It’s funny how compensation can push your future in a completely different direction without you realizing it at the time. A couple years back, I was trying to land a job that provided a retirement plan. I interviewed with the city water department in my hometown first. It seemed like a solid job, with decent people, and it felt like a good fit for me. But after the interview… I heard nothing back. Two weeks of silence. Long enough for me to start looking elsewhere.
During that time period, I interviewed with the county roads department. They called me back within a few days, offered me the job, and the pay was better than what the city was offering anyway. Even though the city eventually called me back saying I was their second pick (their first hire didn’t work out), it honestly felt like too little, too late. The county already proved to me that they valued my time more by not dragging their feet, and gave me the feeling that I was their first option. Plus, the higher pay hit that part of me that always looks for growth, overtime potential, and a real shot at getting ahead financially. Benefits weren’t a selling point because I already had health and dental insurance, what mattered to me was pay, opportunity, and the chance for growth.
But here’s the twist: once I actually started working for the county, the motivation didn’t last. The pay got me in the door, but it didn’t keep me there. The ceiling felt low, the work got repetitive, and I didn’t see myself moving up. Eventually I left and took a job in Texas because it checked more of the boxes that I actually care about, better money, more hands-on work, more room to grow.
Looking back, compensation didn’t just influence one decision, it influenced a whole chain of events. It wasn’t just about the number on the offer letter. It was the timing, the opportunity, and whether the job made me feel like I was moving forward instead of staying stuck.