When to move on or to wait?
Discussion
Hello PH!
As I've got the afternoon off to deliberate I thought I'd ask what some of you would do in my situation.
I currently have a job and whilst the pay is not horrendous it seems to fall below what is offered by other companies in the market by a fair margin and I've considered looking for work elsewhere due to this. The benefits of the job, however, are great, hefty discounts on various products that I most definitely do buy, health and dental and discounted shares of a very successful company and what have you. I also work in a great location which provides a painless commute on some entertaining roads with a little bit of motorway just before the office which would probably be something I'd miss.
I never go into work thinking I have wasted the time, hold no resentment for fellow employees as I get on well with everybody and my managers are great, but the money is just too little for what I feel I deserve. My job is fairly strenuous and in contrast to a lot of others in the field fairly human-facing, which for me being a grumpy b
d can really wear me down sometimes. My only problem is that this is the first job that I've had since university and have been there for just over six months, so I feel that regardless of my academic qualifications I need real on the job experience to 'qualify for' the upgrade in salary that I want. I have fairly consistently been told positive things by management and fellow employees since joining, but I feel six months isn't much at all and was wondering whether it's worth waiting for the magical one year mark to look for something?
Apologies for the wall of text, TLDR: I've been in my job for 6 months, great benefits, I enjoy it, paid too little but I'm a graduate and this is my first job. Look now or wait?
As I've got the afternoon off to deliberate I thought I'd ask what some of you would do in my situation.
I currently have a job and whilst the pay is not horrendous it seems to fall below what is offered by other companies in the market by a fair margin and I've considered looking for work elsewhere due to this. The benefits of the job, however, are great, hefty discounts on various products that I most definitely do buy, health and dental and discounted shares of a very successful company and what have you. I also work in a great location which provides a painless commute on some entertaining roads with a little bit of motorway just before the office which would probably be something I'd miss.
I never go into work thinking I have wasted the time, hold no resentment for fellow employees as I get on well with everybody and my managers are great, but the money is just too little for what I feel I deserve. My job is fairly strenuous and in contrast to a lot of others in the field fairly human-facing, which for me being a grumpy b
d can really wear me down sometimes. My only problem is that this is the first job that I've had since university and have been there for just over six months, so I feel that regardless of my academic qualifications I need real on the job experience to 'qualify for' the upgrade in salary that I want. I have fairly consistently been told positive things by management and fellow employees since joining, but I feel six months isn't much at all and was wondering whether it's worth waiting for the magical one year mark to look for something?Apologies for the wall of text, TLDR: I've been in my job for 6 months, great benefits, I enjoy it, paid too little but I'm a graduate and this is my first job. Look now or wait?
Why do you think you're worth more money?
What have you achieved for the company? Increased revenue, efficiency, customer satisfaction, etc? Reduced waste, costs, etc?
Graduates leave uni with smoke puffed up their arses that they're brilliant. Always have, always will. In reality, you're more of a burden on your employer because of the time other people need to take out of their busy day to show you what to do.
In my gig (advertising), graduates start at the bottom and no-one is considered eligible for promotion until they've been an Account Executive for two years. That's two years learning how to do the job properly.
Some Agencies do promote faster than that, but not the good ones.
What have you achieved for the company? Increased revenue, efficiency, customer satisfaction, etc? Reduced waste, costs, etc?
Graduates leave uni with smoke puffed up their arses that they're brilliant. Always have, always will. In reality, you're more of a burden on your employer because of the time other people need to take out of their busy day to show you what to do.
In my gig (advertising), graduates start at the bottom and no-one is considered eligible for promotion until they've been an Account Executive for two years. That's two years learning how to do the job properly.
Some Agencies do promote faster than that, but not the good ones.
TheMobileChicane said:
Why do you think you're worth more money?
What have you achieved for the company? Increased revenue, efficiency, customer satisfaction, etc? Reduced waste, costs, etc?
Graduates leave uni with smoke puffed up their arses that they're brilliant. Always have, always will. In reality, you're more of a burden on your employer because of the time other people need to take out of their busy day to show you what to do.
In my gig (advertising), graduates start at the bottom and no-one is considered eligible for promotion until they've been an Account Executive for two years. That's two years learning how to do the job properly.
Some Agencies do promote faster than that, but not the good ones.
Don't get me wrong, whilst I was happy getting my degree and work experience at university I don't think it makes me better than the next candidate! Before going to university I had been doing a lot of work in my job sector and until an agreement with my current job was signed I was able to work as a contractor and I largely paid my way through university this way. I work in Software Engineering and I didn't join as a graduate, it was not a graduate position and training has been more of a formality than the burdensome teaching of graduates I've seen before. What have you achieved for the company? Increased revenue, efficiency, customer satisfaction, etc? Reduced waste, costs, etc?
Graduates leave uni with smoke puffed up their arses that they're brilliant. Always have, always will. In reality, you're more of a burden on your employer because of the time other people need to take out of their busy day to show you what to do.
In my gig (advertising), graduates start at the bottom and no-one is considered eligible for promotion until they've been an Account Executive for two years. That's two years learning how to do the job properly.
Some Agencies do promote faster than that, but not the good ones.
