| Promotions. We all want them. The prospect of | | | | promotion. I took the opportunity with high |
| making more money and gaining prestige is always | | | | expectations. I played the role of management, |
| attractive. In movies and television shows, it is | | | | helping hire new employees and training them. 3 |
| common for characters to have their employer | | | | months passed without a change in my position. I |
| dangle a promotion in front of their eyes only to | | | | was told again "Just keep doing what you're doing |
| revoke it in the end. This is not a far cry from real | | | | and be patient!" 6 months passed, then 9. I still didn't |
| life, where employers constantly use the verbal | | | | see a management position. |
| promise of a promotion to their advantage. | | | | Frustrated, I approached my boss telling him how |
| I first experienced this when I worked for | | | | unfair it was. I had moved my life 580 miles to a |
| USRobotics. I started working for USRobotics | | | | smaller city where I didn't know anybody, and still I |
| through a contracting agency. I was given a six | | | | had not been promoted after 9 months. My boss |
| month contract with them to prove I could perform. | | | | calmly sat me down and told me his personal tale. He |
| I did well. I was a top representative in their | | | | had worked for this company for a period of 7 |
| Technical Support department and was well liked by | | | | years. He started with them in Ohio where he was |
| management. "Just keep doing what you're doing!" I | | | | forced to move himself, his wife, and his 3 kids to |
| was told, "and we'll sign you as an employee!". After | | | | Chicago in order to keep his job. In Chicago, he was |
| six months, the company went into a hiring freeze. | | | | rarely respected at first by management. He was |
| Nobody could be hired as a permanent employee | | | | promised a promotion several times, but they never |
| during a hiring freeze. I could only continue working at | | | | seemed to pan out. He interviewed for a position |
| USRobotics via another 6 month contract through | | | | twice only to find that each time the position was |
| the agency. I was angry, but waited it out for | | | | later eliminated. Still, he stuck it out and was |
| another 6 months. After all, a permanent position | | | | eventually promoted to a Manager. Now he managed |
| would mean higher pay and health benefits. "Just | | | | in Sioux Falls, where he moved his family again, and |
| keep doing what you're doing and be patient!" I was | | | | has again been promoted and given a bump in pay. |
| told. 6 months later, I was disappointed again. There | | | | I was flabbergasted. Here I was, a single male, with |
| was still a hiring freeze, and it looked like it would last | | | | no family, and I thought that it was a big deal for me |
| for months. | | | | to move my life to a new place. This man moved his |
| I left the company only to endure this same cycle | | | | family 2 times for this company. Was he ever angry? |
| again with a new company. I started a position at | | | | Yes! At times he flew off the handle. But he stuck it |
| Classified Ventures, a company that owned many | | | | out and it paid off for him and his family in the long |
| dot-com businesses such as and I grew there as a | | | | run. |
| Helpdesk Technician for over a year. I wanted a | | | | Employers can and will dangle promotions in front of |
| new, more challenging position though. I wanted to | | | | employees to get them to perform at a the highest |
| be a Network Administrator. I was told again "Just | | | | level possible without having to fork out more |
| keep doing what you're doing!" I played the role of a | | | | money. There is no fighting or changing this. They |
| Network Administrator. I was still a Helpdesk | | | | can always find somebody to step up and take a |
| Technician, but I was doing things as a Network | | | | shot at a promotion. A person has two choices when |
| Administrator without the title and without the bump | | | | they are getting frustrated about not getting a |
| in pay. I did this for a year. No positions came open. | | | | promotion: |
| The company was struggling, and when a few | | | | 1. They can leave, find another company and start all |
| Network Administrators left the company, they did | | | | over again from the ground up. They can try to build |
| not rehire for their positions. | | | | a reputation with a new company and eventually go |
| "Just keep doing what you're doing and be patient!" I | | | | through the cycle again.or |
| was told again. But I had enough. I left the company | | | | 2. They can stick it out for as long as they can with |
| angry. Years later, I started working for a large | | | | their current employer and prove they are worth |
| software company. I worked 2 years for them doing | | | | finally promoting them and paying them more money. |
| phone support. A new opportunity opened up. I had | | | | If you perform well for long enough, and a position |
| been working in Chicago and the company was | | | | comes available, your employer will eventually |
| opening a new office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. | | | | promote you. Every employer has a point when they |
| Sioux Falls is quite different from Chicago. The | | | | realize "Hey, we gotta reward this guy!". It just might |
| change would be stressful, but I was told that in 3 | | | | not be when you wanted it to happen, or when you |
| months, I would be in management. I would help lead | | | | expected it. Forget about what you were promised. |
| the start of a new location for the company and I | | | | Unless it was in writing, it means nothing. Instead, |
| thought it would be an easy way to a sure | | | | just keep doing what you're doing and be patient! |