If I Were 22: Focus on the People, Not the Paycheck

This post is part of a series in which Influencers share lessons from their youth. Read all the stories here.

It’s easy when you are looking for your first job out of college to chase after the biggest paycheck. But as tempting as cash’s siren song is, the smarter play at the beginning of a career is to go with the organization that has the people you connect with best. This immensely raises your chances of doing your best work, learning through mentorship by people you connect with, and rapidly growing in your job responsibilities such that your career trajectory arcs steeply.

I know this because I made a big mistake with the first job I chose out of college.

When I was 22, I wanted to be an investment banker because it was one of the highest paying fields coming out of school. I went though a gauntlet of interviews at a large, respectable firm. Of the half dozen people I met during that process, there was only one person I connected with. The other five didn’t seem interested in fostering the type of work environment where I knew I’d fit in.

The firm made me a generous offer and -- I promptly ignored the red flags and took the job. I thought having the one strong connection would be enough to overcome the other shortcomings. Unfortunately, that person I liked so much was no longer in my group by the time I started. Without him, my hunch proved right. It was not a pleasant experience and after just one year I was ready to move on.

Around that time a company called Telephia offered me a job. It wasn’t for as much money as other opportunities, but I felt connected to the person who would be my manager and the whole team. This time I trusted my instincts and took the lower paying job. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my life.

It wasn’t just emotionally gratifying. Learning from such smart, amazing people helped me grow professionally and prepared me for even greater opportunities and success later on in my career. I was rapidly promoted, and had much more significant career opportunities coming out of my roles at Telephia.

Even if my story doesn’t convince you, look at it from a purely practical standpoint: You’ll spend more of your waking hours with your co-workers than just about anyone else in your life. That should be something you look forward to every day, not dread or power through for a paycheck every two weeks.

It’s easier to forgo the big payday when you’re 22 than later in your career when your life and family responsibilities determine more of your decisions for you. But by aligning yourself with the best possible people at the start of your career, you’ll set yourself up for a better experience in the short term, and greater rewards down the road.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Chou