[paperclip]

I joined a very particular line of work which I observed was largely free of "employee of the month", group work, and the necessity to suck up to your corporate supervisor. I normally work with one or two other people. It has been my experience thus far that if you do your job well you tend to advance, if not you don't. Very simple.

I've recently taken a job at a much larger company than I have previously worked at, and my direct supervisor is an emotional, immature, corporate kiss ass. This company does have things like "employee of the month" and other BS. My friend at the new company who is also a new hire shares our supervisor's alma marter. For whatever reason, Supervisor talks endlessly with her about this school. She has confided in me that she thinks he's an ass, but so far as he is concerned they are close. "Employee of the month" came around and she is selected for the bonus.

I'm irked. Firstly, I am getting paid less than she is but my job is "above" hers. I do significantly more work and have significantly more responsibilities. I have deduced that I am not being paid correctly or given the appropriate advancements because he doesn't trust me to do things well - when in fact my current particular position is much more stressful than my co-workers. At work I am under the modus operendi that if you do your job well, you will be advanced. I am now seeing that this is not necessarily the case. So ... should I
A. Start to be a kiss ass and get on Supervisors good side so he will be more likely to advance me
B. Continue asking for the appropriate pay-scale raise, continue doing job well
C. Do nothing and wait for more responsibility/more money
D. Leave the company, its a bad fit

[Warrior]

	Originally Posted by paperclip To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	At work I am under the modus operendi that if you do your job well, you will be advanced.

This is not correct. Doing your current job well alows you to continue to do your current job. Advancement depends on showing that you can do the next job well, the company needing someone working at the next level, and you showing interest in your career advancing along that path.

[PrometheusENTJ]

	Originally Posted by paperclip To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	...My friend at the new company who is also a new hire shares our supervisor's alma marter. For whatever reason, Supervisor talks endlessly with her about this school. She has confided in me that she thinks he's an ass, but so far as he is concerned they are close. "Employee of the month" came around and she is selected for the bonus.

Never compare salaries, nothing good comes out of it. Now that your friend knows how little you make compared to her, her opinion of your capabilities has been lowered. Not a good outcome. Were it otherwise, she would have resented you for making more than her!

Also consider the fact that she is a friend to you AND to the supervisor. Maybe she's a friend to EVERYONE! She is playing the game and you are not
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Don't be a sucker! She might be going around and saying that "I think paperclip is an ass, but she still considers me a friend". Open your eyes, and do NOT become the victim!!

	I'm irked. Firstly, I am getting paid less than she is but my job is "above" hers. I do significantly more work and have significantly more responsibilities. I have deduced that I am not being paid correctly or given the appropriate advancements because he doesn't trust me to do things well - when in fact my current particular position is much more stressful than my co-workers.

Did you negotiate your starting salary, bonus, expectations, what looks like success? If you did not, no point moping now. You accepted the offer and kvetching right after joining is bad form and ruins your reputation.

Your job might well be stressful, but what results have you delivered in your role so far? You need to prove that you can be successful in your current role and that takes hard work.

At work I am under the modus operendi that if you do your job well, you will be advanced. I am now seeing that this is not necessarily the case. So ... should I A. Start to be a kiss ass and get on Supervisors good side so he will be more likely to advance me B. Continue asking for the appropriate pay-scale raise, continue doing job well C. Do nothing and wait for more responsibility/more money D. Leave the company, its a bad fit

Since you're new, my recommendation would be to put your head down, show energy and friendliness and get some successes in the first 6 months. Charm your peers and your supervisor's peers! That's the best strategy. After 6 months you can reevaluate the situation and see how much leverage you have, but more importantly you see some of the ICEBERG that is under water.

[strangeronabus]

D.

[DeepThought]

If you have enough experience, skill, and contacts then consider going independent. Otherwise, ride it out until you do or until you are ready to make the move somewhere better suited for you.

[Autumnleaf]

Become indispensable FTW!

[Johnny B]

I think that PrometheusENTJ said it very well, but my focus is on one thing he mentioned:

	Originally Posted by PrometheusENTJ To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Also consider the fact that she is a friend to you AND to the supervisor. Maybe she's a friend to EVERYONE! She is playing the game and you are not To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

The way that I see your situation as you've described it -- and I'm trying to put myself in your place here -- is that you've been cast into a game that you weren't even aware of being in in the first place. You can call it "ass kissing" (the way you've put it) or just "selling yourself first" (the way some other people might put it) and it would be the same game. Pretty much like yelling at the computer if it doesn't do what you intended it to do; it's not a matter of "what's out there" needing to understand you, you can't change that. But what you can do is to figure out "what's happening out there" and adapt, improvise, and overcome THAT to realize your desires.

