How much do you make and whats your job title and age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:32; Exec Admin Asst; $43k.

Will be 33 this year and get a bit stressed when I realize my career has yet to start. It gets worse when I can't even think of a way to make the transition. (Career interests are in development and event planning). Don't really care about making a ton (though making at least $75k would be nice); I just need to do something I enjoy!

Why not try to get a gig in that field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:45. Bankruptcy/Consumer Law Paralegal. 72k.

I stayed at home with my kids for about 15 years and transitioned back into the work force six months ago. Starting over wasn't as hard as I expected, but I have some catching up to do.

How were you able to get a job after staying home for 15 years in this job market? What did you put on your resume for the past 15 years? What did you tell them at the interview?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:32, $190k. Manager in Corporate a'murica

My boss' boss' boss is 34 and clears somewhere around $700k. My old boss was 28 and cleared $250. I have a 40+ year old and a 50+ year old who report to me and make under $100k.

There will always be those who make more, and those who make less.... If you start comparing yourself you'll go nuts.

Yeh i know there will always be some who make less and others who make more. i guess, what i wanted was for people to share their experiences on how they got to make more at their age if they did so those who make less can learn from them

Most honest answers are probably a combination of shit dumb luck - being in the right place at the right time and/or a top tier qualification (MBA or JD) from a prestigious highly ranked university. Toss in a little hard work and you've got a formula. In my experience successful people like to discount the luck factor and instead focus on their hard work, but usually luck played a non trivial part. Indeed, for me, I'm on the cusp of promotion which will give me perhaps another $50K, and its almost entirely because I took a role with a fucked up business line and fixed it. That was part skill, part luck - people had quit and the opportunity to take on more responsibility just fell into my lap. Right place, right time....

Also, I think the inflection points in one career require different skills - being a top performer as an "individual contributor" requires perhaps technical skills and attention to detail. A top performer in a "manager" role involves influencing others and learning to leverage your team effectively. A top performer in entry level mgmt means mastering influence, elevating out of the details with staff you trust, and creating strategies and growth opportunities outside your immediate sphere of influence. I've found that the step functions at each of these steps is the hardest moment. If you feel like you've peaked - ask yourself if you are doing the things the next level up would be.

As a financial analyst is expect your manager demands quality analysis and work, but perhaps not that you set your own agenda or proactively identify gaps and needs in your org. As a manager, you'd probably be expected to do that. Most analysts who I see get stuck can't make that leap: they are excellent technically, churning out quality work - but they never quite master the art of identifying needs before they are asked. Some people call this "leaning in" (ugh) or "forward lean" or just "dealing with white space" or whatever, but the premise is the same.

Ask yourself: are you at one of these inflection points?

Some food for thought / advice.

OP here- Yes, I feel like I have peaked. I work in Risk Management, and I am thinking I am in the wrong field, i should have focused more in Accounting/Corporate Finance I feel like. I am the type of analyst that goes beyond and above and i make that leap that you are talking about, I identify needs before they arise and propose ways to fix them. At my annual review, my boss gave me an excellent and above and beyond rating on almost all aspects and on the ones where I did not get a perfect score, I got the next best score which was Excellent. So, I don't think it has anything to do with my performance, it is more about being in a dead end job where I just don't see any upside and i don't know how to get out of this field and start over at my level in a different field or management level. i have been applying to jobs but feel like noone is interested in what i have to offer and sometimes it is depressing. I know i am capable of making much more than what i am making and i know that I do have the skills to and I have matured the position but I just don't see any opportunities my way and sometimes it is just depressing

That's funny, I am the 31yo in corporate healthcare making 200k per year and I feel like MY ENTIRE JOB is risk management. Maybe a change in industries is warranted? Certainly employers.

[Anonymous]

130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

Are we supposed to feel bad for you? Why did you leave the firm if money was the issue? $130 aint chump change, you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:32; Exec Admin Asst; $43k.

Will be 33 this year and get a bit stressed when I realize my career has yet to start. It gets worse when I can't even think of a way to make the transition. (Career interests are in development and event planning). Don't really care about making a ton (though making at least $75k would be nice); I just need to do something I enjoy!

Why not try to get a gig in that field?

I'm definitely trying, however no luck so far. Most want experience (even at the entry-level) and/or education/certificate that I don't have (I have a B.A. in English ). Won't give up, but it's a bit discouraging when I know I'm competing with 20-somethings for these entry level positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

Are we supposed to feel bad for you? Why did you leave the firm if money was the issue? $130 aint chump change, you know.

No not asking anyone to feel bad, just comparing -- 5 years of solid work experience is paid the same as a green fresh out of law school associate. Not complaining about salary. I left my law firm bc I wanted to be a civil servant and try to do some good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

Are we supposed to feel bad for you? Why did you leave the firm if money was the issue? $130 aint chump change, you know.

No not asking anyone to feel bad, just comparing -- 5 years of solid work experience is paid the same as a green fresh out of law school associate. Not complaining about salary. I left my law firm bc I wanted to be a civil servant and try to do some good.

Yes, but did you see the recent Forbes Magazine list of the least satisfying jobs -- law firm assoicate was at the top of the list! You made the right call getting out, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Just live your life. Some of you are way too concerned with what others are doing. It is pathetic and immature. Get some confidence and stop comparing yourself to people from different circumstances with different personalities, goals, and opportunities. How about you compare yourself to yourself. Are you at your best?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

Are we supposed to feel bad for you? Why did you leave the firm if money was the issue? $130 aint chump change, you know.

No not asking anyone to feel bad, just comparing -- 5 years of solid work experience is paid the same as a green fresh out of law school associate. Not complaining about salary. I left my law firm bc I wanted to be a civil servant and try to do some good.

IDK, a lot of people much farther along in their careers would be quite happy with 130k.

[Anonymous]

$143,000, 51, lobbyist .

[Anonymous]

Queen of the Seven Realms, Mother of Dragons age 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Queen of the Seven Realms, Mother of Dragons, age 50.

Also, I make whatever I want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:130k, 33, department director in an gov agency, JD but don't use it for job. Exactly what I made when I was an associate straight out of law school 5 years ago, sigh.

Are we supposed to feel bad for you? Why did you leave the firm if money was the issue? $130 aint chump change, you know.

No not asking anyone to feel bad, just comparing -- 5 years of solid work experience is paid the same as a green fresh out of law school associate. Not complaining about salary. I left my law firm bc I wanted to be a civil servant and try to do some good.

IDK, a lot of people much farther along in their careers would be quite happy with 130k.

Becoming the director of a department in a fed agency is pretty far along in PP's career I'd say. 5 years seems fast but it depends what other experience PP had. alot of people stop at manager or whatever. Making director is just under branch chief.

[Anonymous]

45, elementary school principal (FCPS)
$122K

I love my job.