What are you worth?

[Tonberry]

I'm currently in the position where I believe I'm underpaid.

My work output is as high as everyone elses if not in some cases higher. What I produce is also of a good standard, rivaling colleagues.

You could say I'm at the lower end of my career journey due to age and relative experience but I am willing to put the graft in and learn as much as possible.

Should I be content in earning considerably less than my peers although my work ethic, quality and enthusiasm matches and in some cases surpasses them?

In relation to the poll;

Do you fight for what you believe you're worth? (frequently changing job and making sure you're paid the salary you want)

Or

Do you bumble along in hope of your efforts being recognised?

[Efbe]

three questions:

how long have you done your job for?
what are the promotion prospects?
how do you think your management view you, honestly?

[Bitzer]

I was where you are 6 years ago, so I left a stable permanent job on £40k p.a. and have been contracting ever since.

Best decision I ever made

[carmadgaz]

I'm in a similar position, I started on a low wage as I was needing a job and I was going to be on the bottom of a long learning curve... 6 months on I was turning out equal quality to the others and I was helping train up someone else (which made me realise how much I'd picked up).

So I went to our manager and asked about a few £ extra (a tiny £1ph) and was given a list of things I need to improve on (which is great, I appreciated the feedback). The rest of the conversation suggested to me that even if I did improve the chances of extra money are slim .

If they aren't going to pay me what I'm worth I shall work to what they are paying me but by the same token I enjoy the job so I'm relatively happy staying put.

[Tonberry]

Efbe said:

three questions:

how long have you done your job for?
what are the promotion prospects?
how do you think your management view you, honestly?

3 Years

Promotion seems to be based upon time served rather than competency. There is a queue....

The management I directly work under would describe me as enthusiastic, ambitous (too?) and competent.

I should state that their reasons for lack of progression and / or renumeration is due to lack of a qualification.

My arguement is that this qualification has no bearing on my role in terms of technical competence and therefore should not be used as a reason to limit my progression.

I am currently working towards this qualification but refuse to wait until this is achieved so someone can tick a box and tell me I'm now worth / deserve a little more money.

[Jasandjules]

Tonberry said:

stuff.

From what you've said you don't want to be there.

[Efbe]

3 years is a long time without promotion, or job role change IMO.
I usually get itchy feet at about 1.5 years and aim to progress at 2 years.


If you are getting good reviews, and the business is large enough, then try a move to another dept, if it's not, then I would move on.

Also if lack of qualification could potentially be an issue, then look for a company that could possibly help you out here. I've known several people in our company be put through Degrees whilst on quite low earning jobs

[Fatman2]

I have always made a point of voicing my opinions if I feel a pay rise is justified (never just for the sake of it). If there is a solid case but I don't get what I feel is fair then I'll walk. Not because i'm spitting my dummy out but because I think it is better to actually do something about it than to spend your days feeling aggrieved or moan about it. Believe me, I've spent enough time with colleagues that like to moan like hell and do nothing. A bit of a pet hate tbh.

If you decide to walk then just make sure you've given your employer every opportunity to put it right. Speak to them respectfully and see what happens (most of the time you will at least owe them the courtesy of a discussion).

Good luck!

[bulldog5046]

You sound just like me a few years ago.

Is this an IT role by chance?

I stayed in the same company for 5 years and reached the glass ceiling after 2 promotions but was very poorly paid.

I told all the relevant management I wanted my salary matched or I'd be on my way. They offered me a measly £2k increase which felt insulting so I left and added £8k to my salary.

Oddly, I seem just as poor as I was then. Just that now I have a nice car, nice house and a weekend toy.

Qualifications arnt all that in IT now as long as you can demonstrate high level of knowledge. I still don't have any.

[0000]

I've always moved on. If you're actually worth it to the market, why wouldn't you?

[Big Rod]

Bitzer said:

I was where you are 6 years ago, so I left a stable permanent job on £40k p.a. and have been contracting ever since.

Best decision I ever made

BANG!

[rog007]

Calculating ones worth has always been a challenge and is likely to remain so forever. The variables are huge, and even the government is struggling to work out what to pay its employees, suggesting a new way of doing things through regionalised pay awards; living in the South means you will get paid more than your Geordie collegues doing the same role.

If you're truly worth more than what one employer is willing to pay you, then you should easily be able to find an employer willing to pay you what you think you are worth. That is the simple acid test. It's always worth remembering however, that others do not always see ourselves as we do (Johari's Window theory for those interested in such things). Scarcity is the real differentiator I would argue, in that if what you do is scarce then one would assume you would attract a higher remuneration. If what you do is not scarce, then it is safe to assume pay awards will be lower. Good luck!

