A 9–5: The Best Career Choice I Could Have Made
I chose stability and family
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After years of introspection, I finally understood what was the best job and lifestyle for me and my family. These are the things I considered before taking a new job.
A few days back, I texted my mom and told her I had started a mini-business. I was referring to having a blog and an Etsy store. It is so extremely mini that I should have called it a project.
She freaked out: You are not quitting your job right?!
No mom, not at all, never.
As a former academic, I have struggled with job security for many, many, many years. My mom has heard me crying over the phone, or while hugging me on the couch when I could visit, about the anxiety that comes with not having job stability.
NOTE: Job instability is quite common in academia. There are two ways out: waiting until you land a unicorn tenure-tracked position. Or, if you face a situation like mine, where you need to feed new humans, quitting your academic career altogether. Which is not easy.
She knew I wanted a permanent place to live and call home. I had moved more than 15 times in 8 years. I was exhausted. I needed stability.
After my kids were born, all I wanted was a job and a career that I could develop in a single city. A stable career that would come with “tenure” as the ultimate job security.
And this summer I achieved that. Seven months from now, if everything goes well, I will get my desired tenure, and I’m thrilled.
However, not all 9–5 are created equal, and there were some things I wanted to make sure my next role would have when I was applying for jobs.
You may also think about these if you are considering a career move.
Job Stability
When I was applying for jobs, I considered AI as a factor. And I think everyone should.
I’m a scientist, and I like to perform experiments. So I tried to replicate the job I was doing at that point with AI tools. Just as an experiment.
I was in shock at how faster and more effectively I could achieve my goals. I’m talking about doing, in less than a day, what anyone in my field usually takes weeks, or even months, to accomplish.
Rather than a threat, I saw this as a data point to consider.
Things are changing fast, and they will keep changing. The winners will be those who can adapt.
And I’m confident that I can adapt. But what if I can’t?
I have failed before, and I can fail again.
If it was just me, and maybe my husband, I would have taken more risks and gone for jobs I adore, or even tried some entrepreneurship ventures for a while.
But I can’t. I have two little mouths to feed and to provide stability and education for. I have two responsibilities in the shape of human beings.
So job stability, or something as close to that as I could get, needed to be my number one priority.
That’s why I looked for jobs that gave me the possibility of a “tenure ship.”
It’d be very hard to fire me from my current role if I’m ever made redundant. Instead, I’d be repurposed.
Salary Stability
Having a tenured 9–5 means having a steady flux of income. You can predict how much you’ll have put in your bank account a year from now. You can make conservative decisions accordingly.
This is something I couldn’t have with entrepreneurship.
On top of this, tenured 9–5 can also come with bonuses and raises. This may help with things that you want to do, like traveling or renovations, but don’t necessarily need. With good-to-haves.
Of course, nothing is a given, but I like looking at likelihoods and probabilities to inform my decisions.
And for now, 9–5 is what can give me the most salary stability.
Hybrid and telework
I know that many people choose to quit their 9–5 because their lifestyle doesn’t work well with having to be at the office every single day.
But luckily, post-pandemic times are a lot more understanding of the benefits of hybrid or even fully remote roles.
It may be harder to land one of these jobs, as they are in high demand, but it’s possible.
In a nutshell…
With some considerations, you can find the best 9–5 for you.
You don’t need to stay in your current role, nor accept the first offer that gets sent your way if your current situation allows you to.
You have the leverage to explore which 9–5 is best for you and your work-life balance. All while keeping the best of its benefits: income stability.
I understand that layoffs exist too, which is why some people decide that entrepreneurship is best for them.
But you know what also exists?
Changes in algorithms or partnership programs that cut people’s income by more than half overnight.
So for now, for me and my family, a tenured 9–5 is our best option.
Things may change when my 1-year-old graduates college, though. That’s if she decided that that’s the best for her.
In the meantime, I’ll be writing as a “personal project.”
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