which you cook, you exercise and take care of your family if you have one, you spend time with your partner. If what you love is strenuous, then you will need more time

[LiamJHayden]

I see work as a way to make money, so I will do that which makes me more/the most money as long as it is legal.

[deus_ex_sisyphus]

Easy question, take the higher paying job you hate and make your passion your hobby

[Asker]

It's not that simple. My passion requires a lot of effort. Taking a well paid job means working much and being proficient. If I write in my free time, that means intellectual effort all the time. There is no time to recharge and it leads to burnout.

[Anonymous]

Get paid. Save money. Plot your escape.

[Asker]

The only problem with that is provisional living. Instead of enjoying the present, you just think about escaping in the future

[AndreaH]

Do an evaluation and find a balance

[Jmmmfi4]

LIFES TO SHORT DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

[Asker]

Theoretically, it is quite long. My grandparents who are in their 70s and 80s tell me that life is actually so long and mundane that it feels like an eternity.

[Jmmmfi4]

WHATEVER

[Joker_]

choose money