Should I switch jobs?
May 26, 2005 5:51 AM Subscribe
CareerFilter: I have been working at an education software company for over 6 years. In this time, my responsibilities have multiplied and my pay had increased in steady (but small) increments, which is fine. But I have some concerns and need some advice from anyone with experience or perspective on "moving up". (more inside)
Basically I am the company's designer ( for all promotional materials, basic web concepts, and a lot of elements integral to our software and whole "image") but I also do a lot of the traditional art stuff for them, which was my only responsibility at first (animation, then creating painted realistic backgrounds in photoshop, character design, etc) but now with the marketing materials falling more under my control, I made about 80% of printed materials our customers see. My concern is that while I've been give numerous raises ( both for cost of living increases, and merit) I've never really been put in an official managerial position. A friend mentioned that if they haven't done that yet, they never will. I love my job and I make a decent wage ($40k) but I'm wondering if it's true that this may be a dead end job. Sorry to ramble, but I really need some advice here. Thanks!
Basically I am the company's designer ( for all promotional materials, basic web concepts, and a lot of elements integral to our software and whole "image") but I also do a lot of the traditional art stuff for them, which was my only responsibility at first (animation, then creating painted realistic backgrounds in photoshop, character design, etc) but now with the marketing materials falling more under my control, I made about 80% of printed materials our customers see. My concern is that while I've been give numerous raises ( both for cost of living increases, and merit) I've never really been put in an official managerial position. A friend mentioned that if they haven't done that yet, they never will. I love my job and I make a decent wage ($40k) but I'm wondering if it's true that this may be a dead end job. Sorry to ramble, but I really need some advice here. Thanks!
If you're in any kind of metropolitan area, $40k is way too low for what you're doing. Way. Too. Low. Regardless of position, you need to re-negotiate your salary as an art director. Your employer is, IMO, completely abusing you- a simple check of salary.com should verify this.
It's difficult to get more detailed without knowing more about your general work experience, though it sounds like this is a first-job-outta-college situation for you.
Talk to a recruiter. Be prepared to leave your job.
posted by mkultra at 8:06 AM on May 26, 2005
It's difficult to get more detailed without knowing more about your general work experience, though it sounds like this is a first-job-outta-college situation for you.
Talk to a recruiter. Be prepared to leave your job.
posted by mkultra at 8:06 AM on May 26, 2005
6+ years is a long time to invest in a position that has yielded no significant advancement. As cliche as it sounds, you need to assess where you want to be 5 years from now. If the company does not have a structure conducive to career advancement in your department, obviously your career there will go nowhere. If your company is able to accommodate your goals (experience/responsibility/title/salary-wise) then it is worth discussing the situation with your boss. However, I would suggest that you enter the conversation knowing the result you are seeking (title, role and salary). If you sincerely don't think that the company is able to accommodate your goals (due to budget, corporate structure, etc.) then you have to move on.
That said, I agree with mkultra: 40k is super low for your skill level. You will make more money and have a chance at a better position by seeking advancement outside this company. There are probably plenty of challenging jobs out there better suited to your skill and experience. Loving this job is not a good enough reason to allow your career to stagnate.
posted by necessitas at 10:23 AM on May 26, 2005
That said, I agree with mkultra: 40k is super low for your skill level. You will make more money and have a chance at a better position by seeking advancement outside this company. There are probably plenty of challenging jobs out there better suited to your skill and experience. Loving this job is not a good enough reason to allow your career to stagnate.
posted by necessitas at 10:23 AM on May 26, 2005
It sounds like you want more responsibilities but you also want more money. If that is the case, then don't make it about the responsibilities 'cause you'd still be unhappy with the money issue. Make it about the money, and tell them you are willing to take on added responsibilities to justify the increase in pay. Setup a meeting with your boss to discuss your future with the company, tell them you want to stay, but you need to prepare for the future and need a significant pay raise, and hope to get a significant set of new responsibilities to go with it. Tell them you'll unfortunately have to look for a new job if you're actually willing to do so.
You've been there for six years, they got you trained good. They aren't going to want to see you go and have to get used to a new guy who doesn't know the ropes.
posted by pwb503 at 12:26 PM on May 26, 2005
You've been there for six years, they got you trained good. They aren't going to want to see you go and have to get used to a new guy who doesn't know the ropes.
posted by pwb503 at 12:26 PM on May 26, 2005
I've never really been put in an official managerial position.
