Last year, a friend told me about a job opportunity that was near where I lived. The pay was better than what I was making as a Delivery Coordinator, and it sounded like an exciting opportunity as it seemed fast paced. something different, and with the promise of performance bonuses. I was going to accept it as a college student, who doesn’t want extra money? But of course I didn’t take it.
At first, I was even surprised. Based on the material these week majority of the time our generation, money is the main factor for a job. But for me a college student that is getting close to graduating. I realized compensation is more than just a paycheck. At my job, I had something that a little extra money couldn’t quite replace such as stability, a flexible schedule, and a team I enjoyed working with. That setup gave me the space I needed to focus on school, especially during tough terms where I had a lot of group meetings, presentations, financial projects that take up more than the usual time.
The new job sounded exciting, but it also meant building new relationships, learning a whole new process, and no stability. I had to ask myself was the extra money worth it and for me it wasn’t. Looking back, I’m glad I stuck with my job as it gave me balance. It let me grow professionally without overwhelming my studies. In the end compensation does matters but it’s not always about the number on your paycheck. Sometimes, the best job is the one that gives you room to breathe and keeps you moving toward your bigger goals.