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When considering a job application, interview or offer there are many factors at play — the location, the commute, the atmosphere, etc. The truth is that there are as many variables as there are types of jobs a recent grad can take on. But, there are three true factors, three types of jobs to consider and weigh against one another when deciding what path to take. Whichever is best for you is entirely up to you and is unique to everyone’s situation, but — if you’re lucky enough to be able to choose between one job and another — think about each category closely and decide which is right for you (unless the perfect job — a combination of some or all of the three — awaits you, in which case - I’m jealous):

1. Taking a position due to money

There is certainly nothing wrong with accepting a position based solely on the attractiveness of the salary offered, especially with the heavy burden of debt many grads find themselves under. Taking a position with a high pay rate would go far to alleviate such a debt and quickly. Jobs with very high pay are also rarely offered to recent grads, so jumping at the chance might certainly be a good idea.

2. Taking a position due to passion

The second option is to take a job which is in a field you’re passionate about - either a cause you care about or hobby-turned-career you enjoy. Rarely will the second option coincide with the first (unless of course you really, really like hedge funds) but when can you do something you’re really passionate about if you can’t do it when you’re young?

3. Taking a position due to position

The third option is to accept a job that really doesn’t fall into either of the first two categories but will hopefully lead to one or the other (or both) somewhere down the line. Maybe it’s a job that you’re not too excited about but it’s in a company that you really want to be a part of — taking a secretarial job in a firm you really want to work for so you can get your foot in the door, for instance, or working for a company or job that you don’t really like for a year or two so that it will be very beneficial on your resume down the road.

In conclusion:

Again, if you’re lucky enough to be considering more than one job offer (or interview, or even application) than chances are that you will need to take each of the scenarios into consideration and weigh them all heavily. Ideally, however, you will be able to settle on a combination of some or all of these options; or you find yourself young (and flexible) enough to be able to try out each possibility at different jobs in the coming years. Already have a job — which route did you take? why? Please, share.

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