I have worked in recruiting for 18 years and I am convinced, more than ever, that salary should not be the main factor in choosing your new job.

While being fully aware of the importance of the variable remuneration in the equation leading to the choice of a change of job, I find that a good number of potential candidates with whom we exchange attach an inordinate importance to it. I know that at the end of the day salary is the determining factor in the vast majority of job changes (after all, no one likes to see their salary go down), but I believe that many are missing out on interesting and stimulating because of the too great importance given to remuneration.

I no longer count the number of times a candidate had only one and only question about a position for which we approached him: what is the salary related to this job? I am not of the school of those who believe that the salary question should only be discussed once the recruitment process has started well since a good candidate is priceless, but I expect more of a potential candidate.
Indeed, I consider that a job is more than a salary and that other factors are also very important in choosing a job. The nature of the position and the responsibilities attached to it, the values of the organization, the manager to whom the candidate will report, the possibilities for advancement, the work schedule, etc. are factors that should be as important as salary in a candidate's decision.

I am always surprised when we talk to someone living in Ste-Julie or Boucherville on the South Shore of Montreal, working every day in the West Island of Montreal and not showing interest in a position. very interesting, much closer to his home for the simple reason that the salary scale is not sufficiently higher than his current scale. It is the same for someone who is unhappy and dissatisfied with his job, but who receives a salary above the market. A bit of what we call at work, a golden cage!

Well-being and job satisfaction are not just a question of salary! It is first and foremost to occupy a position that suits us, to have a pleasant working environment (colleagues, direct supervisor, etc.) and to eliminate as much as possible the irritants that we can control such as transportation time, schedule, etc.

Before making the decision to change or name a job, you should think about all the factors and give salary an important, but not overwhelming, place in your decision.