Diêu Âu Uyên Phương 31231020052

INDIVIDUAL FINAL ESSAY

Student name: Diêu Âu Uyên Phương

Student ID number: 31231020052

Topic: Which is more important? To choose a job that you love or a job that offers a good salary
package.

Class: AEn 04

Group: 6

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Choosing between our passion job and a high-paying job has always been a typical
question, an undying issue in all age groups for many years. A recent research done by the
University of Oxford states that workers who are happy with their jobs are 13 percent more
productive than others. It is reasonable to believe in those figures since working with passion can
offer advantages for employees. First and foremost, rewarding emotion creates motivation to
push people to work harder, and therefore, workers are capable of increasing their potential
productivity. Secondly, a feeling of loving current jobs keeps laborers continue working for
companies which significantly affects long-term commitment. Thirdly, employees who enjoy
their work are likely to feel more fulfilled and happy. Nevertheless, another point demonstrates
that a high salary package is one of the most essential criteria to accomplish one’s life
satisfaction since it assures our financial security. Moreover, a good salary also gives workers the
ability to access a wider range of knowledge and chance to promote their career paths. The
following discussion shows why satisfied jobs outweigh high-paying jobs in terms of life quality.

It is undeniable that pursuing what we love will move people beyond themselves and
increase the motivation to take an active attitude in learning consistently, which applies to every
aspect of new knowledge (Rice, n.d.). Besides, there is a positive relationship between being
passionate and productive as they directly influence each other (LaPorte, 2012). If it is a field
that a person is passionate about, there will always be the urge to work harder, and therefore,
employees can enhance efficiency in their assigned tasks. They do not need anyone to keep tabs
on their work or inspire them to reach their full performance. Instead, workers do their best work
themselves because it is natural and voluntary. According to a research established by Gallup
(2013), engaged employees are 18 percent more productive than their coworkers. Not only that,
they also earn 23 percent greater in profitability. Motivation seems like a basic element that is
gradually forgotten during the time people try to fight with their busy lives. However, it actually
plays a crucial role in how far a worker can go in their career paths. As we figure out the
inspiration in working, people will find more creative ways in doing job and always be willing to
dedicate themselves to their career goals (Harvard Business School, 1996). Hence, this will help
an individual to be an appealing candidate to receive a promotion.

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Additionally, loving their current jobs keeps a person fully pleased in the present, so
they tend to continually choose to work in the same organizations which can reduce the turnover
rates (Halpern, n.d.). According to a research conducted by the Society for Human Resource
Management (2008), turnover can cost as high as 50 to 60 percent of a laborer’s annual salary.
The association also indicates that enterprises with high employee turnover rates usually witness
an increase in cost and a decline in productivity. In a bigger picture, the data objectively shows
that personal passion has a strong impact on organizational values and career opportunities. And
those two elements virtually contribute to fostering a long-term commitment from workers
(Suryani, 2018). This commitment not only gives benefits to individual career growth but also
positively impacts the company’s stability and success. On the one hand, long-term commitment
encourages employees to deepen their expertise, gain more experience and build close-knit
connections with coworkers (Goldsmith, 2023). Longevity is frequently associated with higher
position which leads to a greater earning potential and guarantees financial stability for laborers
(Abraham et al., 2016). On the other hand, employers can save the costs of training each new
worker and the time associated with hiring a replacement (Forbes, 2023). Also, long-term
employees often build strong relationship with clients and enhance trust from them. This rapport
is a factor in improving a firm’s reputation and sustainable development. Therefore, positive
emotions are important in both promoting skills and providing resources for future performance,
which significantly affect long-term productivity (Fredrickson, 2001).

Moreover, people spend about a third of their lives at work, so the feeling of
satisfaction about what they have achieved brings huge benefits. Workers who love their jobs are
likely to have a greater sense of satisfaction and fulfillment because they can enjoy their work
every day (University of Southern California, 2023). Masanari Arai – the CEO of Kii
Corporation has mentioned that: “A job that you love gives you extra motivation to meet your
goals, and when you do, the sense of accomplishment is outstanding”. One of the significant
points is that greater fulfillment helps employees to be in a good mood and have positive
emotions when they are working (American Psychological Association, 2020). Also, a recent
study organized by the University of Warwick found that happiness led to a 12 percent increase
in productivity, while unhappy employees are 10 percent less efficient. It is proved that workers
who are happier report better results than those who are not interested in their jobs (Wright et al.,

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2002). From the above statistics, it can be concluded that human happiness expressed through
job satisfaction has enormous effects on efficiency since positive energy is able to rejuvenate
human beings. Particularly, the mindset that a person chooses to take on when working is very
important. It can influence how active they are, how creative they think and in a bigger picture, a
greater level of profit for the companies (Anchor, 2010). In addition, high job fulfillment can
improve both physical and mental health of an individual (Allan, 2016). Spending time engaging
in our passion will aid in lowering stress and work pressure (The Society of Behavioral
Medicine, 2015). When laborers reach their best mental state, they can put extra energy and
enthusiasm into their work and inspire their colleagues which encourages networking quality. In
turn, work will become much more enjoyable and easier when people can accomplish the feeling
that their work is meaningful (Lysova, 2013).

