Just last month, I read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers and he made a very interesting point that stuck with me. If we are given the opportunity to work at a toll booth for $100,000 a year as against working for an engineering company for $75,000 a year, we are more likely to go with the $75,000 job. He said this is in spite of the fact that we work for money. After several analyses, I agree with Malcolm on this point. If you have a degree in engineering, you are more likely to accept a job in engineering with less pay because of the value and experience you might get from the job.
It is good to have a job as several people are still job-hunting today. The question to ask yourself is not about whether you have a job but what value your job has brought to you and what value you can add to your job.
For the last couple of years since you joined the company, how have you improved upon your skillset since graduating college?
Are you a better public speaker? How well can you develop PowerPoint slides and use other software tools? How well can you write a proposal for your business? If you were asked to represent the organization at an international conference, how well could you articulate your ideas? How has your personal development improved since you took this job? If you are to be given the promotion you feel entitled to, how well can you perform?
Always bear in mind that your experience may get you the job but your added value will keep you in the job, and also provide further opportunities.
