"All the money in the world isn't going to make it the job you want." Simone Roberts said that to a young engineer this year, but he had already worked it out. If you are weighing up a bigger salary for work you don't want, his story is worth two minutes of your time, and it may save you a move you would regret.
Key takeaways
- A higher salary does not make a role the one you want.
- Your gut reaction to the day-to-day work is real information.
- Moving for the work, even at a junior salary, takes guts.
- People who move for the work are usually still happy three years later.
- If you are unsure, talk it through before you say yes.
The young engineer who drove past a site crew
He had applied for a project engineer role paying well above his salary. On paper it was a clear step up, and plenty of people would have taken it without a second thought. More money, a bigger title and a clear next rung on the ladder are hard things to argue with.
The next day he drove past a site crew and knew straight away it still wasn't what he wanted. No spreadsheet told him that. The sight of the work did. It is a small moment, but it shows how quickly the truth can arrive once you stop looking at the salary and look at the job itself.
Many people ignore that feeling because it does not fit the numbers. He did not, and that is what makes his story worth telling.
Why the work matters more than the number
What he wanted was design, and he was ready to take a junior salary to get there. That takes guts, because it means stepping back on paper to move forward in the direction you actually care about. It also means accepting that friends and colleagues may not understand the choice at first.
As Simone Roberts says in her LinkedIn post, in her experience the people who move for the work rather than the number are usually the ones still happy three years later. A bigger pay packet can feel wonderful for a few months. Work you dislike, though, is still there every Monday morning, long after the novelty of the raise has worn off.
Choosing the work is not about ignoring money. It is about knowing what the money is for, and not letting it pull you into a role that slowly wears you down.
The people who move for the work rather than the number are usually the ones still happy three years later.
Questions to ask before you chase the bigger offer
Before you accept more money for work you don't want, give yourself a few minutes of honest thought. The answers often arrive faster than you expect, and they are usually more reliable than a long list of pros and cons.
Try picturing an ordinary Tuesday in the new role rather than the day you sign the contract. Notice whether you feel interest or just relief at the number. If you can, speak to someone already doing the job and ask what they actually spend their time on. Then work through these questions:
- What would a normal day in this role look like, and do I want it?
- Am I excited by the work, or only by the salary?
- Where do I want to be in three years?
- What would I take a pay cut to do?
- How did I feel the moment I pictured myself on the job?
Weighing up your own move? Let's have a chat
If you are weighing up more money for work you don't want, we are happy to talk it through. Whether your interest is building services or civil and structural engineering, a straight conversation can help you see what you really want from your next role.
There is no pressure and no script. Sometimes the best outcome is realising the offer in front of you is right after all, and sometimes it is finding the courage to go after the work you actually care about. Either way, you will decide with a clearer head.
You can get in touch or browse current jobs to see what is out there.
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