However, it is commonly known that high-salary job brings financial security for
humans, ensure higher living standards and the ability to satisfy personal and family needs.
Money can help people pay monthly water, electricity bills, food and other entertainment
activities in daily life. Job satisfaction is necessary, but it is worthless if the income cannot afford
a person’s basic demand to exist. In today’s society, it is hard to deny that people can live
normally without feeling fulfilled in their work, but they cannot survive without money. Besides,
data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2016) reveals that higher-paying jobs usually lead
to better financial stability and savings. For that reason, a majority of teenagers prefer a job that
offers a good salary package to a job they love. A high salary not only gives us better life quality
and overall well-being but also provides us the ability to prepare the savings to handle
unexpected issues in the future. Consequently, people with higher incomes are generally more
satisfied in life, find greater meaning in what they do and tend to quit their jobs less than those
with lower earnings (Survey Monkey, 2019).

Finally, well-paid work is often linked with opportunities for professional development
and promotion. To be specific, a high salary can provide us the chance to approach better
healthcare and education that can boost one’s career advancement. Leadership positions usually
offer extensive training programs, specialized education and multidisciplinary skills which
would be more possible to gain if a candidate does not have financial pressure. Having a high

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position in work and being wealthy can also help humans to receive respect from other people.
According to a survey established by CNBC (2019), the total income level decides some sense of
how society rates one’s value of contribution.

In conclusion, it is obvious that a good salary is undoubtedly essential for ensuring

financial stability, higher living standards and greater opportunities to approach career
advancement. Nevertheless, the value of choosing the job we love should not be underestimated.
The benefits of working with passion are growing motivation, long-term commitment, the
feeling of job satisfaction and fulfillment. This aligns with Steve Jobs’s mindset: “The only way
to do great work is to love what you do”. After all, achieving a balance between satisfactory
compensation and a rewarding job is an ideal scenario and often leads to a meaningful career
journey. Hence, it is important to carefully consider and combine both aspects in order to find the
most suitable job in life.

References

Abraham et al. (2016, May 13). The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the
United States. Harvard Business Review.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4866586/

Allen, D. G. Retaining Talent: A Guide to Analyzing and Managing Employee Turnover. (n.d.).
Society for Human Resource Management.
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/special-reports-and-expert
views/documents/retaining-talent.pdf

Amabile, T. M. (1996, January). The Motivation for Creativity in Organizations. Harvard

Business School.
https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=13674#:~:text=People%20will%20be
%20most%20creative,and%20a%20passion%20for%20it

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Andrews, J. (2019, July 16). Perhaps money can buy you happiness — at least, at work. CNBC
Work.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/perhaps-money-can-buy-you-happiness-at-least-at-work.html

A Guide for Choosing Between a Job for Money vs. Passion. (2022, December 13).
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/money-vs-passion

Bloomfield, G. (2021, April 21). Which is the key to happiness: High salary or job
satisfaction? Engineering and Technology Jobs.
https://engineering-jobs.theiet.org/article/which-is-the-key-to-happiness-high-salary-or-job-
satisfaction-

Eby, L. T. (2021, January). Journal of Applied Psychology. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/apl

Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positive Emotions Broaden and Build.

https://public.websites.umich.edu/~prestos/Downloads/DC/Fredrickson_AESP2013.pdf

Happy workers are 13% more productive. (2019, October 24). University of Oxford.
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How Liking Your Job Will Help You Succeed. (2023, November 17). University of Southern
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https://appliedpsychologydegree.usc.edu/blog/how-liking-your-job-will-help-you-succeed

Lysova, E. I., Fletcher, I., & Baroudi, S. E. (2023, July 12). What makes work meaningful?
Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2023/07/what-makes-work-meaningful

Manager, A. A. (2023, September 14). Is it better to love my job or love the money?
https://www.askamanager.org/2018/07/is-it-better-to-love-my-job-or-love-the-money.html

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Morrison, S. (2017, August 27). Why you should do what you love for work. Business News
Daily.
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7995-reasons-to-do-what-you-love.html

Oswald, A. J., Proto, E., & Sgroi, D. (2016, May 04). Happiness and Productivity. University of
Warwick.
https://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/63228/7/WRAP_Oswald_681096.pdf

Passion vs money: Should you choose a job you love or one that pays? (2022, January 21).
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https://potomac.edu/should-you-choose-a-job-you-love-or-high-pay/

Revesencio, J. (2015, July 22). Why Happy Employees Are 12% More Productive. Fast
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Suryani, I. (2018, February). Factors Affecting Organizational commitment.

https://download.garuda.kemdikbud.go.id/article.php?
article=779764&val=12816&title=FACTORS%20AFFECTING%20ORGANIZATIONAL
%20COMMITMENT#:~:text=From%20manager's%20stand%20point%2C
%20commitment,claimed%20significantly%20affecting%20organizational%20commitment.

The benefits of employee engagement. (2023, January 7). Gallup.com.

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236927/employee-engagement-drives-growth.aspx

Torpey, E. (2016, August). Business careers with high pay. Career Outlook.
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Vallina, A. S., Hidalgo, M. P., & GilMonte, P. R. (2020, March 27). Are happy workers more
productive? The mediating role of service-skill use. PubMed Central.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120033/

Wallace, L. (2023, March 21). Five Hidden Costs Of Employee Attrition. Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeseq/2023/03/21/five-hidden-costs-of-employee-attrition/?
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Wronski, L. (2019, March 18). CNBC|SurveyMonkey Workplace Happiness Index.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/curiosity/cnbc-workplace-happiness-index/

Zawadzki, M. J., Smyth, J. M., & Costigan, J. C. (2015, February 28). Real - Time Associations
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