Yearly Evaluation

[Jluke]

Similar situation for me.

long time at the same company and in the same department.

trade off for the stability is missing out on those pay increases for moving around.

but I enjoy the work and flexibility (work:life balance). I will have a pension. I make six figures and a 13% bonus (or more).

grass isn’t always greener and the job still is challenging and exciting for me. I have limited upward potential and also have imposter syndrome.

[rennigade]

Ive never been in management/upper management. The position im in along with the rest of my team, raises are pre determined. Doesnt matter if you do the absolute bare minimum, or you save the company 10's of millions, your raise will be the same as everyone else. Actually, its even worse. The longer you've been with the company, the less you get in terms of raise. Newer people get larger raises for the first few years.

I will say this though, its finally catching up for the outfit I work for. A lot of people are jumping ship and its hurting them. Wages have been stagnant for the past 7 years. And, the employer knew this, they just didnt care. They got away with it for so long. Now, people are more open now than ever about their salaries, which is something employers do not want employees discussing. And those who are taking other jobs are letting everyone know how much more they're making. Some have make close to $20k more with a LOT less responsibilities.

I actually interviewed at another place that a lot of people are leaving for. I would have gotten around $5k more...but the environment is a lot different. Much higher paced/more stress. And, close to 15 less vacation days a year. At my current job, we get around 28 days a year vacation. The new place would have been less than 14 days per year. Plus the added stress wasnt worth it to me. Commute would have been shorter though, which would have been a perk.

[Starry436]

-inevitably the longer you work somewhere, you pick up additional responsibilities that used to belong to someone else. If the additional work is significant, Write yourself a new job title and description and do a written proposal for why you’ve earned the job. Bonus points for using numbers (cost savings, percent of productivity increases, revenue increases, etc). If your boss isn’t receptive, go over them

I thought this too, except eventually I found myself twiddling my thumbs begging for more work to do to fill my 40 hours. My boss was/is running around with her to-do list piled full yet couldn't find me anything else to do. I soon figured out this boss is extremely insecure and makes comments like "well when I came up with a graph they never said anything so I guess it just had to come from someone different for it to be liked"....and I just thought, wow. This boss is older and doesn't have a degree, and once told me my degree didn't mean anything and neither do titles. I should have left then but I was so naive. I'm the only employee in the accounting department with a degree.
So I just started finding ways to improve old processes and I've continued to do this but now I don't feel it's being appreciated, aside from pay, I hardly even get a thank you from the bosses. Other coworkers say thank you because it's helped their tasks tremendously so that's why I continued to do it.

[Starry436]

Similar situation for me.

long time at the same company and in the same department.

trade off for the stability is missing out on those pay increases for moving around.

but I enjoy the work and flexibility (work:life balance). I will have a pension. I make six figures and a 13% bonus (or more).

grass isn’t always greener and the job still is challenging and exciting for me. I have limited upward potential and also have imposter syndrome.

I would definitely appreciate a work life balance. My office has little flexibility. They're old school, they want to see your face and you physically sitting there for 8 hours. If I need to leave early, I have to divulge all details as to why.
I also struggle with a little imposter syndrome and nerves, I'm scared the next place won't think I'm as smart as I can make myself look on paper

[Starry436]

Ive never been in management/upper management. The position im in along with the rest of my team, raises are pre determined. Doesnt matter if you do the absolute bare minimum, or you save the company 10's of millions, your raise will be the same as everyone else. Actually, its even worse. The longer you've been with the company, the less you get in terms of raise. Newer people get larger raises for the first few years.

I will say this though, its finally catching up for the outfit I work for. A lot of people are jumping ship and its hurting them. Wages have been stagnant for the past 7 years. And, the employer knew this, they just didnt care. They got away with it for so long. Now, people are more open now than ever about their salaries, which is something employers do not want employees discussing. And those who are taking other jobs are letting everyone know how much more they're making. Some have make close to $20k more with a LOT less responsibilities.

I actually interviewed at another place that a lot of people are leaving for. I would have gotten around $5k more...but the environment is a lot different. Much higher paced/more stress. And, close to 15 less vacation days a year. At my current job, we get around 28 days a year vacation. The new place would have been less than 14 days per year. Plus the added stress wasnt worth it to me. Commute would have been shorter though, which would have been a perk.

Wow, yes you definitely have to weigh out the pros and cons of a job change. I wish I had more vacation time, so to go to a place that was even less would automatically be a no for me. I just reached where I get 15 days right now and most I have to save for the holidays or snow days. We can't roll them over so it's use or lose them.

I've been reading a lot more about how older companies still expect loyalty from employees but these new employees coming in aren't willing to give loyalty to a company who stagnates them (cough, me). My employer believes in working your way up very slowly, except I have no where else to go up to unless my boss retires which isn't happening.

