Asking for a demotion
Discussion
I got a support role in IT straight out of university, after 2 years I was promoted to a consultant and 2 years after that a project manager (that was 2 years ago).
In all this time I have only ever received default 2-4% yearly salary increases (which everyone in the company gets), so I am not on much more than my starting figure 6 years ago (despite currently managing a $1 million project and €100k project simultaneously).
I have tried to tactfully negotiate a tangible pay rise but have been told "there is no money in the budget, all profits go to the shareholders, ask next year".
I am competent at my job and have project manager certifications but the lack of competitive salary really winds me up, especially when the unpaid overtime puts me on less pound per hour than when I was on support.
I have thought about asking for a demotion back to support as it’s a much easier job and it’s the pay is so similar, in fact given I've never received a pay raise for my new position I am guessing they can't dock my salary?
In the meantime while enjoying a more relaxed role I will spend my time looking for a new job to make best of my skill set.
Does this have the potential to back fire on me?
In all this time I have only ever received default 2-4% yearly salary increases (which everyone in the company gets), so I am not on much more than my starting figure 6 years ago (despite currently managing a $1 million project and €100k project simultaneously).
I have tried to tactfully negotiate a tangible pay rise but have been told "there is no money in the budget, all profits go to the shareholders, ask next year".
I am competent at my job and have project manager certifications but the lack of competitive salary really winds me up, especially when the unpaid overtime puts me on less pound per hour than when I was on support.
I have thought about asking for a demotion back to support as it’s a much easier job and it’s the pay is so similar, in fact given I've never received a pay raise for my new position I am guessing they can't dock my salary?
In the meantime while enjoying a more relaxed role I will spend my time looking for a new job to make best of my skill set.
Does this have the potential to back fire on me?
Resign and try to get a raise.
If not, get a new job.
I don't think intentionally demoting yourself is a good idea - what would you put on your CV? You either lie and say your role is something different, or you look like you got demoted. Neither of which will look good to recruitment agencies or potential interviewers..
If not, get a new job.
I don't think intentionally demoting yourself is a good idea - what would you put on your CV? You either lie and say your role is something different, or you look like you got demoted. Neither of which will look good to recruitment agencies or potential interviewers..
There are many reasons why you might not be getting raises such as
- They cannot afford it
- They don't think you will leave so don't need to pay you more
- They don't value your work as much as you do
The solution is to find another job as whatever the reason, they do not value your time as much as you do and it sounds like you have qualifications and experience so finding something new should not be too tough
- They cannot afford it
- They don't think you will leave so don't need to pay you more
- They don't value your work as much as you do
The solution is to find another job as whatever the reason, they do not value your time as much as you do and it sounds like you have qualifications and experience so finding something new should not be too tough
grumbledoak said:
That's not a good plan. Go straight to plan b) find a new job.
This. Don't resign until you have a job offer on the table though.Even if a rise is offered I would I would leave personally. It sounds like you are competent otherwise you would not have been promoted. You are being kept back by the fact you joined from Uni. In a new job you will be seen as the person you are now.
I've done it a few times and have zero regrets.
This should be something that comes up in regular reviews. If they're not doing regular reviews you might have to ask yourself and them why not.
It's the bit about where you see yourself going and what you bring to the company, so that your skills are used in the right places. It's an opportunity for you to say that you feel you're better able to help customers and the company do what they need to do if you're working in the Support team. Because you really enjoy it, and ideally if you can get a cross-promotion to that team, you'll have an easier time getting up every morning and coming to work.
If you were to position it properly, you might find that you keep your extra few % and do the job that you 'want' to do
It's the bit about where you see yourself going and what you bring to the company, so that your skills are used in the right places. It's an opportunity for you to say that you feel you're better able to help customers and the company do what they need to do if you're working in the Support team. Because you really enjoy it, and ideally if you can get a cross-promotion to that team, you'll have an easier time getting up every morning and coming to work.
If you were to position it properly, you might find that you keep your extra few % and do the job that you 'want' to do
HuntD said:
I got a support role in IT straight out of university, after 2 years I was promoted to a consultant and 2 years after that a project manager (that was 2 years ago).
In all this time I have only ever received default 2-4% yearly salary increases (which everyone in the company gets), so I am not on much more than my starting figure 6 years ago (despite currently managing a $1 million project and €100k project simultaneously).
