The Logic of Thinking

The appeal of a government job lies in the trade-offs: the salary is relatively low, but job security and a generous pension are the real perks. Mothers-in-law who favor sons-in-law with these positions have an underlying assumption. Generally, people who choose this path come from families with solid financial backing.

During hiring, employers always ask about your family background. They’re trying to gauge how long you’ll stay. If your family situation is tough and you’re capable, you’ll likely leave within three years. The pay is too low. Would you turn down a fivefold raise from a big tech company?

Don’t talk about turning 35 later on. For young people, the immediate concern isn’t what happens after 35—it’s how to buy a house now.

What mothers-in-law value isn’t the iron rice bowl itself, but your willingness to take one at such a young age. It suggests your parents have already paid off your house in full. Do you get the subtext?

If you say your parents can’t chip in a single penny and you’re relying entirely on this modest salary, the mother-in-law will instantly slap another label on you: you have no family resources and no ambition. Since you’re not leaving for higher pay despite having nothing to fall back on, it must mean you simply can’t get hired by those top companies.