What type of job would you rather have?

[SapphireLover]

I am at a crossroads, careerwise and have two options to take.

1. One job is fast paced, I am passionate about, get very motivated and bubbly when I think about it. Possibility that it could be very high stress, and I am the sort of person who will have total sleepless nights about work, panicking about simple things, nearly always which I have done right.

2. Slower, sedate, still interesting. Still responsbible, but won''t have sleepless nights (I hope). After about 5 years this role will mean I take home about 50% more pay than job A (seeing as though we are planning to start a family in the next couple of years, it would easily mean I could go part time). I am still interested in it, but it doesn''t get me fired up like the first job.

So which would you do? The one you love but is very very stressful and less well paid, or the well paid job that is you still quite like but could end up being dull?

 

[Fly Girl]

When I was switching careers many years ago, we were also trying to start our family at the same time. Kids will give you plenty of sleepless nights and added stress all by themselves. I would opt for job B.

Best of luck to you in your decision.

 

[audball]

I think it depends on you and what you want and what stage you are in your life. This may be your chance before kids to have that fast paced job that gets you all excited and bubbly.

Personally, I stress way too much most of the time and I'd probably prefer a job where I can leave my work at work when I head home and be able to have a life outside of work.

PS...I don't want kids so if that sort of job turns out to be boring, I could always give the face paced a try at any point since it wouldn't affect 'family life' per se other than FDH, who will likely have a similar career anyway.

 

[April20]

Date: 11/16/2009 10:01:26 AM
Author:SapphireLover
I am at a crossroads, careerwise and have two options to take.

1. One job is fast paced, I am passionate about, get very motivated and bubbly when I think about it. Possibility that it could be very high stress, and I am the sort of person who will have total sleepless nights about work, panicking about simple things, nearly always which I have done right.

2. Slower, sedate, still interesting. Still responsbible, but won''t have sleepless nights (I hope). After about 5 years this role will mean I take home about 50% more pay than job A (seeing as though we are planning to start a family in the next couple of years, it would easily mean I could go part time). I am still interested in it, but it doesn''t get me fired up like the first job.

So which would you do? The one you love but is very very stressful and less well paid, or the well paid job that is you still quite like but could end up being dull?

I''d evaluate my priorities and long term goals and go from there. Option 1 sounds like you would be very career focused and would take a lot of your time and energy. Is this where you want your focus to be for the next few years? Will it enable you to reach your long term goals? Does this job leave you with the option to scale it back to meet your personal goads/desires? Could you balance this job and a family when that time comes? Option 2 sounds like it''s a better long term option, but will it be a good fit for you now? Only you can answer those things.

 

[SapphireLover]

I was discussing it with my clinical supervisor today. He feels that if I don''t do job A, I will always look back and regret it, and if I hate it and can''t cope with it, then it is ok to leave. He has known me for nearly 9 years and thinks I''d do well at it.

Job B is really competitive (10 applicants per place last year) but who knows, I could go for both and not get either!

 

[elrohwen]

Personally, I would opt for B, but I''m a more laid back person and not really a type A personality. I don''t think a job is worth sleepless nights (I''ve done it; don''t want to do it again). If you are the type A and think you would really like a high stress job, then job A might be perfect for you. Only you can say!

 

[yssie]

Ditto the ideas about your long term goals.

I hate to be the one saying think with your head, not your heart, but I really think this is one area in which it''s the smarter and safer thing to do. If you love job A and you think it will put you on the right road toward your long term career goals, then it''s a great choice.

If, however, you can''t answer that with certain positivity, I''d take job B: it''s less stressful, which will be very welcome in planning your family, and it pays more - and really, when planning one''s future, with babies/houses/rainy day savings, if you like the job but don''t love it it''s worth the sacrifice, IMO.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I'd go with B, especially since I already have kids and think any job that can easily transition to PT is an ideal one.

ETA - also daycare is every expensive so it makes sense to go w/a job that pays more. Especially when the kids are in elementary school and you have to pay for PT child care during the summer. When I was thinking of going back to work, after calling around, I found that it was going to be at least $1200 a month for my two boys (FT).

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 11/16/2009 10:01:26 AM
Author:SapphireLover
I am at a crossroads, careerwise and have two options to take.

1. One job is fast paced, I am passionate about, get very motivated and bubbly when I think about it. Possibility that it could be very high stress, and I am the sort of person who will have total sleepless nights about work, panicking about simple things, nearly always which I have done right.

2. Slower, sedate, still interesting. Still responsbible, but won''t have sleepless nights (I hope). After about 5 years this role will mean I take home about 50% more pay than job A (seeing as though we are planning to start a family in the next couple of years, it would easily mean I could go part time). I am still interested in it, but it doesn''t get me fired up like the first job.

So which would you do? The one you love but is very very stressful and less well paid, or the well paid job that is you still quite like but could end up being dull?

Take job#2.... work to make a living and when the bills are paid you can sleep at night and find other interests to keep yourself entertained and passionate out side of the workplace.I LOVED what i did for years in the jewelry trade but it paid poorly...I should have made another career choice other then what i loved and enjoyed jewelry on the side.The stress and sleepless nights are going to end up causing resentment and you may end up hating the very job you are passinate about!

 

[D&T]

Date: 11/16/2009 12:15:40 PM
Author: MC
I''d go with B, especially since I already have kids and think any job that can easily transition to PT is an ideal one.