If you're supervising one or more people, then you should have gotten a new job title and a more-than-merit-raise increase to go with it. If you're a supervisor, essentially you got a promotion, and should get a promotional raise.
If you're not supervising anyone, then it's not clear why you think you should be put in an "official managerial position".
If your company is large (let's say over 1000 people), then there may well be some sort of formal reclassification process. Your HR/Personnel handbook should have something. In smaller companies, this is much more personality-driven (as in, how your boss feels). If there is a formal process, tell your boss that you'd like to start it (don't go over his/her head to HR/Personnel).
I'm wondering if it's true that this may be a dead end job
First, it hasn't been - you've had pay increases and increases in your job scope. You've presumably learned a lot. You have a lot of good things to put on your resume, and demonstrated skills that can get you a job elsewhere. A dead-end job is something like data entry.
Second, the main issue here really (to me) seems to be whether you're paid appropriately, and not what's going to happen in the future (who can tell?). There isn't any magic place to plug in your geographical location (makes a big difference) and your job duties and have displayed the exact amount you should be paid to be "fair". But you can investigate what others in your situation seem to be paid - look at job listings, salary surveys, talk to others in similar jobs (ask them about salary ranges, not their exact salary).
What should you do with that information? If it appears you're significantly underpaid (say, more than 10% below market), then talk to your boss. Present the evidence; see what happens. It sounds like you're too valuable to the company to fire, and that they would be stupid to try to replace you with someone else, but it's still best to be willing to go elsewhere (you should, at this point, understand what the job market for someone with your skills is) if you could get a substantial amount of additional pay.
The larger issue, of course, is: are you happy in your current job? There are a lot of other factors besides money to consider: working hours, relationship with your boss and your peers, ability to get training, opportunities to learn new things, challenging work, etc. No, your company isn't entitled to rip you off (if in fact they are really underpaying you substantially), but you don't need to push them for every penny that they might pay you (if you decide that you're entitled to more money).
[As an aside: it's unclear to me why pwb503 thinks that you need additional responsibilities to justify increased pay. That may be so, but it may also be that you're being underpaid for what you do now. They're two different things.]
posted by WestCoaster at 4:24 PM on May 26, 2005
If you're supervising one or more people, then you should have gotten a new job title and a more-than-merit-raise increase to go with it. If you're a supervisor, essentially you got a promotion, and should get a promotional raise.
If you're not supervising anyone, then it's not clear why you think you should be put in an "official managerial position".
If your company is large (let's say over 1000 people), then there may well be some sort of formal reclassification process. Your HR/Personnel handbook should have something. In smaller companies, this is much more personality-driven (as in, how your boss feels). If there is a formal process, tell your boss that you'd like to start it (don't go over his/her head to HR/Personnel).
I'm wondering if it's true that this may be a dead end job
First, it hasn't been - you've had pay increases and increases in your job scope. You've presumably learned a lot. You have a lot of good things to put on your resume, and demonstrated skills that can get you a job elsewhere. A dead-end job is something like data entry.
Second, the main issue here really (to me) seems to be whether you're paid appropriately, and not what's going to happen in the future (who can tell?). There isn't any magic place to plug in your geographical location (makes a big difference) and your job duties and have displayed the exact amount you should be paid to be "fair". But you can investigate what others in your situation seem to be paid - look at job listings, salary surveys, talk to others in similar jobs (ask them about salary ranges, not their exact salary).
What should you do with that information? If it appears you're significantly underpaid (say, more than 10% below market), then talk to your boss. Present the evidence; see what happens. It sounds like you're too valuable to the company to fire, and that they would be stupid to try to replace you with someone else, but it's still best to be willing to go elsewhere (you should, at this point, understand what the job market for someone with your skills is) if you could get a substantial amount of additional pay.
The larger issue, of course, is: are you happy in your current job? There are a lot of other factors besides money to consider: working hours, relationship with your boss and your peers, ability to get training, opportunities to learn new things, challenging work, etc. No, your company isn't entitled to rip you off (if in fact they are really underpaying you substantially), but you don't need to push them for every penny that they might pay you (if you decide that you're entitled to more money).
[As an aside: it's unclear to me why pwb503 thinks that you need additional responsibilities to justify increased pay. That may be so, but it may also be that you're being underpaid for what you do now. They're two different things.]
posted by WestCoaster at 4:24 PM on May 26, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
Do make sure you want to be a manager, though. It has its downsides.
posted by languagehat at 7:12 AM on May 26, 2005