If you long for the days of automatic pay raises and chances to climb the office ladder, you are not alone. Today’s economy makes landing a better paying job a huge task. But it’s not impossible. Ask a resume service provider to update your resume and take steps to find a more financially rewarding position.
Consider changing careers. If your company has downsized and your opportunities for advancement are limited, look for a similar job with another company. If that proves fruitless, it may be time to reinvent yourself. The recent U.S. recession has so drastically affected some industries that their recovery will be slow if at all. Take an inventory of your job skills and experience and determine which other careers could use such a mix. You might not immediately walk into a higher paying slot, but starting a new career with room to advance could be the first step toward a bigger salary.
Go back to school. Although being better educated is no guarantee of better pay, it does help. Americans who don’t get their high school diploma earn a median $10,996, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s September 2011 report “Education and Synthetic Work-Life Earnings Estimates.” The report based on 2006-2008 data, shows salary increases with education. Someone graduating from high school earns a median $21,569. Having an associate degree brings a median $32,602; a bachelor’s degree, $42,783; and a doctorate, $73,575. If getting more college education doesn’t pertain to your situation, is there technical training that would help you get a better paying job? If so, look into vocational-technical institutions in your area, as well as organizations that represent your trade.
Be willing to move. If you’ve searched your local online job listings, checked your newspaper’s ads and networked throughout your field to no avail, it’s time to look outside your hometown or even your state. Some geographic areas have not been hit as hard by the downturn. For example, Texas, which, considering its size, did not lose many jobs during the recession, regained nearly every one, adding an impressive 117,600 jobs in the first half of 2011, according to a July 2011 AOL news item. Texas has its oil and natural gas industry to thank. There could be a job with a big paycheck a few states away.
It might take some time, but with determination, a little input from a resume service and a willingness to think outside the box, you’ll be on your way to landing a better paying job.
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