Extremely frustrated at current employer

So I have been at my employer for nearly a year now employed in the NOC. I came in with all my credentials listed in my avatar minus the CCNP/JNCIS that I obtained while on the job here by staying at work after hours studying. I accepted the position at a significantly lower rate than I was receiving at my prior employer as a programmer, which I was fine with as I needed to build experience in Networking.

This past week, an employee quit that was on the Architecture team whom was paid at a significantly higher rate who has considerable experience in the field. I am being offered a job in the Architecture team as I have displayed strong aptitude and ambition being one of the few employees here who have a CCNA, let alone all the other credentials listed. The position I came into at the NOC, if anyone's familiar with government salaries is at grade X with a salary range of YY,YYY - ZZ,ZZZ where I'm closer to the lower range. The employee who quit was at grade Z with a range of YY,YYY - ZZZ,ZZZ where he was in the midrange of that salary.

My employer is NOT compensating me anything additional moving into the Architecture team which I would imagine most employers would increase the employees salaries given it's a more Senior position. I will be receiving the same salary I received as a NOC tech in Architecture. Had I not accepted the position, they would have to recruit someone at Grade Level Z range probably along the middle of that range. I received a measly raise I had to fight for which doesn't even equal $30 after taxes every 2 weeks for yearly reviews.

I'm pretty sure I know what I have to do (start applying elsewhere) but just venting here, unless someone could tell me if I'm being unreasonable.

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Comments

RouteMyPacket

How much experience do you have in the networking field? I am guessing that is what cost you the big jump..if you are getting the opportunity to apply and learn higher level configurations, stay there for a while to build your resume. Trust me the money will pour in later..you just have to look at it as a trade off..take a hit now for a better future or leave and try to get a higher salary now?

ptilsen

Have you discussed it? You should really take an assertive stance on this. They might well be willing to give you a substantial range, but only if you ask.

I'd probably start looking regardless, but you might as well bring it up. It's a huge responsibility increase for lacking a pay increase. Doesn't really make sense.

JasonX

Yes, I had a long drawn out conversation about this today where I stated that I should be compensated given the more advanced skillset required on the Architect team. They're stating since I already received a pay increase this year I am not eligible for another adjustment. They are saving upwards of 30k in the difference between me and the employee who is leaving, and if I didn't accept it, no way in hell they will find an "architect" candidate making Entry Level NOC tech pay. On paper, I'm fairly certain I have a longer list of credentials than anyone here as many don't have Bachelor's or related Bachelor degrees in IT, nevermind IT Certs. I'm just missing the experience factor where I have about 2 1/2 in Networking and 5 total in IT.

There is a strong sense of bureaucracy here and as the salaries are public, it is clear they don't care for ambition. They take care of people that sit at their lunch table. I guess I was under the false impression that certing and taking any additional work up would eventually be rewarded.

Dieg0M

Why did you accept this role? Try and focus on the positive points of this new position while you seek elsewhere.

JasonX

Thing is I took that hit when I left Application Development. It's really hard for me not to be frustrated KNOWING that they have the available funds as the guy who left was making 30k more than I. That was the reason given to me on why I received such a small pay raise, that they were limited in funds because it's a State/Government position. That is NOT the case now and they want me to move from the NOC to Architecture at the same rate?

JasonX

I accepted it as I know getting into Design/Architecture is the career-path many upcoming Network Employees foresee and further, it should pay better than the NOC.

--chris--

They cant be that stupid. I know it looks like it right now, but they know that you are certified in XXXX areas and they are moving you into a more senior title that will look good on a resume. They know what that type of candidate will cost. They are either taking advantage of you, expecting you to start looking for a job (while they pay bottom dollar for skilled work) OR they want to move you into that position and see what you produce before they commit to a higher pay scale. HR spends a lot of time figuring out how much to pay in order to ensure a certain level of retention. This is all calculated at most places, if not calculated its built in by offering competitive pay rates to attract talent.

You know the organization better and you know your boss better...which do you think is more likely?

edit: In regards to the budget question, I am not familiar with state/government work so I could be very wrong here...but when do they (re)calculate budget figures? Quarterly? If you think this is possible, dont let it linger. Ask clearly, "is it possible I could see a pay raise when the budget is adjusted?" or something like that. Find out now, then plan accordingly.

antielvis

You're getting dicked around. Find something else. Integrity is everything.

LarryDaMan

I agree with others, time to go. Don't try to make sense of it and don't question loyalty (on either side). It is not personal, just business, and you have to look out for yourself. Stay cool and look for something else. It is a lot less stressful looking for a new position when you still have the old one.

AwesomeGarrett

This is tough call.

I'm normally of the train of thought to jump ship but at the higher position you'll be doing advanced configurations. This something that no one can take away from you moving forward. You'll be able to say that your skills are at a particular level but if you jump ship now all you'll be able to say is that you have the potential for your skills to be at a certain level.

After that, all those acronyms will back up your skills. An alphabet soup army, if you will.

NotHackingYou

I agree with above. Take the position and hold it down for a while to build your resume and experience.

N2IT

Go with your gut. If you have enough experience to transition into a similar role and get the pay you want then I would start to go that route. If you are held up by experience you may need to eat the bullet for a year or two and then bounce. From a national and even global level it's a crap move. It reinforces this type of behavior for employers. It really is disgusting to say the least. I wish you the best.

drfager

You need to take as much as you can from the new position, while looking for another job.

