Got a big raise, but still unhappy with job – now what?

I accepted a new job and gave my boss the standard two weeks notice. She begged me to stay and increased my salary by $30,000! So I accepted, but it’s only been a few weeks later and I’m still unhappy. How long should I stay before I look for a new job?

Congrats on both the external job offer and the internal pay increase! You’re not alone. Many times counter offers are extremely tempting to stay. And let’s face it, especially with inflation, money talks. It’s typically the No. 1 driver of a job search.

But when a company pays you this much when you’re on your way out, the question is: Why didn’t they value you when you were there? You know, before you resigned?

You’re still unhappy. Identify the reasons why you’re unhappy. Maybe it is a job you already mastered with nowhere to grow into internally, or maybe it was toxic. Whatever the reason, start looking for a new job today. Seriously.

You landed one job offer, you can land another one.

If you get a new job soon and resign again, you can thank your boss for the opportunity to stay, but express that the reasons why you wanted to leave remain intact and you’re moving on.

I really like my job! But I know I’m underpaid and my company keeps hiring people all around me with a higher starting salary than what I earn. And I’ve been here a couple of years. What should I do?

Let’s start with the positive: You like your job! That’s great news. But do you love it? Meaning, another job at another employer will likely recognize you and pay you what you’re worth.

I strongly suggest you conduct an external job search ASAP. Companies are still hiring — in fact, there’s a tight labor market, meaning they can’t hire qualified candidates fast enough. So revise your resume, polish it, revise it again and then start applying to jobs as soon as you see them available and network, network, network.

The worst that can happen is that you’ll discover the opportunities don’t bring you what you need most, whether it’s flexibility, learning/growth, benefits and perks, etc. I’m a former corporate recruiter and

I’ve seen some candidates still accept a job offer even though the compensation was below their expectations because everything else was in alignment: the awesome culture, rapport with the boss and colleagues, benefits and perks, etc.

Also, remember that you can always withdraw your candidacy. But you won’t know what’s out there unless you start looking. Think of it as a game!

You can, of course, decide to stay and talk to your boss about a potential raise. Highlight your achievements and mention the new hires earning more than what you already contribute to the company. Plus they won’t be up to speed right away since there’s a learning curve and assimilation period. This will definitely give you a better sense of where you stand with the company if the answer’s a flat-out “no.” Maybe you can get a raise and continue working there!

Even if this is the case, I still suggest looking for a new job. There may be an even higher-paying job to match your skills, abilities and experiences.