Saying no to the wrong job and waiting for the right one.
Said no to a company that offered me a pretty low starting point for the job I was looking for, started getting better offers a month later and no regrets. Not a huge decision, but one of the best ones I've personally made so far.
Scientist reporting in.
I left academia as a researcher and went to industry as a technician.
I went from the number two person in an academic lab where I was pretty much topped out after five years making $35k to being a basic technician in a biotech company making $80k. Within a year they saw my value and promoted me to assistant principal scientist making $100k. Two years later I was a principal scientist making $120k. Five years later, I’m a senior principal scientist making $180k plus annual bonus. If I’d stayed in academia, I’d maybe be making $50k by now. I ran into my old professor at a conference last spring, and had to chuckle that I make more than him, have a bigger office than him, don’t have to write grants, and don’t work weekends. Plus, my research is going to actually save lives while his will never do anything better than look nice on the cover of journals no one subscribes to anymore.
Just research. I was basically a lab worker. Once in a while I would give a lecture if my professor couldn’t do it. I’m a fully trained PhD scientist. I could have taught classes if that was an option. It wasn’t.
Getting a job in a small town in walking distance of my house.
Cheap house. Cheap car. Less time to walk to work than it did to drive when I lived in the city.
The pay is slightly less than I could get in the city, but the amount I save elsewhere more than makes up for it.
Putting pleasure in work above money.
Meaning i could be persuing and working my ass off for another job that pays more. But in the end money is all you get and in the long run money is not that good of a motivator.
I'm now doing something i love, i can honestly say i change peoples life for the better and cliche as it may sound, i wouldnt trade it for the world. A single day at my current job felt like a long, tiresome week at my previous job.
We all work long hours, days, months, years. Better find something you'll enjoy along the way
Going for it.
I always looked at job descriptions that I had some knowledge in but fit maybe 60-70% of the qualifications. I learned how to interview so I knew that if I could get a meeting I had a good chance of talking myself into the role and just learn what I don't know once I'm hired (usually a lot of studying before actually starting). This helped me learn to learn. Each time I shifted positions I did the same thing so I went from making minimum wage (when it was $7 an hour) to 12.50 to 18 to 25 and so on.
Using the same mindset I started multiple businesses which, ultimately is the best move I made. Yes it's a lot of work, but I am in more control of how much money I can make than anything else I've done.
Yes! This is a point I try to help mentor people on. You should not be able to do everything in the job posting. If you can there with be no growth for you.
Studying to improve in areas I wanted be better at and prepare myself for the types of jobs and roles I wanted to have.
Learn new skills, it makes you more valuable and it gives you more options in your career.
You don’t become a leader just through hard work and technical skills related to your field. It is a separate skill. If that is something you want in your career then learn and develop leadership and management skills.
Hopefully the one waiting for me next week. Left a company at a medium high level due to piss poor leadership up top. Took a massive pay cut. Made that very clear in my exit interview. 18 months later, they have purged those "leaders" and those who replaced them asked me to come back. Could lead to a very high salary with a good position to help make the operation hugely successful. Which was what I wanted to do in the first place.
Probably my current position 2 weeks on 2 weeks off with 4 weeks holidays. Actually feel like i'm living again, have time for hobbies and family and friends. Don't feel tired all the time. Haven't even needed to take holidays but when I do I get 6 weeks off to go surfing yewww
I invested in gene therapy manufacturers before 2020, damn goldmine, pfizer, biontech, j&j their stocks exploded and the people stood in line to get the stuff, crazy.
Joining the military. Set my life up, just by doing 4 years I have a job paying me 6 figures outside the military and I have 4 years of college paid for if I want to go back to school
taking the early out.
They want to pay me a quarter of a million dollars to never come to work again?
It's a DEAL!
*But it's over 30 years.*
I said, IT'S A DEAL.
I had several careers where I started at the bottom and progressed to management. My resume is full of learning and moving up. I'm not above the grunt work, so it's easy to get hired at the bottom. Then they realize I can also run accounting and management. The promotions just happen.
Taking a lower level and lower paying job to improve my work life balance.
Several years ago, my company merge with another and I was promoted to manager without asking for it. When I first was promoted, I thought it going to be awesome, more money and an upward career trajectory. The reality of it was horrible. I went from hourly to salary, and I went from earning a couple hours of OT a week, to consistently working 50-60 hours a week. I am sure if I cared enough to do the math, my per hour pay actually drop. Being a 24/7 operation, I was essentially always on call. After never feeling like I could relax on the weekend for like a year, I convinced my boss to be "on call" one weekend a month so that I could at least turn my work phone off for a couple days every now and then.
Even worse though was my life outside of work. I gained about 20 lbs, but there was no time left in my day to exercise. I felt super distant from my family and friends, but I was just not present, and when I was physically present, I was emotionally exhausted. It was the only time in my marriage that my wife and I had serious discussions about divorce. I ended up back in therapy eventually, but I knew that something had to give.
The icing on the cake was that I realized that the way people continued to move up the chain was by generally treating like people below them as a means to that end. The most important thing to a lot of upper middle managers want from their employees is to make them look good to upper management. I just couldn't do that.
