would like some advice re: quitting over a pay increase

[zixxer]

I am WAY underpaid for what I do. I know you hear people say this all the time.. but I am BIGTIME underpaid.

I started out here as basically an 'intern'. I was hired on full-time, but never got a pay increase from it. After a year or so I mentioned to my boss that I needed a pay raise.. and he gave me one. (not much at all, but a raise.)

It's been about 4 years now since I started here (3 since I became full time) and I am making about $3k a year more than when I started as an intern.

Here's the problem... the company I work for is in the process of being bought out. Management and whatnot are REALLY tight with money right now.... but I've GOT to make more $$.



I was considering going ahead and finding another job, and going to my boss and being like "look... company XXX is going to be paying me XXk a year.. can you match that?" but I know my boss pretty well, and I think he would react with "have fun"... (a pride thing) Also.. my boss and I are decent friends... but I don't know if I want to tell him that I'm out looking for another job... GRR....
And.. I would NEED to be replaced. i.e. if I quit, they would have to hire someone else to replace me, and pay them easily 2x what I'm making now.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I have a 2nd interview this afternoon for a similar setup, I work 60-65hrs a week on call 24/7 at my job for 30k the one I'm interviewing with won't let you work over 42hrs a week (and is strait days 8-5), and pays 35-40k (still in negotiations over pay, I expect I'll end up with around $37k) with better benifits. most people in my line of work make between $35-$60 a year depending on where you work. The company I work for now when they hire new people are hiring them at $20k a year (no way in hell I'd do this job for less than I'm making now, and really don't know why I've been here this long)

 

[Wanescotting]

Sounds to me like you should leave. At least ask for a raise first though.

 

[boomerang]

Based on what you're saying, I think your only choice is to find another job. You'll have to do your job hunting on the sly. I would not tip them off you're looking elsewhere.

Get a job offer and notify your company you're giving them your two week notice or whatever. I would think they would be interested in why and the terms, etc. That's your opportunity to explain the salary you've been offered. You'll find out if they really want to keep you then.

It sounds as if you like this job, so I guess this is not the ideal situation. But you have to look out for yourself as no one else is going to do it.

Don't worry about loyalty to the company. They'd can you in a heartbeat if they could and/or wanted to.

Leave on good terms.

 

[MajorCaliber]

Many companies don't give raises anymore, they give paycut's!

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Based on what you're saying, I think your only choice is to find another job. You'll have to do your job hunting on the sly. I would not tip them off you're looking elsewhere.

Get a job offer and notify your company you're giving them your two week notice or whatever. I would think they would be interested in why and the terms, etc. That's your opportunity to explain the salary you've been offered. You'll find out if they really want to keep you then.

It sounds as if you like this job, so I guess this is not the ideal situation. But you have to look out for yourself as no one else is going to do it.

Don't worry about loyalty to the company. They'd can you in a heartbeat if they could and/or wanted to.

Leave on good terms.

Yeah I do like this job a lot. It's less than 1 mile from where I live, close to everything.. no traffic no nothing.

On the otherhand, it sucks being so underpaid that I almost living paycheck to paycheck

 

[cheapgoose]

i don't know, sounds like they're taking advantage of ya. if you're not happy, you should quit.

 

[SpunkyJones]

If your not happy, you should find another job. Life is too short to be unsatisfied at your job. Tiime to move on.

 

[rudder]

If was truly your friend, he would be paying you what you are worth. Go from there.

 

[murban135]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
If your not happy, you should find another job. Life is too short to be unsatisfied at your job. Tiime to move on.

 

[blackdogdeek]

definitely look for another job because:

1. you can determine what your market worth really is
2. if you get an offer you will have ammunition to ask for a raise
3. if you can do it without anyone knowing, then if you don't find another job you still have the current one

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: rudder
If was truly your friend, he would be paying you what you are worth. Go from there.

it's not him, it's his boss and upper management... pressured by the buyout.

 

[bamacre]

I agree, start looking for another job.

 

[nitsuj3580]

DO NOT mention to your boss you are job searching. That is something you want to keep on the low down.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: bamacre
I agree, start looking for another job.

grr I'm not even sure where to start.

guess msnjobs and monster?

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: bamacre
I agree, start looking for another job.

grr I'm not even sure where to start.

guess msnjobs and monster?

do you have any friends in your line of work? they may have leads. i've found word of mouth and networking to be a better source of opportunity.

 

[AmigaMan]

dice.com! I dissed dice in another thread, but they really do have a lot of good tech jobs. Also look at your local abc/nbc/cbs and newspaper websites. They usually have stories on companies that are doing well and may be hiring etc. I've found a couple leads by reading an ariticle about a company, going to that company's website and looking for jobs which they usually have open. Also look for any local job search websites, the Research Triangle Park (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area) has a local job search website called trianglejobs.com which has usually a couple computer jobs listed.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: bamacre
I agree, start looking for another job.

grr I'm not even sure where to start.

guess msnjobs and monster?

do you have any friends in your line of work? they may have leads. i've found word of mouth and networking to be a better source of opportunity.

yeah I do, but most of them know my company/boss/etc...

 

[olds]

1 Look for another, higher paying job
2 Take it
3 Profit

 

[Ernieb]

I have been working for the same company since after college for almost six years now..i was making $8.50 Canadian an hour..since this past July started to make only $7.15 an hour..and im still here..because I am not going to quit myself until I find a new better job

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: MajorCaliber
Many companies don't give raises anymore, they give paycut's!

oh, please they do not!


edit: btw, if your company is about to be bought out then chances are you won't have a job for much longer anyway. It's called synergies.

 

[Karsten]

Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
If your not happy, you should find another job. Life is too short to be unsatisfied at your job. Tiime to move on.

 

[Patt]

Definitely find yourself another position, but unfortunately, even if your boss is your friend, his ultimate loyalty will likely be to his job.

I've been in your situation, and found myself a new job, much more job satisfaction (and $$$), and a generally happier outlook. Let everyone you know that you are looking for something else, you'll be surprised at the people who will help you out in networking ... they don't even have to be techs to do so. I've scored this job through my wife's relatives.

As was mentioned earlier, quality of life isn't measured only by your job ... make sure to make yourself happy doing whatever you are doing.

 

[Patt]

Originally posted by: Ernieb
I have been working for the same company since after college for almost six years now..i was making $8.50 Canadian an hour..since this past July started to make only $7.15 an hour..and im still here..because I am not going to quit myself until I find a new better job

What do you do Ernieb?

 

[richardycc]

sounds like we are in the same boat, my company just got brought out too, raises this yr was low, plus they told me one number, and changed it at the last minute because they were overbudget, tight with money because of changing ownership,etc...you should do what I am doing, look for another job within the same company but with a different dept. that way you get to keep your seniority/benefits and get a better pay! good luck.