I have tried to tactfully negotiate a tangible pay rise but have been told "there is no money in the budget, all profits go to the shareholders, ask next year".
I am competent at my job and have project manager certifications but the lack of competitive salary really winds me up, especially when the unpaid overtime puts me on less pound per hour than when I was on support.
I have thought about asking for a demotion back to support as it’s a much easier job and it’s the pay is so similar, in fact given I've never received a pay raise for my new position I am guessing they can't dock my salary?
In the meantime while enjoying a more relaxed role I will spend my time looking for a new job to make best of my skill set.
Does this have the potential to back fire on me?
I was in a similar position to you a few years ago, having been promoted with the promise of more money as my experience grew etc. None of this really materialised, and all I was getting for my trouble was more work and the blame,for stuff that other people were doing, going wrong.In all this time I have only ever received default 2-4% yearly salary increases (which everyone in the company gets), so I am not on much more than my starting figure 6 years ago (despite currently managing a $1 million project and €100k project simultaneously).
I have tried to tactfully negotiate a tangible pay rise but have been told "there is no money in the budget, all profits go to the shareholders, ask next year".
I am competent at my job and have project manager certifications but the lack of competitive salary really winds me up, especially when the unpaid overtime puts me on less pound per hour than when I was on support.
I have thought about asking for a demotion back to support as it’s a much easier job and it’s the pay is so similar, in fact given I've never received a pay raise for my new position I am guessing they can't dock my salary?
In the meantime while enjoying a more relaxed role I will spend my time looking for a new job to make best of my skill set.
Does this have the potential to back fire on me?
(there was all manner of stuff that employees under me were failing to achieve, and I was having to sort them out while taking the flack, while disciplinaries for the failings were stalling once they got to him)
I, like you, got fed up of feeling like I was being taken advantage of, and arranged a meeting with my manager. I told him about all my concerns and that things had to change or I would review my options.
I find the best tactic isn't to give them an ultimatum, but just to say you aren't happy and what you would like to change. They will no doubt ask what has brought this on, and I always like to say that I'm not happy with the way things are at the moment and I'm just reviewing all the options that got resolve it. It strongly hints that you might resign, but without coming out and saying it.
If it helps, I ended up taking a sideways move away from the problem and I'm much happier. Most companies don't want to lose experienced staff that know their product, even if the do treat them like crap.
Vaud said:
Yours is a classic grad+3/4 years experience.
The above is correct.Unless you're lucky, most Employers do not tend to be extravagantly benevolent - they are a business, and will operate as such.
Especially as a Grad, or internally-trained person, they'll pile more work & responsibility on and give as little a pay-rise as they think they can get away with. It's like a football team who try and keep an emerging youth-team product 'on the cheap', but splash the cash to buy an exotic foreign import.
In my experience, you don't tend to have anything happen for you, unless you make it happen for you.
Without having exerted a little pressure every now & again - including leaving & being asked back again - I doubt I'd be remunerated as I am now.
IT skills are very transferable - get a few interviews under your belt, speak to recruiters, get an idea of your commercial value, and then get the safety-net of a definite, solid alternative job offer that you're happy with, and either accept it, or try and parlay it into a rise at your current place.
Do it respectfully, and you can't twist arms every year with the same tactics, or cry wolf. You've nothing to lose.
Edited by UnclePat on Thursday 6th April 13:17
This is gonna sound stupid, but next time someone mentions profits to shareholders, if its a listed company, say you are a shareholder. Even better if you actually are. Always stops stupid people in their tracks that.
Ask for a payrise again, when its refused start applying for jobs, put the person you asked for a payrise as your reference if your asked for one.
Speak to the dippiest cow in HR, you know the mumsie one, cry in front of her, about your frustration at not feeling valued by the company anymore.
Get signed off with stress while you find an alternative job
Ask for a payrise again, when its refused start applying for jobs, put the person you asked for a payrise as your reference if your asked for one.
Speak to the dippiest cow in HR, you know the mumsie one, cry in front of her, about your frustration at not feeling valued by the company anymore.
Get signed off with stress while you find an alternative job
UnclePat said:
Especially as a Grad, or internally-trained person, they'll pile more work & responsibility on and give as little a pay-rise as they think they can get away with. It's like a football team who try and keep an emerging youth-team product 'on the cheap', but splash the cash to buy an exotic foreign import.
Great analogy 
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