ETA - also daycare is every expensive so it makes sense to go w/a job that pays more.

ditto

 

[jet2ks]

You have to have something in your life to be passionate about. What is it for you?

If you have a family/hobby/activity outside of work that you are passionate about, job B will allow you to spend more time, energy and money on that. If your passion is your work/career, then A is the way to go.

I have had both kinds of jobs. A few years ago, I had the job I was passionate about and put a lot of energy into it and really felt rewarded when things well--and really stressed out when they didn't. I now have a job that is much more laid back, though still interesting and my energy and passion goes into a couple of hobbies--one of which is closely related to the previous job.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 11/16/2009 10:05:09 AM
Author: Fly Girl
When I was switching careers many years ago, we were also trying to start our family at the same time. Kids will give you plenty of sleepless nights and added stress all by themselves. I would opt for job B.

Best of luck to you in your decision.

Ditto this. If I could survive as a photographer, I would, but since we have a baby coming in a few months, I would rather have a steady income.

 

[SapphireLover]

I like the idea of thinking about long term goals.

I spoke to somebody whose advice was "think about how you would like your retirement to look like. Then, sit and work backwards and think about what you would need in life to get there".

Who knows how things will go, I might not even get either or only one of them, meaning the decision is made for me.

 

[Haven]

Since I organize my entire life around living as stress-free as possible, I would obviously opt for job 2. However, I can''t imagine being passionate about a high-stress job, so my input doesn''t really apply since I can''t truly relate.

I quit my job in July so I could find something that is a better fit for me. Since then I''ve learned a lot about the different ways people approach their careers, based on people''s feedback and reactions about my choice. People seem to fall into one of two categories as far as their jobs are concerned:

Category A: These people derive some sort of identity and sense of purpose from their careers, and feel that they would lose a part of themselves if they did not have their jobs. These people also seem to be more likely to say "What do you do with yourself all day if you don''t have a job?" I suppose you could say they live to work.

Category B: These people work to live. They derive their sense of identity and purpose from the things they do outside of work, so their jobs are only important as a means of supporting their lives outside of work.

Under which category do you fall? If you fall under A, then it sounds like job 1 will be a better choice. If you fall under B, then it''s job 2. I think they''re both perfectly valid ways to approach your career, by the way. And these are only my observations based on the very extreme ways people have reacted to my personal career choices.

As for me, I''m definitely a category B person. I love my job (I teach) but I love what I do outside of work far, far more. I definitely work to live.

 

[SapphireLover]

Date: 11/16/2009 1:13:44 PM
Author: Haven
Category A: These people derive some sort of identity and sense of purpose from their careers, and feel that they would lose a part of themselves if they did not have their jobs. These people also seem to be more likely to say ''What do you do with yourself all day if you don''t have a job?'' I suppose you could say they live to work.


Category B: These people work to live. They derive their sense of identity and purpose from the things they do outside of work, so their jobs are only important as a means of supporting their lives outside of work.

I think I am midway between the two. I work to live, but have the attitude that if I have to work, then it should be doing something that I care about. However, even if I had enough money that I never had to work another day in my life, I still would do some work, say 2-3 days a week (and not for the money, it would be for charity etc). I think that is because I realise how much my mum has changed since stopping working, and work keeps you grounded in normality and the real world.

 

[Haven]

I suppose I''m like you in that I refuse to do work that I don''t love. It''s taken me a while but I''ve finally found the right career for me. I''ll make less money, but I left a high school teaching position to focus on finding a community college teaching position, and I could not be more happy about it.

However, I would definitely stop working if I didn''t have to work. I''d volunteer a lot more than I do now, but I wouldn''t work. I only volunteer between four and eight hours a week right now, I''d definitely up that if I wasn''t working.

It sounds to me that the first job is one that will take over much of your life outside of work. The stress alone creeps into every aspect of your days, even when you''re no longer at work. HOWEVER, it sounds like you''re leaning toward going after that job, so if that is what your gut tells you, then go for it.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I would actually do the high-stress job for a year, learn as much as you possibly can, then when you are completely burnt out you''ll embrace Job B with open arms!

 

[bee*]

I would go with Job B. It sounds better overall in the longterm, especially if you''re planning a family.

 

[perry]

Something to consider: What would you learn from each job - and how would they set you up for something else down the road.

Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad/Poor Dad) said something along the line of: Take a job based on what you can learn - not just on what you can earn.


The reason I point this out - is that while it may seem that one job will provide benifits 5 years down the line.... That I''ve only held one job that lasted more than 5 years in my adult life (and I''ve held lots of jobs).

Perry

 

[perry]

Here is something else to consider....

The job I found that lasted more than 5 years... what I am currently doing only came after I figured out what kind of work best fitted me.

There are several ways to do this - and for me it took years and lots of failed jobs and struggles before I really admitted that I had to do the exercise (stuborn guy that I can be at times).

Get a copy of "What Color is your Parachute"; which is a job hunting guide book. You can use an old one. In the back there is an exercise to figure out what kind of work environment and interest fit you best (back in the 80''s it was a flower diagram exercise). When I was done with that exercise all I had to do was look for jobs that closest matched the core me. Of course, then you have to find a management team that works in a manner that you fit into to. But, it works.

Think long term.

Best of luck with this,

Perry

 

[Elmorton]

I was at a similar crossroads a couple of months ago and chose B. I don''t know what the long-run will hold though, but right now, I feel like I made the right choice.