I read through your questions page and did not see anything
near to mine. So hear it is.
Mine is less a question than a story with needed advice. I am about to finish school as a computer artist. I feel as though I have been settling for less than my expertise deserves.
I
currently work in a related field to my major but it pays badly $8.50. I feel this dark cloud over me because my boyfriend's sister is making $12.00 as a 1st year receptionist with hardly any experience, no typing
skills, beginers computer skills and no extra education but a high school degree.
Today I interviewed with a web based company where the job entails editing images for a their web site using the infamous Photoshop.
It went very well and I got hired on the spot. The pay is going to be $11.00 an hour. I felt great until my boyfriend's sister gave me some more bad news. She's been sought out by another company who is willing to pay
her $14.00 and hour in an administration position. How is she getting such good pay with no education or experience?
I don't get it. I have spent so many years educating myself and it is getting me no where while
some one with a lot less to offer but beauty is getting way more than I. What should I really be getting for my education? Should I not take this job since it requires an hour long commute in addition to being a
fulltime student?
To make it worse she brags to me about it considering I have all this schooling.
Besides feeling like purchasing your book I honestly feel like crying. My excitement has turned to ice today.
From: Lorena Vidrio, Senior, San Jose State University
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Hi Lorena -
Despair not! You WILL conquer in the end!
Your boyfriend's sister is earning wages in a field with a very
narrow overall earnings range. She is being paid well because she has likely reached a level of proficiency for the relatively simple clerical tasks required in her line of work in a short amount of time. Within a year
or two, she will have reached her earnings peak.
You, on the other hand, have only just begun your career. It will take you longer to "master the trade" than someone in a clerical field. So it will also
take you longer to reach your full earnings potential. Believe me, that is not a bad thing. It merely means that you have a much higher ceiling.
The work you will be doing now while finishing your degree will pay
back far more dividends than the actual salary you earn. You will probably earn several thousand dollars more per year than your peers over the life of your career. Net effect for the work you will be doing now could be
well over $100,000.
Yes, you are currently being paid on the low end of the salary scale. There are many things you can do to improve that situation after graduation, with many listed within my book. But always keep
in mind that your salary will build momentum over time if you take the right steps to maximize your career growth.
You will have the last laugh with your boyfriend's sister. Or you could simply ignore her inquiries
about your salary (as yours continues to increase while hers begins to stagnate) and drive her crazy wondering how much you are making.
Final point: salary is not everything. Yes, it pays the bills, but doing what
you love is far more important in the long run. You will have a nearly infinite opportunity for personal growth and development in your career, while your boyfriend's sister will soon find herself bored in her work.
You're on the right track. Stick with it and do your part to maximize your potential--both in terms of earnings and in terms of love for your work.
Brian Krueger
Author of College Grad Job Hunter
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