The most important things you should consider when choosing a workplace are the benefits, the environment of the workplace, opportunities available, and how it affects your personal values. Although money is not everything, you really want to make sure that you are capable of surviving on what they are intending to pay you (O’Connor). Second to that is the importance of the workplace in environment. The people you work with are who you are going to be around for extended periods of time throughout the day, and at times you may even see them more than you see your own family. As Vince Vonnegut said, “You can’t put a price on your environment.” (Vonnegut). Third, you want to consider whether there are opportunities for growth in the workplace. Can you see an opportunity for a promotion somewhere down the road? Will the job offer you the opportunity for growth and development? Or will you outgrow the position within a few years (Powell). Finally, you want to consider what your personal values are when selecting a job. When you find a job that you truly love doing, the money should not change your decision at all (Lewis). As far as prioritizing these considerations, there can be some conflict as to whether money or happiness should come first. At the end of the day you may have to take a job you’re not happy with just to get a paycheck, but if you put in the grunt work early on, you can move on to things you enjoy later in life once you have established a career (Lewis).

Interviewees used:

Chris Lewis

Fred O’Connor

Julia Powell

Vince Vonnegut