Advice for New Job Title and Promotionhttps://www.mosaicstg.com/

NadiraFant·Mar 02, 2021

Hi everyone! Ive been working at a design/development agency for about 2yrs and my development and career have grown exponentially since my beginnings as an intern to now data analysis and data management. I work at a small agency and usually everyone wear multiple hats here. However, my work is far more expansive than our general design, development, and project managers. My work consists of everything under the sun from design, content population, direct emailing and corresponding with clients, documentation and strategy, and finally my more intense work data management and analysis. I have a strong mastery in all of these skills and my day can vary wildly form managing databases, creating digital graphics, or managing website content and corresponding directly with clients. Even though I have a plethora of skills, my title is still a Junior Associate. Ive gotten one raise since I've worked here which is nice, but again, I'm the only one in our agency who has a wide range and mastery of skills in multiple departments. And I am the only one who studied and advanced my development to the point where I am now certified in google data studio, google analytics, and google sheets.Since then I've spearheaded and led many data management projects as well as some design projects as well concerning ad campaigns.Last year around October, we had an annual professional development meeting. My boss said they would like to promote me, give me a new title, plus a raise, but doesnt quite know wut that looks like that. So they left it up to me to figure out what that looks like and pose questions. Which i did. I sent them a very expansive and introspective report covering the data management centric careers that aligned with me, the things I wanted, the things I could offer, plus the work that I do so far.Now its March and they have not brought this up again. It has been brought to my attention that I need to directly talk to my bosses about this rather than wait on them. I would like to come up with a plan of attack to come up with actionable steps to revive this conversation and work towards actually giving me a title and compensation that suits my work so far. I do like this company and I would like to continue working here. That being said Im also ready to start thinking of looking for other employment if they do not want to promote me or give me a higher salaryIve written out a script that I would like to send to my boss. I would like some feedback or advice on this to see if there are areas where I can improve my wording here. I dont want to this topic to be buried and I would like to provide some action steps to move forward with like setting up a meeting or setting up several meetings. To be quite frank I feel that this is weird their "leaving it up to me", but I do not want to end this with dismissive "I'll let you know"-----Hey xxx I had been thinking about our previous conversation regarding an elevation in my current position, professional development, and current work here at Mosaic. I wanted to lift back up the conversation here with the idea of us discussing what a new position looks like and what steps we should take to make this move more tangible. I went ahead and made an introspective document that outlines action steps and questions to pose about where my expertise lies, how it can grow, and what that looks like for our services and current/new clientele. I believe these questions will be helpful in refining my own position here, setting expectations of what is possible, and outlining goals for the future here at Mosaic. As you go through this document, let me know your thoughts and opinions here. I'm happy to review this doc in depth in a meeting (or several meetings) as well as we begin to take steps to move forward here. Here is a short summary of what you will findList of data centric positions and titlesMy thoughts on where I lie on this spectrumQuestions about services to offer our current clients and potentialQuestions about how or should my expertise grow to meet those new servicesAnd finally what my current duties and expertise are

sophieaigner·Mar 02, 2021

Hi @NadiraFant,I think is a really good organized approach that will force them to take you seriously. You have very clearly done your research and for them to not move forward with the promotion/raise would be going against the data you presented. Three things that have worked for me in the past when negotiating (if you haven't done them already) are: 1) Push for more than what you want - normally as females, we are too honest. As you have said here, you have marked where you are on the spectrum of positions. Typically, a male counterpart would most likely put themselves a few notches higher than we would, so really make sure you aren't being too critical of your skills and perhaps stretch yourself to where someone else might see you - maybe a few notches higher. I would advise this when presenting your ideal salary as well. 2) Do your research for salaries in the market and make sure you aim for the compensation you deserve. 3) If you need to, you could always apply to a few comparable jobs in the market to get a feel for what you would get offered. At the very least, lining up other job ads for the job you would want and having them to compare with what you are asking for is a very strong negotiation tactic.Best of luck - I'm sure it will work out as your approach is really strong!

NicholeHarrop·Mar 05, 2021

Hi Nadira, great work on advocating for yourself to get this raise and not allowing them to not further the conversation. My minor suggestion would be to remove the word "should" in the first paragraph and replace it with "can". I agree with Sophie to advocate for slightly higher than anticipated so you can negotiate to a range that is what you're looking for. Best of luck!!

NadiraFant·Mar 05, 2021

thank you @nicholeharrop and @sophieaignerThanks for your support and comments! My heart is filled with nervousness about taking control of this conversation. I dont know wut response I'll be met with from my bosses, but this is something I know i have to move forward with this to advance my own career and avoid stagnation.You both brought up very good points about advocating for higher pay rather than what I think I deserve. I do humble myself without meaning too at times and this is something I have to work on. Im going to be confronting my bosses this week!

NicholeHarrop·Mar 06, 2021

You're going to do great. I coach women on this all the time and I also still get nervous when those conversations happen. If it doesn't work in your favor, you'll likely start looking elsewhere to find a place and people who value what you have to offer. We're all cheering for you!