By Emily BaryAditi Shrikant
Berkshire Hathaway's departing CEO on how to find fulfillment while still paying the bills
Warren Buffett advises young professionals to realize that money isn't everything.
Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.B) CEO on Wednesday after a storied career largely spent working for his favorite boss: himself.
But the Oracle of Omaha also put in some time holding down more traditional jobs before making it big, and the combination of all his professional experiences taught him a few things about what he thinks should matter in the working world. In recent years, he imparted that wisdom through investor meetings and other public appearances. Now, MarketWatch brought in a professional career coach to explain how Buffett's workplace philosophies should be put into practice.
At the core, Buffett advises young professionals to realize that money isn't everything. Of course, that's easy to say when your net worth is about $150 billion, which is where Buffett stands according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. On a practical level, though, Buffett has recommended that people pay less attention to their salary and more attention to the work they're doing and who they're working with.
What's really important, Buffett said at Berkshire's annual meeting in May, is for people to find work they enjoy, even if it takes some time to discover what clicks. &#34;And then just keep doing it and don't worry too much about starting salaries,&#34; he continued, according to a transcript provided by AlphaSense.
Buffett said to &#34;be very careful who you work for because you will take on the habits of the people around you. Some people may be making &#34;more money&#34; through &#34;stupid things&#34; or risky activities, he added, but he advised investors and fans to steer clear of those.
&#34;Most people do need the money, but if you're in the position where you don't, you should be doing what you would do if you didn't need the money,&#34; he said in a live interview with Fortune about a decade ago.
Purpose and passion
Finding purpose and passion through work is a worthwhile goal. After all, many people will be spending at least 40 hours a week at their jobs for the bulk of their adult lives. But you also have to pay the bills.
So how can you turn what you enjoy into something that supports you throughout a lifetime? And can you really afford to turn down a lucrative job offer because the workplace may not align with your principles?
When applying to jobs, deprioritizing salary might have long-term benefits, says Claire Wasserman, a career coach and author of Ladies Get Paid.
&#34;This year's salary and job are never about this year's salary and job,&#34; she says. &#34;It's about how it might catapult you into the future.&#34;
In other words, ask yourself: What skills might you gain? What connections could you form? Most importantly, how much opportunity for growth would there be?
As Buffett says, your managers and coworkers can affect your career as much as the actual position you take. When interviewing, it's important to ask specific, open-ended questions. This can help you better understand the kind of habits your potential colleagues have.
&#34;Ask for concrete examples like, 'What is an example of a project that was really hard and how did you handle it? How does the team typically like to communicate?'&#34; Wasserman recommends.
Don't be afraid to follow up with more queries. Just be sure that tonally you are conveying excitement and curiosity, not skepticism.
If you do end up with an ill-equipped manager, there are likely lessons to be learned from that experience, too, as you move to find a better fit elsewhere.
&#34;Tons of people I work with learned what not to do by the manager they had,&#34; Wasserman says.
And while it's important to be realistic when job hunting, remember that there are many available positions that are both fulfilling and well-paid.
&#34;Not to say you can have it all, but far too often we look at our lives or careers in a binary,&#34; she says.
Be warned: High-paying jobs are undoubtedly tempting. But if the position doesn't come with an opportunity for both personal and professional growth, you might be sabotaging your future self.
-Emily Bary -Aditi Shrikant
This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones &amp; Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
12-30-25 1151ET

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<p>Warren Buffett, stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, emphasizes that young professionals should prioritize job satisfaction over salary. He advises finding work that aligns with personal interests and values, as this can lead to long-term fulfillment. Career coach Claire Wasserman supports this view, suggesting that focusing on skills and connections can enhance future opportunities. While high-paying jobs are appealing, they may not offer personal growth, which is crucial for a successful career. Ultimately, Buffett's philosophy encourages a balance between financial needs and passion in one's career choices.</p>

- Warren Buffett, the departing CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, emphasizes that money isn't everything and advises young professionals to prioritize enjoyment and meaningful work over salary.  
- He suggests that individuals should be cautious about their work environment and the habits of their colleagues, as these can significantly influence personal and professional growth.  
- Career coach Claire Wasserman adds that focusing on skills and connections rather than immediate salary can lead to better long-term opportunities, underscoring the importance of finding fulfilling yet well-compensated positions.

Take Warren Buffett's advice - and avoid this major career mistake