7/15/2015–Options if I don’t get an offer this summer include pursuing another big company (Roche, Rolls-Royce), a startup w/someone at Purdue, a restaurant, a PhD/new degree, or restaurant management. Really, it’s more helpful to consider all these options as currently possible and remnant even if I do get an offer. There is evidence that working for this company would make doing other things easier (i.e. my priority) so at this point I’d have to say I’d accept the offer. I don’t see excelling at my priority as likely if I’m running a restaurant or a startup. I could make it work if I do HR for a startup, though, and do the heavy workload startups require up front, then transition to a more hands-ff role. The best option I see is getting a safe paycheck, saving, and preparing to risk later on. This is no more boring than any other option since it would be the option allowing me to pursue non-work interests the most. Really, i’m describing a trade-off of getting to do something I love as a career for doing several things I love as hobbies while doing work I’m content with and allows my main purpose to be fulfilled. Maybe this is more appropriate for we who have several hobbies, whereas those who have a main passion are beset suited to do it as a career and give all they have to it. Granted, that person likely achieves more regarding their work than I do, if only because they happily spend more time doing it. For these reasons, I don’t agree with absolute career advice to “follow your passion” as it could be possible to have multiple passions which are all funded by a career in a non-passion. Two more reasons: passions do change (especially when you must rely on them for $, I hear) and many passions aren’t lucrative enough to fund other necessities.
9/24/2017 update: There’s one phrase I strongly disagree with now: “…risk later on.” I’ve heard too many experience people say risk is more appropriate when young. I still agree with the overall premise to “fund” rather than to follow your passion when selecting employment. However, I’ll add now that more thought should be given toward the possibility of combining something you love with your employment. I hate to sound trendy, but there are so many technologies that allow you to make money doing all sorts of things. “Making money” is certainly not a career, though what’s the point of a career unless it enables what matters most to you? If making money/odd jobs/”gig” work is possible by “following your passion”, and it enables what you’ve determined to be most important, then by all means do it!