Working people of SNet come in please

[James Dahl]

Assalamu calaykum everyone,

Just wanted to ask general questions about your rights in the workplace. I know we're all of different backgrounds, different countries and different years of experience, but the general principles of negotiating your rights would remain fairly similar and can hopefully be applied across the board.
In shaa Allah this will be beneficial to everyone.

1) How do you negotiate your roles & responsibilities (or was it fixed upon employment?)
2) Do/did you negotiate your promotions? How did you do so?
3) Do/did you ever make a position for yourself when there wasn't a post there? Did you manage to secure payments attached to this?
4) How did you go about securing that promotion or increase in salary? What did you say/do?
5) Have you resigned from jobs before? Was it in favour of another job? How did you do so (particularly interested in people who had to write a letter of resignation, how do you do that?)

That's all for now, looking forward to your answers

1) Employers will always try and unload new responsibilities onto their employees instead of hiring more people, so never agree to anything unless it comes with a promotion and a pay increase, or fewer existing responsibilities. You don't have to agree to take on more work, you were hired to do what you are currently doing.
2) I work in web development and design, ultimately to get a promotion and more pay you have to find a new job. You can try and work your way up the ladder but most of the time you won't be rewarded for loyalty.
3) Creating a position for yourself is a good way for you to get a promotion or a raise if you do want to advance within a company. If you notice that a new or planned project lacks project leadership (ie they haven't hired someone yet) or you are interviewing for a position where they haven't hired project leadership yet, propose yourself. Employers are human beings who will always take an easy route when it presents itself, be the easy route (hey I don't need to interview for managers, here's one!).
4) The time to ask for a raise is the exact moment your employer wants you to take on more responsibilities. It means their need for your skills is greater than it was when you were first hired, ergo you are worth more, ergo you should be paid more.
5) I usually only stay at a job for a few years at most, always for a different job with better pay or more interesting, or a better work environment. You won't be rewarded for loyalty, you are compensated based on what you are worth to the company and how much you are prepared to demand in exchange.

[Tuushi]

Assalamu calaykum everyone,

Just wanted to ask general questions about your rights in the workplace. I know we're all of different backgrounds, different countries and different years of experience, but the general principles of negotiating your rights would remain fairly similar and can hopefully be applied across the board.
In shaa Allah this will be beneficial to everyone.

1) How do you negotiate your roles & responsibilities (or was it fixed upon employment?) Fixed
2) Do/did you negotiate your promotions? How did you do so? By offering leadership in an area that needed a perm person.
3) Do/did you ever make a position for yourself when there wasn't a post there? Did you manage to secure payments attached to this? Slightly altered my fixed position.
4) How did you go about securing that promotion or increase in salary? What did you say/do? For raises,u have to ask for it.There is no need to pay u better if u dont think u r worthy and deserve it.
5) Have you resigned from jobs before? Was it in favour of another job? How did you do so (particularly interested in people who had to write a letter of resignation, how do you do that?) Yes/yes/Verbal end date on good terms

That's all for now, looking forward to your answers

[YummyMummy]

Many thanks to all the contributors, sorry I didn't get back to you all sooner, I was meditating and trying to put into practice some of your good advice.

I have a question: would you transfer out of your job to another that paid better (and you could potentially negotiate for up to $10,000/£6,000 more than what you are currently earning) AND you were given a responsibility/post/senior role, but:

1) working hours were much longer
2) your responsibility/post/senior role was vague at the point of advertisement, and no better defined when you were interviewed - but there is room for you to make it what you want?
3) you wold have less employee rights than the previous job, certainly for a 6mth probation period if not longer?
4) your previous job was more chilled in general whereas this is more corporate, e.g. about time off/absences for illness or other reasons

Let me know your thoughts please in shaa Allah.

[YummyMummy]

... sooo I could use some insight again people. I have a fair idea what I might do but I wanted to see things from your perspective in shaa Allah.

current job pros:
1) Salary
2) unstable working environment = more promotion opportunities
3) teaching jobs = more family time (in theory)
4) nice team
5) teaching Somali & ethnic kids (feels more at home)
6) kids' parents are more supportive & kids more able and likely to get grades than in previous location
7) performance management not based on exam results alone

current job cons:
1) Stress from doing multiple jobs all at once; form tutor, curriculum responsibility, meetings with senior leadership, preparing teaching resources & assessments, tracking progress and changing class lists for teachers, admin (calls/letters home, photocopying, printing, cutting, sticking, marking, making your room pretty, etc)
2) expected to come during holidays (e.g. Saturdays & half-terms)
3) corporate environment; "by any means necessary" mentality
4) very unstable; lots of sacking & resignations
5) responsibility role = "congratulations! Here's a noose; go hang yourself"
6) no professional development; cleaning up people's mess from eons ago
7) management team not supportive; not rewarding effort but pinpointing every "error"
8) your performance hinges on the progress of little children (very unpredictable)
9) regular surprise drop-in observations/investigations to check progress of pupils and inspect marking
10) role unclear & not defined; risk of umbrella term where you're expected to do things beyond your capacity.

My mind is telling me: why not go into a regular 9-5 job, perhaps back into ,maths-related fields, and yeah you lose out on the half-term holidays but what's the point if you worked in those anyway? And at least now you could earn the same or more £££ doing something where your roles, responsibilities and performance management is clearly defined, and you don't take work home with you.

No work home that would be the life!

[AgentOfChaos]

Here is the meat of your post.....

pros: Good career



cons: very unpredictable

So I say if you have a good safety net, people who can support you when you hit bumps on the road then go for it, if not then do what I do and say "fuck you" to your passion and stick with reliable job, that's why I'm structural engineer on goddamn construction sites and not doing what I love which is painting.