[Starry436]

I'm embarrassed to answer that. I was there for 17 years. My income was stagnant for about 10 of those 17 years. There were some little tweaks here and there but nothing substantial. I should have left long before but I didn't want to start over again in a new family practice. It was only when a friend suggested I look into Urgent Care, which she was doing, that I saw a way out.

That's where I'm at now, the thought of starting over is just daunting. But when you feel like you've tried everything in order to stay, what else is left? Aside from the low pay, I don't have flexible hours or a lot of vacation time either. I feel like I'm truly exchanging my life away to them and for a little bit of nothing in return.

Maybe like you did, I'll see a way out soon.

[disneysteve]

That's where I'm at now, the thought of starting over is just daunting. But when you feel like you've tried everything in order to stay, what else is left? Aside from the low pay, I don't have flexible hours or a lot of vacation time either. I feel like I'm truly exchanging my life away to them and for a little bit of nothing in return.

Maybe like you did, I'll see a way out soon.

I think in today’s world it’s important to cast a really wide net. Maybe you need to change jobs/careers/industries. A lot of job skills are far more portable than people tend to think. I’m a doctor and you’d be surprised how many non-clinical jobs and fields there are for physicians who want to do something other than patient care. There is one company that does nothing but run seminars for docs looking to change into other jobs. So be super open-minded. You surely have skills that can translate to a lot of different positions.

[Butterscotch]

It sounds like your boss is threatened by you and your education, which is why he downplays having degrees and titles. He doesn’t want to hand off any extra work to you bc it may demonstrate your ability to handle aspects of his job.

The whole atmosphere sounds gross. I would move on.

[cypher1]

This boss is older and doesn't have a degree, and once told me my degree didn't mean anything and neither do titles. I should have left then but I was so naive. I'm the only employee in the accounting department with a degree.

So I just started finding ways to improve old processes and I've continued to do this but now I don't feel it's being appreciated, aside from pay, I hardly even get a thank you from the bosses. Other coworkers say thank you because it's helped their tasks tremendously so that's why I continued to do it.

But depending on your actual position or at that time, does it actually require a 4yr degree? If you're the only one in your team with a degree for it, then are you truly being honest with yourself for possibly being overqualified for the skill sets, responsibilities and expectations in that role? Is it possible you may have plateaued for salary range, or do you know if there much room for further growth in that position?

While it sounds like your boss may not be a very good leader/manager from what I'm hearing, but I have to agree that there is a large number of degrees that are overrated as well as job titles. My title is something like senior systems engineer on paper but I tell others its glorified tech support. The position requires a 4yr computer science degree, but maybe half of the team has one. I don't have any degree but got hired 8yrs ago based on my experience, so I consider myself very fortunate.

If you've discussed your career path and growth consistently throughout the years with no change in opportunities, then you have to change, your employer doesn’t. If they truly valued you they'd find opportunities or make a position for you. If you found a better position outside the company, you could also leverage it to raise your salary to stay. But even if you could, would you truly want to stay at a company that's treated you that way?

The sad reality is we're all replaceable, no matter how skilled or smart we think we are. Given your education and knowledge, it sounds like you've outgrown your position and need to move on to the next challenge. Get out of your comfort zone and make yourself more marketable for experience and skill sets. Or not, and continue to waste your time on a position you already feel undervalued in, to eventually be replaced by someone else for a lower salary since it doesn't require a degree.

[disneysteve]

Given your education and knowledge, it sounds like you've outgrown your position and need to move on to the next challenge.

This.

I think many of us, especially those who are on the older side, still have this mindset that a position will grow with us, we'll move up the ladder, the employer will enhance our role and raise our pay accordingly, etc. The reality more and more just isn't that. The job is what the job is. You do it and when you feel you've mastered it or simply get bored of it, you move on to another job/employer/industry where you can further grow your career, experience, and skill sets.

[Starry436]

It sounds like your boss is threatened by you and your education, which is why he downplays having degrees and titles. He doesn’t want to hand off any extra work to you bc it may demonstrate your ability to handle aspects of his job.

The whole atmosphere sounds gross. I would move on.

You are 100% correct, I only wish I had found this out sooner.

My position was created for me when I was out the door for another position, I stayed because I was filled to the brim with all of these grand growth promises to which maybe 1-2 ever transpired over the last few years and I'm not talking about anything that would be hard for the company to accomplish.. It was things like just simply more challenging work to do...more involvement in projects, etc.
So it's a catch 22, I ask for more work to do so I can become more valuable to them while fulfilling my desire to learn at the same time. Yet when I do improve something my boss takes it as a dig against their abilities. It's so bizarre and just when I think I can eek out a little more time there, I get reminded that if I stay I will only grow more aggravated.

[Starry436]

This.

I think many of us, especially those who are on the older side, still have this mindset that a position will grow with us, we'll move up the ladder, the employer will enhance our role and raise our pay accordingly, etc. The reality more and more just isn't that. The job is what the job is. You do it and when you feel you've mastered it or simply get bored of it, you move on to another job/employer/industry where you can further grow your career, experience, and skill sets.

