Feel undervalued and powerless; need some general advice and encouragement

BellBoy2

I graduated University last year with a 2:1 in Mechanical Engineering; prior to uni I did a HND also in Mechanical Engineering. Luckily I have no student debt as I used the money I earned from my part time job to pay my fees and I lived at home. My part time job was CAD work on AutoCAD which was great for experience and pocket money. It only paid 5.50 an hour but it helped with University and it is relevant to the field I studied / want to work in as a career. After I graduated I started looking for a more permanent job.

I got an interview for 3D CAD work (quite specialist) and immediately took the offer to work there also part time. I was doing 2 days at my old place and 3 days at the new place. After a few months there they really liked my work and offered me a full time position which I accepted. I joined full time and started doing other things within the company like quoting; programming computer code (now my joint-main role); 2D cad drawings as well as 3D drawings. I still don't have a contract and I'm still on the wage I agreed to when I started the company. At the time I just wanted work - any work - as the media made out that the economy and job market was terrible, I was happy to settle for anything.

I've been on various websites and they all advertise CAD, engineering jobs as much higher than what I'm currently on. The increase in minimum wage also hit this one home for me as I'm only earning 10p an hour above the minimum. I'm currently on 6 pound and hour which translates to £12,480 per year before tax and NI. Jealousy plays a big part; seeing friends earning a lot more than me, friends getting themselves on the housing ladder, etc is really demotivating. If mortgage lenders will give me 3x my salary I'll be eligible to £37440 which won't get me any house or flat anywhere.

I enjoy the job I'm doing, I enjoy the people I work with but the salary is just dreadful. I also feel to loyal and commited to be one of the guys who hops from job to job all the time; I know it would upset my boss if I left as he sees me as part of the long term strategy. I feel ungrateful but I don't know what to do about it. I can't value my own worth and I don't know what others are on at the company; some companies just don't pay all their employees well right so how can I tell if I'm being underpaid? I haven't took a holiday in the year I've been there, no sick days and I stay late most nights, unpaid. I don't mind working for 6 pound an hour at the moment but mid to long term it just isn't an option for me. I'm 22 and live at home; I'm saving everything I can to afford my own place but it's tough. I don't know how to handle the situation; do I approach my boss and chat about my future, if I stay the company how much can I expect to earn? I can't feasibly imagine how anyone on the "average" of £24,000 could be stuck for money, I'd give my left testicle for that amount.

Hammyman

You're going to have to grow a pair and have the conversation about your wages. Those who are afraid to talk money are usually destined to remain on next to nowt for their entire working lives. Look at what typical wages are in your area and state your case - that you don't have time off, do extra hours and that they're happy with your work BUT you can't afford to keep working for less money than Tesco shelf stackers any longer.

BellBoy2

Hammyman wrote: »

You're going to have to grow a pair and have the conversation about your wages. Those who are afraid to talk money are usually destined to remain on next to nowt for their entire working lives. Look at what typical wages are in your area and state your case - that you don't have time off, do extra hours and that they're happy with your work BUT you can't afford to keep working for less money than Tesco shelf stackers any longer.

That is exactly what it boils down to. Plain and simple. I'll wait for the opportunity then state my case. My only concern is I don't know how much I should be on. What I might not be worth to my current company, I know I'm worth to other companies. So is it worth mentioning that? "I'm intelligence, got degree qualifications and relevant experience so if I'm not worth £X to you then I'm better looking else where".

DVardysShadow

BellBoy2 wrote: »

I'm currently on 6 pound and hour which translates to £12,480 per year before tax and NI. .... I enjoy the job I'm doing, I enjoy the people I work with but the salary is just dreadful. I also feel to loyal and commited to be one of the guys who hops from job to job all the time; I know it would upset my boss if I left as he sees me as part of the long term strategy. I feel ungrateful but I don't know what to do about it.

I can't value my own worth and I don't know what others are on at the company; some companies just don't pay all their employees well right so how can I tell if I'm being underpaid? I haven't took a holiday in the year I've been there, no sick days and I stay late most nights, unpaid. I don't mind working for 6 pound an hour at the moment but mid to long term it just isn't an option for me. I'm 22 and live at home; I'm saving everything I can to afford my own place but it's tough. I don't know how to handle the situation; do I approach my boss and chat about my future, if I stay the company how much can I expect to earn? I can't feasibly imagine how anyone on the "average" of £24,000 could be stuck for money,

Mech Eng graduate. 10p/hour above NMW. No wonder your boss sees you as part of the long term strategy.

On that sort of deal, either you are a fool for putting up with it and staying or he is a fool for paying that little and letting you go.

I don't know what engineering graduates start on these days, but I would suspect 20000 would be far closer to the right figure and you should be busting average wages within a year or so.

dave4545454

BellBoy2 wrote: »

I graduated University last year with a 2:1 in Mechanical Engineering; prior to uni I did a HND also in Mechanical Engineering. Luckily I have no student debt as I used the money I earned from my part time job to pay my fees and I lived at home. My part time job was CAD work on AutoCAD which was great for experience and pocket money. It only paid 5.50 an hour but it helped with University and it is relevant to the field I studied / want to work in as a career. After I graduated I started looking for a more permanent job.

