I just recently (about 4 months ago) jumped ship from a mindless break-and-fix Help Desk tech to a position more conducive to my college education. The salary jump was roughly +24k (and it was really my only offer in a 3 month span) so, naturally, I took it. I'm 24 years old so making almost 70k gave me a rock hard boner you could hang your tools on.

I wasn't out of work at the time, but was so desperate to leave my current job that I was willing to work for Hitler if the pay was decent, figuratively speaking of course.

My benefits now don't really compare to my old position WRT paid time off. However, I get paid relatively equally for other people in my position. I compared myself to friends that I graduated college with that have similar positions in my geographic location. But honestly, there really was no negotiation with my employer when I got my offer letter, because I was so desperate to change gigs...Did I make a huge mistake? Do you think I should have followed some of these steps?

BTW, great article...I am passing this link to my girlfriend who is thinking about changing jobs