Finding the Perfect Job: Why You Need to Look Beyond Your Salary
How to make sure it’s the right job for you.
Congratulations! You've got multiple job offers on the table; before you jump for the one with the highest annual salary you should dive a little deeper into the details. When it comes to finding the perfect career, there is a lot more to consider than yearly dollars and cents. Here's how to make sure you choose the right job for you – and not just the one that seems right for your pocketbook.
If you are fortunate enough to have multiple job offers on the table, before you jump at the one with the highest annual salary, you may want to dive a little deeper into the details. When it comes to finding the perfect position, there is more to consider than annual salary. What seems right for your pocketbook may not be the right job for you.
Take a Step Back
When it comes to picking a career, you need to be self-advocating right out of the gate. Heather Petherick, an Alberta-based Career and Success Coach suggests that people create their own recipe for success by determining what personality strengths you have, what you are good at and what you really want to do each day. If your career doesn’t align with your values, there’s a lower chance you’re going to be happy and successful.
“Too many people ‘pick off the menu’ of what’s available on job boards, try to adapt, and just hope it will work out,” says Petherick. “Do your research and be focused and strategic in what you apply for.” If you have a clear vision of your goals and what type of career fits your lifestyle before applying, you’ll be better able to choose the right job when more than one falls in your inbox.
It’s about the Money, but not ALL about the Money
Choosing the right job is about more than dollars and cents. “You need to determine your ‘walk away rate’,” says Petherick. That’s the minimum salary you’re willing to accept in order to maintain your lifestyle, and that is reflective of your value in the marketplace.
If a job offer hits the minimum, look at other financial impacts that may make one offer more appealing than another. “If you hate long commutes, and one job requires you to spend two hours a day in a car, a 10-minute drive is going to be worth a lot more than an extra $5,000 a year in pay,” says Petherick. Just think of the cost of gas alone!
Other considerations, such as parking costs, phone budgets, signing and/or year-end bonuses, required overtime, frequent business trips, benefits, and the need for an expensive wardrobe update can also effect your finances.
Continue reading the rest of the tips here.
