Careers: What's more important to you?

[Kurai Ookami]

Hey there people! :D

I just wanted to know: What's more important to you? A career that makes you happy or a career that is high paying? Please explain why.

[Doc]

[font=Century Gothic][size=1][color=darkslategray]Well, I'm debating many different career goals at the moment. So, this seems to be a great topic. ^_^[/color][/size][/font]

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[font=Century Gothic][size=1][color=darkslategray]If I were to answer this a year ago, I would have said a career that makes me happy, but now I'm starting to teater. I have always wanted to be part of the NASA orginization in some way, but, now I'm starting to think a little more practicle. I'm not saying that I don't still want to work for NASA, but, if I can't, I think I would go for something that at least pays well, that I can also enjoy. *sorry about the run-on sentence... I just typed it as I said it.*[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Century Gothic][size=1][color=darkslategray][/color][/size][/font]
[font=Century Gothic][size=1][color=darkslategray]Now I'm starting to think of a career in a chemistry/medical fields. Such as Pharmasist. I still get to help people, so I'm happy. [/color][/size][/font]
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[font=Century Gothic][size=1][color=darkslategray]PS. I'll edit more, when I have enough energy to think more about careers.[/color][/size][/font]
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[elfpirate]

Interesting question. Let's see...

I guess I would have to say that money in and of itself isn't a big factor in my career decision. Of course, I find that I'm compelled to ask the "how-much-does-it-pay?" question, because I don't enjoy starving in a cold apartment with no heat, water or electricity for lack of bill money. I do like to make sure that I can survive on the income.
I don't, however, feel the need to be highly paid or become rich. I'm just not into that like a lot of people are. I would rather earn a comfortable wage doing something that makes me content with what I'm spending my life doing than to get rich at a job that I have to drag my reluctant carcass to every day.

In case anyone's wondering, I'm going to be a chopper pilot and fly search and rescue missions... or work for LifeFlight ( air ambulance stuff). Adrenaline junkie job, through and through...

[Panda]

I have always been told to do what I love and it won't be work. I became a Veterinary Technician because I love working with animals. Veterinary medicine, unlike human medicine, does not pay well. You can live comfortably, but not worry-free. I would go to work everyday and see all kinds of animals. Dogs, cats, birds, snakes, monkeys...it was something different everyday and that made it exciting. Unfortunately I had to retire early due to my health. I still go into the clinic to visit and sometimes get drafted to help. I don't get paid for the work but that doesn't matter since I love being able to help a sick animal.

I have now moved on to freelance writing. I love writing and interviewing people. It is a great creative outlet. My writings may not pay the big bucks but that is fine. I get to do something I love when I feel healthy. There are the fringe benefits of course like meeting "famous" people. It's all good. If someone finds pleasure from my interviews and articles then it is worth it.

What about you Kurai Ookami, what is more important to you? The career itself or the paycheck?

[Kurai Ookami]

[quote name='Panda']What about you Kurai Ookami, what is more important to you? The career itself or the paycheck?[/quote]

My mother always told me that unless I become rich and make a name for myself, I would never be happy. She says if I'm rich than I wouldn't have to worry about anything. She also used to constantly tell me to marry someone rich. I remember her always trying to set me up with these guys...*shudders*.. :nope:

I think she's wrong. I believe that I will never truly be happy until I've found a job that makes me happy. I could care less how much money I make, as long as it's enough to support myself.

I could probably understand where my mom is coming from with her beliefs. But I'm not living in the same conditions she did. My mom came from a poor country and worked since she was like 5 or 6. She's been working her whole life, she's still working hard now. She just doesn't want me to struggle through life.

But, yeah...I think the career is more important. :D

[Juu]

[size=1]Well, you can't do well at a job you don't enjoy. And if you're not enthusiastic, I don't think it's very likely you'll get promotions too often.

