Hi guys, I've been a lurker on this forum along with the car talk forum for a few years. I've seen people post career problems or dilemmas so I figure I will post my own as well.

I started at my job in 2007 when I was 23 as an assistant to a Product Manager, in 2008, said Product Manager left the company and I took over his position. When I started I was at $40k, product manager I replaced was at $75k. After much wrangling, after 2 years I received a raise to $60k. About a year after that raise, the Sales Manager here was fired and I was also given a company car and a small raise of $3k (this happened while the company cut salaries 10%) so in essence it was more than a $3k raise. The sales manager was making $120k, plus the company car.

So now I am at $63k with a company car and after being here for 5 years I am finding that the whole company is running through my work only. I am the sales manager but in essence i am the sales team really.

In the beginning I was chalking up the inability to catch up to my predecessors salary on my age. The first was in his 40's and the latter in his early 60's but now I am just starting to get a little anxious over whether I should stay or go somewhere else.

The first guy that quit (Product Manager) has recently called me with a couple of business ideas and I am contemplating these ideas but at the same time I feel very safe here since I am allowed to take off whenever I want and I really am a big fish in a small pond as they say.

My question is, should I try to angle something to the owner of the company I work for telling him that I am being looked at by other people who would be willing to offer me higher salaries? I think this should prompt him to raise my salary. I am not even asking for much I don't think for the work I do here, I would be happy with 75-80k base with the car.

What do you guys think?

All comments or questions are welcome. I tried looking for job forums, but didn't find any that were really active.

Thanks in advance

 

if your circumstances are good at the company (performance is good, etc), why not? are you afraid of negative repurcussions from asking? i'd ask during a performance eval or somekind of job assessment. "timing is everything"

 

also, not to try to make you go elsewehere .. but i did a search for job forums and came up with Indeed.com.. they had a forum that seemed very active.

 

You are doing quite well IMHO, with $23,000 in raises and a car after only five years. Yeah, some people make more money than you. But you'll be there soon enough, just be patient. At the rate you are going, that'll be another five years. I switched to a new company for a raise and they laid everyone off two years later. Yeah, I got my raise, but it wasn't worth the hassle in the end.

Has there ever been anyone in the history of employment who thought they were getting paid too much for what they did? Greed is a killer - for some, the more you get the more you want. Don't be one of those, because they never seem to be happy for long.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. My performance is good here and I am at a stage here that I feel very overworked. Almost daily I find myself doing work at home.

Maybe I will simply take Gatsbee's advice and simply ask for a salary instead of making a complication out of it.

But at the same time, one of the business ideas that were presented to me sounded really good, I would part owner. It would be a start up company with funding already as well.

I have to give it some more thought.

Thanks guys

 

Just my opinions....

You have to be clear on why it's warranted. Saying the other guy made $120K isn't a reason to pay you that. Focus on facts, your progress, etc.. Most companies have ranges for roles/positions/salary bands that have significant differences. My 'band' at work ranges from 83K to 159K- very large gap there. Sometimes a jump in pay is based on change in position, sometimes its based on years of service. Sometimes its because the company performance is significant. Sometimes is a reward for a significant personal milestone, project or goal achieved. You got a 50% raise with a new position it seems, and then another 5% (or 15% compared to a 10% cut) with a second promotion. Those are significant considering that many companies in a downturn cut pay, freeze raises or at best offer cost of living increases only.

Also - be careful what you ask for and what you're prepared to do. If you hint that others are willing to pay you more, and your bosses feel they can replace you, you may need to walk if they turn you down. If you stay, you become the "boy who cried wolf", the "Squeaky wheel", a "whiner", etc... Not a good label to have long term.

As for the other opportunities - those are completely personal decisions. How risk averse are you? How much are you willing to put into something before determining success or not success. Do you think owing a business will give you more freedom, or more headaches being the man in charge. Do you think it will give you the luxury to do whatever you want, whenever, or that it means you'll be responsible for something 24/7/365 and the buck stops at only one place - YOU.

Good Luck with your choice!

 

Find a new job. If they ask salary requirements in interview say you make $85k and hope to be in the ballpark there. 5 years at your job is definitely long enough to jump ship.

If your company gives you a 20k raise to 80k, you will be the first person considered for termination if they have budget cuts. They're already quite comfortable paying you 60k/yr, now they'll have to adjust to paying you 80k/yr? Not good.

*edit*

Deer god, do you live in Newark NJ? Consider jumping ship to a company in a different state with a relocation package. My friend goes to law school in Newark, everytime I visit him I feel I am about to get mugged or robbed. I hate traveling on the path/lightrail or whatever it is.

 

When asking for a raise, if you are going to mention that you have other offers as a scare tactic, make sure that you actually do. You don't want to give them an ultimatum unless you are willing to leave.

 

^^ Agree with that.

Apply for new jobs and find something that you would consider. Have current job then up your salary to keep you or you walk.

If you find that nobody will hire you and there aren't other jobs you would consider then you might be not be underpaid at all.

 

Like many have said its a dangerous game to go and ask for more during these times. You have 5 years experience at 1 company. The guys you replaced Probably had muh more than that coming in plus they probably started when the economy was much better. If you do go ask for a raise make sure you have a really good argument for it and DO NOT mention what the other people were making. Focus on your achievements added responsibility etc.

With all of that looking for a new job may be your best bet since you can move on to bigger better things with more opportunities. The best time to look for a new job is when you have a stable one. Just take your time and really look for the right opportunity.