So, what happens when a big fat salary is dangled in front of you by a potential new employer? Temptation is a powerful thing, but career coaches warn that taking a job just because it offers a pay leap is a dangerous avenue to walk down. It could also deflect employees from making what would otherwise be long-term beneficial changes to their circumstances.

Career coach Derek O'Reilly, managing director of Clarity and Focus, says that opting for a bigger pay packet when there's an underlying problem with the career direction is a sure way to create deeper problems.

O'Reilly says that people should take into consideration three main issues when deciding to move to a better paid job, even though it's not necessarily what they want to do in the longer term.

"Think about what impact doing that will have on your self-esteem, " warns O'Reilly.

"It's also going to negatively affect your job motivation and importantly, could be detrimental to your health and relationships with family and friends."

O'Reilly suggests that even taking higher pay in an existing job could be the wrong move.

"It can be a temptation to take a higher salary in a new company, but equally tempting to accept a higher salary in an existing one. But if it's not going to make you happy in your career, then all that's doing is making you stay and stagnate."

Greg Dalton, managing director of consultancy and coaching firm Q1etc, also cautions that employees should carefully weigh up their options when faced with a career choice and better pay and benefits.

Dalton says that one banker he helped was an assistant manager, and extremely happy with his role. When his immediate boss retired, the assistant manager accepted a promotion.

"He got a better salary, a bigger car and more pension contributions, but suddenly he was starting work earlier and finishing later. He couldn't find the time to do the things he had previously done, such as attending his son's football games, " Dalton explains.

In that instance Dalton sat down with the client and explored the aspects of his existing and previous role, and what had made him content with the former position.

The banker ultimately decided to take a step back down the ladder and revert to his old job, where he's happier with his circumstances.

Dalton and O'Reilly agree that the key is motivation, not pay. Once they can find what would inspire a client to get up on a Monday morning and not dread the day, then they believe they've found a significant piece of the career puzzle.

"Some people are changing jobs for the sake of an additional 2,000, " Dalton says. "After tax, that could be just 100 a month." He adds that employers also need to address circumstances that lead to such turnover. He points out that replacing staff is costly . . . not only in monetary terms, but also due to the time it may take to train somebody in.

While money isn't everything, says O'Reilly, making a career change can ultimately revolve around financial issues.

"People feel like they're standing at the edge of a cliff, " he says. "They worry about whether they'll be able to pay the bills if they move, or what will happen if they fail. We assess their circumstances and try to develop a step-bystep strategy for them. It's all about taking little steps at a time."

Money may talk, but as the song says, it doesn't sing and dance. Only a good career choice will help you do that.