Money isn't everything, but it's always an important factor in a job decision. If you're considering a low-stress job and a job with high pay but more stress, weigh your options carefully.
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You’ve been offered two jobs, and you must choose between them.
You are to decide whether to take a job because the salary is not as high as you would like, but it sounds rewarding and fulfilling. Or, on the other hand, you have been offered a hefty paycheck that is likely to make you happier in the short term but doesn't provide much opportunity for growth or long-term stability. Which is best for your career?
There are any number of reasons why someone would choose one path over another—but if you're still stuck between two options or torn about whether or not to accept a new job offer, here's some information to consider before choosing a well-paying job that gives better work/life balance.
Click here to read an article on tips for achieving and maintaining a work-life balance.
What type of lifestyle do you want to have? How much money do you need to support that?
One thing that you can do is to be clear about what kind of lifestyle you want to have. Do you want to travel? Have a large family? Work on your hobbies and passions? Buy a house? Then, think critically about how much money it will cost to support that lifestyle.
But also be honest with yourself:
- Evaluate your current job situation to see how much money you can comfortably live on. Determine how much money you need to meet your financial obligations as well as fund your desired lifestyle.
- Consider how long you will probably stay in each position before determining if the lower-paying position offers good benefits that might offset the difference in salary. For example, a position offering health insurance may be worth the lesser salary if that is something you need to have.
- Consider the hours you'll be working at each position when comparing salaries. A job paying $10 an hour that requires only 25 hours per week may not be as lucrative as a job paying $8 an hour that requires 40 hours per week.
What is the timeline for your career path? Is your goal to have a certain position by a specific time, or will this job help get you there faster?
If this is not the case, you may want to hold off on accepting the new job.
Before going any further, it's important to evaluate the possible career paths of each position before accepting any job offer. If the low-stress job offers no possibility for advancement, it might not be a good choice for someone aiming for a long-term career or who wants to earn more money over time.
If you're happy with where you are in your current role and the new job is simply an opportunity that seems exciting and enticing, take some time to consider if it's worth taking.
What's the company culture like at each of these places? Will one job be more fun than the other?
Many people would argue that good company culture is the cornerstone of having positive work experiences. While it's true that no job is going to be perfect, if you are unhappy with the overall environment of your workplace—and this includes feeling like you aren't being treated with respect—you can expect to feel bitter about your employment. No amount of additional pay will compensate for poor treatment by coworkers and superiors, or a toxic workplace in general. So, before making a decision about which job to accept, do some research into what the company culture at each potential employer looks like and decide which one is more likely to make you happy over time.
Determine if one of the jobs will lead to your future happiness and which one won't by considering how each of your personalities fits each role
A low-stress job might be a good fit if you are more focused on making sure that each task is completed than making money. If you are working in a field where you care more about how much help you provide to others than how much money you make, then taking a lower-paying job might be better for your mental health. Also, if the lower-paying job allows for more time with family and friends, it might be worth it.
A well-paying job with more stress may be a good fit if you work best under pressure. Employers want people who can handle stress, so they pay more for those people. People who love the excitement and challenge of high-stress jobs earn more than their counterparts. Even though stressful work feels like a lot of work, it actually helps people get promoted.
Conclusion.
A low-stress job with low pay or a well-paying job with more stress is a dilemma as old as time itself. There's no clear answer for everyone, and we'd all be lying if we said it was easy to decide. But before accepting either offer, do some research on what the company culture is like at each place and how employees feel about working there.
The reality is that every workplace has its own challenges—and if one offers lower pay but also has better employee benefits and vacation time than the other (e.g., parental leave), then it could actually end up being less stressful in the long run since you won't be struggling under mountains of debt when all your free time gets eaten up by overtime requirements.
