How I Tripled My Salary In Three Years
My HR career began the day I sat across from one of the most put together women I had ever met, in the most modern lobby I had ever walked through, in a dress from Target that was $12. My close friend, Danielle, was the Recruiter at this organization and had arranged the interview (I’m still so grateful for you, friend). When the offer of $12.50/hr as a Special Projects Assistant came, I knew I had “made it.” Each subsequent position I accepted after this entry level HR role was just another log on the fire that became my career.
Now, at the current highest point of my career (and still climbing) I look over my last three years as an HR Professional and am humbled to say that I have tripled my salary in these last 36 months. I’m no magician, no accountant, and I haven’t won the lottery, but there are a few principles I have held strong to throughout my career that I believe cultivated the three most fruitful years of my HR journey so far.
1) Ditch the paperclips
My very first HR Director, the one that hired me while I was in the $12 Target dress (don’t worry, we’ll talk business attire in a later post) hated paperclips. I loved them because I had picked up cute ones from Ross for $6. She hated paperclips, was remarkably messy, and constantly on the late end of every document or meeting. I quickly realized that the “Special Project” I was assigned to assist wasn’t the relocation initiative I was working on, but the Director. This boss, and every single boss after her, had quirks and needs that were at face value ridiculous. However, my time in HR taught me this crucial lesson - you’ve got to ditch the paperclips to climb the ladder. Aside from immoral requests and people pleasing (future posts), meeting the needs of your colleagues and supervisors in your own department is absolutely necessary to keep your career moving forward. Ditching the paperclips, cleaning my boss’s desk, and going the extra mile to meet her needs made me dependable, flexible, and indispensable. If you’re looking to climb the career ladder but you aren’t willing to meet other people’s needs, you don’t deserve the top, period. When I look back at my last three years (I’m fondly referring to them as my Blast Off Years) I can attribute so much of my success to this mentality, and the stapler I became real close with.
2) Forget your name
My first day at my previous employer changed my career forever. The main offices were in a different state that I flew to, the offices were the most gorgeous, luxurious, closes thing to Google I had ever seen and I was still in shock that I landed the job. My first day was filled with meetings strictly with the C-Suite. The CEO, VP, and other executives wanted to pick my HR brain for everything it was worth, and at one point when the CEO asked me to introduce myself to an even higher executive I literally forgot my name. I ended up saying “I’m new here. I’m nervous but my talent is still here for you to use.” At the end of the day I went to dinner with a colleague I had known before my employment and he said to me, “Kayla, the reason people truly want you around is because you are still authentically surprised and grateful to be here. Don’t ever lose that.” After that moment, I vowed to never let myself become completely comfortable with the position I held. Without sacrificing professionalism there is power in remaining humble and teachable. I’ll never forget the day I stepped foot on the first International Stage I was presenting at for the largest conference I had been invited to in my life. I told myself, “You were born for this. You deserve to be here. But holy crap can you even believe YOU are the one on this stage?!” These last three years have been my Blast Off Years because I’m not afraid to forget my name. When was the last time you were so enamored by your opportunity that you forgot yours?
3) Climbers are Crazy
Although this is the third point of this post, this is the most important reason for my Blast Off Years - all climbers are crazy. Throughout my entire career, and especially recently, I have been absolutely, relentlessly, ridiculously passionate about people. That passion has driven me to make decisions I never thought I could. When new positions became available that were above my pay grade and out of my comfort zone, I convinced myself I could master the position because I was so deeply committed to the people of the organization. Every interview, every presentation, ever document, and yes, every employee relations mediation moment was driven 1000% by a passion for humanity. Passionate that moves you, and a community that help guides you, can only send you forward. If you’re looking to enhance your career and find fulfillment in your 9-5, have you gone crazy for your patrons? I was at a conference several years ago and the Key Note Speaker was Alex Honnold, the man that free climbed El Cap. When asked why he was crazy enough to do something that dangerous Mr. Honnold simply replied, “I was seeking my moment of perfection, and that climb was that moment.” I instantly asked myself, “What’s your HR moment of perfection?” Is it the perfect recruitment process, perfect budget document, perfect onboarding? No - my moment of perfection is the healthy relationships I get to build with employees of all levels. It was never about the money, it was always about them. Are you willing to be a crazy climber too?
These Blast Off Years have been the hardest, most fruitful years of my career. I don’t know you, where you’re at, what your profession is or even if you’re employed. Maybe you’re burned out on people, on the drama that envelops all places of employment, or maybe you’re like me a few years ago and you are at the point of your career where you are so poor that you’re stealing toilet paper from the church bathroom. I don’t know you, but I have been you, I am you, and I can tell you something awful truthful: you’ve got to ditch the paperclips, forget your name, and become a crazy climber.
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” -Vince Lombardi