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How does someone choose between the income of a job or the happiness it will bring?

I think it's fair to say that a decent chunk of people will say they chose a certain job because in the long run they'd be happy to show up there everyday. The side I don't usually hear from are the people that chose a specific career solely based on the amount of money they'd make. I wanted to ask this question, becuase as I get closer to graduating this will impact my choice of major, in addition to that I'm not fully aware of the defining factors of these sides. #career #money #job

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Nathan’s Answer

Hi Ashley,
A good question. In my career I've know a few people who have chosen their career for the money. And they are constantly changing jobs, constantly chasing that bigger paycheck somewhere else. And this may be ok if you get a great deal of your satisfaction and happiness in following a passion outside of your work, for some people their work really is just the paycheck and they have big passions they follow outside of their work. For me, I've had success by choosing a career in-line with my passions, and this has resulted in opportunities to build up valuable experience and reputation in that industry, resulting in higher pay. So there is more than one path to reach higher pay, but only one of them gives you both the money and the happiness (at work). Hope this helps.
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Ken’s Answer

Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. Too many people are trapped in jobs that pay well but are not satisfying or do not offer a sense of fulfillment. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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Kimberly’s Answer

This is a great question, especially as many students weigh the cost of education and the potential income they might earn upon graduation. Like the other comments before, following passion over money will likely lead to more fulfillment and happiness. That said, there is nothing wrong with taking a job because the compensation is strong. When deciding on a job, especially early in your career, sometimes you have to take the more practical approach. There is no shame is taking a role that will help you to position yourself well financially - pay down potential student loans, invest in a 401k immediately. Maybe your passion is working with kids, or writing - both of which you could fulfill through volunteer time and time outside of your work. And good careers (in my opinion) are ever-evolving. Just because you take a role right out of school, doesn't mean it will be what you do forever. Maybe you work for 10 years, save and take a sabbatical to write the book that's been burning in your heart. Either way, a career path is just that - an ongoing journey. Follow your heart , your intuition, and enjoy the ride!
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Scott’s Answer

This is a good question. There is an old cliche, "go to a job you love and you will never work a day in your life." Conversely, money can't make you happy but it does buy you a better level of misery. In my experiences, companies and careers involve people. People, for the most part, are what make or break it when it comes to career happiness. I have been in a position in my past where I held a role that I liked but didn't make alot of money. I am now in a position where I am compensated to a much higher level. As I think back on my experiences, they both experiences center on team work. I think about the wins we had together, and the tough times we weathered through. My point, happiness in your job can happen whether you are a high earner or low, and vice-versa if you are unhappy.

If choose a career very specific tasks for which you will be compensated (an artist or a teacher for example), my suggestion is to work through what you want your daily work life to look like based on what you like or don't like. If you born to teach, then your decision will be easy. If you are choosing careers that are more business orientated, then considering compensation opportunities with each role will certainly be worth considering. I have friends that it doesn't matter what job they have, they work for the money. I have others who are not materialistic and are very happy not working as hard or, working very hard in a job they love but are not highly compensated. Bottom line, know yourself and follow your heart.
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