Originally posted by Mr.McFedand:
I have been with my company for more than 6 years. I started this job as a Software Developer. Slowly my boss assigned me more things to do over years, including project management. Now I am doing mostly management work. Like hiring new staff, meeting with users, documentation, costing, assign jobs to the developers and etc.
But my problem is, I never get a single promotion at all after so many years, so my job title is still Software Developer. The total paid raise after so many years is $160 for many years (not every year, the total is $160).
To be honest, I feel that I don't have any progression opportunities, as well as increment. Though the company is making profits, but this is a family business, so you don't hope for promotion or increment. It's like you will still be Software Developer after working in the company for another 10 more years.
So, I am thinking of making a change. To seek for progression, like looking for a job of Project Manager position. I found quite a few jobs and everytime the interviewer through question like:
Why you want to leave you company?
I feel hard to answer to this kind of question. Because I feel like if you tell them, there is no promotion no increment for my current job, it's sounds quite negative, and I also don't want to talk bad about my company.
So, anyone has encounter such difficulties too? What is your answer to them? I mean put in nicely and tell them in more positive way?
Thanks
You mean your increment for 6 years totals only $160 or every year is $160.
Not bad what my company min is $50 max is $200 most people only get $100.
I assume you are saying your boss has delegated almost everything he is supposed to be doing to you, to me that means you are next in line already. It's not wise from my opnion that you want to leave. Doing management work is what a lot of techies eventually want to end up in not the other way round from management jump back in to do technical. I dunno if you ever PM'ed projects before or not, I can tell you it's very heavy responsibility and not glamorous to be a PM.
Picture this if you leave and manage to get a job teamleading or PM role for the next few years, would you at 30/40 eventually want to still be spending late nights/weekends poring over code with other developers. Are you sure you still want to do such things by then? Even if you are will you have the energy is a question. Don't you think they will have younger more energetic PM / team leaders whom you will be pitted up against? And your performance will be matched against them? I can tell you it be a losing battle.
Do 1 thing, next time your company advertise for higher management position relevant to what you now doing, approach your boss or HR and ask to apply, from how vague or direct their replies you will know how much they value your contribution then from there decide again.