What Is Important, Job Satisfaction Or The Pay?

By Perminus Wainaina 

What is more important, being in a job you’re satisfied with, or one that pays you well? Would you rather go for the money or satisfaction?

These are some of the questions Sharon was battling with when she reached out. She has been looking for a job for over eight months. From the frustration and desperation she was in, she had resorted to applying for any job she came across.

Sharon is an accountant by profession; she has four years’ experience in the field. She is passionate about accounting, and says even ten years from now, she would still like to be an accountant. In her previous Job, she was earning a gross salary of 60 thousand shillings.

Three weeks ago, she was called for an interview at a startup for the position of senior accountant. A few days later, she was also called to another interview, this time; the organization was a leading betting company. The position she was interviewed for was Customer Service Executive.

A while after the interviews, both companies called her. She had passed both interviews. The betting company was offering her a gross salary of 90 thousand shillings, but it was in a field she was particularly passionate about. While the startup did offer a job in a field she was familiar with and passionate about, the gross salary offered was 45 thousand shillings.

At first, Sharon consulted with her friends and family. While they all had differing opinions, most told her to work for the betting company, as she would make more money, and be in better position to pay her bills, and possibly start a side project that she could move to eventually. A few of her friends, however, advised her to follow her passion, where she would be happy, even if the pay was lower than her previous job, and a half of what was being offered by the betting company.

“What I’m I supposed to do? Both companies would like an answer this week, so I can start in April. What do I choose?” asked Sharon.

Quick Read>>> Is It Worth Getting An MBA?

I have always been a firm believer that you should go for a job you like over one that pays you well. This may be a contrary opinion from advice out there. Why do I believe your satisfaction in a job is better than the size of the paycheck? Here are my reasons;

1. You should do something you enjoy

As an HR professional, I have interacted with professionals from different sectors. One of the most common types of professionals is those who went for the money but ended up in a job they did not enjoy.

Sometimes, the problem goes much deeper.

Read on to see why you should choose job satisfaction over pay.