[AbdiWahab252]

Assalamu calaykum everyone,

Just wanted to ask general questions about your rights in the workplace. I know we're all of different backgrounds, different countries and different years of experience, but the general principles of negotiating your rights would remain fairly similar and can hopefully be applied across the board.
In shaa Allah this will be beneficial to everyone.

1) How do you negotiate your roles & responsibilities (or was it fixed upon employment?):

Job description was fixed but I did negotiate certain key points. Make sure to take advantage of the interview to interview your future employer. Find out about their culture. Get to know their corporate culture and be sure to ask about their expectations of a candidate in the role you are applying for.

2) Do/did you negotiate your promotions? How did you do so?

Throughout the year, I keep a list of all my accomplishments: dates, tasks, customer and $ value. I also identify the efficiencies and additional duties I took on and how much $$ they saved/earned for the company. I was able to negotiate a 15% raise last review period after saving the company $$$ in potential lost royalties.
3) Do/did you ever make a position for yourself when there wasn't a post there? Did you manage to secure payments attached to this?

Yes. I worked as a consultant for a large multinational logistics company that wanted to set up a logisitics camp to distribute fuel, machinery, and food in a risky nation X. They had bungled some things but for a fee I sorted it all out. I smoothed out some tensions with the locals, doled out some contracts and had them up and running in 40 days. My payments were tied to certain deliverables and once they were achieved I got my pay plus I negotiated a bonus if I got it done ahead of schedule. I threw a few bones to the locals and officials keeping them happy. I was only 20 but had the good fortune of being friends with the children of the new regime.

4) How did you go about securing that promotion or increase in salary? What did you say/do?

Confidence. If you believe you deserve it, you will get it. You have to have the swagga and the facts. Don't be shy nor humble about what value you provide. If they don't recognize it, walk away. Ain't no loyalty.

5) Have you resigned from jobs before? Was it in favour of another job? How did you do so (particularly interested in people who had to write a letter of resignation, how do you do that?)

Yes, always be on the search. Some of my best jobs were from pure networking: from the people I partied with to the boss I thought hated me but respected that I didn't bitch or complain about my work. When she left, she took me along because she needed loyal lieutenants ready to crush the new staff. When you get a new director, think of it as an invasion/coup, they will look for ways to exert control and that is done by making heads roll and bringing in trusted lieutenants.

That's all for now, looking forward to your answers

[AbdiWahab252]

And lastly, ALWAYS be on the search for new opportunities. If you haven't been promoted in 2 years, WALK AWAY. You want to gather as much experience and titles as you can before you stagnate.

[gegiroor]

And lastly, ALWAYS be on the search for new opportunities. If you haven't been promoted in 2 years, WALK AWAY. You want to gather as much experience and titles as you can before you stagnate.

[YummyMummy]

Here is the meat of your post.....

pros: Good career



cons: very unpredictable

So I say if you have a good safety net, people who can support you when you hit bumps on the road then go for it, if not then do what I do and say "fuck you" to your passion and stick with reliable job, that's why I'm structural engineer on goddamn construction sites and not doing what I love which is painting.

Excellent summary of my drivel
Alxamdulilah you're spot on, today was very momentous but I think it worked out, in shaa Allah it's not a noose I'll tawakkal calallah & see how it goes next year.

Assalamu calaykum everyone,

Just wanted to ask general questions about your rights in the workplace. I know we're all of different backgrounds, different countries and different years of experience, but the general principles of negotiating your rights would remain fairly similar and can hopefully be applied across the board.
In shaa Allah this will be beneficial to everyone.

1) How do you negotiate your roles & responsibilities (or was it fixed upon employment?):

Job description was fixed but I did negotiate certain key points. Make sure to take advantage of the interview to interview your future employer. Find out about their culture. Get to know their corporate culture and be sure to ask about their expectations of a candidate in the role you are applying for.

2) Do/did you negotiate your promotions? How did you do so?

Throughout the year, I keep a list of all my accomplishments: dates, tasks, customer and $ value. I also identify the efficiencies and additional duties I took on and how much $$ they saved/earned for the company. I was able to negotiate a 15% raise last review period after saving the company $$$ in potential lost royalties.
3) Do/did you ever make a position for yourself when there wasn't a post there? Did you manage to secure payments attached to this?

Yes. I worked as a consultant for a large multinational logistics company that wanted to set up a logisitics camp to distribute fuel, machinery, and food in a risky nation X. They had bungled some things but for a fee I sorted it all out. I smoothed out some tensions with the locals, doled out some contracts and had them up and running in 40 days. My payments were tied to certain deliverables and once they were achieved I got my pay plus I negotiated a bonus if I got it done ahead of schedule. I threw a few bones to the locals and officials keeping them happy. I was only 20 but had the good fortune of being friends with the children of the new regime.

4) How did you go about securing that promotion or increase in salary? What did you say/do?

Confidence. If you believe you deserve it, you will get it. You have to have the swagga and the facts. Don't be shy nor humble about what value you provide. If they don't recognize it, walk away. Ain't no loyalty.

5) Have you resigned from jobs before? Was it in favour of another job? How did you do so (particularly interested in people who had to write a letter of resignation, how do you do that?)

Yes, always be on the search. Some of my best jobs were from pure networking: from the people I partied with to the boss I thought hated me but respected that I didn't bitch or complain about my work. When she left, she took me along because she needed loyal lieutenants ready to crush the new staff. When you get a new director, think of it as an invasion/coup, they will look for ways to exert control and that is done by making heads roll and bringing in trusted lieutenants.

That's all for now, looking forward to your answers

Thank you so much walaal, that was very detailed and useful. Especially the last question, never thought of it like that. I did number 4 today Btw, you're right it's a case of "if you don't ask, you don't get". In shaa Allah I got something khair leh, Aamiin.