My old boss told me to never take a pay cut for a better title, but it worked out for me

He said it was a dumb move when I left my $75k analyst job for a $68k manager role at a startup. I mean, he was sure I'd regret it in a year. But after 8 months, that company got bought out and my new title helped me land a director position making over $90k. I get his point about cash being king, but in my case the experience and title jump opened way more doors. Has anyone else had a gamble on a lower salary actually pay off down the line?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_lee7d ago

Your old boss would probably call my whole career a dumb move. I took a pay cut for a better title three times in a row, and each time I felt like an idiot for about a year. But like you said, that title jump just opens doors that cash alone can't. My resume looks great now, but my bank account took a beating to get here. Sometimes the gamble works, even if it feels crazy at the time.

mark_thomas7d ago

Titles don't pay the bills though.

tyler_wilson7d ago

So your old boss is still waiting for you to fail, huh? Honestly, some people just can't stand seeing a smart bet pay off.