Did you go for your job using your head or your heart?

[Spinneret]

I would say head

 

[Sacahara]

I will say a little bit of both but mainly head.

Head: I chose to work for my state for the benefits (health and retirement) and switched to my current department due to the pay increase from my previous (along with more regular hours).

Heart: The pay wasn't my only interest in this department, I've been trying to get any position over here since I graduated from college back in 2012, it took 10 years but I can finally say that I got a foot in where I want to be!

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

Ugh, head. I graduated college during the recession and it was ridiculously hard to find a job. So I took what I could get, which happened to be basically the complete opposite of any industry I EVER wanted to be in. I don't love the job itself, and if I was just following my heart, I wouldn't be here. But I have great health and retirement benefits, and a generous amount of PTO. Post-covid I'm on a hybrid work schedule, and I have a lovely boss and great co-workers.

I COULD pursue a line of work that is more for my heart - and maybe someday I will - but right now, I'm in a good spot that helps provide for my family and also allows me flexibility to BE with my family. I actually had an opportunity several years ago to pivot to something that was much closer to my dream job - but of course the timing didn't line up with my family plans at the moment. I'd applied a full YEAR earlier, and they finally called for an interview just after we'd started trying for another baby. I did the interview and then found out I was pregnant literally the same week that the job offer came, and I knew that starting a new job just to go out on maternity was going to be a no-go. It really hurt to have to turn it down, though.

 

[tvguy]

Probably too much with my heart. But, I'm not a risk taker, so some might argue with my head.

My daughter is struggling with this right now, and she is all about following her heart. She wants to quit working and go back to College for 2 years to get her Masters. She doesn't like her job. But what she is struggling with is she will give up 10 years of consecutive work seniority, give up 2 years pay, and is finding that many employers now aren't even requiring a Bachelors degree, and certainly don't want to pay more if you have a Masters.