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Should I leave my startup to
seek a better salary and title?
Q. I joined my current company (Pre-IPO) right out of school as a junior QA
engineer testing our product. Over the last three years, I have moved from that
position to one with key responsibilities while the company has gone from 30
people to 50. Although I have been given the responsibilities of a software
project lead reporting to the CTO and supervising the work of the others, there
has been no official change in my title. I have been given raises quite
frequently, but am still getting paid less than those I supervise. This is
mainly due to my low starting salary as I have been given approximately 15
percent raises every 9 months on average. Since it is a small setup, it does not
seem appropriate to ask for more as others have not got any for the last 18
months. Except for the salary and title, my job is very satisfying. Should I
just look elsewhere to get a more appropriate title and salary?
A. It's the classic issue of salary versus title. Of course, you can have
both. It is quite thoughtful of you to consider the financial situation of your
company and the economy. However, if your company had to replace your skill set,
it would probably pay more than that of a junior QA engineer. Fortunately for
you, you are in a profession that has been less adversely affected by the
economy.
Ask your manager
what your role is in the company, and what plans they have to raise your salary
so that it is commensurate with your scope and responsibilities. Don't threaten
your manager with resignation, but at least ask if they are working toward
adjusting your salary so your are making something comparable to the people you
supervise.
If the salary and
job title are important to you, by all means polish your resume. But it seems to
me that you enjoy working at your current company. During the past three years
you have probably gained an enormous amount of experience in management, which
is worth a lot of money. So, balance the opportunity to make more money against
the meaningful experience so if and when you do leave your current employer, you
will be able to command a higher salary.
Speak to your
manager and see what they can do for you. If you think their offer and/or
explanation is reasonable, stay on. If you think you've outlived your time and
now need to start making more money sooner rather than later, then by all means
start circulating your resume.
Good
luck.
- Erisa Ojimba, Certified
Compensation Professional
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