You just summed it up for me, I'm bored with my current routine yet I've still shown up and put in all my efforts. I know given the right environment I could thrive but this just isn't it any longer. I pull in the parking lot and grit my teeth when I have to walk in the building. I've went out of my way to find different things to prove my value, to earn my keep, but it's like the more ideas for improvements I find the more my boss finds to stagnate me and direct me back to basic, routine tasks.

I appreciate all of this advice. I don't have many people to run things by in my life to help me just talk through a situation so these responses have been really helpful.

[Starry436]

But depending on your actual position or at that time, does it actually require a 4yr degree? If you're the only one in your team with a degree for it, then are you truly being honest with yourself for possibly being overqualified for the skill sets, responsibilities and expectations in that role? Is it possible you may have plateaued for salary range, or do you know if there much room for further growth in that position?

While it sounds like your boss may not be a very good leader/manager from what I'm hearing, but I have to agree that there is a large number of degrees that are overrated as well as job titles. My title is something like senior systems engineer on paper but I tell others its glorified tech support. The position requires a 4yr computer science degree, but maybe half of the team has one. I don't have any degree but got hired 8yrs ago based on my experience, so I consider myself very fortunate.

If you've discussed your career path and growth consistently throughout the years with no change in opportunities, then you have to change, your employer doesn’t. If they truly valued you they'd find opportunities or make a position for you. If you found a better position outside the company, you could also leverage it to raise your salary to stay. But even if you could, would you truly want to stay at a company that's treated you that way?

The sad reality is we're all replaceable, no matter how skilled or smart we think we are. Given your education and knowledge, it sounds like you've outgrown your position and need to move on to the next challenge. Get out of your comfort zone and make yourself more marketable for experience and skill sets. Or not, and continue to waste your time on a position you already feel undervalued in, to eventually be replaced by someone else for a lower salary since it doesn't require a degree.

I knew I was over qualified when I took the original job at the company, but I just needed "a" job until I found better job. I had no clue I was the only one who was coming in with a degree and didn't really think about it since I came in with temporary mindset for this job.
When I found another position a few months later I went in to give my notice and they came back and said they could create a higher up position for me to stay. It's been turmoil ever since. You're right, I've definitely outgrown the routine and I've just been putting a band-aid on all of the stupid stuff I've dealt with there thus far but now I have no more places to bandage.

[Smallsteps]

You just summed it up for me, I'm bored with my current routine yet I've still shown up and put in all my efforts. I know given the right environment I could thrive but this just isn't it any longer. I pull in the parking lot and grit my teeth when I have to walk in the building. I've went out of my way to find different things to prove my value, to earn my keep, but it's like the more ideas for improvements I find the more my boss finds to stagnate me and direct me back to basic, routine tasks.

I appreciate all of this advice. I don't have many people to run things by in my life to help me just talk through a situation so these responses have been really helpful.

I think on some level we have all been a bit in your shoes at some point in our life.
I can tell you that personally the grit my teeth and go in each day i did for a couple of years was not good for my health or mindset outside of work.

I think one of the biggest reasons some people simply do not leave in your situation is changing jobs is the "what ifs".... perhaps their vacation or other policies are not equal to what you have known ... or perhaps their medical plan is worse. Seldom if ever do I ever hear anyone WORRY about if all those items are much better then they have now.

I have personally known many whom stayed put because of the " what ifs".
TIME does not stand still for us to make sure every move every thing is a sure thing. maybe you would need to change more then once.

Steve was lucky that an opportunity came to him in a suggestion from a friend..... but for many of us the new job is not going to come to you but instead there is some work in seeking it out.
I know a family member stagnating in his job, just applied for a bunch of different items on a job site .An industry he perhaps would not have ever considered called.... he went from about 40k to 85K with other perks. it is all if you are ready to make the leap.

Steve is correct many skills are transferable if you go to a large job site ( indeed is what my friend used) it is often eye opening that some places ( jobs) pay differently than many assume they do. You can also see how many jobs list skills you have that you may have assumed only a specific set of employers want. The research and the possibility of breaking free at least can give you a mood boost.

[cypher1]

I'm bored with my current routine yet I've still shown up and put in all my efforts. I know given the right environment I could thrive but this just isn't it any longer. I pull in the parking lot and grit my teeth when I have to walk in the building. I've went out of my way to find different things to prove my value, to earn my keep, but it's like the more ideas for improvements I find the more my boss finds to stagnate me and direct me back to basic, routine tasks.

That says it all. I understand where you're coming from when you mentioned that you needed a job initially. Don't get me wrong, work is work. But if you're bored and not satisfied coming into work, I don't blame you for being frustrated or feel under appreciated. But there really is no better time than now to move up into a different position with a new employer.