I was two years out of graduate school when I was offered my dream job. It had almost everything I wanted: work in a field I loved in a mission-driven organization, an impressive title, smart colleagues, global travel, professional development opportunities, and an easy commute from my home in New York City.
But it was missing two things I had hoped for in this next professional move: a third week of vacation and an additional $10,000 in salary.
I reached out to the hiring manager with my requests, and a few days later, she called me back: “I’ve been told that I can offer you one or the other — the vacation time or the salary bump. Which one is more important to you?”
