Re: Can't seem to get ahead at work. Maybe time for a new career.
I've been working for the same company for 7 years now. I am a security technician, installing intrusion alarms and video surveillance equipment. Our company is made up of 3 businesses. Business supplies, computer and computer repair and us in security. There are only two of us doing this work and we bring in around 75-80% of the companies revenue.
Are you saying you and this other person "sell" 75% to 80% of the revenue, or you install? After reading your posts it sounds like you install the work. In my 22 years of employment (and a brief stint as a small business owner) the top salespeople earn more than 90% of the folks in the company, including some of the key execs. At one 1,000 employee company I worked for the top 10% of the sales force made more than everyone except the CEO, President and CFO. Most owners look at production people as worker bees; required...but a dime a dozen. As Jack Welch used to say "everyone is equal, but some people are more equal than others." If you want more income, one way to get it is to request a sales position. You think your outstanding customer service is selling jobs for the company. Odds are good your boss sees it as solid (or "expected") customer service. If you want to sell, and earn the income, then put together a plan for how you would secure new customers - then present it to your boss.
We go above and beyond to help our customers out and have done things that our boss doesn't know about, just to make the customer happy.
Ahhhhh, then tell him. Put yourself in his shoes. He's risked capital to start a business, he provides employment for others, he pays taxes, deals with employees, customers, legal issues, worries about competition, etc. 2% of bosses/owners will concern themesleves with your issues. The other 98% need to be reminded - it's your job to remind him. My 9 year old son was just lamenting the fact that his football coach hasn't allowed him to play the quarterback position during practice. I said "have you TOLD him you want to play quarterback?" Nope. "Well then how do you expect him to read your mind?!" Same thing in the workplace.
Anyway the computer technicans and the security techs have become friendly and spend some after hours time together. I have found out that I'm the lowest paid tech of us all. After 7 years I'm still the lowest paid.
If you are the lowest paid person AT YOUR POSITION (leave aside the fact that other positions are paid differently; my CEO makes more than me...and he deserves it), and this bothers you, then again you need to say something. Either your boss thinks you're not nearly as good as you think you are (sorry, but it's possible), or you're getting scr*wed and you haven't said anything about it for 7 years. Either way it's not good.
The computer techs have been there less than 2 years in total and are making more money than me. OUCH.
I know little about your world, but it "sounds" like these are two different positions - at least by title. If so, then frankly it doesn't matter if they've been there two days or two decades and make more than you do. You can't take that stuff personally if the jobs require different education levels, skill sets, or just plain command more money given general supply and demand in the workforce. Russia tried the pure socialism experiment decades ago and it didn't work out well.
What hurts even more is I do other work as well, such as cleaning the warehouse constantly, receiving freight, doing all the security paper work and billing, etc.
If you're still working 40-50 hours/week, then this is called "part of the job". I pick up paper clips off the floor, empty my garbage can and pick up guests from the airport now and then - none of which is in my job description. But it's called a recession, and I'm glad to have a job I love. If you don't like doing this stuff, then tell the boss. If you're working for a small company usually everyone wears a few more hats than you would at a large company.
I like this company and love my job but I'm pretty well at the end of my rope with it all. I think it may be time to move on.
It really does sound like you just need to have a beer w/the boss and do a brain dump (with some preparation on your part of course). Remember, the grass isn't always greener. It strikes me as odd that a number of people jumped in with "start your own business", because I didn't get that from your post(s). Sounds to me like you want fair pay, and some respect and appreciation. That's a fair request. Give your boss the opportunity to do something about this. If you have that conversation and he still won't take care of you, then you certainly have some options...
- Cut back your duties to those strictly required of your position
- Seek other employment
- Continue doing what you're doing and "suck it up"
- Start your own business (be sure to talk with a # of other small biz owners; you think you're a jack of all trades now; you ain't see nuthin' yet!)
Sorry for the long post...and good luck!
