Career path - Ask the expert.

(From Post Magazine)

Byline: Ciara Rothwell, senior consultant with Joslin Rowe's Manchester

Most regional insurance professionals have probably considered a move to the London market at some point in their careers but while many choose to change locations, countless others decide to remain where they are. So how do you make this important decision and how can you future proof against any regrets down the line?

The first step is to analyse your reasons for moving. You mention that your concerns are based around your salary and current career progression, so let's examine the first of these issues - remuneration. You don't state what you currently earn but it is worth pointing out the salary band for commercial broker roles at your level in the North West can be very wide. Some brokers pay at the low end of the scale - typically GBP17,000, although the average is generally around GBP24,000. However, Joslin Rowe has recently recruited for roles up to GBP29,000. Therefore, you might want to explore other options in the Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool markets first as it might be possible to automatically increase your salary increase by GBP5000 or GBP6000 simply by moving 'across the road'.

Alternatively, why not approach your immediate line manager next time you have a review and ask for a pay rise? Most companies would rather consider ...