Do you earn too much ?

[Nerfherder]

Weird question I know.

I have realised that my company are paying me too much for what I do. My increases have been marginal and now they are starting to find extra ways to give me more money by billing the customer for everything I have to do. I wasn't getting overtime now I am but its all getting billed directly to the customer, even things during the day that take 5 mins are logged and billed.

The reason I say its too much is that 90% of my job could be done by a junior with standardised scripts, they make me do this job to keep me busy. 10% is what they need me for, with my domain knowledge of their system there are few others that can sniff out the big issues.

I know its too much because I have been overpaid because most of the jobs similar to mine I see they are offering quite a bit less.
I have been to interviews and the guys like me but they know they can't really offer me long term prospects and its risk for them because I still need to learn all about their systems before I can become really effective.

Looks like my only real prospects are with the big corporates where they have the money and space for growth, but I do like the indy/startup vibe that a lot of the Cape Town companies have. Once I go in to corporate I wont be able to leave, I'll get used to the money and benefits (like I have with my current comany) and be 'stuck'

Feels like I need to take a massive pay cut just to get in somewhere else and show my worth... then be in the same situation now as I am now in a few years time.

 

[Dolby]

So you have spare time?
Great with HTML and site/building designing?



I never thought so, but I applied for a few jobs where they said their budget doesn't extend that far. What freaked me out is ... what if I've just hitting my earning potential at 35?

 

[Chevron]

Sounds like you need some type of qualification to get to the next level.

Can't you apply for the level of your bosses job at another company?

 

[Quey_Quick]

no

 

[Nerfherder]

Sounds like you need some type of qualification to get to the next level.

Can't you apply for the level of your bosses job at another company?

I do actually need to get a new qualification. I have a degree but its run its course, need to get some DBA/sysadmin cert now as well. I think it will just give me the edge.
I have a lot of on the job knowledge that I need to formalise.

I am basically applying for my bosses job when I go in to these interviews. Its hard to say you are the team manager when you are actually the second in command.
He does all the customer facing stuff and goes to all the meetings, I have to run the show while he is out. I can't take his job either as I'm across the country.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Interesting post ....

I'll get used to the money and benefits (like I have with my current comany(sic) ) and be 'stuck'

People sometimes get into a comfort zone. Good earnings means good lifestyle - but they are unhappy at work.
Cant leave because lifestyle needs a certain income et al.

As silly as this may sound, I have always advocated that I want to a job I enjoy - its like a hobby, and the pay becomes the bonus. Simply put.

And luck has it, that today I do have a lekker job - part running a factory, but the cherry is that I get to design new tech cloth as opposed to apparel, and I get to do business modelling and put crazy deals together.
Should I earn more from the shareholder - probably. Do I have a good way of life - yes. I may not earn top dollar - but I get to travel, to innovate, and deal with some of the most interesting people.

The only thing that stops me from being a sole business owner or entrepreneur, is the size of my nads.
I have the utmost respect for the people who take the risk, and even more for those that succeed.

Hope you find the answer you are looking for - and wish you the best.

 

[Nerfherder]

So you have spare time?
Great with HTML and site/building designing?



I never thought so, but I applied for a few jobs where they said their budget doesn't extend that far. What freaked me out is ... what if I've just hitting my earning potential at 35?

Have no spare time, and i'm terrible with HTML/ site building


I'm 34 and I do feel the same... I have hit a level where I either need to just stay where I am forever or start a business.

 

[Ancalagon]

People sometimes get into a comfort zone. Good earnings means good lifestyle - but they are unhappy at work.
Cant leave because lifestyle needs a certain income et al.

This is exactly what I was going to say. I am overpaid in that I could survive on less if I adjusted my lifestyle, and in fact, I might be happier for it.

But making the jump is always the problem, I don't think I can do it for a while.

 

[Dolby]

Damn.

We could have started a business if you could do that

 

[Nerfherder]

Interesting post ....