But that's just my opinion.[/size]

[Corey]

[size=1]When I first started thinking about a carrer I wanted to be a lawyer. They can make a ton of cash and live comfortably. Plus I love to argue.
Then I realized that law just wasn' for me. I decided to become a teacher. A biology teacher. But teahers don't make enough for my tatses.

Then, a year or so ago, Mitch posted a topic in the Lounge called 'behind the Formaldihyde (sp?) Curtain'. It went into stunning detail the duties of morticians. I was reading through the article, and it sounded truely appealing to me.
I did a little more research and it eventually led to me applying and getting accepted for the Funeral Services program at one of my local colleges.
I can't see myself ever getting bored with this job, it's definitly appealing, and it doesn't pay badly either.

But if I had to, I'd definitly go with a job I like rather than one I don't that pays well.[/size]

[Hevn]

[QUOTE=Kurai Ookami]My mother always told me that unless I become rich and make a name for myself, I would never be happy. She says if I'm rich than I wouldn't have to worry about anything. She also used to constantly tell me to marry someone rich. I remember her always trying to set me up with these guys...*shudders*.. :nope:

I think she's wrong. I believe that I will never truly be happy until I've found a job that makes me happy. I could care less how much money I make, as long as it's enough to support myself.

I could probably understand where my mom is coming from with her beliefs. But I'm not living in the same conditions she did. My mom came from a poor country and worked since she was like 5 or 6. She's been working her whole life, she's still working hard now. She just doesn't want me to struggle through life.

But, yeah...I think the career is more important. :D[/QUOTE]

Oh wow, we are exactly in the same position, lol, except for the part where your mom says you'll never be happy if you don't get rich. My mom also worked her whole life and has been through a lot of hardships so she advices me to marry a rich guy and blah blah blah. -.-

I know life is hard where I come from and aiming for a career that I love isn't practical anymore. They say I have to grab every opportunity that comes my way. But of course, a dreamer like me won't settle for anything less than what I want. If this place can't give me what I want I can always try and go somewhere else. Sure it's not that easy but I'm determined to find a way ;)

[wrist cutter]

[QUOTE=Juuthena]Well, you can't do well at a job you don't enjoy. And if you're not enthusiastic, I don't think it's very likely you'll get promotions too often.

But that's just my opinion.[/QUOTE]

not entirely true.

It's more important I have a job that brings in money, because without money you can't be happy.

[MissWem]

[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]*looks up to previous post* yup..

Yea, the ideal situation would be that one has a career that pays really well that one also enjoys. However since sooner or later I might have to choose..

I choose money.

One of the greatest, perpetual stresses in life is money. Right now my family is stressed out because dad can't make enough money to support us all, my brother is completely off his rocker and refuses to get a job based on the fact that he has to enjoy it (he's effin 22) and my mum already works as well.

Say, remove the issue of finances despite a less than fun job.

You then will have the luxury of spending your money to do things you enjoy in your spare time. For me, I wouldn't have to make the decision to stop paying for lessons for either my piano or violin just to save my parents the extra hundred so dollars. I don't enjoy school, but if I could get off school and look forward to martial arts lessons then I'd feel better about everything because excercise make people happy.

I really find it difficult to believe when they say money can't buy happiness. They're just buying the wrong damn things.

Although kudos to those who can be happy without much.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]High-paying.

I'd love to have both, of course, but when it comes down to it, your whole life isn't work. I love technology, I love the high-life. I am not afraid to admit that I place a great deal of importance in material objects. But I would refuse to do something that either a) made me unhappy [as converse to, say, me not being happy] or b) intefered with family and friends. I think that you need to be 'not unhappy', but your job doesn't have to make you happy either.

This comes at a time when I'm heading into the last two years of high-school, and where I'm really starting to feel the pressure to look at career paths. And I just hope that I find something both enjoyable and well-paying.[/size]

[Juke Box Hero]

It is all, and I mean ALL about the cash. If I had a choice, I wouldn't work at all, I'd lounge around a club all day, sipping martini's and picking up phone numbers. However, those things cost money. And vast amounts of it.

