High Salary, No Growth Potential

[Anonymous]

Your manager will eventually leave, and you’re next in line to get promoted when they do. If youre happy enough and the pay is good enough, lay low, dont complain, and keep people happy so you don’t jinx yourself.

Signed- someone who is in the role of your manager dealing with a constantly whining employee who needs to be happy with what they have and wait for time to solve the problem

[Anonymous]

What field(s) pay these kinds of figures for this little work? Genuinely interested so I can get this job.

[Anonymous]

Op, where do you work and what's your existing title?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an interesting job, make $350K a year with (at least, to date) roughly 5% increases each year, work from home with no travel, and usually work around 40 hours per week (though it can be pretty stressful and difficult-think client service). I'm a hard worker and efficient employee and generally deliver results way above expectations. My challenge is that there is little potential for growth in this job. There are very few spots above me, and they are filled, and I'm hungry for a title change and to move from IC to a manager role. Many of the folks who are in roles above me are average to below average but are good enough to not be fired (and, at least to date, the bar is pretty high to be fired). Because I'm a good worker, I often get asked to do the jobs that no one else wants to take on. I essentially plug holes where needed, and given some potential for downsizing there are likely to be more holes to fill, with uninteresting and minimal paths to leadership (a parallel example would be a token senior associate role and having no chance for partner because they just don't want to make more partners). it's also a place where there's information hoarding and musical chairs at the level above me, rather than opening opportunities for upward mobility.

I'm creative, well-credentialed, and tired of getting shitty work. But I also know I have it good. I'd love to hear thoughts from people in similar situations, or who have moved on from similar situations. TIA!

My spouse Heads/Directs/Manages multiple departments , makes less than you and travels constantly. He is looking for a new job/career. He doesn't mind the travel as it gives us status and really nice vacations, but it is hard now with kids.

Managing can be time consuming. My spouse spends a ton of time managing others (he isn't a micromanager, but has many people who report to him) and then in dumb meetings. He works late a lot due to these aspects of his role. He works WAY more than 40 hours a week. And yes, I know, don't do it all, work-life balance but his boss is a serious micromanager who emails at all hours and makes people cry.

If he could make $350K WFH and no travel, he probably would. Did I mention he has to go in the office 3/4 days when he isn't traveling?

Being challenged is important too. My spouse has these issues and he isn't really being challenged anymore since he now has done similar roles (been promoted a bunch but all same organization) for 5+ years now. We have a friend who moved from Head of organization to basically a Senior Associate level and is much happier. Making similar $ because public versus private sector, but he said he feels challenged now and didn't realize how bored he was. Something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Come over to that single mom housing thread and advise us OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in the exact same situation but making just over $300k. I have come to terms that the flexibility, lack of stress and enjoyment of my job, when combined with my salary, are sufficient for me. I have an amazing work life balance. My next step up professionally would be a partner in a firm and that’s just not the life I want.

I am in the same situation, making about what OP makes, and have come to this conclusion as well. It's a difficult conclusion to come to because I'm a naturally ambitious person, but I also love being a mom and not being stressed out constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in the exact same situation but making just over $300k. I have come to terms that the flexibility, lack of stress and enjoyment of my job, when combined with my salary, are sufficient for me. I have an amazing work life balance. My next step up professionally would be a partner in a firm and that’s just not the life I want.

I am in the same situation, making about what OP makes, and have come to this conclusion as well. It's a difficult conclusion to come to because I'm a naturally ambitious person, but I also love being a mom and not being stressed out constantly.

And to those asking - I'm in law at a boutique firm in a niche specialty that is in high demand, but takes a very long time to get good at and is very boring at times.

[Anonymous]

OP here, back for more advice. My current job feels unsustainable with no true potential and management has moved me to a new supervisor who definitely doesn’t have my best interests at heart. I am starting to actively look.

My issue is where do I look and how do I approach the job search? I am a lawyer by training but have been in law adjacent jobs for the past few years.

[Anonymous]

Fulfillment is not something you can talk yourself into. You are either fulfilled or you are not. Sounds like you are not. Go explore. Send your resume out and see where it lands.

[Anonymous]

For your job search, you need to decide:
Job Fit/Challenge/Leader role; Title/Prestige; Compensation --- likely, you can only have two of the three.
Which is the first priority? The second? The last?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What field(s) pay these kinds of figures for this little work? Genuinely interested so I can get this job.

DITTO!

[Anonymous]

same but even higher salary.
i have been sucking it up for a long time but it is really hard at a certain point where your salary and title does not match your area of oversight and responsibility and respect. it starts to become untenable. that's where i am. i actually want to earn my salary and i also worry I am always the next in line for layoffs.