Designer Handbag & Purse Chat.. The Bag Forum - View Single Post

susieq · April 27th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I know the economy is in the shitter, but hear me out on this.

Many of you have probably heard my ranting about my job but here goes again...

In September of 2007 I accepted a position as an Assistant Product Manager. I took the job knowing it was only a $2,500 increase a year on my salary but it was also a very similar position as my last - no additional responsibilities. I also knew that the $2,500 was what I would be spending extra on gas (it's a 50 mile a day drive compared to my 7 mile a day drive at my last job).

A week into the position, I am told that my Product Manager has quit. My boss (co-owner of the company) assured me that he would find help and also we would review my current position after 3 months and he would make sure to compensate me appropriately. Okay great - that sounded fine and even exciting!

3 months passed by and I had to set up the meeting - I figured he might have just forgot. It was in January that we had that meeting - he told me then that he didn't remember saying that at all. He said that if it was a matter of my position title, he would order me business cards with "Product Manager" since I was no longer "assisting" anyone. He then told me he was still looking to hire me some help. Then he said "where you going to ask for a raise?" and I felt almost guilty and said that it was up to him...he then said "well we don't do raises until the review time which is after 6 months". So I got up, left the office and felt like an idiot. Great...I got business cards and I'm still running a division COMPLETELY on my own. GOODBYE SOCIAL LIFE.

Well now it's over 7 months and he hasn't mentioned a word to me about a salary review. Oh and still - I am doing this 100% on my own, still no help hired. I'm fed-up, I feel used. I have been speaking to former colleagues/mentors as well as doing online research for the median income of someone who does my job (and they at least have a team with various resources) and it's easily $12,000 MORE than I make right now. Not to mention - I have TERRIBLE healthcare from this place and that's it. No dental, no 401k, no stock options (they aren't public), nada!!

While I am doing this on my own and stressing and doing more work than I ever would have agreed to initially at this salary - I've been trying to keep a good attitude but it's getting sour. I have been getting head hunters calling me DAILY offering jobs that are over DOUBLE what I make right now and less work!!!

Oh and - they are interviewing people to find me a manager/boss. Great...but they are getting people in here who are flying across the country and I just sit at my desk thinking "what in the world are they offering as a salary for these people wanting to move across the country and work here?". I am doing everything these people are interviewing to do - and I bet they are being offered a HELL of a lot more money.

Finally - this was what really burned the hell out of me. I mentioned that we just spent $50,000 on freelance designers (which I had to manager and basically babysit through the whole time - PLUS I had to take on 4 designs of my own). After reviewing the amount of work that valued up to $50,000, I felt it would have been much smarter to have a full-time in-house designer for $50,000. My boss said "There is no way in hell we would be able to get someone in here for $50,000 a year"...

I make $37,500...

He made me feel like an asshole for sitting in that chair that day.

So can you guys give me tips or at least motivation to get the balls to do this tomorrow?

April 27th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
susieq The Resident Shopaholic Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 948	Tomorrow I'm asking for a raise I know the economy is in the shitter, but hear me out on this. Many of you have probably heard my ranting about my job but here goes again... In September of 2007 I accepted a position as an Assistant Product Manager. I took the job knowing it was only a $2,500 increase a year on my salary but it was also a very similar position as my last - no additional responsibilities. I also knew that the $2,500 was what I would be spending extra on gas (it's a 50 mile a day drive compared to my 7 mile a day drive at my last job). A week into the position, I am told that my Product Manager has quit. My boss (co-owner of the company) assured me that he would find help and also we would review my current position after 3 months and he would make sure to compensate me appropriately. Okay great - that sounded fine and even exciting! 3 months passed by and I had to set up the meeting - I figured he might have just forgot. It was in January that we had that meeting - he told me then that he didn't remember saying that at all. He said that if it was a matter of my position title, he would order me business cards with "Product Manager" since I was no longer "assisting" anyone. He then told me he was still looking to hire me some help. Then he said "where you going to ask for a raise?" and I felt almost guilty and said that it was up to him...he then said "well we don't do raises until the review time which is after 6 months". So I got up, left the office and felt like an idiot. Great...I got business cards and I'm still running a division COMPLETELY on my own. GOODBYE SOCIAL LIFE. Well now it's over 7 months and he hasn't mentioned a word to me about a salary review. Oh and still - I am doing this 100% on my own, still no help hired. I'm fed-up, I feel used. I have been speaking to former colleagues/mentors as well as doing online research for the median income of someone who does my job (and they at least have a team with various resources) and it's easily $12,000 MORE than I make right now. Not to mention - I have TERRIBLE healthcare from this place and that's it. No dental, no 401k, no stock options (they aren't public), nada!! While I am doing this on my own and stressing and doing more work than I ever would have agreed to initially at this salary - I've been trying to keep a good attitude but it's getting sour. I have been getting head hunters calling me DAILY offering jobs that are over DOUBLE what I make right now and less work!!! Oh and - they are interviewing people to find me a manager/boss. Great...but they are getting people in here who are flying across the country and I just sit at my desk thinking "what in the world are they offering as a salary for these people wanting to move across the country and work here?". I am doing everything these people are interviewing to do - and I bet they are being offered a HELL of a lot more money. Finally - this was what really burned the hell out of me. I mentioned that we just spent $50,000 on freelance designers (which I had to manager and basically babysit through the whole time - PLUS I had to take on 4 designs of my own). After reviewing the amount of work that valued up to $50,000, I felt it would have been much smarter to have a full-time in-house designer for $50,000. My boss said "There is no way in hell we would be able to get someone in here for $50,000 a year"... I make $37,500... He made me feel like an asshole for sitting in that chair that day. So can you guys give me tips or at least motivation to get the balls to do this tomorrow?