Do you really want that job?

In the midst of a job search, we can fall into the trap that any job will do - that is, any job that pays the bills and isn't terrible. After all, that is what work is about, right? Enabling your lifestyle for those hours when you are not in the office? Or is there more to a job and career that survival?

As an employer, I want to hire someone who is passionate about the work. This passionate person is going to work harder and longer than someone who is doing it for a paycheck. Who do you think is going to care more about the end result - the person who loves the work or the person who tolerates it?

As with most things in life, this isn't a black and white issue. You might grow to love a job or be able to tailor the job to fit your skills and strengths. But do you want to go into a job hoping from the beginning that you will be able to change it? You could be stuck in a job you hate and then have to face the morning commute dreading the day in front of you. Is this the kind of life that you want?

I often get asked, "how do you decide between a high paying job that is boring versus a job that you love that cannot pay your mortgage?" The truth is that all jobs have times when you dread them, if you do them long enough. I have yet to meet someone who can honestly say that their job is all smiles all the time. The key is to go into the job search with your eyes open and learn to trust your instincts. Does this job feel reminiscent of the last job you hated? How much of your time will be spent doing activities that bore you? Where is the room for growth?

Of course, salary requirements can put us into a bind if our lifestyle will take a significant hit by working in a dream job. In this case, you should seriously consider what your happiness is worth to you. Can you cut back on dining out and drive your car a few years longer in exchange for a lower paying but more exciting position? Or would the pay cut be so large that you need to move, and your commute eats up most your day? Also consider whether your work performance would improve in a job that you enjoy - that could lead to getting promoted faster and possibly surpassing the salary at the less-than-ideal position.

In many cases, people I have worked with ultimately found that the money could not replace those 60 hours a week, 240 hours a week, those 3000+ hours a year. Others have found that they could find tasks within their existing job that made it easier to accept the parts they dislike. Consider your options carefully and find out what is lacking in your job or career field before making a big move.