I originally wanted to be an engineer or lawyer. Both are interesting careers with high reaching possibilities. Then I took economics, and found that it is my greatest gift/talent. I started reading Business Week, and guess what I found out?

MBA's from elite schools can pick up 150k~$ US [i]starting[/i] salary. I did some math, I can be 24 years of age when I complete my masters (including a year or so of work) in Global Marketing/Finance (one of the two), I can be debt free by 25 1/2.

150,000$ is a lot of money for a young single guy. A LOT of money. Then I saw some other statistics. If I am average in my field, I can be pulling in 500K by the age of 30. If I am elite, and I feel I have the ability (joss is joss though), the figure is limitless... CEO's and COO's of Fortune 500's can pull in as much as 200 Millions in salary..... I understand that only the VERY best make it to that level.. but 200 millions is a mind boggling amount.

200 millions aside, 500,000 is quite enough for a night on the town, even in the ritzier neighborhoods. If things go even reasonably according to my predictions, I can retire at 45, and do cool stuff till I die. Like travel, etc.

If I chose my career based on what I love to do, this would only be about 3rd on the list. I'd probably be a CIA Agent, or a riot cop... But I must have cash to preserve my level of lifestyle, so I can pursue the things that make me happy.

[Morpheus]

I guess I'm just lucky, but my career will both pay well and be fun. But if I had to choose one I would say.. It depends. I wouldn't do something I hate for 100K over something I love for 20K, but if the something I hate is in the millions and doesn't contract... One year. If I'm a millionaire I can then do what I love and not worry about finances. Wouldn't that be lovely...

[Redemption]

[quote name='Corey][size=1']But if I had to, I'd definitly go with a job I like rather than one I don't that pays well.[/size][/quote]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS][COLOR=Red]I agree with you there Corey. I'd rather do something I like than do something that I didn't that pays a lot.

Money and material things just don't appeal to me much. I don't know what it is, but it's me. It just doesn't movitate me, which is sort of a bad thing in this world.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Heaven's Cloud]

If you are able to get a job that you enjoy doing you should take it. I write this simply because you are far more likely to work hard and excel at a job you enjoy than one you don?t. And the harder you work the more potential you?ll have to make money (well nine times out of ten, anyway).

Another reason to snatch a job that you love is time. You?ll learn that you spend a lot of time at work. Very rarely does a professional work a forty hour work week. Since you are spending over half of your waking day at work you can understand how doing something you dislike would grow quite aggravating.

Personally I am not terribly fond of my job, despite the fact that I am making a pretty nice salary. Fortunately, one of the perks of my job is that the hours allow me time to go back to school so I can build the skills doing something I enjoy. Sure, I might initially take a pay hit when I jump ship but it is worth it not to wake up every morning hating loathing the fact that I have to go to work.

[Zenriek]

A career that makes me happy.

The reason is that if I choose a job that makes me unhappy, then I'll do a bad job of it. And our jobs are a big part of our lives, and if your job is a big part of your life and you're unhappy with it, then you might have a total unhappy life.

Though a high-paying career sounds good, the unhappiness would be enough to make me quit.

Besides, the jobs and careers I'm shooting for will be high-paying, and I'll be happy with them. :D

[Xander Harris]

[QUOTE=Kurai Ookami]Hey there people! :D

I just wanted to know: What's more important to you? A career that makes you happy or a career that is high paying? Please explain why.[/QUOTE]

Well, as I go back and forth between two choices of major (Philosophy or Political Science) I am faced with precisely that dillema. If I go with Philosophy (to be a professor, more than likely), I will have relatively low-paying jobs and student loans for the rest of my life. If I go with poly-sci my chances of getting a job out of college are good, and my earning bracket is high.

Decisions, decisions.

Luckily, I have my writing and rhetoric major that I am taking as a double major along with whatever I decide on from the choices above to fall back on.