People sometimes get into a comfort zone. Good earnings means good lifestyle - but they are unhappy at work.
Cant leave because lifestyle needs a certain income et al.

As silly as this may sound, I have always advocated that I want to a job I enjoy - its like a hobby, and the pay becomes the bonus. Simply put.

And luck has it, that today I do have a lekker job - part running a factory, but the cherry is that I get to design new tech cloth as opposed to apparel, and I get to do business modelling and put crazy deals together.
Should I earn more from the shareholder - probably. Do I have a good way of life - yes. I may not earn top dollar - but I get to travel, to innovate, and deal with some of the most interesting people.

The only thing that stops me from being a sole business owner or entrepreneur, is the size of my nads.
I have the utmost respect for the people who take the risk, and even more for those that succeed.

Hope you find the answer you are looking for - and wish you the best.

I do enjoy what I do, i'm just working myself into a corner. They can't keep paying me more and there is not a lot of other growth for me here. Eventually I'm going to become a liability, its already going to be a massive problem if I leave.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

This is exactly what I was going to say. I am overpaid in that I could survive on less if I adjusted my lifestyle, and in fact, I might be happier for it.

But making the jump is always the problem, I don't think I can do it for a while.

True - nobody likes uncertainty, and uncertainty comes with change, and so we dont want to change .... I hear you and agree 100%

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

I do enjoy what I do, i'm just working myself into a corner. They can't keep paying me more and there is not a lot of other growth for me here. Eventually I'm going to become a liability, its already going to be a massive problem if I leave.

That corner gets smaller each day and the longer you are in it, the harder to get out.
But I think you have made the first step - you have identified the problem. While you are employed, you are paid to contemplate the solution.

You can contemplate going solo, or look at alternatives - while you are earning. Its a good position to be in - looking at it positively.

Again - I hope it works out for you.

 

[^^vampire^^]

So how much is too much? I'm willing to take over

If they start viewing you as a liability then surely it would be obvious when they try to groom someone to take over your spot?

 

[heartbroken]

Yes.

Too much in the sense that it will be really difficult for me to jump to something else. Somehow your monthly spending and investments catch up with your salary and then you are stuck. Some opportunities fly by just because you cannot afford to jump ship and earn less.

 

[Nerfherder]

So how much is too much? I'm willing to take over

If they start viewing you as a liability then surely it would be obvious when they try to groom someone to take over your spot?

You would think hey... they have interviewed several candidates to either take over one of my roles all asking for "To much". I wonder if they are asking for more than what I'm currently getting ? I wonder if it will still be too much when I leave and they have just one month to hand over all my tasks ?

To me it seems silly that they are turning people away. From their point of view they have me in CT and they need to replace me with someone in JHB who is closer to all the action. They fix so many issues by just hiring a senior resource in JHB.

They tried to groom two junior guys, one left (good candidate) and one got fired.

 

[Pitbull]

You mad bro?

Earning too much?

NEVER!!! Even if I earn $1 mil a week it would not be enough. I would always want more

 

[bokdrol]

Is that even possible?

The law is that your spending increases in direct proportion to your wage.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I don't understand the problem.

You don't seem unhappy with the work...and you complain about getting too much.

But you want to leave to earn more? So if you have too much...why do you want more?

 

[Chevron]

I don't understand the problem.

You don't seem unhappy with the work...and you complain about getting too much.

But you want to leave to earn more? So if you have too much...why do you want more?

He earns too much for his current position. So he needs a new position so that he can earn more.

 

[Nerfherder]

You mad bro?

Earning too much?

NEVER!!! Even if I earn $1 mil a week it would not be enough. I would always want more

No, I want to earn more but I'm earning more than what I am worth.

Trust me. I would take a 15k pay hike without feeling any guilt. The problem is I'm a liability because I cost a lot but I don't make any money for the company.
If my product dies or get phased out i'm going to be a massive weight on the company. Its a small company.