In a career journey spanning six years, an employment attorney from New York City shares how she strategically changed jobs to quintuple her salary. Initially met with skepticism, this approach allowed her to gain invaluable skills and experience while significantly boosting her earnings. Her strategy focused on skill-building and salary growth over job satisfaction, leading her from a starting salary of $40,000 to an impressive $225,000. This essay explores the key steps and decisions that contributed to her remarkable career progression.

Janelle Romero, a 30-year-old labor and employment law attorney, embarked on a strategic path of job-hopping to advance her career. After graduating from law school in late 2018, she took her first job as a law clerk earning $40,000 annually. Within a year, she had secured a raise to $65,000. Recognizing the limitations of incremental raises, she sought opportunities where her skills could grow rapidly and be better compensated. By switching firms and roles, Romero gained expertise in wage theft and discrimination cases, which significantly increased her value and salary.

Romero's second move was to a firm specializing in discrimination cases, where she earned $85,000 along with additional benefits. After gaining essential experience, she returned to her original firm to head their new discrimination department, increasing her salary to $110,000 plus commission. Leveraging social media platforms like TikTok, she marketed her services effectively, further enhancing her professional value. Later, she joined an international startup as the head of labor law, overseeing HR for over 700 employees, which boosted her salary to $130,000.

The startup faced financial challenges, leading to layoffs, including Romero. However, this setback provided an opportunity to start her own firm. Although initially reinvesting profits into her business, by the end of 2023, she had built a steady stream of cases. In March 2024, she accepted a full-time position at Consumer Justice Law Firm, bringing all her retained cases, resulting in a base salary of $225,000 plus commissions and bonuses.

Romero emphasizes that job-hopping should not be random but strategic. Each move should align with long-term career goals, ensuring that acquired skills compound over time. She advises leaving a job only after reaching the salary ceiling and gaining the intended experience. While enjoying one's work is beneficial, she believes passion should lie outside the workplace, allowing the job to serve as a means to support personal passions.