Since joining I've been responsible for increased efficiency and have been told this, as there have been a few little ideas I've come up that have really streamlined a few ways of how things are done at work. I've never thought I was overly brilliant due to my degree, I am just aware of others doing similar jobs with a lack of my attitude of 'perfection is in the details' which is why I've done well where I am. It's just that rising above my current station seems very tough with opportunities few and far between, but then again it has only been six months and wondered if any more experienced chaps on here may have experienced similar situations
6 months is almost nothing. I've recruited roles with 6 month probation periods as it can take that long for an employee to fit in, be productive and show more than the initial burst of enthusiasm.
It sounds like you have many of the things that make a job enjoyable and fulfilling. I'd wait until my first year appraisal, or at some other success event like bringing in a project early, and tell your manager that you'd like the opportunity to earn more, and ask his advice on how you could do that. If he thinks you're any good, you'll get some good career advice. Otherwise, you'll know where you stand.
It sounds like you have many of the things that make a job enjoyable and fulfilling. I'd wait until my first year appraisal, or at some other success event like bringing in a project early, and tell your manager that you'd like the opportunity to earn more, and ask his advice on how you could do that. If he thinks you're any good, you'll get some good career advice. Otherwise, you'll know where you stand.
You are lucky to have a job OP at all in this climate, especially as a fresh graduate.
My advice - be thankful for the job that you are in, if you are as good as you say you are, someone will recognise this. Failing that, it is likely that an external supplier / contact (you say you do a lot of face to face in your position) will offer you a position if they see your value.
Times are hard right now and trust me, having a job in the field that you have trained in and studied for is a hard thing to come by.
Chris
My advice - be thankful for the job that you are in, if you are as good as you say you are, someone will recognise this. Failing that, it is likely that an external supplier / contact (you say you do a lot of face to face in your position) will offer you a position if they see your value.
Times are hard right now and trust me, having a job in the field that you have trained in and studied for is a hard thing to come by.
Chris
Edited by toohuge on Monday 2nd September 20:52
After graduating I worked a 6 month contract, got told it would not be extended (company was bought out by a American company, many changes etc), told I had cancer just as the placement was coming to an end, took the next 6 months off due to operations/chemo etc been a year and still looking for a JOB!!!
Think employers are a bit suspicious as to why I have this gap in employment and just discard my cv?? Anyway if I was you I'd keep at it, don't know how good you have it!!!!
Think employers are a bit suspicious as to why I have this gap in employment and just discard my cv?? Anyway if I was you I'd keep at it, don't know how good you have it!!!!
Most companies will review their internal talent, consider pay increases, promotion and responsibilites just ONCE in every year.
Six months in, you probably aren't yet into that cycle.
Far too early to consider a move, you have admitted the many positive points of the role and the company, and you have highlighted some areas for your personal development (learning to be less of a grumpy sod)
I doubt your line manager is even considering you for bigger things at this point, you are still learning the role as far as they are concerned.
Let me give you a hypothetical.
You see another role, with more money. You go for interview, they ask why are you leaving after six months - apart from the money, what can you really point at and say - this is my motivation ?
Worse still imagine you get that job, but six months in you hate it, you manager is a t
t, they pay you more, but work you double, no training etc. You decide to leave so now you have two jobs in 12 months, and aren't happy with either of them - any employer is going to give you a very hard time at interview.
My sincere advice. Get two years on your CV, get an internal promotion if you can - try to build a wide, broad base of skills without specialising too early. Seek regular feedback, tell your boss you are in this for a long while and you want to take every opportunity to learn more and gain new skills.
Money follows sucess, it does NOT procede it.
I'd probably hang round for at least 12 months in your first role. There may be questions asked at interview as to why you're leaving and 'more money' isn't necessarily a good answer after so little time.
I'm also a software engineer, been doing this for 7 years now. Also thought the same when I'd first graduated - that I was pretty st hot and worthy of more money. Suffice to say, I now know that I was an idiot and knew the square root of FA really (and perhaps I still do). Just onto my 4th job so I've moved around a fair bit (18 months in first role, 6 months or so in next - company went into difficulties so i jumped then 4.5 years in my next role before just starting my new one a few months back).
Market does seem fairly buoyant right now, at least for experienced engineers - not sure on grads, so I'd not worry too much. If you can do (and can do, not just believe you can) both tech and client facing skills then it's a pretty positive thing. Too many techies are useless at client facing. Keep at it and you'll probably find you will see fairly decent career progression (after 7 years my basic is 3x my original salary). Worth getting as wide an experience as possible (e.g. get some server admin skills, scripting skills, DB skills as well as softer skills - e.g. look at agile / Scrum as lots of software houses seem to be doing this).
I'm also a software engineer, been doing this for 7 years now. Also thought the same when I'd first graduated - that I was pretty s
t hot and worthy of more money. Suffice to say, I now know that I was an idiot and knew the square root of FA really (and perhaps I still do). Just onto my 4th job so I've moved around a fair bit (18 months in first role, 6 months or so in next - company went into difficulties so i jumped then 4.5 years in my next role before just starting my new one a few months back). Market does seem fairly buoyant right now, at least for experienced engineers - not sure on grads, so I'd not worry too much. If you can do (and can do, not just believe you can) both tech and client facing skills then it's a pretty positive thing. Too many techies are useless at client facing. Keep at it and you'll probably find you will see fairly decent career progression (after 7 years my basic is 3x my original salary). Worth getting as wide an experience as possible (e.g. get some server admin skills, scripting skills, DB skills as well as softer skills - e.g. look at agile / Scrum as lots of software houses seem to be doing this).
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