Remember the ad where the kids were saying things like “I want to work my way up to middle management”? You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJB0CzlzSwY The IT market is hot right now – CS graduates are getting offers as they enter their senior year, jobs are aplenty, and the possible areas one can pursue a career is endless. It is an incredibly exciting time for job seekers because the opportunities are so diverse and potentially rewarding. Which means: if you’re looking at jobs in this market, there is a bit more weight to your decision; and, that’s as it should be. Our decisions today – find a new job, stay at our current job, etc. – have long-term implications.

We can all find work to do, even meaningful work. If you’re in IT, you can find a job, too, a job that pays the bills, provides some sort of retirement plan, and maybe even a little discretionary income. The combination of enjoyable work while on the job over the course of the long term is what I’d consider a successful career… and having a successful career is a lot harder than finding a job.

People often look at salary and financial compensation as their most important factor when considering a job. However, in my experience, seeking and getting a higher salary isn’t a predictor of a successful career. So, if you’re looking for a job or are just evaluating your current one, here are some other aspects to consider.

• Co-workers – do you like the people you’re working with? Do you respect them as individuals personally and professionally? Who would you be working with in a new job? Do you know?
• Interesting work – what do you do each day? Is it intellectually stimulating? Do you feel good about your contribution? Is there opportunity to grow, learn, and try new things?
• Diversity – can you try out different roles, get involved with new initiatives, or even change tracts within the same company?
• Long-term growth – What were other people doing 5 years ago at the company and what are they doing now? What are the prospects for you and how do they feel? Does it excite you?
• Company – what is their history? How successful is the company and what do they attribute that success to? Successful companies don’t underpay top performers, but they also don’t overpay unproven employees.

If you pick a job based primarily on salary, you’ll miss many other important evaluation criteria. People don’t start out their job search looking to have a mediocre career, but job choices along the way lead them there. Spend some time thinking about your goals and aspirations and evaluate potential job changes on more than just salary… it will significantly raise your chances of having a successful career.