Is it okay to pursue a career primarily for financial reasons rather than passion?
#careerchoices #moneyvsinterest #engineering #passion #worklifebalance
I’ve been in engineering roles for 5 years now, mainly motivated by the paycheck rather than a genuine interest in the field. Is this a bad approach?
## Lack of Interest in Engineering
– Zero passion for engineering outside of work
– Would rather engage in other activities during free time
– Someone I know thinks it’s unhealthy to prioritize money over enjoyment in a career
## Personal Perspective
– Believe I can pursue other interests outside of work
– Choose not to work extra hours to maintain work-life balance
Should I consider a career change based on others’ opinions or stick with what pays the bills? Let’s discuss!
Are you content with your life? If so, you’ve got it more right than most people do.
For 99% of people, that’s what a job is. You sacrifice your time for money; why would you not seek to get compensated as best as possible? Obviously there’s a trade off for each person between how much they dislike doing a job and what they are paid, but so long as you aren’t miserable then do it.
That person is stupid and/or entitled.
You’re good, they are an idiot.
I work to support the things that make me happy. I enjoy aspects of my job, but a job is NOT your life. It’s what you do to afford the life you want to have
This is just a matter of work life balance, which can be different for everyone. If you can imagine wlb as a continuous line, there are certain benefits and risks at each point on the line. It’s incorrect to say that one place on the line is better than another for everyone.
It’s not bad, but it’s short sighted. There are other things that matter too. Pay, commute, ability to grow because you work with strong people, interesting work, likelihood of the company existing in 1, 3, 5 years, how the role will affect your career, work-life-balance…
If you could make a little less now, but make a lot more in 5 years, would you do it? You’re 5 years in, so you can be the expert in your narrow field or become more of a generalist, go into management, and get paid better.
Normally I’d agree with your sentiment, but since safety is an inherent part of the design process, I’d argue it’s not great that you are basically saying “I don’t really give a shit about this.”
I feel like a lack of caring would also stifle innovation, because if you don’t care about the project why would you even care making it any better?
You don’t need to give a shit about payroll to do a good job, but personally I feel like there would be an inherent level of dangerous negligence associated with an engineer that doesn’t really care about being an engineer. Mistakes in payroll are fixable…a car breaking down on the road, a bridge collapsing, hell even a fire caused by bad electrical on a new vacuum, puts other people at risk.
But what do I know? I’m just some schmuck on the internet.
i’d kind of agree with your friend here. like… you’re saying outside of work you ‘feel like you can do a lot of things’. are you doing those things? if you’re not, you should probably refocus to do something more meaningful.
Only young and naive thinking take less money for passion is good.
Your responsibility to yourself as an employee is being your hourly wage as high as possible.
Most people only work a job for the money.
Do you think people would work if they didn’t have to?
Your friend is entitled to their opinions – just as you are entitled to yours.
Form your own opinions with your thoughts and input from others.
One thing that has really helped me make decisions is taking complete accountability for them. I’m the one who must live with consequences of my actions and choices – and therefore I will make the choices that I want to. I won’t be swayed by someone else’s opinion unless there is merit and value to it.
I like science. I like figuring things out. I became an engineer. It’s good money and enjoyable. Is it my passion? Heck no. It made me a millionaire by my early 30s and that’s cool.
I don’t really spend any time outside of work thinking about engineering. I am interested in how things work, animals, science, plants and nature. Those are tangentially engineering things. If you’re interested in them, you can probably get through some work days as an engineer.
Would I rather do something else and be struggling for money, or something that is passable and pays me enough to do whatever the heck else I want in life?
Engineering was the best choice I made in my financial freedom life.
Some people live to work, others work to live. If you’re not miserable while you’re working and satisfied when you’re not working, you work to live and good for you!
Your friend is not a smart person. A job, by definition, is the trading of time for money. That is what it is. If you happen to enjoy the job that is fantastic, but has nothing to do with what a job is.
I am willing to bet your friend makes a lot less than you do and justifies themselves under the type of rationalization of “It is my calling, passion”, etc.
