Q: In my company, the only way to get a decent raise is to be
promoted, so I decided to apply for a management job. I expected to
receive the same salary as my friend, who has a similar position
with another team.
Q:
In my company, the only way to get a decent raise is to be promoted, so I decided to apply for a management job. I expected to receive the same salary as my friend, who has a similar position with another team.
When I got the promotion, my new boss didn’t say how much my raise would be. However, he asked me to commit to staying in his department. I told him that I would stay as long as the money was right.
It turns out that I not only make less than my friend, but I also work about 50 percent more hours. This promotion has been bad for my health, my family, and the quality of my work.
At this point, even a huge raise would not make me happy. I want to transfer to a different department, but am not sure how to go about it.
A:
Since money was so important, why didn’t you inquire about the pay before accepting the position?
But let’s move past that oversight to the real cause of your distress.
You took this job for all the wrong reasons. If a fatter paycheck was your sole motivation for becoming a manager, no wonder you’re unhappy.
Management work involves communicating expectations, coaching employees, making decisions, and monitoring results. Long hours are often a fact of life.
So before compounding this error, you need to decide whether you actually enjoy being a manager. If so, a lateral transfer may solve your problem. But if not, you should consider other career options.
To explore the possibilities, talk with your human resources specialist. But be sure to focus on positive goals. Saying that you’d like to learn new skills or handle bigger projects sounds so much better than “I want to work fewer hours for more money.”
Q:
I was recently offered a job, contingent upon a drug screen and background check. I passed the drug test and provided information for the background investigation.
That was two weeks ago. I’ve heard nothing else, except that the background check has been “held up.” I’ve stopped sending out my resume, but I’m afraid this offer is going to be withdrawn.
So far, I have followed up with an e-mail and two phone calls. What should I do now?
A:
This delay may be a bad sign or simply a run-of-the-mill bureaucratic glitch. The hiring process can grind to a halt for many reasons, including vacations, shifting priorities, slow approval processes, changing business conditions, or a million other things.
To an anxious applicant, the waiting seems interminable. But on the hiring end, time is passing much more quickly.
The only real reason to worry is if something unpleasant may have been unearthed by the background check. Otherwise, just be patient. Frequent calls and e-mails will only annoy your prospective employer.
Until you have a firm offer with a starting date, pass the time by continuing your job search. That way, if this position does disappear, you won’t have missed other opportunities.