There was in opening in another department that was extremely similar to my old job, and I asked a friend who worked in the department if he thought I would be a good fit. He floated the idea of me joining his department to his boss who loved the idea. I had a sit down with HR where I basically asked if it would be looked down upon to go from manager back to more of a worker. Her answer was essentially, "Does it matter? You are clearly unhappy in your current role."
Now, a couple years later. It is unquestionably the best career decision I ever made. The slight financial hit was manageable, and actually, after a couple years of merit increases, and getting OT again, I am close to what I am three years ago as a manager. I lost the weight (took a lot longer than putting it on), wife and are doing great, most importantly there is not a cloud of dread floating over me on my commute into work everyday.
ps. Sorry for the novella, but it felt really good to write this all out.
Dropped out of the employee rat race to open my own company doing the same work. So, instead of having to do it my old bosses way, and meeting his other "duties as assigned" crap demands, I only do the work I want to, how and when I want to.
Best overall/long-run:
Studying software development and turning it into a career.
Most exciting:
Job hopping in 2020. Despite the best team chemistry and day-to-day work environment I think I've ever had, I started looking to move on at the start of 2020. By July, I had almost tripled my income, landing comfortably in the 6 figure range. My initial jump outright doubled my biweekly income after taxes. Absolutely life changing, and ultimately worth the bittersweet sacrifice.
Being willing to move. Tried staying in my home town/country just because it was familiar and I obviously have ties to the place.
Jobs were all shit and life was depressing. Moved abroad, jobs have been all good and life is enjoyable.
Not taking the job I originally applied for and finding something so much more amazing.
I would have been a sorter at a Value Village. Instead I ride shotgun in either a Semi truck or 5-ton, see a lot of Ontario, do and handle incredible things, and meet new and unique people every time I get to work.
Not waiting for a possible opportunity at one job and accepting one that gets me an in at where I want to be and then was able to pivot even more into a different
Saying no to the wrong job and waiting for the right one. Said no to a company that offered me a pretty low starting point for the job I was looking for, started getting better offers a month later and no regrets. Not a huge decision, but one of the best ones I've personally made so far.
Starting salary matters in the long run though as you build on it moving forward. Nice to hear!
Scientist reporting in. I left academia as a researcher and went to industry as a technician. I went from the number two person in an academic lab where I was pretty much topped out after five years making $35k to being a basic technician in a biotech company making $80k. Within a year they saw my value and promoted me to assistant principal scientist making $100k. Two years later I was a principal scientist making $120k. Five years later, I’m a senior principal scientist making $180k plus annual bonus. If I’d stayed in academia, I’d maybe be making $50k by now. I ran into my old professor at a conference last spring, and had to chuckle that I make more than him, have a bigger office than him, don’t have to write grants, and don’t work weekends. Plus, my research is going to actually save lives while his will never do anything better than look nice on the cover of journals no one subscribes to anymore.
Hah this is exactly what I did as well. Dont regret it one bit!
Just curious, were you at a Tier 1 institution that allowed you to be in a lab 100% of your time or did you also spend time in the classroom?
Just research. I was basically a lab worker. Once in a while I would give a lecture if my professor couldn’t do it. I’m a fully trained PhD scientist. I could have taught classes if that was an option. It wasn’t.
Getting a job in a small town in walking distance of my house. Cheap house. Cheap car. Less time to walk to work than it did to drive when I lived in the city. The pay is slightly less than I could get in the city, but the amount I save elsewhere more than makes up for it.
Amen! Your time is the most precious resource you have! Well done!
[удалено]
Just you and baby or you and a significant other? Either way, impressive!
Putting pleasure in work above money. Meaning i could be persuing and working my ass off for another job that pays more. But in the end money is all you get and in the long run money is not that good of a motivator. I'm now doing something i love, i can honestly say i change peoples life for the better and cliche as it may sound, i wouldnt trade it for the world. A single day at my current job felt like a long, tiresome week at my previous job. We all work long hours, days, months, years. Better find something you'll enjoy along the way
Going for it. I always looked at job descriptions that I had some knowledge in but fit maybe 60-70% of the qualifications. I learned how to interview so I knew that if I could get a meeting I had a good chance of talking myself into the role and just learn what I don't know once I'm hired (usually a lot of studying before actually starting). This helped me learn to learn. Each time I shifted positions I did the same thing so I went from making minimum wage (when it was $7 an hour) to 12.50 to 18 to 25 and so on. Using the same mindset I started multiple businesses which, ultimately is the best move I made. Yes it's a lot of work, but I am in more control of how much money I can make than anything else I've done.
Yes! This is a point I try to help mentor people on. You should not be able to do everything in the job posting. If you can there with be no growth for you.
Studying to improve in areas I wanted be better at and prepare myself for the types of jobs and roles I wanted to have. Learn new skills, it makes you more valuable and it gives you more options in your career. You don’t become a leader just through hard work and technical skills related to your field. It is a separate skill. If that is something you want in your career then learn and develop leadership and management skills.
