Accept a low-paying job or Unemployment?

Philippines
December 9, 2012 11:46pm CST
I read an article that majority of the Asians are working harder but with less benefits. This in turn increases the stress level on workers. I also heard the unemployment rate in US and Europe and just wondering maybe non-Asian countries doesn't easily accept jobs if they think that the amount of work and pay is not equal. So my question is: Would you accept a low-paying job despite all the stress or would you rather be unemployed and wait for the high-paying job?
16 responses
@ungu89 (1999)
• Malaysia
10 Dec 12
i think for fresh graduate i don't think we not suppose to be so choosy. just accept them job even with low pay, take it as experience to built yourself
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
I have to disagree with this one. Whether you're a fresh graduate or not you always have a choice. Experience is another thing. We all get to built our experience in any type of job or environment.
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
I was disagreeing on your statement on not being "choosy". We always have a choice. I don't think if you're a fresh graduate you can just accept any job that comes in your way. You still have to choose between the jobs, which one offers a higher salary, more experience, or some other more factors. You can even study further if you really feel that the job doesn't provide your needs.
@ungu89 (1999)
• Malaysia
11 Dec 12
then just what to wait for high payment just to built your experience?? what will u doing while u are waiting??? doing nothing??? at least u have income, even its low, but still u can search for the better one while u are working.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
10 Dec 12
Yes, why not? I never experienced being unemployed (whew .. fate is good to me). but I am willing to take low paying job if that will sustain my income at least somehow. as long as I will be paid, since unemployment rate is increasing. If i will be unemployed it is even more stressful. and while I am doing my low paying job, i can try to apply to a high paying job. win win situation.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Good for you, you haven't been unemployed. I am also, since I started working but I usually rest for two weeks after resignation and starting to a new company. It shakes off the stress. I like your idea "... while I am doing my low paying job, I can try to apply to a high paying job."
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
11 Dec 12
Oh yes, finding good job don't stop when you already found one. It is still okay if you are applying for a job and doing another job. thanks.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Question is, how long do you have to stay to your current job?
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
17 Dec 12
I would accept a low-paying job. I think that it is much better than no job at all. I have had many different jobs in the past and some of them really weren't high-paying or interesting, but I am not picky. A bad job might not make me rich, but at least I get money to buy the basic things that I need in my daily life, and that it much better than having no job all. I would still look for a better job, but I would keep the low-paying job in the meantime. I am from Europe and during the recession that we experienced some years ago a lot of people from my country thought the same way. They took any job even a low-paying paperround in the middle of the night simply because a low-paying job was better than nothing.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Dec 12
Thank you for responding. It all depends on whether someone will be supporting if you during the time of depression (or no job period).
@humairaku (2038)
• Indonesia
10 Dec 12
i will accept bad salary job than being an unemployment. being an unemploymebt is bad condition cos we become not productive people. bad salary jobs are suitable for those fresh graduated or non well educated people. people become non well educated people for some reasons, moreover in Asia region. there are many people live in poverty that is why they dont think about education cos they dont even have money to buy food. so if i were in that condition, i will let me working though the salary is not good. but i will still accept bad salary job though im a bachelor. todays jobs require skill not only degree so i will take a bad salary job to fill my portofolio. if i have been well experienced and got many skills, i will apply better job. so step by step. Asia is far different than Europe or US. people in Asia still have problem with poverty but most people in Europe and US are in better condition. they are well educated and it shapes their view about getting jobs.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Good point! Let's say you started with a job that pays $10 a day. This will give you a leverage to find a job that will offer a salary higher than your previous job. My question is how long will you stay on your low-paying job?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
Sometimes it's really hard to stay in a "bad" job. You'll probably be forcing yourself every morning to get up, prepare for work and leave for work. It'll probably pretty hard.
