How does your job satisfaction relate to what you get paid?

[Hereford]

What is the correlation between compensation and career happiness? If you could work out for a job for 25K, would you be happier than if you did a job you disliked for 70K, or a job you hated for 120K?

I recently had a job where I made a ton of $$$, but worked literally like 70-80 hour weeks. It was nice seeing the bank account, but it sucked in every other area of life. How many of you do this right now?

I think we can all agree that life is inadequate if we don't make enough money.... but where is the ideal point of $$$ vs. lifestyle?

What say y'all?

[MB_722]

It's all relative. Like you said working 80 hours a week with a nice pay cheque is great. That schedule won't last forever, you will burn out. As long as you can save it. When you develop a certain life style it's hard to go down. As long as you have the basics and a great place to live. Other things can be modified eventually.

Are you calmus? 

[Hereford]

Who/What is Calmus?

In my situation, I worked literally all the time. The $$$ was nice, but it was a high-stress, isolated position (management) and eventually I burned out.

Now I have a relatively lax 40 hours a week job, but the $$$ is not so great (still nice, just not AS nice).

As you say, it is hard to adjust the lifestyle downwards....

Just wondering what the crew thinks.

[K-1]

This is a good question. I work in IT. I enjoy my job. I get paid well. Pretty much what I'm finishing my Bachelors in this fall, but I plan to transfer into a masters program (information security) sponsored by NSA..etc. 

My thing is eventually I'll want to move onto Information Security for gov position. That's the goal.

My employer now knows how driven I am.....they are in the "throw whatever we can at him to keep him" mode, but I don't think they realize...even if they offered me 100K...I'd take 80K to get into InfoSec/gov door...

I would say I don't do "it"for the money. The money will come imo. I was previous military and since i've been out (2000) these companies are about as loyal as they are open for business or can afford to have you onboard.

To me "it's just business" that I look out for me and not let $$$ waver me off my goals. 

[wavelength]

Nothing beats a job that you really like doing every day. Not many out there unfortunally. If you get the opportunity to make bank for a few years in a job you don't like that much, why not.

[G.R.H.]

MY JOB IS NOT SATISFYING, AND THE PAY SUCKS!

[wavelength]

MY JOB IS NOT SATISFYING, AND THE PAY SUCKS!

My advice: take a job which doesn't suck and pays more. Problem solved. 

[ToxicAvenger]

This is a good question. I work in IT. I enjoy my job. I get paid well. Pretty much what I'm finishing my Bachelors in this fall, but I plan to transfer into a masters program (information security) sponsored by NSA..etc. 

My thing is eventually I'll want to move onto Information Security for gov position. That's the goal.

My employer now knows how driven I am.....they are in the "throw whatever we can at him to keep him" mode, but I don't think they realize...even if they offered me 100K...I'd take 80K to get into InfoSec/gov door...

 

To me "it's just business" that I look out for me and not let $$$ waver me off my goals. 

i teach CCNA and CCNP....

i think you wanna look at this cert before u go into your masters program

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le37/le54/learning_certification_type_home.html

I would say I don't do "it"for the money. The money will come imo. I was previous military and since i've been out (2000) these companies are about as loyal as they are open for business or can afford to have you onboard.

with a CCNA and CCNP and your TS clerance you r worth over 100k / yr starting WITHOUT a degree in the DC area..

www.jmatsystems.com



n o yeah..i love my job...i work part time and i grossed around 75/ last yr  (working on my CCIE ...for 180k n above salary...of course hense i wont be voting obama)

[K-1]

i teach CCNA and CCNP....

i think you wanna look at this cert before u go into your masters program

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le37/le54/learning_certification_type_home.html



with a CCNA and CCNP and your TS clerance you r worth over 100k / yr starting WITHOUT a degree in the DC area..

www.jmatsystems.com



n o yeah..i love my job...i work part time and i grossed around 75/ last yr  (working on my CCIE ...for 180k n above salary...of course hense i wont be voting obama)

I have my CCNA already..along with my MCSA,MCSE, Security+  and others and working on CISSP cert. I have a Secret clearance. My Bachelors IT focus is in Network Systems Engineering and I already had my transcripts approved for my Masters of Infosec by the head of IT at the university...and I have some folks on the "inside" still in the service to "get me where I need to be" I think I have everything under control lol, but thanks anyway.

...not moving to DC area either. lol
 
the CCIE is a great cert. get 100+ just sitting at home basically on a fortune 500 payroll. Good luck I wish you all the best of luck on that. Actually can say "I know" a CCIE. 

I hear ya on that other deal. Me and the wife cleared 140 last year.....we got crushed.

[G.R.H.]

easier said than done wavelength when you work all day and have to sneak around just to fax a resume to another employer. i have to take days off just to get an interview!   

[ToxicAvenger]

I have my CCNA already..along with my MCSA,MCSE, Security+  and others and working on CISSP cert. I have a Secret clearance. My Bachelors IT focus is in Network Systems Engineering and I already had my transcripts approved for my Masters of Infosec by the head of IT at the university...and I have some folks on the "inside" still in the service to "get me where I need to be" I think I have everything under control lol, but thanks anyway.

...not moving to DC area either. lol
 
the CCIE is a great cert. get 100+ just sitting at home basically on a fortune 500 payroll. Good luck I wish you all the best of luck on that. Actually can say "I know" a CCIE. 

I hear ya on that other deal. Me and the wife cleared 140 last year.....we got crushed.

i know about 5 CCIEs ..one of em is head of NASA networks, he's on console when the shuttle flys..he sits here at NASA goddard in MD though..

i failed my CCIE 2 yrs ago...gonna get it soon..dec maybe...


working on my TS SCI (poly)...a friend at the <ahem> "agency" is gonna help me out with that 

[K-1]

i know about 5 CCIEs ..one of em is head of NASA networks, he's on console when the shuttle flys..he sits here at NASA goddard in MD though..

i failed my CCIE 2 yrs ago...gonna get it soon..dec maybe...


working on my TS SCI (poly)...a friend at the <ahem> "agency" is gonna help me out with that 

great. You will do it. Keep aiming high like you have. Not everyone can or knows truly how to appreciate the "level" you are at and what you are trying to achieve but I can.

stay focused bro. and like my professor says "professionals don't burn out, we just get tired"

[ToxicAvenger]

great. You will do it. Keep aiming high like you have. Not everyone can or knows truly how to appreciate the "level" you are at and what you are trying to achieve but I can.

thats why its been nice chitchatting here back n forth...i actually understand your level of expertise n viceversa..you haven't done bad for yourself either... 

stay focused bro. and like my professor says "professionals don't burn out, we just get tired"

i like that!

[wavelength]

easier said than done wavelength when you work all day and have to sneak around just to fax a resume to another employer. i have to take days off just to get an interview!   

Well in that case, stay with the old job, and forget about the suckiness and bad pay. Problem solved.