Did you get a raise after getting your certificate?

Not sure if this topic has been raised before. My question has to do more with the effect your certification had on your current position. We all know that someone with x years of experience usually doesn't make the same money as someone with x years of experience and a certificate. So, after passing whatever certificate you were going for did your current company or employer rewarded you with a little bump in pay or did you have to push for it?

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Archon

My manager knew I took the CEH course as I requested holiday for it and he's seen my CISSP text book that arrived in the office the other day. These and the fact I'm linking with more and more recruiters on Linkedin (i'm linked with my manager so he can see) over the last few months would suggest I'm looking for other opportunities.

srabiee

As soon as my former employer found out I was attending WGU and studying for MCSA certs, management started asking me how much longer I anticipated staying with the company. I guess they knew that I would soon be able to easily double my salary by seeking employment opportunities elsewhere. Rumors also starting spreading around the company that I wasn't a "team player" (whatever that means), and I was told that some of the other IT employees without college degrees and certs were becoming jealous of me.

I find it best not to share this type of information if at all possible, until you are ready to make a career decision. (ask for raise/promotion, find another job, resign, etc)

gespenstern

Nemowolf wrote: »

Reading through the posts, I get the impression that the certification was done on your own and without any consulting with your current manager or the company in general. More like, hey im going to get this cert and they had zero input to your study and getting it. This leads to your companies not investing you.

Maaaan, that was helluva useful comment here. Thanks a lot!

yeah yeah

Couple of ways to thing about this. Do you want to obtain certs to get a promotion/raise? Or do you just believe in self-improvement? Nothing wrong with either. If you are expecting something from your company, then talk to them beforehand. Let them know your plans and how it will improve on X. If they agree, then negotiate something. Maybe they'll pay for your training, exam costs, whatever PTO/leave that you need to do, and any raise/promotion opportunities. You can't honestly expect to obtain a cert without their knowledge and demand something in return...after you already made your own plans. What I don't believe in, having them pay the cost of the exam, and in return, they want you to stay for a year. If that's the case, I'll front my own money. It's just important to negotiate whatever you need before you obtain your certs.

dave330i

yeah yeah wrote: »

What I don't believe in, having them pay the cost of the exam, and in return, they want you to stay for a year. If that's the case, I'll front my own money.

Really need to learn how to work the system.

instant000

dave330i wrote: »

Really need to learn how to work the system.

What do you mean by this?

I had a past boss say that he really didn't see a company going after someone for the training reimbursement if they left early, but since my boss wasn't in the company HR, and I could read the company policy, I self-funded. (In hindsight, since I actually stayed at that company 3.5 years, I probably should have taken advantage of it.) This company did actually send me to a few classes, but I never signed an agreement.

dave330i

instant000 wrote: »

What do you mean by this?

I had a past boss say that he really didn't see a company going after someone for the training reimbursement if they left early, but since my boss wasn't in the company HR, and I could read the company policy, I self-funded. (In hindsight, since I actually stayed at that company 3.5 years, I probably should have taken advantage of it.) This company did actually send me to a few classes, but I never signed an agreement.

1. Education/certification reimbursement are prorated over a year, so unless you leave right after getting the cert you don't owe the full amount.

2. Some companies are willing to payoff the reimbursement you owe when you hire on. Ask the new company during the interview process if they can help you payoff the reimbursement. I had 1 company offer signing bonus to offset the reimbursement amount.

anhtran35

TheFORCE wrote: »

Yeah that's why i started thinking about it from now. With only 2 months away for the bonus it would be a bad idea to move now and lose it. That's one, another thing is, if i leave right away i would have to pay almost 4k back to the company because they lock you if you used any of their money to get your certificates. Third and also important is the fact that i will be 80% vested in my 401k and 100% vested in 401k and the pension plan in the next 2 years. Those benefits are good and would hate to give them up since the company is also matching some. But at the same time i'm thinking if i stay here longer i might lose a competitive edge seeing how everyone wants to get in IT security now. The other thing also is, that because of all the regulations we have to follow, my team is very segregated in terms of what we can touch and work on so, my learning now will have to be self study, labs and books, not actual hands on, which i like more since i learn a lot faster when i do things. I will definitely mention it to my manager though.

Go out there and start applying for jobs. See what offers you get. You got a CISSP. You should be getting something back. If it's superior than what you are getting now...BOUNCE.

anhtran35

N2IT wrote: »

I don't limit a raise solely off of a certification, that IMO is extremely short sighted. I ask how can I get promoted and how can I get additional money. Then I do whatever they ask within reason. If a certification was the task/goal then I would get it, but I have found that project delivery and actual work effort gets you paid.

When they sent management to ITIL training no one got a raise they got a free trip and free hotel and food, while getting paid.

Approach your manager and inform them you recently garnered this cert. Ask him if you can get a raise. If he says No then their you go.

Nemowolf

anhtran35 wrote: »

Approach your manager and inform them you recently garnered this cert. Ask him if you can get a raise. If he says No then their you go.

Thats backwards. N2IT explained that you ask what you can do to get a raise THEN do those things. Most companies dont care if you have a cert/educational background once your working there as long as you can get the job done. If you ask for a raise, they set an expectation and you meet/exceed that expectation then you should be getting a raise. By establishing that expectation PRIOR to getting a cert or achieving some goal, your far more likely to get a raise then just asking.

Simply walking up to any manager and asking for a raise is NEVER going to work in your favor. Sure by dumb luck someone may have this work but it is entirely the exception and not the rule.

anhtran35

Nemowolf wrote: »

Thats backwards. N2IT explained that you ask what you can do to get a raise THEN do those things. Most companies dont care if you have a cert/educational background once your working there as long as you can get the job done. If you ask for a raise, they set an expectation and you meet/exceed that expectation then you should be getting a raise. By establishing that expectation PRIOR to getting a cert or achieving some goal, your far more likely to get a raise then just asking.

Simply walking up to any manager and asking for a raise is NEVER going to work in your favor. Sure by dumb luck someone may have this work but it is entirely the exception and not the rule.

The OP didn't do what was suggested when he first started. He wants to know what he can do NOW. Hence either a.) he does nothing or b.) ask. Like I said before, he will probably get nothing. Only time I get significance increases in pay is a.) Job hopping OR b.) Promotion to a newer position within the company.