@humairaku (2038)
• Indonesia
12 Dec 12
getting salary $10 a day is very much for me, maybe for all people around me cos we earn about $50-$150 per month..!! lol. if i can get a job which pays me $10 a day, i will stay in that job fof years..lol.. some good job requires the applicants having two or three years of experience, so staying in a 'bad' job for two or three years is making a sense. if we have been in that job for at least two or three, we can start to search a new job with good salary.
1 person likes this
@Matpunk85 (1066)
• Italy
10 Dec 12
Well, I'm European and I actually am unemployed. I'm search for a job, it doesn't matter which one and I'd accept quite every pay. I don't search a job to earn a lot of money for the moment, I simply search for a job that allows me to live. I'd like to have money to pay my apartment rent, my bills, grocery shopping and some Euros more to get out at night with friends in the weekend. Even if this amount is surely lower than 1000 euros, I'm quite sure it's impossible to find a job like this at the moment. I hope things would change quickly!
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
I sincerely hope that things will change in favor of you. Praying that you'll be able to find a job. I've been hearing things how bad the unemployment rate in US and Europe. I am not sure though what happened.
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
Oh wow! That's serious. I just hope that whoever wins in your election will find a way to resolve the unemployment rate.
@Matpunk85 (1066)
• Italy
11 Dec 12
What I really hope now is that Berlusconi didn't win elections. He decided to come back to politics and to candidate (again) as Prime Minister. If he will win elections Italy risk to go to default as Greece and it would be the end not only for Italy, but even for the entire Europe. With Berlusconi unemployment will raise faster and to find a job will be impossible!
1 person likes this
@francesca5 (1344)
11 Dec 12
this is an interesting question, especially in a worldwide context, because every country has a different labour market, structured differently. if i was very well qualified for a job, and there were a reasonable amount of vacancies, for that type of employment, i would probably wait for the right job, as a strong argument could be made that its not actually fair on an employer to take on a job you have no intention of staying in, whereas a more low skilled worker might keep that job for longer. and also if you have to go for interviews while looking for another job you may not get time off. in those circumstances i would concentrate on finding a job appropriate to my skills. but that would depend on a lot of things. i just thought it interesting to look at it from another point of view. though interestingly in the uk a lot of companies wanting low skilled workers won't take on over-qualified people, because they think they will leave, or not fit in, or something. so for a well qualified person it can be quite hard to find a less well paid job anyway.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
You do have a point here. There's a lot of factors to consider in getting a job. It is not limited to our personal decisions but also to the economy itself.
11 Dec 12
i just thought of another point. because of the recession its mostly low skilled workers who have lost their jobs, in european countries, so there may actually be a shortage of low paid jobs anyway. so is it fair, to take a job from someone who is low skilled, when you could probably got a better paid job quite soon. just being awkward here, but you wouldn't want the discussion to go all one way.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
10 Dec 12
Definitely the low-paying job, being unemployed sucks, it eats away at your self-esteem, too much time on your hands is not a good thing, your brain starts to slow down as it's not active, if you don't have a job, how can you live? pay rent, eat food, the basics of life? Most countries do not have a benefits scheme and people end up in shelters. I am independent and would do any job, if it meant that I could keep a roof over my head and to know that I am contributing in some way.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Nice one! I also heard stories of people becoming depress because they don't have a job.
@al1979ex (125)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
id say accept first the low paying job if your chances of landing a high paying job is small. dont wait for it to come. you can wait while already working. it will give you such stress though..but keep in mind that you can always control these stressing factors.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Any suggestions how to avoid or lessen stress at the work place? Though, the topic is not related to the original discussion but I am sure a lot of readers will benefit from it.
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
11 Dec 12
I would rather work a low paying job than be unemployed . Not only Asian countries take low paying job , we do that in the Caribbean too but cost of living is lower so it is not bad . America company would put a base here and pay you much less . I am seeing a lot of American and Europe people rather to live off the government than work low paying job , and that is why a lot of illegal foreigners are needed to do the job they refuse .
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Whoa! This is something new. In my country, there are a lot of low-paying jobs and cost of living is a bit high as well. But people need to eat, so they do accept the job.
@sriroshan (2585)
• India
10 Dec 12
You know it is the situation that lead one to accept or not to accept any job. When you are really in need of job, may be for any reason, many time one has to accept the low paying job also even though as per their education they are not suppose to work on that position.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Right, like I've said it all ends up to "what do you need?". If the current situation dictates that you have to feed yourself and your family (as no one can do that for you) then you'll probably accept any job. But if you found someone to take care of you while you're looking for that high paying job then you'll probably take this path.
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
i would settle for that low-paying job while the big one is still not here. true, i may end up stuck in that job. but maybe i could always remind myself that i will look out for a better one. i know this is easier said than done. but it would be better than being paid nothing. i have been to a type of job some time before my current one. it's not low paying, but it's also something i don't like doing. i didn't have any other choice. either i accept it, or get hungry. so i took it, and some months later, i have had the opportunity to send my application and get hired to my present job. i know there is an issue of loyalty here. but hey, we have to choose. of course, setting up a business is another thing.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Congratulations on your current job! I am not the person who remains loyal in my company. I mean it is very much easy for a company to loose their employee so why should I be any different to my company. I choose to stay if I think there's a reason to stay (primary reason is the benefits and pay) other than that I'll leave.
• China
11 Dec 12
Well that is the really situation I am undering,I had graduated from university for more than 4 years and usually I will get any job because I can not afford unemployment,but during this 4 years I do not feel happy at all,these job not only low paying but also very tough and stressful,I just feel unfair,so I had quited my current job a month ago,now actually I have some job opportunities but I do not willing to accept those jobs because they are not good for me,they are just the same with my former jobs,low pay but stress,I still waiting for some better opportunity but meanwhile I need to pay attention to my financial issue because in unemployment period I still have to pay all my rent and bills without income.How stressful I am. Really wish some good job will come to me very soon.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
13 Dec 12
I wish you well. Only you can break the cycle of your finding a low-paying & high-stressful job.
@neelia27 (896)
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
id rather have a job which pay less than not having at all.. then if there`s a chance to have a high paying job then that`s the time i will leave my low paying job.. now a days we should be practical and not to be choosy if we really want to have a good life.. we should also be wise in choosing or making decisions in our lives..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Majority of the answers in this discussion is same as yours. Almost is everyone is willing to accept the discomfort and stress of having a low-paying job then eventually moving to a high-paying one.
@ltpotter (177)
• United States
10 Dec 12
I would take a job and stop pushing my country in to more of a depression. We have so many people with no jobs and taking unemployment. We just need to understand where we are coming from and stop being lazy and get a job.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
A few questions, where are you from? Does your government provide assistance to people with no jobs? In my country it doesn't.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
Neither. These are two options I wouldn't consider. Low-paying jobs, like you mentioned, only bring undue stress. If I'm put in this situation, I'll focus on entrepreneurship. I think it's one of the better alternatives.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Good one! But what if you still don't have the funds to start your business? Will you accept a low paying job to save for your startup capital?
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
The world s getting harder and that is true. Still people need to provide for their needs and wants. That will never change in any country or economy. People will need and want money. It doesn’t matter if it a low paying job as long as the needs are met. Personally, I think it’s a waste of time waiting for a high applying job because it also means that that you have the right cards (creds) and the enough pull to b given that job. It is something that is unavailable and not the reality for majority of workers. So people are working hard and earning less but as I previously stated, a slogan as people can survive and find ways to near money they will do it. Better have anything less than nothing at all. If you have a hungry stomach, you could appreciate any less and think it is the best thing in the world,
1 person likes this
• Philippines
11 Dec 12
Agree! It all ends up on the things that we need, specially food, clothing and shelter. It doesn't matter if it's a high-end one as long as it will suffice the need. I once saw a photo of a man holding a sign board. It states "will code for food".