One thing I noticed about an IT person's career...

[jinduy]

i noticed that if you want to make a significant amount of money... not crap 5% raises (for doing a good job), u have to jump ship to another company.

the only exception is if you're a genius who started out at google/microsoft/etc i suppose.

imagine starting out at 50k, 5% annual increase will take several years to get to 60k unless u jump to another job after 2-3 years, which will most probably get you over 60k easy.

anyone else notice this trend and does anyone have any advice on how to avoid this?

 

[pontifex]

don't get into IT

 

[FoBoT]

i must be lucky or successfully created my own unique way to "Add value" to get ahead faster than that

been at this company for eight years and have almost doubled my salary from what i started at, with one job position change and one title change

<shrugs>

 

[her209]

Yes. Its pretty much like that for every job though.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i must be lucky or successfully created my own unique way to "Add value" to get ahead faster than that

been at this company for eight years and have almost doubled my salary from what i started at, with one job position change and one title change

<shrugs>

That is pretty much my story as well. A lot depends on the company for which you work; some places give out better raises than others. Promotion is the key for getting lots more money within the same company.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: pontifex
don't get into IT

Bingo. You have to constantly be shifting companies to move up. Really annoying.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: her209
Yes. Its pretty much like that for every job though.

Not really. With finance and accounting, you can go to management easier.

With Big Oil, you can move on up. It is hard, but possible. With IT, the only way is to jump ship, or get an MBA.

 

[NathanBWF]

Originally posted by: pontifex
don't get into IT

QFT.

<-- Getting the &^#% out this year.

 

[jinduy]

Originally posted by: DaShen

Originally posted by: her209
Yes. Its pretty much like that for every job though.

Not really. With finance and accounting, you can go to management easier.

With Big Oil, you can move on up. It is hard, but possible. With IT, the only way is to jump ship, or get an MBA.

yep... i am considering the possibility of pursuing an mba in a few years (or sooner). i dont see the benefit of a masters in comp sci after you have had a decent amount of exp under your belt.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: jinduy
i noticed that if you want to make a significant amount of money... not crap 5% raises (for doing a good job), u have to jump ship to another company.

the only exception is if you're a genius who started out at google/microsoft/etc i suppose.

imagine starting out at 50k, 5% annual increase will take several years to get to 60k unless u jump to another job after 2-3 years, which will most probably get you over 60k easy.

anyone else notice this trend and does anyone have any advice on how to avoid this?

ding ding ding another winnah

loyalty is for the poor. but then again, $ cant buy happyness

 

[TXHokie]

If you really like where you work, do what I do and quit and came back in a year with a 50% raise...(kinds of make you wonder why didn't they give it to me in the first place). In any case, agree with the previous poster about not getting into IT in the first place.

 

[mpitts]

I got a 100% raise by leaving the company I worked for and starting my own consultancy.

Plus my boss kicks ass now!

 

[jinduy]

Originally posted by: TXHokie
If you really like where you work, do what I do and quit and came back in a year with a 50% raise...(kinds of make you wonder why didn't they give it to me in the first place). In any case, agree with the previous poster about not getting into IT in the first place.

that's funny cuz i have a similar situation with my first job. it's just the location's so bad i can't stand living around there. i'm curious to know if people have negotiated with managers in larger companies for significant raises and what type of salary increase do you get with promotions (ie jr to sr).

 

[bennylong]

I did what most everyone else is doing to get a raise. I quit my job and left for one year. Reapplied for the same job one year later and got a 20% pay increase from when I left. It would have taken me 10 years to get the same pay rate if I haven't quit.

 

[3NF]

I don't agree with this. If you go into something just for the money and don't like it, chances are you aren't going to do well.

 

[bennylong]

Originally posted by: jinduy

Originally posted by: TXHokie
If you really like where you work, do what I do and quit and came back in a year with a 50% raise...(kinds of make you wonder why didn't they give it to me in the first place). In any case, agree with the previous poster about not getting into IT in the first place.

that's funny cuz i have a similar situation with my first job. it's just the location's so bad i can't stand living around there. i'm curious to know if people have negotiated with managers in larger companies for significant raises and what type of salary increase do you get with promotions (ie jr to sr).

It's hard to renegotiate after you are hired because of the layers of approval required in large companies.

You best bet is to quit and hope the person they hire quit so you can reapply for the same job at a much higher pay.