What’s the Price for Happiness—Should You Take a Job You Don’t Want?
October 8th, 2012Everybody just wants to be happy. When it comes to a career, however, there can be a lot of compromise. It’s impossible to define what makes one person happy in their job vs. another person who has a similar job but hates it. Very often, people are mismatched to the jobs they end up in, which causes them to feel unfulfilled and wanting something better.
As a job seeker, you may have already considered that the job offer you may get in the near future may not be a perfect fit for your skill set and interests. However, in this economy you cannot afford to reject any job offer. It’s at least a job, right?
The question remains for you to decide – should you take a job you don’t wholeheartedly want, or should you hold out for a job that will make you “happy? Here are some things to consider.
The Not-so-Perfect Job Offer
If you’ve just been offered a new job, but it’s not exactly what you were hoping for, it’s natural to be disappointed. You walked in to the job interview with your best foot forward, delivered an awesome resume and references, and answered the interview questions well. Then you get the call offering you something less than what you expected. Your first reaction could be to get irritated about it and refuse the job offer, but wait—it is for a company you’d really like to get on with. And you have been trying to get a decent job offer for months now. What to do?
Many career experts will tell you that sometimes taking a job that is not exactly what you want can lead you to a better opportunity within a short period of time. Taking a job, even an entry level assignment, can give you the chance to prove your worth to the company which makes it easier for you to slide into a better role. While the job may not be a great opportunity, it is an entry into the kind of corporate culture that you may thrive in, and you’ll have time to hone your skills.
The Double-edged Job Offer
Now, what about a job offer that comes in, but looks like it may be a stress inducing job with grueling work hours, poor compensation, and a demanding boss. Or a job offer may sound good, but in reality the company is sinking or has a negative reputation in your industry. This takes some pondering. You have to consider how this job may affect your lifestyle and especially your family. Is it worth the sacrifice of your time and skills? Or worse yet, your reputation? This may be a time when it’s better to walk away, in pursuit of something a little better.
Perhaps one of the best ways to “try on” careers, particularly if you are not sure what you want to do when you grow up, is to take contract assignments through a staffing agency, like The Suburban Group, that can place you with growing companies. You’ll be able to gain valuable insight from this experience and work with a recruiter who cares about your suitability for the assignment. This can lead to more happiness and a career that is better matched to the professional you are.





