Q & A Table of Contents
They Keep Promising, But Don't Deliver
From: From: Sandeep, Sydney, Australia
Question: I am working for an Indian IT company at the clients place in Australia. My company does not pay me well. The reason I am staying with the company is because they have been promising me a promotion and a move into another division of my choice.
The manager in Australia promised me the shift after I complete my current assignment. But on completion of the assignment I was asked to move on to another assignment with an assurance of the shift and the promotion after this new assignment by the general manger (senior of the earlier manager).
Now my current assignment is due for completion in a month time, and again the company is following the same strategy asking for one more project. One major reason is that I am good at my job and the client does not want to leave me.
The job opportunities outside my company are good but I want to stay and move to the new division, gain some experience in the new division and then shift. I am from a non IT background and as such experience with a big company does count a lot for me. I have the option of giving a threat of leaving the company and then things will move, but I am not 100% sure of this strategy (75% sure). Please advise.
Response: You have good reason to doubt the seriousness of the promises made by your supervisor and your company. Before approaching them, you should study the job market to determine the 'market value' of someone with your skills and experience. It would also make sense to identify realistic alternative job possibilities.
With that homework done, you should decide what is in your best interests: how much pay will satisfy you, whether to stay with your current company, whether there are things other than pay that would be appealing to you (better office, flexible hours, parking space) etc. I should think that your increase in pay should at least bring you up to market level and/or the salary you could earn with another employer. As you go through this process, think of the information you want to derive from your current employer in deciding what to do.
After that you should request a meeting with your employer. Before you begin trying to sell them on anything, ask the questions designed to get the information you need. DON'T ASK QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ANSWERED WITH A 'YES' OR 'NO'. Ask open-ended questions so your employer has the opportunity to spell out his/her feelings or proposals.
Take notes during the meeting with your employer. After the meeting write a memorandum that outlines your understanding of what was agreed. Give the memorandum to your employer and ask him/her to sign it if they, too, agree that it represents what was discussed -- and, hopefully, agreed -- at the meeting. You want to end up with a written document with a promise (or set of promises) upon which you can rely.
Good luck,
Steve
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