| I have a long history of advancement and raises in my past positions. I was never once given a raise simply because I had been on the job for a certain amount of time. I earned my raises and promotions. I prefer it that way. |
I'll offer this suggestion to those that think that they should "automatically" get a raise every so often just because they are still working at a certain position --
I've been there, and done that. It was called "apprenticeship". I started out at approximately 65% of the prevalent wage for my position. Every six months I got a review. Actually, I should clarify, every year I got a cost of living adjustment, and as it happened, for the first 3 years of working at the position I got a review every 6 months -- half of which happened to co-incide with the yearly cost of living adjustment that raised the prevalent raise.
So, my salary started at 65%, after six months I moved to approximately 72% of prevalent wage. After another 6 months I moved to approximately 78% of prevalent wage while that target moved up by approximately 2.5% just because of COLA (cost of living adjustment) increases. After another 6 months, I moved up to approximately 84 - 85% of prevalent wage, etc.
After 3 years I moved from apprentice status to tradesmen status and had my wage set at the then prevalent wage. From that point on I saw a yearly cost of living increase that would raise my salary somewhere between 1% and 4% (depending on inflation, normally I'd get somewhere around 2.8% or some such number).
The employer had the benefit of having an employee that was learning on the job while performing at a lower wage, I had the benefit of getting a job that allowed me to learn as I went.
It could be argued (I would argue it) that I was ripped off a bit by the employer because my skillset truly was maximized after approximately 18 months in the position. Unfortunately the employer had me over a barrel though and they kept me working on apprentice program even though I was doing advanced work and running rings around many (almost all of my) co-workers.
Anyway, I did enjoy the opportunity to work my way up in a respectable field and get my salary increased as I went. I earned a decent living at the position, not great, but better than minimum wage all along. By the time I was maxed out, I was earning approximately 3 to 4 times the then minimum wage. Again, not great, but not bad relatively speaking. Considering my abilities and the fact that I had valuable computing skills that were worth much more if I went elsewhere, I made an easy decision to basically start all over again by jumping fields and starting as a Jr. Lan Administrator.
Sadly, I could tell a tale of woe in working for my new employer that refused to raise my salary and refused to every officially change my title because it allowed them to low-ball my salary even as they sold my services as a "Senior Network Engineer" and one of the, at the time, few Microsoft Certified Professionals (before Microsoft even created the MCSE title, or other titles that followed). I know for a fact that the customer I worked for paid top dollar for my position, and I know what I was paid wasn't close to a fair salary. Again, the economic conditions pretty much dictated that I was stuck where I was as the job market wasn't great, even though I had a security clearance. Until I built up enough years of service in the position and gained a much stronger skill set, I wasn't able to find anything that paid me what I was worth.
4 years after making that jump I switched employers, using the skills I had gained while working for that employer and their customers, and I almost doubled my salary up to a reasonable level (given my locale, the marketplace, etc.)
Since then I've logged many more years of time in my profession, gained more experience with different equipment, systems, operating systems, etc., and made myself more valuable. I've jumped a few more times between employers, some not by my own desire. Each jump has generally resulted in better compensation.
But the common factor has been busting my butt to improve my skills and keep up with the marketplace.
If I had sat back on my butt and just accepted COLAs, I'd be making a salary that would barely keep me able to feed and clothe myself. Perhaps a little better, but not much. Not enough to offer my family a better home, myself a new(er) vehicle when needed, or a few toys to enjoy in my off time.
Sorry to those that feel stuck at the minimum wage, or in lower paying jobs, but my advise is get off your butt and go find something better. Make something better for yourself. Network among friends, make friends through your current workplace, school, friends or family. Go back to school if possible -- including taking classes at Community Colleges (including "Community Service" or other low-cost classes, seminars, etc.) -- and network there. Work the system, work the system, work the system.
Never consider yourself "done" in the job market because once you do you'll find yourself easily replaced by someone else willing to work more for less, or at least willing to start out for less and work their way up.
And definitely do not expect the government or society to go out of it's way to pay you more than you deserve or more than someone else that will do the job for less even if it doesn't seem like a fair wage.