I got an interview for 3D CAD work (quite specialist) and immediately took the offer to work there also part time. I was doing 2 days at my old place and 3 days at the new place. After a few months there they really liked my work and offered me a full time position which I accepted. I joined full time and started doing other things within the company like quoting; programming computer code (now my joint-main role); 2D cad drawings as well as 3D drawings. I still don't have a contract and I'm still on the wage I agreed to when I started the company. At the time I just wanted work - any work - as the media made out that the economy and job market was terrible, I was happy to settle for anything.

I've been on various websites and they all advertise CAD, engineering jobs as much higher than what I'm currently on. The increase in minimum wage also hit this one home for me as I'm only earning 10p an hour above the minimum. I'm currently on 6 pound and hour which translates to £12,480 per year before tax and NI. Jealousy plays a big part; seeing friends earning a lot more than me, friends getting themselves on the housing ladder, etc is really demotivating. If mortgage lenders will give me 3x my salary I'll be eligible to £37440 which won't get me any house or flat anywhere.

I enjoy the job I'm doing, I enjoy the people I work with but the salary is just dreadful. I also feel to loyal and commited to be one of the guys who hops from job to job all the time; I know it would upset my boss if I left as he sees me as part of the long term strategy. I feel ungrateful but I don't know what to do about it. I can't value my own worth and I don't know what others are on at the company; some companies just don't pay all their employees well right so how can I tell if I'm being underpaid? I haven't took a holiday in the year I've been there, no sick days and I stay late most nights, unpaid. I don't mind working for 6 pound an hour at the moment but mid to long term it just isn't an option for me. I'm 22 and live at home; I'm saving everything I can to afford my own place but it's tough. I don't know how to handle the situation; do I approach my boss and chat about my future, if I stay the company how much can I expect to earn? I can't feasibly imagine how anyone on the "average" of £24,000 could be stuck for money, I'd give my left testicle for that amount.

i've got a 1st honours degree in manufacturing engineering and i'd give my right testicle for your £6 an hour job!

BellBoy2

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Mech Eng graduate. 10p/hour above NMW. No wonder your boss sees you as part of the long term strategy.

On that sort of deal, either you are a fool for putting up with it and staying or he is a fool for paying that little and letting you go.

I don't know what engineering graduates start on these days, but I would suspect 20000 would be far closer to the right figure and you should be busting average wages within a year or so.

I've got to hold my hand up and admit that I'm the fool on this occasion. I took the job because it was a job. Priorities change though and it's now not a job at any price. I want more and if I can't get more I guess I'll have to look else where.

i've got a 1st honours degree in manufacturing engineering and i'd give my right testicle for your £6 an hour job!

What is the tale behind this one? I know that as every day passes there are more and more people out of work, which I can totally sympathise with. I don't want, or intend, to come across as ungrateful. I appreciate all the good things in my life and I'm not playing the victim, I'm just looking out for my best interests and seeking some advice/motivation for how to handle my situation. I hope you didn't take offence and if you are out of work I hope you find what you're looking for soon. Both testicles intact

Emmzi

1. how long have you worked there
2. do you have enough completed projects with measureable feedback and results for a cv/ portfolio/ to talk about at interview
3. why are you loyal to a company who are taking the pee? go see what else is out there. no one is going to give you a medal for loyalty and working silly hours.

Savvy_Sue

the other thing which stands out is that you haven't taken any time off in over a year? Again, grow a pair. You are entitled to a statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) PAID leave which may include the bank holidays (and probably would in your environment).

But if you don't ask for it, the boss isn't obliged to tell you when to take it.

Start looking at 'your' kind of job elsewhere. That will tell you what other people are paying. Stop being so loyal that you don't ever look.

companies often have an annual review, which can be a good time for this conversation. If yours doesn't, ask for one and set out your case! You can always say "I don't want to have to leave, I enjoy working here, but my current salary doesn't reflect my ability, qualifications and experience, so what can we do to ensure I continue to make progress with this company?"

Shymate

How long have you been there? 6 months, a year? You should have got a contract by now, so why don't you ask for it. You've also been there long enough to be thinking of asking for a raise. So why don't you ask for a raise in your pay, you have very little to lose, especially if you are valued.

However, if you do get a negative response, you should be prepared to look elsewhere, as this low pay will eventually get to you. These days unfortunately, doesn't pay.

I meant to say loyalty doesn't pay. As others have now said.

BellBoy2

I've been invited as one of the few employees to go along to an award ceremony the company has been nominated for. It is later this week. I'm thinking of raising my issue then casually with my my boss (not the company boss)

bristol_pilot

BellBoy2 wrote: »

I can't feasibly imagine how anyone on the "average" of £24,000 could be stuck for money, I'd give my left testicle for that amount.

That's because you live at home! My rent, council tax and bills come to more than the post-tax income I would receive from £24,000.