Why to take a 50% Pay Cut

Hopefully, I will be starting an internship in March at a local company here in Düsseldorf.

This internship will reduce my monthly income by about 50%.

So why would I do such a thing?

Strategy.

The job I currently have allows me to work with great people, in flexible hours, and pays decently. However, it is not a career. It does not utilize my greatest strengths. It will not bolster or improve my resume or recommendation to others. It is not in a field I want to work in for the rest of my life.

I could probably get another job which would pay better, have better benefits and more security. However, based on my previous work experience it would most likely be in a customer service role which would also not utilize my strengths and would actually require me to work from my weakest points.

So I am taking a leap. This internship will help me to break into a field which I want to work in. It will allow me to utilize my strengths. It will help me to learn about how a real creative firm works. At the end, I will have a new entry in my resume which will recommend me to other firms and companies in this field.

Ultimately, the value of the experience and the improvement to my resume outweighs the immediate financial gain I would have by staying where I am. It is an investment which looks long term over short term.

When was the last time you evaluated your career strategy?

Continuing the adventure, 

Jessica