Career Advice

Jay Blizzay · July 21, 2007

Wassup Folks.

I currently work in IT Support for an ISP based in Rochdale and have been doing so for 9/10 months now.

Job was advertised as up to 17k. They asked me what type of salary i'd expect. At the time, I was desparate for work so I said that money wasn't an issue, but experience was important. I basically lied, but I didn't want them to think i was motivated by money in case they didn't offer me a position. I was out of work for 8 months before I took this job (mainly due to laziness) and I hated my job previous to this one. I mean, REALLY hated it.

Anyway they offered 15k

I accepted this offer even though they knew I had a job offer from another ISP. The other ISP were offering me a 19k package consisting of 14k basic and £500 performance related bonus per month. Whilst they did know I had another job offer, I didn't tell them how much.

I wasn't bothered about accepting less money as I felt this was a better company to work for and I would have better long term prospects. I did make it clear in my interview that if my review went well my salary should be adjusted if i've proved my worth.

Due to my role being customer facing phone support, having good customer services is a key point. In my 6 month review they picked up on the most obscure things, focusing on the 1 call out of 100 I handled badly rather than the other 99. Due to the fact appraisals exist purely for the purpose of screwing you over so you dont get your full bonus/rise I wasn't suprised but I still felt aggrieved by my 1.5% pay rise.

I didn't have a 3 month review as I should have done, and I made this clear. I didn't know what areas I should focus on when my 6 month review came along. they say they took this into consideration, yet I feel that they didn't

I took all the points on board and have made a note of them, so I'm more aware when my 12 month review comes along I had something to back me up in case they decide to pick up on something else.

I like my job, well, the environment and the people especially. i hate some of the customers who call up but thats life.

Reason i'm annoyed is that there are several people who started after me, who get paid more. Even though I have more experience than them, and do my job better as a result of this experience. One guy is fresh out of uni who started last week and is on 17k. He feels aggrieved about this, but I dont think he would feel so bad if he knew what I was on. I didn't go fishing for this info, it was just revealed to me on a cig break.

Of course i'm being selfish, as I know there are people who having been doing same job I have for over 18months who do not get 17k. I understand that there can be times a company is more desparate to recruit than others and the pay offered reflects this, but...we all do the same job at the end of the day and thats the bottom line i feel.

I like the job, but I feel I have entered my comfort zone. I am ambitious and want to progress and ultimately earn more money so that one day I can have a family, kids, the westwood pimped out ride, the semi detached house etc.

I'm quite happy to earn less if I enjoy the job, but i feel like im being underpaid. I have a degree, I have experience and I feel at my age (24) this is the time to learn and progress. My commute is 3 hours round trip and thats starting to drag me down also.

What should I do? Ask for 17k+ in my 12 month review or threaten to leave/bust a cap in someones ass? Or start looking for a new job now.

Thoughts?

Duncan Disorderly · July 21, 2007

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