I found myself falling into a familiar trap last night. I had talked to a friend who mentioned a large company in Seattle that she has recruited for that pays very well, but is almost notoriously difficult to work for. It is said that your experience there completely depends on the team with which you’re placed, which is not that different from most companies. However, when reading reviews of the company by actual employees the overwhelming feeling is very negative.
And so my brain set the trap. Instead of reminding myself of all the inflexible requirements I want for my next job (work/life balance, a company that cares about its employees etc.) my mind started soothing me by saying it wouldn’t be that bad and getting slightly googly eyed about the potential money involved — once again, not to spend it but because it could decrease my time to financial independence significantly. I even explored a fun exercise to see how quickly I would reach F.I. based on the salaries people have posted for these jobs online (see below if you’re interested).
I don’t know why my brain does this. It used to happen even before F.I. was my goal in life. When I went for an interview I would usually describe it like I was trying to convince myself that I would enjoy it (and as you know I never did for long). I would explain how it went to family and friends with a positive spin on the aspects I did like while dismissing or completely ignoring what I didn’t. This might be because I had a much narrower view of what I wanted back then. My checklist usually consisted of one bullet: Get Me The Hell Out Of Here. But things are different now.
Another reason I might have tried to talk myself into liking these interviews or jobs was because at the time they were my only prospects. This was before I realized that with the right connections, recommendations and credentials (or even just connections) it is quite easy to get a job. This was in a time of me getting laid off twice in one summer and having only one job offer after graduation.
I did take my first job because it was my only option or prospect at the time and I was under a time crunch. My second job I took because I loved my boss and thought it sounded like a fun, different agency model and an interesting product to sell: hardware instead of software. My third job I also took because I loved my boss and was interested in selling something other than technology. I took my fourth job because I thought “I can do anything for 3 months” and was tired of looking for new opportunities after being laid off twice and interviewing all over the city.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) shortly after starting work that contract job asked if I wanted to be a full-time employee and I accepted. At the time I enjoyed working with my team and the client, though the product was boring. This situation deteriorated into my team being very unpleasant to work with when they were actually around and absent the rest of the time. And the client becoming the worst I’ve ever encountered. Luckily I was able to transition this into what I guess is technically my fifth job in a completely new sector, once again with a boss I love. I’m sensing a pattern here.
So I’m not sure where that leaves me. I’m not sure if when the time comes my heart will race and tell me this is as good as it’s going to get or you should take this because it’s possible you won’t find another job in this new city you’ve moved to or this won’t be so bad and my shorter time in the workforce will make up for it. I’m not sure. All I am sure of is that one of the things I’m looking for in moving to Seattle is a slower pace and nicer people. And if that doesn’t translate into my work environment or if that work doesn’t allow me time to actually live my life and enjoy this new city I think it’s missing the point.
My “Fun” Exercise
According to salary websites such as Glassdoor selling my life to a certain corporation may pay me one of the two amounts. How much would this allow me to save and how would this decrease my time to FI?
(4.8 Years if need $17,000 as estimated instead of $20,000 vs. 7 Years at Current Rate)
(3.8 Years if need $17,000 as estimated instead of $20,000 vs. 7 Years at Current Rate)