What Is Your Worth, Literally?
Literally speaking, do you know your worth?
I recently, left my job. I quit for two reasons: 1) to pursue my dreams, and 2) I wasn’t getting paid enough. Unfortunately, I knew my worth and when I told my manager during one of our meetings she wasn’t feeling it. I stuck it out for a few more weeks, constantly replaying the meeting in my head. I knew I was great at my job. I constantly received praise from my manager (the one who denied my raise), the clients were very receptive toward me, and often rewarded me with gifts once their cases were closed. But more importantly, I knew my worth’s quantitative value.
I spent many hours researching, preparing, representing, drafting, explaining, and advocating for people and causes. I did my work and then some. During the time in which I was employed at my former job another employee quit prior to me rolling out too. But, before I decided to exit I took on that employee’s duties as well as my own. It was three months before that position was filled, and I truly believe my former manager did not fill the position right away because I juggled both jobs so well. Therefore, there was no need to fill a vacant position that was adequately being done by someone else already employed at the company. Very smart on the company’s part because one person fulfilling the duties created for two employees, but getting paid one salary was a win for them.
Aside from taking on more than my duties listed in my job description, I felt unappreciated and devalued. I was grateful for the opportunity as my profession is extremely competitive, but underappreciating my value kept nagging at me each night I stayed late at the office with a client, or to do research, mop the floors, shut down the computers, and then lock-up. (Yes, I said mop the floors).
One night I came home wrote down my basic official duties, and my unofficial responsibilities as well. I then researched similar positions at firms of a comparable size. After all of my research and calculations, I realized what I was making was significantly less than my colleagues in similar situations.
The next day I went into work, armed with my research, and quit…straight like that! I’ve always known my worth and I’ve never been above grinding or paying my dues within a profession. But, what I won’t do is devalue myself just for a job.
Can you put a monetary value on your skill set? I think most women should be able to do so, whether you’re an attorney or a stay-at-home mom. Your time, skill, and talent can be measured quantitatively. Take some time out of your busy day and research your true quantitative value.
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not in this economy. I am not worth a dime. oh shit not even a penny.
Of note here, is the fact that your self worth is quite low if your wearing a perm and/or colored contact lenses. Hell, even you don’t like you, so why should others?
@leonard smalls Wait how do you even know what african mami looks like? You are a troll.
I’m working as a receptionist in brooklyn, and I know for a fact that receptionist in the city are making way more then I am. I know my worth and I am worth more then a brooklyn salary. Don’t get it twisted this is not my dream job or something I will do for a long time but for the time being I am over worked and underpaid. I can’t make that bold move and quit even if I know my worth is greater. What do you think?
I know my worth, which is why I refuse to lose my unemployment for a $9.00 an hour job where employers are overworking people and will easily replace you if you don’t act enough like a robot.
CD86 – I feel your pain. However, when you’re on unemployment the government is your employer. They have rules too. One change in policy can cause you to receive less, or no longer qualify at all.
I’m not going to knock your hustle, but I’ll just encourage you to work on your dream while you collect. Take full advantage of the time you may have on your hands. Develop yourself, find your passion, and pursue it. Then, share your story with someone else.
I fulfill the requirements to maintain benefits every week. I don’t receive a lot to begin with.
I did not need to read this having me tempted to leave my job today…I know my worth and skill set and feel severely undervalued and under appreciated
Very interesting and timely piece as I’m considering leaving my job too. I hate it when employers use the “well you should just be glad you have a job in this economy” as a reason to not give an employee what they deserve and frankly, I can’t take it anymore! I’m in the process of looking and I’ve got a year and a half left of school before I get my degree. I definitely know my worth and its about time that I get compensated for that worth.
Yes, I can, actually. I am making 10 to 15,000 dollars less than what I should be making for what I am doing. At my job I do a lot more than what was asked of me when I first agreed to this position.
Same here! Here I am with two degrees, years of experience at this organization and getting paid at least 15,000 dollars less than my peers. I almost quit several times…
I finally asked for a raise…I hear back from our CEO next week.
Pray for me ya’ll.
@ willow, WHAT? less than your peers? At least I am at an entry-level position, and I have the opportunity to put a LOT of stuff on my resume that I would never been able to if my job did not give me this kind of lee-way. And I get automatic pay raises at certain timepoints. At the same time, I know that staying in the office until 9 PM, going into the field and chasing down kids and harassing parents was NOT part of the job description, lol. Good luck with that raise.
One website I like for job hunting is this one, http://www.fiveoclockclub.com/. My 2-year stint at this place ends this year, so I may be using it. My former co-worker used it last year and had no trouble finding a new job right after.
This is very interesting as I am considering leaving my job as well. I just feel like I am not learning anything, all the work is giving to other people and I am somewhat forced to just sit here and surf the net /work on my business plan. I would like a job that has a lot more substance, something I believe in, actually enjoy. The job market is not so great but I am starting to feel if I want that opportunity, then I will have to create it.
Interesting article…think about this though. Remember that guy that you were interested in that only started paying attention only after you started dating some else? Well that is what it’s like in today’s job market. Companies want to hire people that are working and that other people “want”. I get lots of people are out of work these days but don’t leave your job because you feel like you aren’t “valued”…go to your employer and let them know just how valuable you are $$$ and if they are worth their salt they will pay up.
I help people get hired for a living so trust me on this one.
Are you based in NY? Care to help me get hired somewhere else? :)
Marie,
I am based in Los Angeles but my clients are all over the US. check out http://www.ceomethodology.com and reach out to me. I would love to help you.
Kwame
YES YES YES to this article!! i can’t stand my job. i make minimum wage,its hard to get a job if you’re not hispanic (even if you speak spanish they don’t really believe you, so when they say “spanish speaking only” then they pretty much mean latinos (jennifer lopez looking latinos) only), i get 4 hours a day for 3 days (it depends) and my check was at one point $26 and people have the nerve to tell me ” well at least you have a job! you need to be grateful” EXCUSE ME!?!? how the fuck am i supposed to live off of $100 checks?
i know people are trying to be optimistic with ” at least you have all your limbs” “at least you have a job” or ” at least you’re in america and not starving in africa” (s/n why do people ALWAYS use africa as if its the ONLY country with poor folks?)its annoying as hell when you have big dreams and feel like you’re wasting your precious time at your job. i really wish folks who don’t have a job would shut the hell up with the “at least you’re working” cause goddamit they KNOW if they were in my position then they’d be miserable.
this is the reason i don’t even mention anything that happens at work to people who are unemployed cause “at least you have a job” is their kneejerk response.
its kinda like telling an abused wife ” well at least you have a husband” SMH
The worth of human being has no price tage. This may sound like a cliche but your priceless, everyone. The jaintor cleaning the bathrooms is worth the same as the CEO running the entire company. I don’t believe one can put a price tag on what someone is worth. Money paid for skill set however, which is what the discussion here is about depends on the market, level of education, talent etc and that varies from person to person, industry to industry.
Correction, I shouldn’t say worth the same, because character, good heart is worth more than the opposite. The point is education, position of job, etc doesn’t make one person more “worthy” than another. I concede the point of the article is about skill set.
I love this article. This article really put things into perspective for me. Since the first day that I took my job at the NJ Judiciary I wanted to quit. I have a Bachelor in Nutritional Science (Rutgers University) and a Master in Administrative Science (FDU) and there I am working as a Judiciary Clerk 2 making only 26,620.73 a year salary in which I ultimately only bring home 14,000 something a year *taxes and mandatory state fees are taken out*. The only reason I’ve kept this job up until 2 days ago is because it is so close to home. Still, everyday I’d walk into one of the most racist and belittling state office. I had an interview the other day and I accepted that position which gave me the opportunity to quit my job and pursue other opportunities.
You have to know your worth and by no means accept anything less than what you deserve. People won’t give you what you deserve, they’ll give you what you negotiate.
So many people at my previous job are purely miserable in every sense of the word. It’s not worth it to have a job that everyday you walk into the building you just want to leave. I know that some people have financial obligations. However, if you can have a plan A and a plan B. Try your absolute best to live your life with no regrets. You have only 1 life to live. Live it happy.
Ummm, people DO NOT quit your job until you have another one lined up.
Yeah, however, if you fin’nah loose your mind and/or raise up on them folks at your job – even if you don’t have one lined up, go ahead and resign.
Take that unemployment; take the peace-of-mind.
Love the piece Shannon! It’s so true… It’s so easy to just settle for what people give you, but when you know your own worth it becomes that more difficult to accept it. It take so much more effort to leave the shadow of a comfortable position fearing the unknown, however if you truly believe in your self and your worth sometimes that is the only option. #inspired