How to Get the Salary You Want and the Job You Love

Throughout my career, I’ve been asked many times some variation of this question: “If you’re comfortable and happy at work but feel underpaid, is it worth it to move to a new company where you’re unsure what the environment might be, just for higher pay?” Read on for my thoughts!

Before you walk away from a job that makes you happy, your best first step would be to try to address your pay inequity. This starts with doing some research: What’s the market value for someone in your role? Talk to peers and recruiters, and check out Glassdoor and LinkedIn. If you have an offer in your hand from the other company, that’s concrete leverage, too.

Then, list your accomplishments and write down the value you bring to the company. Having all of this written down will serve as a confidence booster and remind you why you deserve a raise in the first place.

When you talk to your manager, take the emotion out of the ask and state what you want and why. For instance, “I have been approached with a job opportunity that would increase my salary to X. I love working here and know I contribute to the company positively in these ways. I also know that this offer is in line with the market value for my role. Can you raise my salary to be competitive with this offer?”

The answer might be no. Your company might not be able to afford a raise at this time. If that’s the case, you need to shift your focus to suss out the environment at the new company. If you don’t know anyone who works there personally, ask for introductions to people through LinkedIn and prepare a few culture-based questions that will help you understand HOW and WHY things are done versus WHAT is done. Ask, what behaviors or practices are most valued? Many companies are focused on creating psychologically safe environments where people feel comfortable asking for help. How does the company go about doing this? If you are a working parent or caring for older family members, are others working there in the same boat? If there are no women in leadership positions, that can be a red flag. And think about precisely what you love about your current company: Is it flexibility? Happy hour? A culture of transparency? Don’t be afraid to ask HR about the things you care about.

No workplace is perfect, but feeling valued (financially, too) is a big factor in job satisfaction. And know this: Change is always hard, but if you love what you do, there’s a great chance you could be just as happy in a new place.

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The 3 C’s of Making a Successful Career Change

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Using Your Competence to Build Your Confidence