What If The ‘Better Job’ Isn’t The One With A Higher Salary?

We’ve all been there.

You receive more than one career opportunity — and suddenly, you’re stuck.

On paper, one role looks better. Higher pay. Bigger title. More prestige.
But something about the decision doesn’t feel clear.

Here’s the part most people overlook:
the same person can look like an A-player in one environment and a B-player in another.

Fit matters.

When your strengths align with what a company truly values, you stand out.
When they don’t, even a “good” role can feel like an uphill climb.

Fulfilment doesn’t come from job titles alone.
It starts with self-awareness.

Here’s a simple framework to help you choose with clarity — especially when salary alone isn’t giving you the answer.

1. Define Your Values

Your top values act like a GPS. They guide your decisions when options feel equally attractive.

For some people, that’s financial growth.
For others, it’s stability, flexibility, or autonomy.

The key is to go beyond vague statements and define what each value looks like in real life.

Too vague:
“Flexibility to work from home.”

Clear and useful:
“Flexibility to work from home two days a week, and the ability to leave at 5pm to pick up my kids, while staying available later if needed.”

Specific values create a simple decision filter:
Which role actually supports what matters most to me right now?

Your values will evolve over time — but knowing your priorities in this season helps you move forward intentionally.

2. Know How You Thrive

We don’t all do our best work in the same environments. I call this your thrive zone.

For me, that’s organisations that are smaller, leaner, and more global.
Others thrive in highly structured environments with clear rules and steady processes.

Neither is right or wrong.

What matters is being honest about where you do your best work — and choosing environments that allow that to happen, rather than fighting against it every day.

3. Match Yourself to the Company Stage

Different company stages require different strengths.

Startups tend to reward people who are flexible, resourceful, and comfortable with ambiguity.
More mature organisations value execution, systems, and scale.

Before deciding, ask yourself:
Do my strengths match what this company needs right now?

A strong match here often matters more than salary in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Career decisions are rarely permanent.

Today’s choice doesn’t lock in your future — it sets you on a path that can open doors to even better opportunities later.

So instead of asking,
“Which job is better?”

Try asking one powerful question:

Where will I be the A-player I’m meant to be?

That’s how you choose with clarity and confidence.

Over to you:
What’s one value that guides your career decisions?

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