How can you gauge whether a job is easy or hard without being in it? The reason I ask is that for a job I thought would be extremely difficult, once I started

How can you gauge whether a job is easy or hard without being in it? The reason I ask is that for a job I thought would be extremely difficult, once I started to apply my work philosophy to it, it's actually become the easiest job I've had especially once I conquered the challenges that others perceived to be "hard". I think work and your career are what you make out of it. The reward is generally the same given you are paid the same each year. Sure you may get more respect from your colleagues or a higher bonus for taking on harder work, but the question to ask is "Does that even matter long term?". If you already know you want to be more involved with your family, then you should seriously consider how wrapped up you can get in new work. Don't fall prey to "hard life now -> easy life later". This hardly applies to work unless work is your life. New and exciting should never mean "hard". It only means that today because you don't know what to expect.