Why you’re getting paid that much.

I talked with a friend recently about his high-paying job. He said he is getting paid really well so that they can drain his soul, which reminded me of something I may have written about before but is worth revisiting.

When you make a high salary, especially straight out of college, it is likely for one of three reasons:

1. You are really talented. Like, better than almost anyone else at what you do.
2. They are paying you that much because they have every intention of getting their money’s worth by working you to death. You’re trading your time for money.
3. The work you are about to get paid to do rivals alphabetizing a card catalogue. You’re trading quality of work for money.

I’m not sure which applies to you, but more often than not it’s not number 1, at least for the people I serve in career coaching. The problem is, companies dress up these jobs by throwing benefits at you: stock options, free lunches, and a swag bag with branded polos, pens, and a neat little security card belt-thingy that automatically retracts.

Don’t get sucked in by the smoke and mirrors.

Before you take a job, compare it against what you know about yourself, because at the end of the day, no perk on planet earth will make up for a soul-sucking 8 to 5.

The quality of the work and the opportunities to engage your talents every day should be priority number 1. As you analyze the job, set all of the peripheral factors aside, including salary, and ask yourself:

1. Does the nature of the work engage my values?
2. Do I connect well with my soon-to-be manager?
3. Will I have opportunities to do what I do best every day?
4. Do I control my environment? If not, am I happy with the environment I’m walking into?

After considering these questions, layer on the salary and additional perks. If it lines up, take it! If not, be aware of what you’re giving up. You may still choose to take the job based on money and perks, but at least you won’t be surprised when you look up one day and say, “Wow, I get paid a lot to do really lame work!”
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Why put what you know about yourself first? Because money follows talent, not the other way around. Do what you love and the money will follow.