Would you do a job you don't love for the money?

[noblefir]

DD is trying to figure this one out.

She's 24 and about to qualify as a lawyer at 25. So far she finds the work OK, mainly quite dull. The worst part about her work is that there are some unpleasant colleagues.

She needs to pick a team/area to qualify into. She's liked two areas of law. One area has a horrible team so she doesn't want to qualify there at her current firm.

The other area of work is quite technical and considered a bit dull, but with more reasonable hours. She really likes the team though and she thinks she could see herself doing that as a job.

What complicates matters is that the firm she is at pays a huge amount of money, think enough to get a flat deposit in a year. For her it could mean she could work a couple of years and then reconsider.

Equally she is worried of golden handcuffs and that the money will mean she stays in a job she doesn't love. She could move to a firm with better hours but usually with significantly less pay.

Earn the money then get out when she can. For a couple of years, with people she likes, putting up with dull work to get a deposit sounds worth it. Much worse to work with people you dislike.

I am a lawyer, albeit 48 and not in my 20s. I have a large family so need to bring in the cash. I think a job is what you make it. I have always found it quite dull but my salary and bonus allows me to take my family on nice holidays and to sort out my house. If I had a choice again, I probably wouldn't be a lawyer as it is pretty dull most of the time , but it has allowed me to travel the world, live abroad and have amazing perks.

I think a lot of people do jobs they don’t love. She’s lucky that the job she doesn’t love will pay enough to finance things she wants.

I’d personally be tempted to choose the job with more reasonable hours, provided it’s something where career progression is possible. Then at least she has a bit more spare time for the fun stuff.

I would do the year to save up the deposit and then bugger off to the nicer firm!

In short- yes, and lots of people do.

However, I personally don’t think the personalities in the teams are a very relevant factor, as people could leave/join at any time. For me, hours would be relevant though.

For some people the legal profession entails golden handcuffs, but on the other hand lots of lawyers move in house within a few years of qualification. So she may want to consider which area of specialism would allow for that option.

Of course I’d stay.

Earn big whilst she can and then when she’s got some experience there will be lots more options.

I’m not sure many people ‘love’ their job. Enjoy certainly but it’s work at the end of the day. Better to earn big and be bored than earn small but still be bored.

She needs to pull herself together and get on with it.

Pick the better team and more reasonable hours. Money doesn’t make up for burnout.

Yes I moved in house and pretty easy going, 9-5pm, and great perks and little stress

Life’s too short. Much rather do something I love on less money

Am 50. No one loves their job. Every job has bad bits. Sounds like she is clear about the choices.

at 25 she should make all the money she can, has she got a work place pension? Go for the higher paying job deffo.

if the team is unpleasant in a way that makes life easier, less time wasted chatting etc, she can assume they’ll be dicks and not feel bad.

five years of hard graft then she can look to change jobs to get something more family friendly

"The other area of work is quite technical and considered a bit dull, but with more reasonable hours. She really likes the team though and she thinks she could see herself doing that as a job...."

".....What complicates matters is that the firm she is at pays a huge amount of money, think enough to get a flat deposit in a year. For her it could mean she could work a couple of years and then reconsider."

No brainer OP - work a couple of years, get in the bag and then reconsider.

In the current climate she is the lucky one🙂

For that kind of money early in my career ? Sure

No

There's a reason it's called "work". We work to pay for our life and hobbies, it isn't supposed to be where our life's fulfilment comes from.

Equally she is worried of golden handcuffs and that the money will mean she stays in a job she doesn't love.

That's a choice she has control over. Set goals, make a budget and stick to it. Nobody is forcing her to enter into financial commitments she can't sustain. It's not helpful to act like she's powerless - this is totally within her control.

Work out what she'd be earning once she moves jobs and therefore what lifestyle, mortgage and property costs she can sustain long term - then save for a property that aligns with that plan and move on once she's purchased it.

I always do work I love ,because I not gonna be a slave to do something for 8 hours I don't like.

Life is long. A few years doing something you don't love to set yourself up financially is a drop in the ocean. You only have to look at the threads here to see how many issues are caused by not enough money. Many jobs require lots of work, teams can change and roles can change overnight and there are no guarantees. Many worthy and enjoyable jobs still have shit bits. But be clear eyed- don't piss it all away and save some cash. That's the advice I would give!

having worked a job i didn't love, i would recommend preserving until the ideal option comes up.