"I spent money on myself to land a better job and the big raise I deserved."
L'OREAL THOMPSON PAYTON, 36 EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
I was working in external affairs for a nonprofit, and I learned from some peers in similar roles in the same sector that I was underpaid by nearly $30,000. I tried to negotiate a raise, but I was told, in so many words, "Sorry, we're a nonprofit. There's nothing we can do." Determined to find a job that would pay me what I'm worth, I decided to hire a career coach, which-at $100 an hour-was a hefty investment for me on my salary. She helped me update my résumé, make a five-year plan, and come up with a list of nonnegotiables for my next job.
One day while scrolling LinkedIn, I found a listing for a director of communications role at a nonprofit that felt like it was created for me. The job description even stated that the ideal candidate should scroll X (Twitter at the time) every morning with coffee-something I still do to this day. Plus, when I visited the company's website, I was thrilled to see that the staff was diverse (one of my nonnegotiables!). After a few rounds of great interviews, I got the job and increased my salary by $30,000.
Receiving the offer and then quitting my job came with a surprising range of emotions. I was pissed that I had been underpaid for so long. That's never a good feeling! But I was proud that I advocated for myself and didn't settle for just any job.
"I diversified my investments to make progress toward my financial goals."
SIANNA SIMMONS AFARI, 33 PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA
This story is from the April 2024 edition of Real Simple.
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This story is from the April 2024 edition of Real Simple.
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