Your logic and reasoning for your position or why you should be getting the same benefits and/or compensation and/or treatment are all correct, and maybe even reasonable assuming that everything you're asking for is "fair" with respect to "what you've given out". But, still, as you said so yourself, you're not getting the results you say you should be getting. They're basically not even acknowledging your work contribution in the same regard that you value such contribution that you're making. Your and their "realities" aren't "congruent".

So, maybe, you should check your own "game plan" and revise that until you get the results you want.

If you can allow my metaphor of "that" (your situation) being a game, you then have to:

- learn its rules;

- figure out what you're after and up to what price you're willing to pay;

- and either play it or get out.

Finding out what kind of "game" it is in the first place is actually the hard part, in my opinion. Is it indeed just a matter of "marketing yourself" such that your service offering is valuated at the standards you deem "fair and reasonable"? Is it indeed a situation of gross injustice because you can appreciate the value of your contributions but they cannot? Or maybe it's something else, maybe it's matter of learning (or relearning) something like "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" because you're not being effective in "effecting" your own career goals, or maybe you should just "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" because how you view things (as you've described it in your post) isn't what's totally happening at all.

Regarding that, I think that most people can't even figure out "what it is about" in the first place, but that's where everybody else is.

But once you do "figure it out", all you have to is learn and understand its mechanics, its dynamics, and play it out.

So my point is: because you suspect that your modus operandi might all be ineffective in bringing about what you want, then do change it to something that would.

[gestalt]

My two cents: people can't be managed like data. They have to be led. Serve and conquer ambiguously.

Just try and be nice to as many people as you can.

[Tyrant Soup]

	Originally Posted by paperclip To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	A. Start to be a kiss ass and get on Supervisors good side so he will be more likely to advance me

With this boss, you definitely need to get on his good side. That seems to matter more than performance to him. Keep in mind that bosses are often allocated a fixed amount for raises. He will divide it as he sees fit.

	B. Continue asking for the appropriate pay-scale raise, continue doing job well

Definitely. If he think you're satisfied, he won't pay you more.

	C. Do nothing and wait for more responsibility/more money

Don't hold your breath if you take this approach. You will be waiting a very long time.

	D. Leave the company, its a bad fit

Not until you exhausted other tactics.

[stealthfighter]

B is actually the more logical choice. Nowadays, it's a harsh reality in a workplace that you need to establish a more personal relationship with superiors in order to climb the ladder. Personally, I also despise that kind of workplace politics and I've made it a point not to expect so much since I'm more productive working alone rather than living up to someone else's expectations. I also believe that promotion comes to you if you really deserve it because it entails more work and responsibility; otherwise, anyone who does not deserve it but gets it is unlikely to do well in such a working condition.

[Tyrant Soup]

	Originally Posted by stealthfighter To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I also believe that promotion comes to you if you really deserve it because it entails more work and responsibility; otherwise, anyone who does not deserve it but gets it is unlikely to do well in such a working condition.

Hard work and top notch performance will only earn you job security. If you want top rewards, it is necessary to learn how to influence people. It's a mild form of manipulation.

[shivasprogeny]

My advice is to try to make people enjoy working with you, especially your supervisor. You don't have to be fake or go out of your way to be social, just make yourself approachable, be willing to help, be polite, etc.

Also, like others have suggested, show initiative and a drive to take on more challenging tasks.

If you produce constantly good work and make people like you, you're more apt to get a promotion when an opportunity opens up.

[vwrw]

	Originally Posted by paperclip To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	my direct supervisor is a...corporate kiss ass.

What do you mean by that? What are characteristics of a corporate kiss ass?

[Les Payne]

You might consider reading:

How to Work for a Jerk: Your Success is the Best Revenge by Robert M. Hochheiser

[Jalex]

I akways remember Malcom's mother when Francis had his summer work at her store:

- Yes, I know, your boss is a jerk, you are underpaid and no one appreciates your big effort.... welcome to work life.

Kind of resumes everything doesn't it?

[SVR]

	Originally Posted by Tyrant Soup To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Hard work and top notch performance will only earn you job security. If you want top rewards, it is necessary to learn how to influence people. It's a mild form of manipulation.

Yep, and these days nothing is guanranteed... hard worker or not..

Some reading!
hhttp://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/index.php/Kellogg/article/ingratiating_behavior_provides_alternative_path_to _the_boardroom

One of my fave blogs

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Net, can't run away from being or rather acting "nice"