Should I stay or should I go now?

[bassguy]

hey all,

I have a job as a database admin and VB app programmer with a county government. I have to fly this out there as a reality check because I am not sure if I punt and move on or just fall in line and stick it out.

Here are my list of Complaints.

1. Because I am working for the government Salaries are predetermined by the position and pay grade. I happen to be a grade 5 with one year of service and make @ 44K.

In my department is a web content person (cut & paste expert) that is a grade 9. Yet with her 15 years of experience she is making 52K.

Also in My department. I am the level 3 tech support for help desk calls that refer to database apps. the lady that answers the phone is a grade 7 with 18 years. She makes more than either my boss (the Network engineer) or me at 56K.

I There are only 4 positions in IT with paygrades higher than a 5 (my boss, 2 deputy directors, and the director).
and with no opportunity for merit increase I am starting to think that I am being taken advantage of.

What does anyone else think?

thanks, I needed to vent and get a sounding board,

Bassguy

 

[sleipnir214]

It sounds to me like your pay is determined by not only by position and pay grade but also by time as an employee.

If you want more money, stay put.

If you want to move up the totem pole, you're going to have to get another job. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[bassguy]

I guess I have always thought that money was a reflection of knowledge and ability. Am i wrong in this assumption?

 

[sleipnir214]

Very.

Money is a function of knowledge, ability, interpersonal skills, political savvy, personal drive, market availability, personal advertising, endurance, and other things.

And depending on your particular environment, the precedence of the various function parameters vary. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[bassguy]

I think in government jobs there may be another equation for how much money you make.

Money = How well you Fake it X how long you have been faking it for

I have become a little frustrated possibly

 

[sleipnir214]

Not to worry -- that is included in "political savvy" and "personal advertising."

I've been following your thread in the IT ethics forum. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[KornGeek]

This is exactly why companies don't want employees to know other employees' salaries.

Don't worry about how much you make compared to your coworkers. Ask yourself if the amount you are paid is fair for the service you provide. If not, see if you can find something that will be. How much other people make doesn't even factor into this equation.

 

[palbano]

>> a web content person (cut & paste expert)

wow, she’s really good then! LOL

I think KornGeek (what the heck does that mean?) has a major point. However there is also some room for merging the concerns to a certain degree. But as KG said you seem completely focused on that single aspect of your situation. Look at the bigger picture before making a decision

_{1010100 1000111 1001001 1000110}
-pete

 

[sleipnir214]

bassguy:

<sarcasm>
By the way, I want to thank you for the title you selected for this thread. Because of it, I've got that dratted Clash song stuck my head.
</sarcasm> Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[KornGeek]

Just to explain the name KornGeek:
It's simple. My favorite music is by the band Korn, and I am proud to consider myself a Geek. Once upon a time, I needed to come up with an original name for email, and I tried to think of something that described me, and is unlikely to already be taken. Presto, KornGeek was born.

Sorry, I wish I had a better explanation. It's not really exciting, but at least it's the truth.

 

[cyclegeek]

Dude, you're not getting paid enough. How do I know this? Because I'm not getting paid enough. The criteria for determining one's pay and the criteria that should not be used for determining one's pay is the problem here. Are we making widgets? Or are we using specialized skills to make intelligent decisions? If at all possible, get out. The proof in the pudding is actually getting a new job that pays more. If another job pays more, then that prooves you are worth that much money. Supply and demand. If enough of us seek a greater demand for our supplies (of skills, intelligence, experience etc.) then our little economic subset will rise in value. Over time, compensation studies will reflect the movement of professionals and their rise in compensation and as they say, a rising tide will lift all boats, meaning even the ones that choose to stay put.

On a slightly different note, it's one thing to be happy with your work but unsatisfied with who you work for.

Good luck.

