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Question

I want a good paying job that isn't gonna stress me out i love science and reading im good at both I want a 6 figure salary but i wanna make sure i pick the right job. I don't have a lot of motivation to do alot of anything i just wanna be happy and paid.

Amy Fortney, PMP · Answer

I'm choosing to take you seriously. From the way you've written this message, I'm assuming you are either part of Generation Z or a young Millennial. Even if you are not, you are the audience that I coach and mentor to build a career rather than just holding down a job.

First, there is no six figure job out there (no job at all, in fact) that will tolerate low motivation, provide no stress, and keep you happy 100% of the time. It doesn't exist. Happiness is a relative concept because life and business are constantly changing. Those who love their jobs have weighed the pros and cons of what they do and have decided that the cons are far outweighed by the pros. They have a 'why' and that keeps them moving forward. They are usually glass-half-full people. They focus on the power of what they do and find their fulfillment in that knowledge while doing what they can to minimize the cons that come with the same. Happiness is sometimes a choice. They do not have jobs. They have careers.

The next thing you should know is that less than 15% of American workers (if you are based here) make $100K or more. In fact, only 20+% of American households with two incomes cross that threshold. If you want to be a part of that group on your own without a partner, you will need to make some decisions that serve you with respect to education and career path.

You mention science and math and that's a great place to start. I would recommend purchasing Strengthsfinder to find your top Strengths and then taking a Myers Briggs personality test (find a free one online) to see what those tests suggest you are most suited to do. Next, Google: 'Highest paying science and math careers' and look at the lists that come up (look at more than one.) Read those lists and then take those job titles and go to a job search site to see the job postings. What matches with your strengths? Look at the educational requirements and the tasks for those jobs. What seems like a best fit? If you need additional education, what programs and financial plans do you need to make?

When you find more than one career that seems like a fit, Go to payscale.com and salary.com to research what the jobs pay as a starting salary and then what the more advanced roles will pay. There are profiles in there from real people who will tell you how they got to high-level or executive roles.

Google a career plan template and fill it out. Think very specifically about the kind of house, car, life that you want. Find out how much those things cost to back into an annual salary that you would need to have to live that lifestyle as well as invest for your retirement. How does that match with the career path you have researched for your areas of interest and strength?

Record the steps of your plan and use that as a living document to guide you on your way.

A few more pieces of advice:
1. Successful people who rise to the top of their fields are also great communicators. Look for free courses on YouTube, LinkedIn, through Toastmasters and other places to perfect your written and spoken communication. This post does not use complete sentences or proper grammar. While that might not seem important to you, you are presenting it to a group of professional women. Your communication style can help you advance.
2. You need to find your 'why.' There is no piece of advice that I can offer you if you cannot find the wellspring of your own motivation. A six figure salary is an achievement and it does not come easily for most. There are going to be challenging times that will stretch you and stress you. Motivation must be there.
3. If you already have a few years of professional experience behind you, update your resume and look at it. What do the jobs have in common? What happened at them that was negative? What happened that was positive? What patterns do you see in your choices and the results? Hidden in most resumes is what people gravitate toward. I learned many years ago that I was attracted to roles where I had to clean-up someone else's mess. While it made me feel like the heroine of my own story, it wasn't necessarily good for my mental health.

There. That's as much as I'm willing to give you at this point. The rest is up to you.

Sweet Caroline · Answer

Don't we all want to be happy and get paid!

Kay Dougherty · Answer

This is totally unrealistic! People don’t hand out easy jobs designed for you to be happy and then pay you in the 6 figures for them . I assume this is a fake comment.

Nancy Michael · Answer

Anonymous never said 'easy job'.  They want a job suitable for them so that they will not be stressed out. This does not mean it isn't demanding or does not require complex processes. Lack of motivation can mean they want to sit around all day. Or, (since they wish this high salary) perhaps they wish  a job that is structured so that they do not have to reinvent the wheel every day.  In other words, being self employed is not their forte'.

I want a similarly compensated job that suits my talent and broad experiences. Once again, this can be a complex job that suits my analytical mind and Excel skills as well as the myriad of experiences and skills I can bring to the table.

There is nothing wrong with being properly compensated for our abilities and our experience.

Anonymous · Answer

More money = more stress and responsibility typically. Expect it. Do your best. Expect challenges - that's how you grow. Show up with energy and willingness to contribute the most you can. Start where you are and move up as you gain skills.

Kristyn Parker-Meyer · Answer

I think it's hard to know if you've ever 100% picked the right job. You might interview and think that it checks all the boxes and then get there and the culture sucks. Do you have a degree in those fields? I dreamed of working for myself, from home, writing to my hearts content. It took YEARS, but I just finally took the leap a year ago. I make far less money than I did, but I am HAPPY. And happiness is worth more than any amount of money.

Anonymous · Answer

Your pay is generally based on impact on others by your performance based on tasks.  6 figure income requires lots of motivation and hard/smart work.

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