Still Upset about My Raise

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babyseal_IHB

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I work at a Public Accounting Firm as first year staff. My Company's performance last year was pretty bad, and they let go numbers of employees. So I was fine when I first found out about my raise, which was 4% lower than what first-years got last year. Later, I found out that there were actually people in my class who got higher raises, maybe just 1%-2%, then I became upset. Still upset thinking about it. It's not how much, it's that I was not considered as top performer, and I don't what they have that I don't have. We don't get paid for over-time, and thinking about all the over-time that I've worked just to receive a average raise. >_< I am having a hard time getting over it. Now I am considering working for the government. I am not sure what I want down in the future though. Government or Private? Just upset that I didn't get the highest raise in my group.
 
[quote author="babyseal" date=1219125655]I work at a Public Accounting Firm as first year staff. My Company's performance last year was pretty bad, and they let go numbers of employees. So I was fine when I first found out about my raise, which was 4% lower than what first-years got last year. Later, I found out that there were actually people in my class who got higher raises, maybe just 1%-2%, then I became upset. Still upset thinking about it. It's not how much, it's that I was not considered as top performer, and I don't what they have that I don't have. We don't get paid for over-time, and thinking about all the over-time that I've worked just to receive a average raise. >_< I am having a hard time getting over it. Now I am considering working for the government. I am not sure what I want down in the future though. Government or Private? Just upset that I didn't get the highest raise in my group.</blockquote>


Weird post for the blog, but I'll comment. Go private, but wait it out until you get the letters... Sucks to be a first year in public. Associates/staff and seniors are the true workhorses there.
 
When I graduated I had a good job with a blue chip company writing state of the art software. At the end of my first year they gave me a measly 1.3% pay rise which sucked (normally you would expect about 10%). Its still a sore point. I took my time, looked at the state of the market and compared what I could get at other companies. So i jumped ship and got a 60% pay increase



If the company doesn't look after you, then you can't be expected to look after them. quid pro quo.
 
I think both responses have very good points. At the same time, you recognize that your company finds other members of your class to be top performers. Once you have settled down about your raise to talk about the situation objectively, I would suggest asking for a short appointment with each of your supervisors individually. <em>Without discussing the raises</em>, ask each one what they think you do well, where you can make improvements, and what, if anything, you can do for them that will help them accomplish their goals. Ask if there are any skills or knowledge that you need to acquire to be more helpful to them or the clients. Ask them what their criteria is for evaluating someone as a "superstar" performer. You can't hit their benchmarks if you don't know what they are.
 
First, let some time pass so the sting goes away....then ask for a meeting with your supervisor. Go in with some great examples of what you've done well and ask why your raise was less. If he/she has a valid reason why, ask how you can improve to get yourself back up to par with your peers. This might be time to take a humble pill and be all ears.



I'm a supervisor and while all pay raises are across the board for us, I do write yearly ratings on my subordinates which are extemely important for future promotability. When someone is upset that they didn't get the "rating they deserve", I expect them to make an appt with me so we can discuss it. (If they don't, they have no one to blame but themselves...or they believe they deserved a sub-par rating). I hear them out and sometimes even make changes before the final submission. I like to see that they at least care. When I disagree with the employee, I let them know what was expected of them and where they fell short. Then I set up some new goals for them to reach and monitor their performance. I reward with commendations and praise when the goal is met. This has worked well for me.



You need to be honest with yourself about performance. Take a look around....are you keeping up with your peers? If not, I would think that your supervisor would have brought it to your attention by now.



edit: eva....now I sound like a parrot ! ;)
 
Babyseal,



Look at the bright side, at least you were not the bottom performer and were let go. Besides the salary issue, ask yourself - is this what you want to do for the next 5 years (little pay in exchange for the accumulation of valuable experiences)? First year usually have it easy. The road in public accounting gets harder every year as you climb up the corporate ladder. As for any sizeable financial gratification, you will have to wait until you make manager.



Good luck!
 
[quote author="tenmagnet" date=1219197197]Beware!

It?s all good until they start scrutinizing those expense accounts.</blockquote>


You got busted again for expensing the Goose bottle service again didn't you?



Man... I thought by now you would have learned your lesson.



No raise for you, NEXT!
 
Babyseal,

I have been an engineer for 16 years now and have had 5 of them be a contract engineer (short term gun for hire).



You are just starting out and to some extent won't get great raises. Yes, its been a low year and they've let people go, but not you. That is in some part because you don't get paid alot and are "cost effective" (good worker and somewhat cheap - be thankful). As silly as it sounds, it is somewhat true.



I say listen to Eva and Trooper. This is exactly what i do and I don't take it personal when I don't get paid what I want. (I got that one little skill from being a contract engineer - treated like dirt - paid like a king....). I just work hard, solve problems and move on to the next issue at hand. When I WORK with my bosses to get their stuff done and get medocre raises, I ask them about it (again, objectively). If I don't like it, I move on, nothing beats voting with your feet.



Its not like they care (they don't) and the only person going to take care of you is yourself.... Because managers certainly won't.



good luck and .... GET BACK TO WORK! :lol:



-bix
 
Bix, thank you for your words. :-) Eva, Trooper, and Keanu, thank you all too. I guess what happend just changed my perspectives a bit. I was planning on staying at this Firm for a long time. What happened made me confused. I started questioning where do I really want to be in 5 years, or 10 years. And I guess I was emotionally hurt. I already talked to someone about my performance and what I can improve, and I didn't get any real answers. Anyways, I feel better now. I can only control what I do. Hopefully what I do will lead me to where I want to be or help me to figure out where I want to be down the path. I'll do my best so that I can blame others not myself. :-)
 
[quote author="babyseal" date=1219336630]Bix, thank you for your words. :-) Eva, Trooper, and Keanu, thank you all too. I guess what happend just changed my perspectives a bit. I was planning on staying at this Firm for a long time. What happened made me confused. I started questioning where do I really want to be in 5 years, or 10 years. And I guess I was emotionally hurt. I already talked to someone about my performance and what I can improve, and I didn't get any real answers. Anyways, I feel better now. I can only control what I do. Hopefully what I do will lead me to where I want to be or help me to figure out where I want to be down the path. I'll do my best so that I can blame others not myself. :-)</blockquote>


"How very Zen"... except the part about blaming other....(that's almost mandatory nowadays! :lol: )



-bix
 
[quote author="babyseal" date=1219336630]...and I didn't get any real answers.</blockquote>


That is simply frustrating. I don't know if you are a big place where you can change managers, or a smaller place where you would have to change jobs to change managers, but if you are not getting any feedback, I would bail. It need not be quickly (don't go from one miserable job to another miserable job just to get out), but I would start planning an exit. As IPO noted, there may be some benefits or professional reasons to stay awhile before leaving, but by planning now, you can get ahead of the curve for when you want to go (e.g., networking, joining professional associations, finding a mentor, etc.)
 
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