SINGAPORE: “Would you choose to hustle all out during your prime age or live a laid-back life?,” a Reddit user asked recently, questioning whether it’s better to have a work-life balance or be in a high-paying but stressful job.
The post author, who is in his mid-twenties, says that he had been exploring the current job market when he unexpectedly received a job offer with a monthly salary of $9,000, whereas he makes $7,000 at his current job.
“The 9K company is expected to have OT almost everyday (expected to be in office everyday from 8 30 – 6), managers didn’t seem to be technical during the interview, it has 30 Annual leaves and 2-3M bonus.”
He has been with his present job, where he has had a “promising career progression” for nearly a year. It’s remote work where his hours are 10 am till 6 pm, and “manager and boss are very understanding and technical in what they do.”
This job has 18 days of annual leave and a $1 to 1.5M bonus.
“At times, I get quite busy (still manageable) and I get to relax for a few days once I get all my work done and the cycle repeats,” he wrote, adding, “As the saying goes ‘It’s good to hustle very hard while you’re young as you still have lots of fuel.’ Please advice which would you choose? And why?”
Several commenters urged him to stick with his current job, which affords him a work-life balance.
A Reddit user, however, asked him to look at the other side of the coin.
“2 to 3 million dollars bonus is a lot, can consider doing it for 1-2 years and FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) after.”
Another wrote, “I’ll go for the 9k and after 1.5yrs jump ship again. Easier to negotiate down than negotiating up.”
/TISG