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Not being treated fairly

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by techno28_1

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I work in a mid size company that has only 2 people in the IT Dept. I feel that I am not being treated or paid fairly for the work I do. Currently I don't have a degree or any of the network certifications. However I did take a training course in the IT field that was almost 500 hours of training. I flew through this and was the 3rd highest G.P.A (98%+) in the class out of 25. Now that I have experience (2 + yrs.)and the training I don't come close to make fair market value for my job in my geographical area. With my last review I did bring in data and job descriptions showing that I should be making more then what I was. However I was told that my job doesn't include all the same exact duties of the job descriptions that I brought in. YetI do, do some of those duties since there isn't anyone else in the dept to do them. I also do things that aren't even in those job descriptions and they weren't even being considered. My supervisor gave some garbage reasoning and wouldn't even try to justify his thoughts. Since the IT market is so bad how do I get the fair market value I deserve? I thought about going over my supervisor's head but I think that might backfire. Also I get numerous people in the company telling me how helpful I amand that they don't like talking to my supervisor about the computer problems because he makes them feel stupid or that they're bothering him. If I can do things that he doesn't even have the ability to do and have a better work repoire with our actual customers (the end-users) then how do I get what I feel I deserve. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

7 replies

by pauleugene

'How do I get what I feel I deserve?'
The answer to this is 'with difficulty'
I wish I could give you an easy answer. I suggest keeping your eye out for other jobs. When you leave they will miss you but it will be too late by then.
In the current climate finding other jobs is not going to be easy either.
If you ask for more and they say no, even if you explain how well you are doing, there is nothing much you can do but leave.

by timwalsh

You are sort of stuck. If your supervisor is the one who controls your compensation level, you may very well be in a no win situation in your present position. You might try asking the HR department (or person) if there are any reasons (policy, financial, etc.) that you aren't being paid what you think you are worth.

Ask your supervisor if he would mind if you ask questions elsewhere about a getting paid more. Either he will tell you go ahead (in which case there probably are other reasons why you can't be paid more, which means you are fighting a losing battle), or he may threaten you (in which case he may be underpaying you on purpose to keep his budget low and make him look good to the boss, in which case it probably would backfire on you unless handled very carefully).

Start looking for another job (if you haven't already). Using the threat of leaving (unless you truly are indispensible) (and unless you have a valid job offer waiting) won't do you any good to force a raise.

In the mean time, start working toward one or more meaningful certifications to make yourself more "sellable" on the market. A good certification with the experience to back it up can make a difference when looking for a job.

by tbragsda

Really, I don't mean to burst your bubble. The time you have in is really not that impressive to employers. If you have a employer that is letting you do work outside your expertises, stick with it, learn, and move on.

Several years ago, it waseasy for people with little or no experience to get salaries way beyond their experience level. This did little to help over the long run. People that were in the biz a bit longer felt they had payed their dues, and the "new guys" were just jumping on the bandwagon. Now employers can pick and choose. People with deep experience are looking, and getting pay below their rightful level.

If this is the field for you, stick it out. Learn everything you can, and I mean learn, not just pass tests. In time you will get what you deserve if your worth it. Its a great career for some people, it is the wrong career for some. If you choose it just because you thought their was a good paycheck, keep looking.

by cactus pete

Well, how does the situation look at your company? Users have indicated that they don't like the supervisor. Does upper management? He may be on his way out... Do you want his job? Or would you have a say about who would be hired in his place?
Otherwise, it sures seems like you've outgrown your current position. Your first job in an industry doesn't usually grow with you, so you need to move a couple of times to grow even more - both financially as well as in the development of your skills.

Don't allow this to become bitter, though. Never burn the bridges.

by jkaras

One friend of mine would after discussing compensation and being turned down would pick a day and schedule off early for "personal reasons" in advance and show up in a suit and tie as if he was going on an interview. This would put pressure on his boss with the thought that he might leave whereas the boss would recall him into the office inquiring the dress change. He would reiterate to his boss that it's not about ego for the raise merly that his bills are too high to continue to stay working there for the amount of work completed. HE would assure that he was excercising his options and that he would rather stay then risk starting over, but he had a responsibility to his family to better provide. The boss usually would understand and mostof the time they would compromise, but the boss would increase more responsibility to justify the raise to settle his own ego or the bridge would burn. It just depends on the manager. Get a professional resume together with all your experience, believe it or not most companies look for experience vs. certs/degrees due to many book smart individuals vs. competent individuals.

by cactus pete

I once used some documentation to prove that I was underpaid, given the job and region... Upper management accused me of only caring about the money. [Funny thing was, I worked for a financial trading company.]

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