You're Happier Than Your Boss, Says Science

Hi! I'm Peter, CEO of Kickresume, and these career related stories caught my attention this month – and might catch yours too.

I run a startup, and I love it, but I've learned something surprising recently — things aren't always as great as they seem for everyone in this position.

Actually, getting to the top can often make people feel more down than you'd expect.

Finding it hard to believe? I know I did. 

And I don't blame you. It does sound like a case of 'Please, tell me more about how hard it is, being successful.'

But the more I looked into it, the more it started to make sense.

Your 9-to-5 might actually be a happier place than your boss's corner office.

Recently, I came across a pretty depressing UC Berkeley study, which found that a staggering 72% of entrepreneurs reported mental health concerns, with 49% disclosing one or more lifetime mental health conditions. 

These figures were significantly higher than those reported by the non-entrepreneurial comparison group.

Another study I found noted  that CEOs may suffer from depression at more than double the rate of the general public (which is already about 20%, apparently!). 

So, why are the people who “should” be happy often exactly the opposite?

The Buzz Aldrin paradox.

Imagine this: You fly 66 combat missions during the Korean War, earn a PhD from MIT, become an astronaut, and you're the second man to set foot on the moon. Then you return home from the historic Apollo 11 mission and become a severely depressed alcoholic. 

This is the (kinda sad – if you ask me) story of Buzz Aldrin. 

And, according to researchers, also the perfect example of what happens when the momentum stops. 

The thing is, our brains love the high of achievement, thanks to dopamine. But once we hit that big goal the high fizzles fast, leaving us craving more, according to a Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks.

It's like our brain's "enoughness" meter goes nuts, always wanting the next big thrill.

But in Buzz's case, what do you do after WALKING ON THE MOON?

Climbing the corporate ladder may actually make you happy.

It turns out that a way healthier approach is what psychologist Karl Weick of the University of Michigan calls 'Small Wins'. 

Let's get back to the astronauts. After some digging I found that not every astronaut hero had a tough time like Buzz Aldrin. 

• John Glenn got into politics

• Alan Shepard became a businessman

• Alan Bean started painting

Each found their "Small Wins" post-space. 

It's hard to pity the super-wealthy, but their stories teach us something: 

What brings us happiness isn't just the view from the top, but rather the thrill of the climb. 

So, if you're not at the top of the corporate ladder, that's okay. Maybe, having room to grow and celebrating your own 'Small Wins' isn’t so bad after all.

Hand-picked remote job of the month: Data Scientist, Marketing at Figma

$144,000—$308,000 USD base salary range

• Mental health & wellness benefits

• Health, dental & vision package

• Generous PTO

• Company recharge days

• Parental leave & reproductive or family planning support

• Figma is an equal opportunity workplace

Learn more here >

Random piece of career advice

Do you know how many skills you should actually list on your resume? It can be tricky.

On one hand, you need to ensure you list enough relevant skills to show hiring managers you can handle the job's responsibilities.

On the other hand, you need to keep the number of listed skills reasonable while not selling yourself too short. 

In a nutshell, you can include anywhere between 5-15 skills on your resume overall, depending on where you currently are in your career (and your industry).

• Entry-level position. We recommend focusing on your core 5-10 skills. 

• Mid-level position. For a mid-level job, you should list around 8-15 skills on your resume. 

• Senior level position. For a senior-level position, list no less than 10-15 skills. 

Read the full article to discover top skills for your industry.

Thanks for sticking with me to the end. 

Since no great scroller should go unrewarded, here’s a 20% discount for Kickresume Premium. 

Catch you later!

Peter