How I Got Delivered To The Wrong Address
I have things going for me: a master’s in Digital Marketing, a bachelor’s in Business, and excellent transferable skills developed through years of work experience. A problem-solver, a great communicator, creative, organized, innovative, with a keen eye for detail - and that’s just a part of my resume.
In other words, I am a whole package…
… at the wrong address.
A fact I get a reminder of every single day.
Just today, a push notification from Medium suggested that I read an article called ‘Developers Shouldn’t Ask for Raises — Here’s Why and What To Do Instead’.
In it, Dr. Austin - a professional web developer - laments how the only time he ever got a raise as a Software Developer, it was less than 10% (from $155,000 to $165,000 annual salary). A situation he keeps resolving by switching jobs and getting a much better 10–30% raise.
Bless him, poor chap.
Now let’s talk about my salary. As a catering assistant working for a renowned UK retailer, I take home approximately ￡17,000 per year. The work is physical and hard, and more often than not I find myself doing jobs less qualified people won’t because they’ve been with the company longer and therefore feel entitled to work less hard.
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My employer is a large company with many career opportunities. Naturally, since joining, I have applied for quite a few other roles where I feel I would bring much more value, thus helping overcome the tough times the Partnership is facing. So far no luck.
Having read Dr. Austin’s article, I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I am an insider. After all, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, and people tend to value less what they already have at home.
And that goes for objects and people alike. If you’ve lived with your partner for a few years and you know them well, mistakes and all, you might think that a new person would be somehow better. And while often it isn’t the case, such is the human nature…
I believe that people should be in the right roles and receive salaries that correspond to the work they do. Personally, I have absolutely no excuse to keep working in a low-paid, blue-collar job when I should be using my education and my abilities to use the power that comes with it.
It’s time to quit this job and find my (right) place. The salary will follow.
Thank you, Dr. Austin, for showing me the way.
Follow me for updates on my journey.