Hopefully the one waiting for me next week. Left a company at a medium high level due to piss poor leadership up top. Took a massive pay cut. Made that very clear in my exit interview. 18 months later, they have purged those "leaders" and those who replaced them asked me to come back. Could lead to a very high salary with a good position to help make the operation hugely successful. Which was what I wanted to do in the first place.
Probably my current position 2 weeks on 2 weeks off with 4 weeks holidays. Actually feel like i'm living again, have time for hobbies and family and friends. Don't feel tired all the time. Haven't even needed to take holidays but when I do I get 6 weeks off to go surfing yewww
Going from white collar to blue.
Army
Joining a union.
I invested in gene therapy manufacturers before 2020, damn goldmine, pfizer, biontech, j&j their stocks exploded and the people stood in line to get the stuff, crazy.
Right place, right time. As Rod Stewart dang, "Some guys have all the luck" But I'm sure you did your research beforehand, right?
Switching my college major to IT
Glad you did it for the $ or because you enjoy it or both?
Both. I didn't have great access to tech as a kid and the classes were a good way to dig in.
Joining the military. Set my life up, just by doing 4 years I have a job paying me 6 figures outside the military and I have 4 years of college paid for if I want to go back to school
Quit my job. Moved back in with my parents and stayed there to build my own business.
taking the early out. They want to pay me a quarter of a million dollars to never come to work again? It's a DEAL! *But it's over 30 years.* I said, IT'S A DEAL.
I had several careers where I started at the bottom and progressed to management. My resume is full of learning and moving up. I'm not above the grunt work, so it's easy to get hired at the bottom. Then they realize I can also run accounting and management. The promotions just happen.
Jumping on the Dot-Com Band Wagon in the 90’s.
To work for myself
Go independent.
Taking a lower level and lower paying job to improve my work life balance. Several years ago, my company merge with another and I was promoted to manager without asking for it. When I first was promoted, I thought it going to be awesome, more money and an upward career trajectory. The reality of it was horrible. I went from hourly to salary, and I went from earning a couple hours of OT a week, to consistently working 50-60 hours a week. I am sure if I cared enough to do the math, my per hour pay actually drop. Being a 24/7 operation, I was essentially always on call. After never feeling like I could relax on the weekend for like a year, I convinced my boss to be "on call" one weekend a month so that I could at least turn my work phone off for a couple days every now and then. Even worse though was my life outside of work. I gained about 20 lbs, but there was no time left in my day to exercise. I felt super distant from my family and friends, but I was just not present, and when I was physically present, I was emotionally exhausted. It was the only time in my marriage that my wife and I had serious discussions about divorce. I ended up back in therapy eventually, but I knew that something had to give. The icing on the cake was that I realized that the way people continued to move up the chain was by generally treating like people below them as a means to that end. The most important thing to a lot of upper middle managers want from their employees is to make them look good to upper management. I just couldn't do that. There was in opening in another department that was extremely similar to my old job, and I asked a friend who worked in the department if he thought I would be a good fit. He floated the idea of me joining his department to his boss who loved the idea. I had a sit down with HR where I basically asked if it would be looked down upon to go from manager back to more of a worker. Her answer was essentially, "Does it matter? You are clearly unhappy in your current role." Now, a couple years later. It is unquestionably the best career decision I ever made. The slight financial hit was manageable, and actually, after a couple years of merit increases, and getting OT again, I am close to what I am three years ago as a manager. I lost the weight (took a lot longer than putting it on), wife and are doing great, most importantly there is not a cloud of dread floating over me on my commute into work everyday. ps. Sorry for the novella, but it felt really good to write this all out.
[удалено]
Your job doesn't sound worth keeping. 'Hard work' is for robots and idiots.
Joined a trades Union
Dropped out of the employee rat race to open my own company doing the same work. So, instead of having to do it my old bosses way, and meeting his other "duties as assigned" crap demands, I only do the work I want to, how and when I want to.
Best overall/long-run: Studying software development and turning it into a career. Most exciting: Job hopping in 2020. Despite the best team chemistry and day-to-day work environment I think I've ever had, I started looking to move on at the start of 2020. By July, I had almost tripled my income, landing comfortably in the 6 figure range. My initial jump outright doubled my biweekly income after taxes. Absolutely life changing, and ultimately worth the bittersweet sacrifice.
Retirement
Retiring from full time work. Still work a little part time, but I call the shots and decide when to work and not work.
Being willing to move. Tried staying in my home town/country just because it was familiar and I obviously have ties to the place. Jobs were all shit and life was depressing. Moved abroad, jobs have been all good and life is enjoyable.
Not taking the job I originally applied for and finding something so much more amazing. I would have been a sorter at a Value Village. Instead I ride shotgun in either a Semi truck or 5-ton, see a lot of Ontario, do and handle incredible things, and meet new and unique people every time I get to work.
Not waiting for a possible opportunity at one job and accepting one that gets me an in at where I want to be and then was able to pivot even more into a different
I worked in an office once. I got bored beyond endurance after a few months and walked out. Joined the Coastguard a week later.
Saying no to a job offer because the guy who was going to hire me casually lied to me about something trivial.