Careers: Money or happiness?

I went the money route, not by choice, but I needed money to pay rent and it eventually lead me to a nice paying job. I hate it though, and only people who seem to be motivated by money enjoy themselves here. I'm the type of person that can live without fancy cars, big house and big jacuzzi. Despite having all that, I am not happy. That's because I spend about 9-10 hours of my life wasting away at a job that is not satisfying in the least. This puts me in a bad mood which I bring home. For me, it's not really about walking out of the office and leaving it all there. The job, the people at my job, they all make a huge difference in regards to how satisfied I am.

You spend most of your life at work, I'd rather feel fulfilled, rewarded and happy, that way I don't come home feeling like shit and not wanting to wake up the next morning. That's just not me. I kind of wish money would buy my happiness because then I could stay at this job and buy whatever I want. So instead, I'm actually quitting, going back to school and eventually come out with some cheesy degree that leads me to really low paying jobs but at least I'll have fun doing it.

I can't see myself landing a cushy government job where I sit on my ass all day doing very little work but I have a huge pension ahead of me. I just can't do it. It's job stability, it's a easy work for good money, and it secures your future. Why doesn't that appeal to me? I wish it did. I don't know, maybe because I have ambitions and higher standards for myself. Right now I'm surfing forums while at work. Eventually I run out of things to do and instead of being able to go home and take a nap, I need to sit here and waste another 4 hours of my life doing nothing.

Knowing that most people don't like their jobs anyway, if I have the option to try and find my dream job, I'll do it. I don't believe that there is no perfect job out there. Maybe not perfect, but close enough. I'll go crazy if I stay at a thankless job that I don't enjoy.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Quote:

The competition in the job market, due to outsourcing and technology, is starting to become ever more challenging (even doctorates are having trouble finding decent jobs).

People make the mistake thinking that a higher education automatically increases your chances at a job. All it does is help you get a second glance on your resume and possibly put you on a list. When 2/3 of the people out there who are employed are employed because they got a hook up, your skills, your competence, and who you network with is what will get you the job you want. I grew up hating the idea that you need to rely on people to get you jobs, but I found my first job on my own, and proved to my boss what I can do, and since then, he's been looking out after me and he will be the best reference for any job I take in the future.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Avalokiteshvara

Having connections and using them to get jobs isn't really as unethical as it sounds. I used to despise the idea too, but put yourself in the position of the person doing the hiring. You get a bajillion applications from a ton of people who all read those websites and went to those seminars that teach you how to look and sound all snazzy and brilliant, and you're probably pretty jaded about it by now. You throw out the ones who don't look snazzy because you have to weed this gigantic list down to something manageable.

No I agree, I grew up hating the idea. But now that I'm older and I realize just how hard it is to find a good employee, I can totally understand why people want referrals. I interviewed a couple of people and let's just say, you wonder how some people get jobs in the first place. I got my current job through a referral and I'll probably get my next job through one. I like to try on my own though, but since I'm trying for an industry that isn't easy to break, networking is the way to do it. It's a bit too salesy for me (since I'm in sales now) but now I know why sales people network so much, you can make money. Although my motive isn't about the money, I just want to do something I'll be good at and enjoy.

When you're in my place and 6 figures won't make you want to stay, you know you need to get out.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.