Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

I assume you work for a small company? If so, then getting a variety of different tasks to do would be expected.

As a marketing manager, the tasks you listed don't sound unreasonable. These all could be marketing related tasks (well, except for the IT tasks, like network support).

It sounds like what may be at issue is not the tasks themselves, but whether you have time to adequately complete the tasks. Perhaps what may be appropriate to ask for is for someone to report to you to take on some of the tasks. Could be a junior person taking on the more administrative work. Or a specialist to take on one specific area (say the IT support and web updates).

On salary, the number sounds like it could be low. But that varies greatly by location, and there are areas where $30k is appropriate. But, they have added more responsibility on you, which you have stepped up to the plate on. You definitely could ask for a raise to match these new responsibilities.

I would suggest going to salary.com or similar and try to get a feel for what a comparable person is getting paid in your area. This will strengthen your position.

Hi Leah,

Well, one bright side is look at all the excellent experience you are getting on their nickel (although that nickel is really about 2.5 cents).

My dad always told me don't quit a job until you have another, and if you start complaining about your salary (yes, it certainly appears you are underpaid and as Peter said a visit towww.salary.comwill verify that) they may correctly infer you are considering a change if they don't offer you more.

Odds are they aren't going to double your salary.

Also, you always have more value to a prospective employer when you are already employed.

Maybe you should start networking around, starting today, and begin the job hunt process.

In the meantime, keep learning as much as you can, those are valuable skills you are developing.

I hope that helps.

利亚,you're not lazy, you're just smart and multitalented.

If you're young and in the early part of your career, take this time to differentiate what you're GOOD at and what you LOVE to do.

That's all I can add to the excellent advice you've already received above me.

Go, girl!

Shelley ;]

利亚,

I have been in your shoes...it's not fun. Even though you are gaining experience, you are not being rewarded or appreciated (other than a pat on the back).

Here is a list of things I would do:

1. Start looking for a better/higher paying job.....

...AFTERthey get rid of their outsourced personell. Why? This only makes you more valuable and more difficult to let go.

2. After a few weeks of losing the outsourced support, schedule a meeting with your direct supervisor (don't skip the chain of command), and express your feelings of being overwhelmed, underpaid, and seeking new employment. You may want to call in sick for a few days prior so they can see what it is like without you. When you come back to the mountains of work, let those mountains stand as living proof of what you do so they can get up, walk around, and see what happens when you are not around.

Be sure to present it in a way such as; "I love the company, but one person cannot perform all the duties efficiently and with minimal error...I need to focus on my strengths...which will be more of a benefit to you. The more you lay on me, more focus is lost in the other departments. Not to mention, I can hardly justify performing 3 positions on one salary...I can only be stretched so far before my talents are diluted."

Leave it that. See what they do. If they hire a helper, great! If you get a good promotion, great! But if they say, "Sorry kid, hang in there", keep looking, accept a new position, and resign.

Sometimes it is a card game. Employers are notorious for squeezing as much as they can for as little as possible. The longer you let them do it, don't expect it to stop anytime soon. As soon as you let them know (and show them) how this is hurting everyone, including the company, they will either wake up and give in, or let you move on. Either way, you win.

I hope this helps!

Good Luck!

利亚,one last thought...

If you are early in your career, as you've confirmed, this may be the on-the-job training that few people ever get.

Yes, you might be grossly underpaid. I hope you don't take offense at this, but you might also be tackling so many new areas that you aren't really becoming an "expert" in any of them. This may mean that you wouldn't be able to earn the kind of salary that someone would who qualified for ONE of the specialized, full-time roles you're trying to straddle. (I hope that makes sense.)

所以,我会试着重申我先前的帖子:many tasks you're handling and learning, where do you truly shine? What blows your skirt over your head with excitement?

Manage your boss. Gently and firmly bring more focus on what jazzes you in your job. Take every opportunity to learn more about that area, and if your company grows, you'll grow into the EXPERT for that role in the company. If your company doesn't grow, eventually you can take your accumulated knowlege elsewhere AND get the bucks ya deserve.

- Shelley