What Matters Most to You in a Career?

Passion and interest in your work matter more than ever when it comes to job satisfaction, but what isn’t discussed often enough is the importance we all place on other things like marketability, flexibility, status, earning potential, and meaningful work. Whether you’re a recent graduate struggling to settle into the right career, or a working professional who isn’t feeling satisfied in your existing role, it’s time to ask yourself this question: What matters most in your career?

Passion is often what makes a job different from a career. However, not everyone is well suited for a career built solely on passion projects. Other things matter too.

Choosing a career that you love, but one that isn’t in high demand can lead to a host of other stressors. Marketability changes over time, but some roles (like nurses and teachers) are almost always in need, even in a down economy. These jobs don’t pull in high salaries, but they are stable careers that usually have a low rate of unemployment, and this counts for a lot. On the other hand, communications and marketing are still very popular majors even though we know competition for these jobs is tighter and they have higher rates of unemployment. Before you choose a career path, do your research to determine how marketable one field is over another and look at the projected outlook for the future too. 

Flexibility also doesn’t get enough attention these days. How much is your time worth? Careers with higher earning potential and creative control don’t usually come with an ability to “clock out” on time every day. However, many jobs offer flexible and/or remote work options now, so it is possible to achieve a better work/life balance when you have more control over your schedule. Finding a job with flexible hours does eliminate some careers from consideration, so it’s important to recognize how much value you place on this.

Status is another area to consider when evaluating potential career paths. Do you want the responsibility that comes with being a leader in a company? CEOs, COOs, SVPs, and other executives make tough decisions daily, bear the weight of a lot of stress, and are responsible for the health of the company and the livelihood of its employees. While these roles look glamorous and desirable, and come with high earning potential, power, and status, they are also more stressful and consuming. This level of responsibility isn’t for everyone, and despite what social media seems to show, it is absolutely possible to be fulfilled and proud of your career without being a “Boss Babe.”

Thinking about the value you place on earning potential is critical because finances are one of the biggest causes of stress and this governs so much of our lives. What kind of salary is necessary to sustain the lifestyle you want for yourself? How much does this matter to you? There is a bit of a stigma around talking about money, and it seems people often feel guilty about admitting they chose a particular career path for that reason—it’s as though this somehow makes them less admirable. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a career for the earning potential.

Doing meaningful work means something different to all of us. Typically, it’s work that we’re passionate about. For some of us, meaningful work makes up for lower earning potential or a lack of flexibility and status. For some of us it doesn’t. Working for a non-profit organization can fulfill one person’s soul and cause another person stress and frustration. Understanding what you consider ‘meaningful work’ is a good start when evaluating career options, but it’s also smart to know the pitfalls that can prevent meaningful work from being a sustainable career.

Ask us your career questions via the online chat box in the lower left corner of your screen. We’re passionate about helping job seekers and career changers find success and we love to share what we know.