Salary is a thorny topic.
Here are a few things I’ve learned over the last couple of years:
- Money isn’t everything. I’ve heard about people moving jobs and substantially increasing their salary. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself with multiple job offers on the table and one offers a lot more money than the others, consider all the options – don’t just go with the highest bidder. A big pay rise may sweeten the deal, but it doesn’t mean it’s the best role for you.
- With great money comes great responsibility. If you’re given a pay rise or a promotion for lots of hard work, well done! But before you think about chasing the next promotion, consider why you’re being given more money. If you get a good raise, you’ll probably find that more is expected of you in future. (More here)
- Your pay should not be a problem. If you’re quite early on in your career or you’re feeling underpaid, you should aim to get to a place where salary is not a problem. If you’re constantly worrying about how to pay the bills, or you’re bothered by a coworker earning a few thousand more than you do, you’re not there yet. Money shouldn’t be something constantly on your mind. Once you’re happy with what you earn, it’s one less thing to distract you from doing a great job.