How I found my self-worth

Q: This isn't a question, but something I wanted to share. I finally ironed out the details of my new job. I was taking a shower, and I had this fleeting thought: "Wow. They are really paying too much for me to take this job. With benefits, salary and bonus, I am really being paid way too much for this job. I would have taken it for less."

Then I stopped and chided myself for these negative thoughts.

Obviously, I realized, I must be filling some need if they are willing to hire me. And, I thought to myself, I am very good at what I do, I know the company, I know the people, and I know I will do a great job.

Of course, I am sure there are cases where people are paid far more than they are worth for a job. But it dawned on me, really for the first time, how much I have shortchanged myself over the years by thinking things like, "Oh, I don't think I could do that job," or "They wouldn't want someone with my background for that," or "I know they wouldn't be able to meet my salary for that position."

I realized that I really have been selling myself short in a lot of ways in my career, rather than "reaching for the brass ring" and extending myself a bit further to achieve more.

Now I know that the first step in looking for a better position is valuing yourself and what you can do for an employer, regardless of your job history and industry background. It's a mistake I hope that I never make again.

NICK'S REPLY: Your story is perfect end-of-year career wisdom. Such a clear expression of self-worth is more instructive than any advice I can dole out. Thanks for sharing it.

People who know what they are worth have a power that surpasses the greatest negotiation skills. Their worth is not measured in dollars, but in self-confidence. When you recognize your skills and ability to fix, improve or influence a business, the money follows. Congratulations!

THE HEADHUNTER TIP:

I don't know anybody.

The best path to a new job is personal contacts. But people complain that they just don't know anybody who can help them gain entry to a particular company.

That's flat-out wrong. So I'm going to enumerate some of the people you know who can help you.

-- The reporter who wrote the article about the company you want to work for.

-- The manager featured in the article.

-- The friend whose friend works at the company.

-- The accountant who works for the firm that does the company's payroll.

-- The banker who knows the lawyer who represents the company.

But you say you don't know all those people? You just don't know them yet. You probably know at least one, and the rest you can get to know by picking up the phone. So get to work.

Copyright 2008. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate

Nick Corcodilos is author of "Ask The Headhunter: Reinventing the Interview to Win the Job" and the host of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He can be reached by e-mail at seattle@asktheheadhunter.com or at North Bridge Group, P.O. Box 600, Lebanon, NJ 08833. Sorry, no personal replies.