Consider these 5 things before you settle for a ‘good-enough’ job

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Consider these 5 things before you settle for a ‘good-enough’ job

By Anisa Purbasari Horton

Hustle culture is out, and work-life balance is in. At least that’s what many employees are reporting. In a 2022 survey conducted by Flex Jobs, 63% of respondents said they’d take a job with better work-life balance over one with better pay. At the same time, many companies are requiring employees to return to the office, and some leaders are perpetuating the myth that “no one wants to work anymore.”

What’s an employee to do? Many are standing firm and continuing to work in the way that they want, rather than caving to the demands of their employer. Some workers have “quiet quit” and/or chosen to scale back the number of hours they put at work—a phenomenon dubbed as “coasting culture,” as reported by Business Insider. Others are turning to government jobs for security and stability. And many have given up on the idea of a “dream-job” altogether, opting to take jobs that are “good-enough” to make a living while providing the time and space to pursue activities that bring them joy and fulfillment outside of work.

But when is taking a so-called good-enough job actually the right the decision for you? After all, it could mean you’re missing out on something more fulfilling, and it could have a big impact on your financial future—particularly if you’re still early in your career.

Walter Sabrin, chief talent officer at Vensure Employee Services, shares his thoughts on what you need to consider before swapping your intense job for one that’s just good-enough:

DEFINE YOUR “GOOD ENOUGH”

The first thing you need to consider is what you define as “good enough.” Do you want a job that ends at 3 p.m. so you can go to pottery class or run 5 miles after work? Perhaps you want a job that starts at midday because you value having free mornings. Or maybe you want to work a job that will never require you to work a weekend.

Sabrin says that post-pandemic, he is definitely seeing more and more people engage in this kind of self-reflection, rather than just going with the flow. That’s great. But taking a good-enough job will be beneficial only if that role actually aligns with your priorities and values.

CONSIDER YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS  

The next thing to consider is how this job might fit with your long-term goals. “Just because you’re 25 years old and you have a certain culture you want to embrace, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same at 35, 45, or 55,” Sabrin says.

For example, you might be at a point in your life when you can afford to take a job with less pay but a better work-life balance, but in a few years your circumstances might change, requiring you to pursue a job that provides a higher income. If you haven’t been acquiring the experience at your good-enough job that the higher-income role requires, you’ll be at a disadvantage as a candidate.

That’s why Sabrin recommends that if you want to take a good-enough job, “maybe pick something that, even if it doesn’t pay dividends today, you have some foresight and you’re looking for something down the road.” He gives the example of someone working in an industry that really makes them happy, “where they really connect with not only the industry but also the company.”

ASSESS HOW THE JOB FITS WITH YOUR PERSONALITY

Sabrin also recommends doing a little bit of self-introspection to figure out whether your personality suits a good-enough job. There are people who are naturally competitive, who thrive in a place that encourages external and internal competition.

If you feel like you fit into this category, you’re going to want to be in a position where you can be challenged, says Sabrin, and a good-enough job might not provide that. Of course, it’s important to note that competitive people can suffer burnout or be overworked and underpaid. But it’s still important to consider that in this case, settling for a good-enough job might not be the solution.

EXAMINE THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Speaking of long-term goals, Sabrin says that in a world where things are constantly changing, you need to continue training and building your skill set. So if you do take a good-enough job where you’re not acquiring new skills and experience that meet the needs of the market, it’s important that you find ways to continue your training outside of work.

That might mean taking a volunteer position, or developing a side hustle. “Entrepreneurship brings a lot of hard-earned skills that you could incorporate in future jobs,” Sabrin says.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU STILL STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF

Perhaps most important, Sabrin recommends making a decision that allows you to stay true to yourself. Most people spend more time at work and with their colleagues than they do with their spouses and children, and their self-worth can really suffer if they have to work at a job where they cannot be their true selves.

Before accepting any job, you should always take the time to ask questions in the interview process. “Sometimes a company will rush you in the decision-making process,” Sabrin says. “That’s a yellow flag.” He reminds people that companies are also doing their due diligence, and will not hire a candidate who doesn’t check their boxes, so it’s important that you do the same as a candidate.

“No matter where you are in your career, no matter where you are in life,” he says, “the worst thing to do, in my opinion, is to wake up in the morning and just not like yourself as a person.”

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