Cheers,
cyclegeek

 

[mmorancbt]

There are a number of factors to consider when in such a situation. I advocate similar advice to some of what was written above. First, do not use co-workers or salary surveys when determining whether your pay is appropriate. As yourself if you are looking to be average? Many times, if you are being paid 5% above the average you may not look at other opportunities. If you are being paid less than average you may become very discontened and perform poorly.

Look instead at whether the job provides value for your long-term career objectives. This is not always in direct pay. It is better to sacrifice pay for opportunity when taking a long-term perspective.

For instance, I did contract work for a large non-profit. At the time they were growing immensely and I sacrificed my contract rate to be their VP of Technology and run all their technology initiatives.

I spent a year &quot;under earning&quot; the average for what I was performing. However, a year later I was picked up for a contract through one of the relationships I made and my pay more than quadrupled.

I've never looked back......

Things to consider when placing value on a particular job. These are not in any particular order.

1) Pay (I said don't consider it in isolation but it is certainly a factor - we do need to eat and pay bills);
2) Skills and project exposure - Do you have the opportunity to be exposed to new technologies and other aspects of project development.
3) Relationships/ personal networking - Are you exposed to people that can extend your sphere of influence.
4) Good management/good mentoring
5) Where I want to go. Does this job play a part in my long-term objectives. Not necessarily in function but in skills, relationships, etc. Meaning: I want to go into digital animation, are there any redeeming qualities of this job that can one day be parlayed to opportunity in that field.

I hope this helps.
Matthew Moran
The I.T. Career Builder's Toolkit

http://www.cbtoolkit.com

 

[carp]

Government jobs typically pay a lot lower than their commercial counterparts, but tend to offer a LOT of security (when I worked for the government, it was next to impossible to get rid of people, even if they were obviously incompetent!).
So you have to ask yourself -
(1) Am I secure here?
(2) Do I make enough to get by?
(3) If I stay, am I ever going to go anywhere?
(4) Could I do better someplace else?

If you place more emphasis on advancement than security, you probably want to get out of the government (or at least find a different branch to work in - that way you keep your seniority). Give the current climate in commercial IT, I would have to think long and hard before jumping.

As for how much other people make - so what?!?!? Yes, you might think you're better and more deserving. And maybe you are! There are coworkers, nude dancers, and crack dealers that make more than I do, and I think what I do is more important. But you know what? It really doesn't matter to me that much - I make enough to take care of my family, my job is relatively secure right now, and I'm OK with all of that. Outside of possibly contributing to inflation, what difference does somebody else's salary make to me? Why does it make a difference to you?

 

[KornGeek]

There are coworkers, nude dancers, and crack dealers that make more than I do



That is unfortunately, way too true. If I thought I could make good money I might take up nude dancing. Unfortunately, I can't dance, and most people wouldn't want to see me nude.

I've considered the crack dealer thing, but I don't want to go into sales or marketing.

 

[carp]

Nope - I just don't think the world is ready for me as a nude dancer either. I'll just stick to databases, even though the tips aren't nearly as good!

 

[CajunCenturion]

There are coworkers, nude dancers, and crack dealers that make more than I do

As KornGeek already stated, that it unfortunate.

But then again, you probably make more than policeman, fireman, and that wonderful group of professionals who provided you an education in the first place - the teachers. Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[carp]

Absolutely right! And I hope none of them have thought of quitting what they are doing because I make more than they do - any more than I think about quitting my job because somebody else makes more and maybe doesn't do as much for the company as I do.

I know I make a lot more now than when I was in the Air Force and contribute less to society. But I hope the military doesn't quit just because my salary is beyond most of their pay scale and they do more for our country!

 

[palbano]

Now you guys are really starting to make sense. What would the world be like if we all woke up tommorrow to find that all nude dancers were now IT workers and all former IT workers were now nude dancers!!! Yikes!!!

-pete

 

[KornGeek]

That would be a sad, sad world.

Interesting, but sad.

 

[CajunCenturion]

shivers running up and down my spine Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein