What was the best career decision you made that helped you out financially?

13 comments

1. I worked at a spot long enough to realize I could do the next position up, usually 2 years, and then just started applying for those positions.

   The moment they asked what I make at the place I was leaving I added 5-10 k a year to if. Then I would ask them for 5k more than that. Sometimes I would get it and sometimes they would say all they can do is match. Either way though, I got a raise.

   I NEVER balk at the idea of asking for more money. Ever. If I think I’m worth it I always speak up.

2. Becoming a doctor

3. Definitely moving when I felt the opportunity was right.

   The other thing was being a dick about negotiations, getting real offers from other places or constantly reporting on my market value to ensure they took measures to “keep” me.

   I think ive quadrupled my wage over the past 6 years but also in a stable way where im not just stuck at some hipster startup thats gonna fold in the next few years.

4. I stopped looking for standard salary jobs and became a contractor working through an agency. The common wisdom is you trade more money for less job security. In reality job security vanishes once a company need to cut expenses so salary jobs aren’t all that secure.

5. Fake it till you make it. Taking jobs that made
   me very uncomfortable because I had to learn so quickly, but for higher pay and promotions has done well for me. You have to be ok with imposter syndrome though.

6. I got my apprenticeship in being a front desk agent. Now I make a dollar more per hour and I have a paper that states I know how to talk to people and can handle working with several tasks at once in a stressful environment.

   It’s not much, but I don’t have any need to improve my own finances. I own an apartment and I have full control over my debts. Beyond that all my money goes into food/entertainment and it’s a low-cost good life.

7. I got a decent job, then decided to commit to it and make a career out of it.

   Decent job was doing residential installations for internet TV and telephone.

   I learned all I could about the job. Then dove into IT certs. CompTIA A+ and Net+. Then I started a bachelor’s degree program in Networking operations. After my first semester and a bunch of certs I got a job inside the same company working on the metro level network, and over doubled my income.

   Almost done with the degree and looking at becoming my bosses boss when I finish.

8. I spent 5 years being trained in horticulture and greenkeeping to discover its basically always be minimal wage and some joe can come off the street and be paid the same.

   I changed careers

9. I decided to take my compensation in stock rather than cash.

10. The worst one I made was getting married and having a kid. Worst mistake ever.

11. Quitting teaching.

    My salary increased by about 40% each year for the next 5 years, and that doesn’t include stock and bonuses.

12. For me it was not bouncing jobs. I ended up in a company that has very generous benefits that don’t really exist outside of government jobs anymore. I would need to make a lot more than my current salary at a different company to make up for what I’d lose if I left, and my current salary is great. Come retirement it will be more valuable to me than trying to climb a ladder by bouncing around.

13. Having one.