I tried very naively to get the promotion by being patient and putting in extra effort. I never got promoted. Even if I was to get one in the future, I’m starting to doubt that promotion here would be the best next step for me right now. Perhaps it’s better to go and try to progress somewhere else? Those who got promoted - was it worth the effort?
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If your Erin Scarborough you get promoted.
Depends if you like to make power point slides and fwd out emails that say FYI ……
This is what happens when the focus on managing cost down.
The principal level employee retired from my team, a senior level employee was assigned the role and did a good job for 6 months. Senior level employee accepted a Principal role with another org, now we are dealing with loosing 2 experienced people within 6 months. The standard process is not to promote people, even when it is detramental as people leave the org or company, ultimately cost more than giving out a few grand and promote from within. And yea, it is company priority to retain and grow talent, keep blowing that smoke.
I've seen many a people take a promotion at T and wish they didn't. As others have said, it's what you want to get out of it.
You have to decide what's important to you. If you only want to work a few more years, is the pay differential important to you? If you want to work many more years, do you think you can put up with the aggravation that might come with it? Or do you think that "title" will actually help you somewhere else?
And, of course, there's a difference between title changes and level changes.
Promotion at T = Dead end
You ask kind of an odd question. I've been here for decades. Would I be happier if I was in the entry level position I joined in? I mean seriously, I'd be living in a cardboard box. Obviously promos/progressions are worth quite a bit here over the long haul, if here is the place for you.
But the question of here or not here is sort of separate and irrelevant to whether you should try to get promoted. Get what you can here, while you're here. If you would be better off long term somewhere else, work on that too. Not sure why people see this as an either/or. You're only going to make money for so many years. Make the most you can in each year.
But you say patience and effort. Effort doesn't count for much, skills and results do - or at least, your supervisor's perception of skills and results. Have you talked to your supe about this? Have you looked at your peers in terms of skills relative to yours and time in level? What goodies are being handed out, who's getting them, and where are you in the pecking order? These things determine if you get a promo, not effort or patience. If too many people are ahead of you in line, maybe look at job postings at the next level in other teams and try to get it that way.
That said, given that the pajama-boy optimism of December has melted in just six months and we are going into nuclear winter again, I doubt you will see promos for a while.
What is your reason besides the promotion for staying? If you aren't happy there, then by all means start working on your exit plan now - but just so you know, it is work. Have you done your research, updated your resume, and know the interviewing practices of those companies in which you would consider applying?
As a point of reference, I'm not there. But, I left as a L3 and it took me a long time to get there after several delays and it really wasn't worth it for $$$. I wish I would have left much earlier in my career but the pension + retiree benefits swayed me to stick it out.. If you are in a salary(non-union) position, and you have a lot more years left to work, I don't think extending your time at T will do anything for your career. If you are still working, you have no retiree benefits(unless you are union), the only thing is the pension and you should familiarize yourself with the calculator. if you are eligible, then you have to weigh leaving before MR75 and the potential to earn more money elsewhere(and maybe even more factors than money). If you are not eligible, then start preparing now. Even if you get that promotion, the satisfaction will be temporary and the title/position won't carry much weigh elsewhere.
Ultimately it became more work which resulted in lower pay overall. T is not the company is used to be.
If you want to work night and day, then make sacrifices you otherwise wouldn’t, then take the promotion.
Look around, T is losing its place. We are #3 of the 3 wireless carriers. Our fiber competes against, cable and other fiber providers. This company only knows how to manage and compete when they are the only player. Thise days are long gone and T is losing the war.
Ultimately it became more work which resulted in lower pay overall. T is not the company is used to be.
If you want to work night and day, then make sacrifices you otherwise wouldn’t, then take the promotion.
Look around, T is losing its place. We are #3 of the 3 wireless carriers. Our fiber competes against, cable and other fiber providers. This company only knows how to manage and compete when they are the only player. Thise days are long gone and T is losing the war.