You spent years imagining what it would be like when you were finally in your dream job. Maybe you always knew what you wanted to do and landed that role after graduating, or perhaps it took you until much later in life to land that job you truly wanted. No matter the timing, you are in that dream position now. But the saying about the grass not always being greener? You can’t help but think about that in the back of your mind.

Now that you’re here, you realize this dream comes with a cost. The pay isn’t a living wage, or possibly, the amount you were hoping for. Do you let the opportunity pass by for something that pays less but isn’t as fulfilling, or do you suck it up and find alternative means of income? What’s the way forward?

What to do When Your Dream Job Doesn’t Pay Enough

Don’t panic

We are certainly living in a challenging time. If you aren’t getting paid what you thought this job was worth, know you aren’t alone. Maybe when you previously researched, you found the average salary for that position. Now, you see that you are getting paid a lower wage and feel really let down.

Job salary prospects are different from what they once were. With the cost of inflation rising, some employers have had to reduce pay in order to stay in business. Additionally, it’s only been three years since our whole world got flipped upside down because of the pandemic. We are just now seeing the lasting effects of those shutdowns and the supply chain issues caused. Many things are still out of balance and trying to level out.

So don’t panic or beat yourself up for not fully knowing what to expect.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

If you aren’t in that dream job yet, look at more than just the salary. Would this new job bring you more happiness than your current position? Could you supplement your income with a side hustle?

Maybe your dream job won’t pay you enough to have a full-time income from that alone. But could you do the dream job on the side? Maybe your dream was to open your own bakery. But with the cost of a location, equipment, supplies, and a business loan, you didn’t realize how much it would cost to get up and running. Why not open a small business from your home? It won’t be the same as a full-blown bakery, but it might satisfy that dream job craving.

Life is all about perspective. So just because you might not be able to make this dream job a full reality does not mean you can’t improvise and find other ways to still do it.

Are there other ways for you to look at this?

Your dream job doesn’t pay what you thought it would. But, can you look at this some other ways?

As we mentioned above, consider more than just your salary. If the pay is a decrease from what you make right now, is it still doable? Would it bring you happiness and make you feel less frustrated and upset with your current life situation?

Money is important, but chasing money for money’s sake won’t leave you satisfied. If this job is worth pursuing, see if you can find creative ways to cut back on monthly expenses. It might mean eating out less or checking out the thrift store before a retail shop, but there are ways to reduce costs.

Regardless of why this feels impossible, you can always seek career counseling help. Anxiety Therapy or Depression Counseling can help you put things into a different perspective that you didn’t see before. Let’s connect soon.