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Career / The Ultimate Career Guide

Why Your Job Should Be More Than Just About Money (Career Resource No. 11)

February 26, 2022
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Why do we work? Because we somehow need to pay the bills. Of course. But is it just that? Or rather, should it be just that? The answer is no. Even though it is without a doubt important to have an income that can support your lifestyle and responsibilities, settling for a career or job that doesn’t fulfill you is just not sustainable. Let’s unpack this and see how you can achieve both your monetary goals and have a career that fulfills you. And maybe by the end of this article you’ll be convinced that your job should be more than just about money.

Why is it important that a job is more than just about money?

Plain and simple – career fulfillment. Let’s dive into the science behind it. A fulfilling career means perceiving your job (tasks) at work to be close to your personality, interests and values (aka you can identify with your job). That in turn means that you believe and find meaning in what you do. When you have a fulfilling career, then you also are more involved in your job and your career as a whole. If this is the case, you automatically tend to take ownership for you career and break out of the vicious cycle of feeling helpless and stuck in a job that is just not right for you.

However, a fulfilling career does not mean that you will always love every single aspect of your job. This is unrealistic. It is more about finding something that you enjoy most of the time and that the benefits are stronger than the downsides.

Having a fulfilling career translates into you being more satisfied with your career and job. And you are more proactive in shaping your future in ways that fit your needs and wants.

And guess what – career satisfaction, commitment and a proactive attitude have been found to predict a higher salary.

Why? Because someone who is motivated and feels generally satisfied with their (work) life, is much more likely to be productive and successful in what they do. In contrast, someone who merely focuses on doing just any job but does not find meaning in what they are doing – will find it difficult to stay motivated long-term. This will sooner or later show in their work and their opportunities to negotiate a better salary. And on top of that, they’ll spend most of their time doing something that they do not enjoy.

Do you feel fulfilled by your career?

Find out by reflecting on these two quesitons:

  • Is your job/career central to your identity?
  • Do you feel committed to your job/career?

If you are a student , you can ask yourself the same questions, but instead of a job or career, think about your studies and your intended career.

3 Ways to A Fulfilling Career (Aka one that is more than just about money)

1. Starting early.

If you are still studying, this is the time for you to explore and find what career will provide you with meaning. When you are still in university, it is much easier to try out different jobs through internships, for example.

Or you could ask people who have a job position that sounds interesting to you about a realistic job-preview. Even when it turns out that a certain career path is not the right one for you, you can still make a 180 turn if needed and pursue a career that better fits to you. If you are in this stage of your life, make sure to check out our article on how to find a career that you can thrive in!

2. Find out what needs to change.

If you are working and you realize that your current career is not really fulfilling you, no reason to despair. You can still change things to your benefit.

First, you have to find out what aspects of your job are bothering you. Is it the content of your work? Is it for example too repetitive, too abstract, too service-oriented? Then, think about what aspects of your job would have to change (and how they would have to change), in order for you to find your work more meaningful and enjoyable.

Once you have clarified that, you can talk to your supervisor or HR official about your wish to adjust your work responsibilities a bit. You can wait for the next feedback conversation that is scheduled between you and your manager, or you can take initiative and approach them about such meeting. As long as you present your case as wanting to grow and further develop yourself professionally (instead of complaining about how boring your current work is), chances are that your manager and HR will be receptive and create a game plan with you that will help you work towards your career goals.

3. Targeted job search. And then quit.

In case talking to your manager has not led to an improvement of your situation, or if your current employer cannot offer you a job position that is aligned with your wants and needs, then it is time to move on to the next employer.

Meaning, it is time to look what is on the job market. Again, before you start looking, it is essential for you to be very clear on what you need from a job position in order to be motivated and not hate every single second you spend at work. Make a list if needed to not forget any important aspect.

Once this is done, look for open job positions and carefully read through the job descriptions. If you get invited to an interview, prepare some questions to ask that help you gain an impression of what the main responsibilities of the vacant job position are. Are they in line with the job characteristics you identified as necessary for being motivated at work? If yes, congratulations! – seems like an exciting next step in your career! If no, then don’t settle for something that will make you just as miserable as your current job. Be patient and keep looking – the right opportunity for you will come up eventually!

Get the support you always wanted

We know that sometimes, small actions of reflection like the ones we suggest in this article, quickly slip our mind and before we know it, we forget about them altogether. If you need an occasional reminder, follow us on our Instagram and Facebook page – we use it as an interactive way to help each other implement the advice we suggest in our blog posts. And we love to hear about your experiences and thoughts!

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This post is based on the following sources and academic articles:

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash