Finding your way to a high-paying job isn’t always easy. From coming across conflicting information about pay to juggling multiple applications and job interviews, you may feel the urge to jump at any offer that comes your way.
But with the right tools and information in hand, you can take strategic steps to land that high-paying job you’ve been yearning for. Finding a high-paying job is a great tool to help you plan for your children’s future. You can open up a custodial account for them and put some of your earnings towards savings for them.
But there are many steps you’ll have to take first. Let’s take a look at five things you can do to find a high-paying job and set your career on a great trajectory.
1. Master your niche
Specializing in a subject related to your industry is crucial to positioning yourself as an industry expert — and landing a high-paying job.
If you haven’t picked a niche already, consider picking a subject you love learning about and are naturally good at. Graduating with a degree in web design and love designing logos? Position yourself as the go-to logo expert. Have experience in business management but think you want to be a project manager? Take project management courses and get your PMP certification. Love coding websites and apps? Master web development and create your portfolio online.
You can also use open education resources like StuDocu to access thousands of university course materials around the world. Use these resources to study up on your niche, expand your knowledge, and sharpen your expertise.
2. Learn how to make your money work for you
Have you ever heard the saying, “it’s not how much you make, it’s what you do with how much you make”? The saying is true for a reason: all the money in the world won’t give you the financial health you’re craving if you don’t know how to manage it.
Here are some tips you can use to strengthen your money management skills before landing that dream job:
- Take a budgeting course to learn how to allocate funds for fixed expenses, flexible expenses, and savings
- Use resources like the Motley Fool to learn how to invest money safely
- Open up a ‘curveball’ account you can depend on for emergencies like car maintenance and spontaneous doctor visits
- Take a credit building course to learn how to manage credit and qualify for low-interest rates
- Learn how to trade and buy/sell stocks with stock trading apps like like Binance and Top Step Trader
- Learn tricks for paying off debt faster, such as paying extra money towards your loans’ principal balances
- Learn to keep your spending in check by modernizing your shopping habits to make use of coupons and promos.
- Negotiate with trustworthy website brokers to sell your online business at amazing prices.
- Get on podcasts to further share your story with thousands of listeners.
3. Get familiar with industry-standard rates
Getting familiar with standard industry rates is the only way to know if a job is offering a salary on a higher pay scale. Whatever you do, don’t accept a job that pays below industry standards. Doing so can make it more difficult to scale up your salary in the long run.
It’s also wise to discuss pay with former alumni and employees who already hold the position you’re going for.
4. Learn what special skills and experience leads to higher pay
Almost every industry has certain sectors that are considered more valuable. For instance, a neurologist will probably have a higher salary than a general doctor. Additionally, an artificial intelligence expert will generally have a higher salary than a web programmer.
Every industry also values certain skills over others. There are some industries that value employees who are multilingual. Others prefer those who are self-starters and mentors. By learning what skills and sectors pay the most, you can start refining your skills to match the needs of high-paying jobs.
It’s one thing to possess the skills, but you also have to highlight them in your resume and in places where recruiters might look, like your LinkedIn profile. Consider consulting resume experts if you lack the confidence to apply for jobs with the CV you did yourself. You can also try creating a video resume for yourself in order to stand out and grab recruiter’s attention. Also when creating an online resume or profile, make sure you add a professional-looking filter to your photos or get headshots taken.
5. Get plenty of relevant experience
While having a degree or certification helps — and is sometimes necessary — having one often isn’t enough to qualify for a high-paying job. What will qualify you for a high-paying job, however, is having relevant experience in your field. Having relevant experience shows employers that you:
- Have the necessary skills to perform the job well
- Have essential industry practice
- Take your job seriously
- Value practicing and refining your skills
From accepting a freelance position to signing up for an internship, getting industry-related experience is vital to positioning yourself as an industry expert.
Wrap up
Mastering your niche, learning how to manage money, getting familiar with industry standards, and getting plenty of relevant experience can be the keys to setting yourself up for a high-paying job.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by these tips? Start with one tip at a time and work your way up from there. Over time, you’ll land the job that’s the right match for your expertise and pay expectations.
This is a guest post written by Bethany Santos. Bethany is a former HR Officer who later found her specialty in digital marketing. With a keen interest in content optimization and market behavior, she’s become a walking database for industry news.
