Better Salary or Job Happiness?`

Beancounter

I am going for a second interview for a job which I really want to do. Trouble is the salary is about 4K less than I am on now so I would only be on about 14K per year.

Now, I hate my current job, I don't get on with the boss and dread going in every day. Is the extra money I am making worth the unhappiness I feel?

I have done the sums and after the bills etc are paid we will still have about £500 spare per month so we won't exactly be penniless. Another plus point for the other job is that I will stand a reasonable chance of promotion, something I have no chance of in the current role.

Interested in hearing other peoples thoughts.

sarahevie

happiness (my OH earns around £16K ) but works less than 5 min walk from home, is able to use his lunch hour to spend time with our pre school age children.

He enjoys his job, despite low wage/little chance of promotion - leads to a happier home life.

dave4545454

job happiness is always more important than the salary. i love being a charity worker even though the pay is £0

WolfSong2000

think the fact that there is opportunity for promotion would be a big factor for me. Yes, you'll take a pay cut initially, but if you could realistically see that wage increasing with promotions over the next few years, then yeah, I'd go for it. Especially as you've already said you can afford to take the pay cut. Plus, if the new job will make you happier, that can only be a good thing! You only live once, after all

bluenoseam

Job happiness, money is something which while necessary is NOT the key to a good life - they true key to a good life is the ability to enjoy it & realise the importance of being happy in it, so you could work for a million pound salary and be fed up, you'd have money but not a good life.

Easy for me to say that, but ultimately life's short enough without work dragging you down.

Widelats

Happiness is the most important thing, i used to work in a gym i saw fat bank managers in terrible condition physically (lots of business lunches and driving everywhere) i was told they would swap every penny they had made, from their teens to present day for their health back and the time they had lost doing work that was well paid but they did not enjoy, i did get them in shape again however and hopefully they are living a happier life.

DCFC79

Definitely chnage jobs if your unhappy, salary comes second plus like you say theres a chance of promotion

KiKi

Happiness, every time - unless you literally couldn't survive and pay your bills on £14K (although you could always do additional work outside of that to make up the shortfall).

KiKi

soupdragon10

I think being able to wake up in the morning and not dreak going into a situation that you find both misery making and stressful would be worth the 4K a year. Plus when you take into account differences in NI etc how much worse off will you be?

I'd chose happiness every time myself.

DCFC79

soupdragon10 wrote: »

I think being able to wake up in the morning and not dreak going into a situation that you find both misery making and stressful would be worth the 4K a year. Plus when you take into account differences in NI etc how much worse off will you be?

I'd chose happiness every time myself.

yep i used to dread going into work, not that i hated the work but more the people there eg managers who werent management material, the little twerp who would constantly play his music whether anyone liked it or not

Pete111

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

think the fact that there is opportunity for promotion would be a big factor for me. Yes, you'll take a pay cut initially, but if you could realistically see that wage increasing with promotions over the next few years, then yeah, I'd go for it. Especially as you've already said you can afford to take the pay cut. Plus, if the new job will make you happier, that can only be a good thing! You only live once, after all

+1

If the chance of promotion is a genuine one then that's the key. If in doubt, explore this aspect of the new job further with the other company before committing. You may also want to see if they might offer a little more given the large % pay disparity. We have done this in the past to secure our preferred candidate. If you don't ask (politely) you wont get.

Go back to them on both counts perhaps. Letting them know you are keen as mustard and excited by the long term opportunity for development, but at the same time finding the pay cut a little daunting, should not be held against you.