MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Keep a beloved but low-paying job, or take a higher-paying job I might not love?

ficbot · 06-17-2010, 05:50 PM

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. Still have not seen my contract for next year---I know I am getting a modest pay raise, but I am not sure how much. My heart is saying stick with it though. I found out today that THREE of my co-workers, in their own year-end meetings with the boss, specifically pointed me out as being a standout of the year for them. This job is what I am good at. I really feel like I have found my special niche, and I am not ready to give that up yet.

As for the money, I am doing okay. In spite of my fairly modest pay scale, I have been putting 12% into an RRSP and also have paid off $10,000 of a $15,000 student loan, while still supporting myself and looking after all expenses. I could loosen up a little and have more fun, and a vacation or two would be nice, but I am not struggling. And I had two parents of graduating students approach me about tutoring their children next year, so that'll be another extra few hundred a month.

So more would be nice. It always is! But in a year I will have my student loan paid off too so that will free up some extra discretionary cash. And my needs are so modest right now. In another year when the loan will be paid off, I might be more ready, mentally, to move onto a next phase type of job. I think what I am really hoping for is eventually to move to a bigger school in the private system because my past experiences have been that I do not tend to excel as a cog in a very large bureaucracy, but if I could find even a lightly bigger pond than what I'm in now, I could have the better pay without having to give up doing what I really want to do.

I am keeping my eyes open and will investigate any openings, of course. I guess I was just feeling like I really didn't want to do something else just for more money if I love what I'm doing now. Maybe I just needed some validation that it isn't wrong or crazy or making a bad decision to stay put, even if it's only for one more year until I get the loan paid off and see where I am at, job-wise and mentally, once that phase of life is done. Maybe I'll be ready for a change by then. Or maybe a job will open up in another private school. And in the meanwhile I am doing okay...

06-17-2010, 05:50 PM	#16
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. Still have not seen my contract for next year---I know I am getting a modest pay raise, but I am not sure how much. My heart is saying stick with it though. I found out today that THREE of my co-workers, in their own year-end meetings with the boss, specifically pointed me out as being a standout of the year for them. This job is what I am good at. I really feel like I have found my special niche, and I am not ready to give that up yet. As for the money, I am doing okay. In spite of my fairly modest pay scale, I have been putting 12% into an RRSP and also have paid off $10,000 of a $15,000 student loan, while still supporting myself and looking after all expenses. I could loosen up a little and have more fun, and a vacation or two would be nice, but I am not struggling. And I had two parents of graduating students approach me about tutoring their children next year, so that'll be another extra few hundred a month. So more would be nice. It always is! But in a year I will have my student loan paid off too so that will free up some extra discretionary cash. And my needs are so modest right now. In another year when the loan will be paid off, I might be more ready, mentally, to move onto a next phase type of job. I think what I am really hoping for is eventually to move to a bigger school in the private system because my past experiences have been that I do not tend to excel as a cog in a very large bureaucracy, but if I could find even a lightly bigger pond than what I'm in now, I could have the better pay without having to give up doing what I really want to do. I am keeping my eyes open and will investigate any openings, of course. I guess I was just feeling like I really didn't want to do something else just for more money if I love what I'm doing now. Maybe I just needed some validation that it isn't wrong or crazy or making a bad decision to stay put, even if it's only for one more year until I get the loan paid off and see where I am at, job-wise and mentally, once that phase of life is done. Maybe I'll be ready for a change by then. Or maybe a job will open up in another private school. And in the meanwhile I am doing okay...