"I spent money on myself to land a better job and the big raise I deserved."
L'OREAL THOMPSON PAYTON, 36 EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
I was working in external affairs for a nonprofit, and I learned from some peers in similar roles in the same sector that I was underpaid by nearly $30,000. I tried to negotiate a raise, but I was told, in so many words, "Sorry, we're a nonprofit. There's nothing we can do." Determined to find a job that would pay me what I'm worth, I decided to hire a career coach, which-at $100 an hour-was a hefty investment for me on my salary. She helped me update my résumé, make a five-year plan, and come up with a list of nonnegotiables for my next job.
One day while scrolling LinkedIn, I found a listing for a director of communications role at a nonprofit that felt like it was created for me. The job description even stated that the ideal candidate should scroll X (Twitter at the time) every morning with coffee-something I still do to this day. Plus, when I visited the company's website, I was thrilled to see that the staff was diverse (one of my nonnegotiables!). After a few rounds of great interviews, I got the job and increased my salary by $30,000.
Receiving the offer and then quitting my job came with a surprising range of emotions. I was pissed that I had been underpaid for so long. That's never a good feeling! But I was proud that I advocated for myself and didn't settle for just any job.
"I diversified my investments to make progress toward my financial goals."
SIANNA SIMMONS AFARI, 33 PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Real Simple.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2024-utgaven av Real Simple.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Thanksgiving All-Stars
Behold: Gathered in one place, our most popular, most tried-and-true recipes from 24 years of Turkey Day menus.
Thank You Kindly!
How to show appreciation and change your relationships
how we live
ADVICE, INSPIRATION & A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND
COLD COMFORT
You can loathe winter, or you can embrace it with these cool strategies.
WHAT TO DRINK AFTER DINNER
Don't break up the party! Linger around the table with one of these post-supper sips.
Goodbye to All That - Burdened by the weight of wouldas, shouldas, and couldas, a former compulsive goal setter discovers the freedom of giving up.
Don't know about you, but this time of year, with the back-to-school sales and newpencil smell in the air, always makes me want to reinvent myself. When I was a kid, every fall was another chance to cast aside the embarrassments of the previous grade and turn into the totally cool individual I was born to be. (I'm still waiting.) Now it's another chance to launch my own version of New Year's resolutions. Let's call it my Fall Agenda of Improvements and Laudable Successes (a.k.a. FAILS). I look at running gear and consider signing up for a marathon. I invest in a new skin care regimen. I stock up on accordion files so I can finally get my papers in order.
The Books List Top Picks for Book Club & Beyond - National Book Award finalist Rumaan Alam captivated readers with 2020's startling Leave the World Behind.
The Books List Top Picks for Book Club & Beyond. Thrilling Lit Fiction National Book Award finalist Rumaan Alam captivated readers with 2020's startling Leave the World Behind. In his new novel, Brooke is a young woman living in New York City, working at an aging billionaire's family foundation, yearning to find her purpose.After her employer enlists her help in deciding how to give away his fortune, she becomes entranced by the power of wealth. Suspenseful and deliciously unsettling, Entitlement examines the seductive pull of money and its ability to warp our perspectives.
Go With Your Gut - Each of us has a little voice inside that knows more than the conscious mind. It's called intuition, and it deserves your attention.
Cognitive scientists, who study how human beings think and reason, generally define intuition as knowledge gained without rational thought, and they believe it's a natural part of how our brains work. Humans have two main ways of absorbing information. One is a slow, deliberate process, in which we methodically analyze details for instance, comparing two laptop models before buying. The second happens almost instantly, and the insight feels like it came out of the blue. In fact, though, it's based on data we've gathered subconsciously over time and, in a flash, connected with our past experiences.
buh-bye, beige!
Magnolia Network star and interior designer Natalie Papier colorized a classic 1920s Oak Park, Illinois, home using lots of paint, some wallpaper, and a bunch of brilliant tricks.
What to Wear for the In-Between Weather
Will it be hot outside, or brisk and chilly? Yes! And these on-trend pieces will help you get it just right.