It's important to consider salary when you are deciding your career path because it will partially determine what kind of lifestyle you have. However, so much of your life will be spent on the job that you should really consider more than just paychecks when career-searching. There are so many components that make a job good, bad, or somewhere in between that the decision can become overwhelming! Here are a few of the most important factors you should definitely have in mind if you want to love your job.
Who is your employer? Is your supervisor someone relatable, motivational, supportive, and kind? If not, you will probably feel uncomfortable in your workspace and have more trouble learning how to enjoy your job. It's also important to consider your employer on a larger scale. If you're working for a company, make sure it's something you support that doesn't go against your morals and is making a positive contribution to the world.
If motherhood is in your future, you should definitely keep that in mind when job-searching. Make sure your employer is understanding of the demands of motherhood and offers generous time off without any penalties.
Maybe you don't want a baby, but everyone wants a break! Make sure your job understands the importance of work/life balance so that you can avoid a workaholic's fate.
A new job can be great motivation to move to a new place and start a new chapter in your life. However, following a well-paying job to a city that you hate will only make the transition to your new life even more difficult. Even if you are staying in the same area, consider the commute time. Spending hours a day in traffic for a thankless job that gives you a fat paycheck can make you hate your job even more.
There will always be that one coworker who rubs you the wrong way, but ideally you should have several coworkers you get along with and can consider your friends. If you're making bank, but you have no friends to go out with and spend your earnings with, what's the point?
Your job should be an environment in which you grow and learn something new every day. Look for a job where colleagues will contribute to your growth in that field and where you will have opportunities to challenge yourself with new projects on a regular basis.
Whether providing for your family or just trying to take care of yourself, every rising career woman should look for jobs with benefits. Benefits include 401k plans, life insurance, childcare, and more. Also look for jobs that offer wellness programs for gym memberships and a variety of health insurance options.
Overall, a job is supposed to provide for your life, but it's also a major portion of your life. Because of that, you should prioritize having a job that you love! Why do you love your job?