You are locked in to the low end of the scale and will spend years getting small fixed raises based on that low salary, meaning you'll spend years trying to overcome that poor starting salary. What will make it worse is watching new-hires consistently out earn you as a result.

Take some valuable advice from the WuTang...

Cash Rules Everything Around Me
C.R.E.A.M.
Get the money
Dollar dollar bill y'all

JoJoCal19

As someone who has been having difficulty moving up and on due to lack of experience, take that Architect experience now and double your salary later.

JasonX

I am taking the position, however, I am not going to set a time-frame on how long I will remain at this employer as I could jump ship if a good opportunity presents itself getting a 20-30k bump. As Dr. Fager stated, those who don't sit at "the lunch table" would have to put in 10 years to get into the middle of that particular pay grade on average. I have spent more than enough time getting a Masters and my Certs as well as put in the time to have a livable salary.

neo9006

Its a two way street when it comes to this, I know your frustrated, but I think I go with others people's statements, get some exp and then stick it to the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I work for the government, so I hear you on the salary thing. Drfager is right about one thing, the low raises, as you already know about, I been through that. I will say this as I have said to a few people, eventually everything catches up and when that happens is when the crap hits the fan. I get some exp and then boom to another job. If you feel you can stick it out a while and then go from there.

Jackace

It sucks but sometimes you have to move on. I left my last 2 companies because they wouldn't promote anyone in my department when we had 2-3 of us that were more than qualified. I will probably end up leaving my current job for the same reason. It seems to be the way our economy works these days. In order to get ahead you have to move around. I used my last job to get experience in a NOC/Help Desk role, and I'm using my current job to get hands on network configuration experience. If they don't have a spot for me in the Engineering group after a year or 2 it's time to move on to some place that will give me a spot.

snunez889

I say take the job, get the experience and use it as another tool in your resume. After some time start looking for a job else where. If you quit do you think you will get hired on somewhere else as a architect? Its dumb of them to D*** you around but in the end they will be the ones losing.

TBickle

I know exactly how you feel, man. They don't want to give you a raise, and you know that you are never going to get in the salary grade you want to be because Public Sector salaries barely budge each year.

What sucks is, if they don't give you this raise now, you're not going to get it in a year, or two years from now. Are you a union worker? If so, I'd suggest you go to them and advise them of your job reclassification. That's probably the only way you're going to get that raise. If not, you and I both know, it's not going to happen. So, either demand it and get it or, demand it and not get it. Either way, stick around for another 6-9 months to get some experience.

TheProf

If you work on the Architecture team and you can get the experience, I am pretty sure within 12-16 months you can easily make the 20-30K jump... Who knows, maybe the opportunity would present itself a lot sooner.

cyberguypr

I have to echo those who say take it, get the experience, and move on. My first Sys Admin job paid peanuts. I took it knowing this, with the purposeof transitioning out of desktop support and gaining experience. A year down the road I left for another job with a 60% salary increase.

Ride it out. It will pay off.

eten

You got the worse out of a good situation; that's how I see it. If the previous architect didn't leave, you would still be stuck in your NOC position. I would focus on absorbing all the new technologies, maintain the same ambition and mentality you had as if you were still in NOC.

Khaos1911

I would turn a positive into a negative and take the position. I'd absorb as much game (knowledge) as I could all while learning new skills and building on my resume. Apply elsewhere after year or so and that's where I'd get my come up (higher salary).

Dieg0M

eten wrote: »

You got the worse out of a good situation; that's how I see it. If the previous architect didn't leave, you would still be stuck in your NOC position. I would focus on absorbing all the new technologies, maintain the same ambition and mentality you had as if you were still in NOC.

This. ^

ccnxjr

If your a Federal Employee don't expect more than GS12 , GS13 positions are managerial/supervisory.
Even programmers won't get more than GS12 unless they assume a supervisory or managerial role.
Beyond that you get into some Executive type pay scale.

When I was in the Federal service everyone who wasn't a manager/supervisor had the title of IT Specialist, whether they were a programmer, admin, network engineer or help desk.
Of course those descriptions were used in the signature block, but the official title everyone had was IT Specialist.
The admins/programmers did qualify for GS12 pay , support and help desk were GS9/11.

Stay the course, learn what you can, but bucking for a higher salary in a government job is not the same as in the private sector.
You'll get your annual and step increases, automatically, but unless your chummy with the bosses AND HR, getting a grade change isn't as simple as making a list of your duties and accomplishments.

JasonX

Not a Federal Employee, I'm an employee for the State.

neo9006

Well working for the state I know isn't that much better, just get your exp and do your time in the trenches for a little bit then you can advance to where you want to go.

PurpleIT

A couple of quick points:

As many other people have said, get enough experience to get out and get an equivalent job, but with the correct level of pay. You have the chance to get the type of promotion that normally takes several years and multiple steps to accomplish; making that move AND getting full pay would be like hitting the lottery. Lock in the experience, the title, some training and everything else you can; it can't be taken away from you. That said, make sure you actually get out in 1-2 years unless you are properly compensated!

I have had a lot of opportunities and have really been able to improve me resume, but for various reasons I have not been able to get out of my position and cash in on the things I have learned to do. This drives me nuts and I it is making it very difficult to stay focused on my current job, you do NOT want to be in the same situation, trust me.

I too am in a local government position and you might want to look into whatever your local classification policies are. I know that if I were moved into a substantially different job I would be reclassified and no matter what I would have to be paid the minimum for that classification - it is the one exception to the maximum raise constraints that most government employees are under.

One last thing to ponder: If you were offered this position at a new company and at your current salary, would you take it?