Top Three Career Dilemmas

Yahoo lists the top three career dilemmas (and solutions to them) as follows:

Dilemma 1: You find out a colleague makes more money than you do.

Proper course of action: Use this knowledge as an impetus to examine your own pay and value in the employment market, reviewing resources such as the U.S. Department of Labor's website and the Salary Guides published annually by Robert Half International. With an idea of what others in your area and with your skills and experience are paid, you can approach your manager and back up your request with relevant information that's not sensitive in nature.

My take: I agree. It's not really what someone else in your company makes that impacts your case for making more (you can't really mention it anyway, so it doesn't matter much). What's more important is what most other people holding your job make and how well you do your job. If you're paid below average and do a great job, you're an excellent candidate for a raise. If you're already paid above average and you're doing only a fair job, it doesn't matter what someone else in your office is getting paid (unless there are some really unusual circumstances), it's going to be hard to justify why you deserve more.

Dilemma 2: You are offered a new job, but you're happy with your current one.

Proper course of action: See how it compares with your current situation. Are there opportunities for quick and steady advancement? How competitive is the salary and benefits package? What is the corporate culture like? Assuming you're still interested, there isn't any harm in interviewing.

My take: I'd probably take the interview as long as I thought it was worth it -- that the new company had a good chance of offering me something I wanted but wasn't getting at my current job. Otherwise, I'd decline and stick with what I had. No use taking an interview (and likely a day off) if there's little chance of anything coming of it.

Dilemma 3: You have the opportunity to take on an important but difficult project.

Proper course of action: Ask yourself if you can handle the responsibility in addition to your current workload. At the same time, consider the abilities you'll develop by taking on the assignment. You'll improve your project management skills, meet people across the organization and potentially put yourself in position for even more challenging opportunities in the future.

My take: If you think you can do it (or even if it's close), I'd take it. The people that can handle difficult and important projects with success are the ones that get noticed and paid more. My advice would be to go for it and then do everything you can to make sure you over-deliver versus your superiors' expectations. If you do, you're well on your way to a major career jump.

Comments

[WiseMoneyMatters]

I dealt with dilemma #2 already this year. I work at a church and had another church offer me two different jobs at higher pay than my current job. I just enjoy my current job too much. I started a blog and do side jobs to make up the income.

I'm a huge fan of a good job over a high-paying job.