You sound well rounded. You have interests outside of your job. That is good and much better than having your job be your identity or a large part of it.
Of course enjoying your work is the ideal, if you can manage it. But it’s foolish to say you can’t have a fulfilled life if your day job isn’t fulfilling.
Do you have hobbies? Friends? A family? Do you volunteer? Even though engineering isn’t your cup of tea, is your place of work a decent environment with decent people?
There are many, many ways to find fulfillment in life. Jobs are JOBS, after all; if it was all fun and games, they could likely hire someone for half of what you make.
When the environment becomes toxic or you are dreading going, of course you should look elsewhere. Otherwise, get that money.
Good
Depends. If you have something else in your life in which you find purpose, then that’s not gonna affect your mental health. If the job is the only thing in your life then that’s no good.
It’s a job. What were they expecting? That’s the agreement, you perform CC service and XX labor in exchange for VV money. If you love your job, great! If you don’t love your job, that’s fine as long as you do your job properly. Some people need to decompress after their job and they don’t do anything job related. That’s fine. That’s how you do your work life balance. I don’t like talking about my job outside of work hours.
It certainly is better when there is something of interested to you in your job. But very few would do their job without pay.
I do work 9-5 and I have flex schedule so I can step out during the day. I am also doing something I’m passionate about and I am paid fairly. Risk of treating your career as a money source only is that you will burn out real fast. Then if you try to switch lines of work and start from the ground your finances will not do well really. You will definitely stagnate if you’re not interested in what you’re doing
This is the point of a job. The only people saying otherwise have a vested interest in devaluing the person you are outside work or they’re stupid enough to fall for that shit.
I would ask you this. Do you hate your job? Does your job cause you a lot of stress? Will your job make you age faster? Are you good at your job? Do you take pride in your job?
Just because you aren’t interested in working away from work, doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. In fact, it likely means you understand “work/life balance”.
I’ve never had the luxury of choosing a job for any reason other than money. Instead, I get paid a healthy salary to do something I’m good at, but have little interest in. I try my best to find projects that interest me to work on, and I take satisfaction from delivering beautiful work. I don’t need to love my job, I need to have a roof over my head, food to eat, stability and security; and money is what gets me those things.
You are the CEO of your life, and have a fiduciary responsibility to maximize value for your shareholders, AKA family.
Why work for $7.25/hr when you can work for $72.50? Most of us work because we have to. I’d love to spend everyday playing with my dog, and going on long walks. But that doesn’t pay my $$$ rent or buy the food HE likes 🤣
S job is what you do for money-it’s not you -your fine
Since you’re an engineer, what information would you find valuable in a waiting room magazine?
I think you’re doing fine.
Don’t worry about it.
Just earn your money and watch your TikToks, if that’s what you’re into. No harm in that.
I’m going on 18 years of doing my job for the money. Do I care how pretty a pie chart is or if x department is trending the right direction when I leave the office? The only thing I care about is when’s payday and where can I take my kids and wife for fun on the weekend.
dump her. majority of western women have rosters and keep in contact with the man her tucked them the best… she got tired of being a shut and settled because you have money but as soon as you get sick or fired or have any financial hard times she gna bounce
I work to live, not live to work. It’s a bonus if I’m working on something I enjoy, or interests me enough to think about it outside of the office. Sadly, this doesn’t happen often. I am very happy for those that wake up every morning and look forward to their job (for the right reasons. If they use their jobs as an escape from a terrible home life, that’s sad.). I wonder how many people are truly doing something they are “passionate” about, rather than doing something to pay the bills?
I see nothing wrong with it. I work jobs to pay my bills and buy things. I choose jobs that suit my lifestyle, I don’t change my lifestyle to fit a job.
That’s just me. I might drive a piece of shit car, but I don’t owe anyone anything and my wife and I can pick up and move whenever we want.
Very bad. It should be 100% unless you work at Disneyland.
I’m super blessed that my job is also my hobby, but it still exists only to pay for my bills and real passions outside that space.
I can’t imagine my job being my primary passion… That sounds like a way to learn to hate my passions.
Look up the concept of the good enough job.