A reader sent me this question: Over the last two years, I have been given more and more responsibilities but no extra salary and no title adjustment. Will this hurt me when I start looking for a new job? It would be nice to have a better title on my resume.
Since this question pertains to just about 362,000 other people in the same situation, I thought I would try to answer it here.
First and foremost, this won’t hurt you, far from it. What this proves and demonstrates to a future employer is that you are willing to do extra work, that you are capable of more and are not one of those employees who say, “I’ll do it, but first I want this…” The more you can do, and the more you do, you become more skilled, more indispensable and eventually more valuable.
Your current employer should know this.
I am assuming goodwill first on their part. They might just be too darned busy to recognize what they have done. You obviously have a reputation for getting the job done, and they naturally bring more work to you because you can handle it. At some point, and it seems you have reached that point, they should deliver on their end as well.
These are difficult times for a lot of companies. Forced to make cuts and layoffs, companies are doing more with fewer resources. Remaining talent has to step up and do more, often for less. Chances are good your abilities have made you a survivor in this tough economic time. Good for you.
But you are frustrated and simply want a new title, maybe more money. It sounds as if you have reached that point where you no longer want to work there, partly because your employer failed to recognize your efforts and failed to take action before you “went south.” This happens.
There is not a good way to handle asking for more money or a title adjustment, with your “I am about to leave” attitude showing to one and all. I bet most new employers will love you as a candidate, with or without the title adjustment. You just need to work on how you will present it…it can be done with a bit of effort.
Having said that, if you still want to “go for it,” here are a couple of ideas to try.
I would not go to HR with anything that borders on whining or a complaint. Even if your HR contact is all warm and fuzzy toward your predictament, your boss will resent you not bringing the issue to him first.
I would discuss it with your boss but very casually. Bring it up in an off-handed but pointed way, when the situation presents itself. I would not recommend requesting a formal review or anything that sounds like “I would like to discuss my work efforts and a new salary and/or title adjustment.” Most bosses upon hearing this will be more resistant to even the most logical arguments.
Unless you work for one of the biggest companies, my experience is that titles are freely given, especially to proven workers. Chances are, your boss has simply forgotten to make the adjustment for any one of many reasons. He may be glad you reminded him. Often these kinds of things, having been ignored for far too long, fester in our own minds and we make it into something bigger than it needs be.
Obviously, every company and situation is different so use your own best reasoning.
But congratulations on being one of those people who companies always want. You have earned your reputation well.
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There’s the key–your current employer SHOULD know about your situation. Great post!
Great advise there GL. I would simply add one proviso, on the assumption that your friend wants to continue in the same firm, but just misses the recognition and the reward. Get another job offer in hand first and then approach the HR dept or whoever. One’s own assessment of one’s contribution need not always coincide with the boss’s assessment.
You make a great point about not letting your frustration over such things as a title fester. I would agree that in many large companies, titles are often negotiable. You give excellent points for employees considering bringing up the topic.