I don't think I'll ever get promoted

[Anonymous]

My company runs on a strict tier system, like the GS system almost, but without steps. One year into my current job, I was promoted a level, and 12 years later, I'm still there. I've had pay raises, but I want to be able to put "Senior" in front of my title.

My reviews each year are fantastic, and I do the most work in my department. My internal and external customers rave about me. But no promotion in sight.

There is one other person in my department who also does job, and he's at the higher level, so it's not that we don't promote to that level in my position. He has four more years experience, but no professional certifications and no college degree (I have a masters in my field).

I'm honestly getting frustrated that I have almost the same amount of experience (15 vs. 19 years), and tons more education than him, yet I've been stuck at the same level for 12 years.

Is this worth making a fuss over? Or is this typical for large corporations? Again, I don't want money - I just want some recognition and respect.

[Anonymous]

I assume you've talked this issue over with your manager. What does he or she say about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume you've talked this issue over with your manager. What does he or she say about it?

No, I haven't. I don't know how to bring it up.

[Anonymous]

Are you a female? I took a seminar that said that the #1 reason women are paid less is because they don't DEMAND a raise. And they don't change jobs when it's not happening. Women think that if they do everything right, they will get a raise. Instead, your company is just happy to have your labor and not having to pay you more.

[Anonymous]

Leave. The best way to grow these days is to leave. I'm in a similar situation at big Corp - they are promoting friends and the rest of us are worker bees, even if we are far more qualified..,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a female? I took a seminar that said that the #1 reason women are paid less is because they don't DEMAND a raise. And they don't change jobs when it's not happening. Women think that if they do everything right, they will get a raise. Instead, your company is just happy to have your labor and not having to pay you more.

Yes, I'm a woman.

I don't want a raise though, just a change in title. The pay bands overlap, and I'd be perfectly happy with the next level and no pay raise.

[Anonymous]

Also, too long at one level/company can hurt your resume these days. It may make you look like you don't have ambition or are ready for a challenge.

I left a company after 10 years. Within a year of new job, recruiters are calling me like crazy seeing if I want to make a switch.

Spice up your resume.

[Anonymous]

You need to ask for the title. And you should get a raise as well.

I was in your shoes, and fought for years to get to the Sr. Director level, even though I was clearly doing more than many other Sr. Directors. Then I was given even more work, and little additional pay, so now I am leaving to go somewhere else for more money and a VP title.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a female? I took a seminar that said that the #1 reason women are paid less is because they don't DEMAND a raise. And they don't change jobs when it's not happening. Women think that if they do everything right, they will get a raise. Instead, your company is just happy to have your labor and not having to pay you more.

Yes, I'm a woman.

I don't want a raise though, just a change in title. The pay bands overlap, and I'd be perfectly happy with the next level and no pay raise.

Don't sell yourself short. Ask for both. I swear your male coworkers are asking for both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, too long at one level/company can hurt your resume these days. It may make you look like you don't have ambition or are ready for a challenge.

I left a company after 10 years. Within a year of new job, recruiters are calling me like crazy seeing if I want to make a switch.

Spice up your resume.

I'm a trailing spouse and a new job isn't an option. I work for a company in the DC area, but have followed DH around for the past 10 years. In our current location, there are no jobs.

Also, the other guy in my department has been with the company 20 years. This is a company that values loyalty, oddly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume you've talked this issue over with your manager. What does he or she say about it?

No, I haven't. I don't know how to bring it up.

You're doing yourself a disservice. How does the company know you want a promotion if you've never brought it up?

You must have regular performance reviews. This is when you bring it up. You state that you are interested in understanding what it will take for you to be promoted. And go from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to ask for the title. And you should get a raise as well.

I was in your shoes, and fought for years to get to the Sr. Director level, even though I was clearly doing more than many other Sr. Directors. Then I was given even more work, and little additional pay, so now I am leaving to go somewhere else for more money and a VP title.

I guess my question is, at an individual contributor level at a large company, do you have to do something amazing for this to happen? I feel like there is a cultural part of this that i am missing.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm in the same boat. I could write pages on why it's bullshit and how it all happened but it doesn't matter (and I have asked, straight out, for a promotion or room for advancement and got nothing).

In the end, the only way to move up is to move on. Especially after years of you tolerating, in their eyes, a total lack of advancement. They are betting that you won't walk away so they aren't going to promote you. You will need to move on and get a new job somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to ask for the title. And you should get a raise as well.

I was in your shoes, and fought for years to get to the Sr. Director level, even though I was clearly doing more than many other Sr. Directors. Then I was given even more work, and little additional pay, so now I am leaving to go somewhere else for more money and a VP title.

I guess my question is, at an individual contributor level at a large company, do you have to do something amazing for this to happen? I feel like there is a cultural part of this that i am missing.

I guess I can answer my own question here, since I have a coworker with the senior title. He certainly didn't do anything amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm in the same boat. I could write pages on why it's bullshit and how it all happened but it doesn't matter (and I have asked, straight out, for a promotion or room for advancement and got nothing).

In the end, the only way to move up is to move on. Especially after years of you tolerating, in their eyes, a total lack of advancement. They are betting that you won't walk away so they aren't going to promote you. You will need to move on and get a new job somewhere else.

I'm a trailing spouse, for at least the next 10-12 years. A new job isn't an option right now.