how much do they pay?
Recently, a friend of mine who just assumed a technical director at an internet company told me that they're looking for an interactive art director.
They're looking for someone who are familiar with both the design and technology aspects of web projects. In addition to that, since they're trying to get into a foreign market, they need someone who has experience of managing an offshore production team.
The last portion of the requirements was the reason why he reached out to me since he knows that I've been doing that in the past few years.
Unfortunately, I don't think that opportunity is for me, so I recommended someone else who I think have all the above.
So I approached that person and started telling him about the opportunity. The first question he asked was: "How much do they pay?"
I'm not writing this to judge that person for asking that question because I think fair compensation is a very important factor for considering an opportunity.
I know what it's like to be overworked and underpaid. Not a very good feeling. Obviously, after we put in much effort, we would like to receive a proportionate return.
Following that train of thought, I would like to suggest everyone who's considering a new employment opportunity to ask the question above, but not only considering the pay in terms of monetary value.
Consider a broader term of "payment" as anything that you could get in return for your service. Often times, the "payment" that we cannot appraise in monetary value are the kinds of return that are more valuable than money. Some examples of that kind of return are learning opportunity from a more experienced person, more time to do what you want to do outside work, the luxury of getting enough sleep at night or being exposed to a certain process/industry.
So ask: "How much do they pay?" But also ask: "What are the forms of payments that this job offer?"