[Odie]

The reality of the situation is, your employer is paying you what he thinks you are worth, anything more comes off the profits.

If you want a pay rise you need to move on.

[FLGirl]

rog007 said:

If you're truly worth more than what one employer is willing to pay you, then you should easily be able to find an employer willing to pay you what you think you are worth. That is the simple acid test. It's always worth remembering however, that others do not always see ourselves as we do (Johari's Window theory for those interested in such things). Scarcity is the real differentiator I would argue, in that if what you do is scarce then one would assume you would attract a higher remuneration. If what you do is not scarce, then it is safe to assume pay awards will be lower. Good luck!

I agree with this to a large extent but I do acknowledge situations (which may reflect the OPs) where unimaginative management tend to 'categorise' their employees, and once in a box, and a pay band, it's hard to move up without simply getting out altogether.

This can have the unfortunate effect that less confident or ballsy individuals let this affect their own aspirations and are slowly convinced they won't get better elsewhere.

Knowing only one side of the story, this could be where the OP is at and unless you feel confident that chats with senior management will be productive and rewarding - in terms of them genuinely seeing and being willing to develop your potential - you are simply best off out of it. Of course, he could test the market and find exactly as you describe, that his particular skill set/experience/quals do only command a similar salary. In that case, it's a simple choice of finding a company that does believe in training and internal progression and jumping, or accepting the safer status quo of where you are currently.

The above reflects my own experience but luckily I AM ballsy and thus got noticed and recently promoted. Ironically, the job I've just moved into I'd consider underpaid for what it entails (but well paid overall), as verified by a recent call from another organisation who are offering me 30% more to jump ship.

Job hunting is free, so one has nothing to lose in doing so

[craigb84]

Unfortunately this is an issue I've battled with throughout my career. I have always outperformed my actual title / role and always end up doing the job of someone more senior without actually being given that title. I've generally had to move companies to get what I want.

My general rule is quite simply...if I don't get the money I want for the role I'm doing then im off and will go to someone that will. It's served me well so far. no ultimatums or threats to leave. I'll ask once, maybe twice but if it's ignored I move.

Don't plod though. I've seen the same guys year in year out doing the exact same job just content with everything they have without any ambition. It's sad.

[bulldog5046]

FLGirl said:

This can have the unfortunate effect that less confident or ballsy individuals let this affect their own aspirations and are slowly convinced they won't get better elsewhere.

This is the most accurate sentance i've read. My first employer tried to beat me down as you say. Glad i chose not to listen..

[crofty1984]

craigb84 said:

Unfortunately this is an issue I've battled with throughout my career. I have always outperformed my actual title / role and always end up doing the job of someone more senior without actually being given that title. I've generally had to move companies to get what I want.

My general rule is quite simply...if I don't get the money I want for the role I'm doing then im off and will go to someone that will. It's served me well so far. no ultimatums or threats to leave. I'll ask once, maybe twice but if it's ignored I move.

Don't plod though. I've seen the same guys year in year out doing the exact same job just content with everything they have without any ambition. It's sad.

Why? Maybe their ambitions lie outside work, or they want a low-stress job that pays just enough for them to enjoy their real life and get the bills paid.

I do see what you mean by the rest of your post though.

[R12HCO]

I am also young, and know how you feel. Unfortunatly, its a matter of life and I have come to except it.

I had a customer make a comment on how things run smoother when I orgainise the tasks at hand as oppose to a college, who earns approximatley 30% more than what I do.

If something goes wrong, I wil happily put the overalls back on and help sort it out/do said task at hand if needed. He wouldnt even consider this.

As I have come from 'nothing' and gradually working up, doing qualifications that said collegue hasnt got, I dont see no reward. I believe the best way is to leave the company, join another company where you are just another kid and not the 'young one' or the 'apprentice'. A friend recently did this, and got a £12k a year rise.

Im still referred to (by the longer serving employees) as an 'apprentice' even though I have not been one for a number of years, and given an different job roles. I feel the only ones who talk to you like an adult, and have trust in you, are the people who have joined the company fairly recently.

[fin racer]

I feel I get reasonably well paid for what I do, even so I take on many other tasks not directly related to my job title/responsibilities. I understand the need to be flexible in most jobs, never moreso than in todays market.
However this does not equate to job satisfaction. As such I am studying a degree to a completely different career.

[Stupeo]

Sorry to hijack but was speaking to family at weekend about this.

If you are a manager of a small team in a small business, would you expect to be on more than any of your team? It's worth noting that the 'manger' is the youngest but she has also been with the company the longest. Again it's IT related.