Career guidance

[Ahsan Saeed]

Hi !
I need some guidance from you people. I have some simple questions but since this is my first job so I don't know about the regular practice.
I started working for a software company six months ago. It is my first job. They told me that there is going to be a probation period of six months and after that depending on my progress I might be made permanent. The company offered a meagre salary, but I took the offer as I did not have any other options. The salary was actually well below the market rate.
On Sep 1, 2003 my six months on the job were completed. I reminded the high ups that my probation period is over. After my insistance to let me know about my status they told me that my job would continue (and thats it !). So I politely asked them if they were going to change my terms and conditions. They said they would but they are not telling me what will be the new terms and conditions and from when are they going to take affect. Actually I think that I should get my next salary as per the new terms and conditions. But i suspect something fishy. The high ups are just delaying things and they are not telling me anything.
Just look at this. First you pay a meagre salary, have a long six month probatory period and then tell nothing...Wow !
My questions are as follows (don't mind my ignorance):
1- Is is customary to increase salary after probation period is over ?
2- Usually by what percentage is the salary increased.
3- Should I insist that my next month's salary be paid as per new terms and conditions or just keep quiet ?
4- How long should I wait for the company to tell me new terms & conditions.
Cheers,
Ahsan
[ September 12, 2003: Message edited by: Ahsan Saeed ]

[Jeroen Wenting]

Originally posted by Ahsan Saeed:
I started working for a software company six months ago. It is my first job. They told me that there is going to be a probation period of six months and after that depending on my progress I might be made permanent. The company offered a meagre salary, but I took the offer as I did not have any other options. The salary was actually well below the market rate.

6 month is excessive. In my country 2 months is the legal maximum and that only if the contract is to be extended indefinitely after that (for short term contracts the maximum is 1 month).

On Sep 1, 2003 my six months on the job were completed. I reminded the high ups that my probation period is over. After my insistance to let me know about my status they told me that my job would continue (and thats it !). So I politely asked them if they were going to change my terms and conditions. They said they would but they are not telling me what will be the new terms and conditions and from when are they going to take affect. Actually I think that I should get my next salary as per the new terms and conditions. But i suspect something fishy. The high ups are just delaying things and they are not telling me anything.
Just look at this. First you pay a meagre salary, have a long six month probatory period and then tell nothing...Wow !

Sometimes things like that happen. It is quite possible your chefs have told HR to do things and the work is gotten lost or delayed somewhere.

My questions are as follows (don't mind my ignorance):
1- Is is customary to increase salary after probation period is over ?
2- Usually by what percentage is the salary increased.
3- Should I insist that my next month's salary be paid as per new terms and conditions or just keep quiet ?
4- How long should I wait for the company to tell me new terms & conditions.

1) not usually. Though you should be part of the next cycle of appraisals during which salaries are usually adjusted (increased normally).
2) in the current economic climate, you are lucky to get an increase with the official rate of inflation.
3) until you have a new contract the old one is silently extended. DO insist on getting a new contract quickly as you're now in a position where your contract is legally expired so they officially can tell you to leave at any time.
4) you should have been offered a new contract BEFORE the 6 months were out.
If I were you I'd go talk to the head human resource person in your company as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Most likely there has been a foulup somewhere along the way.
Is someone in HR ill right now or on vacation? Could be your case is on their desk gathering dust until they get back for example.

[Ahsan Saeed]

Originally posted by Jeroen Wenting:

If I were you I'd go talk to the head human resource person in your company as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Most likely there has been a foulup somewhere along the way.
Is someone in HR ill right now or on vacation? Could be your case is on their desk gathering dust until they get back for example.

Thanks for replying. My company is a startup. So there are only one or two people who supervise me and they are the proprietors. Apart from them we are just three or four people who work under them. So there is no HR department as such.
I have been discussing the issue with my supervisor who is also the proprietor and he has to decide every thing and he is the one who signs all the checks.
Six months is a long period and it gets hard if you are not even being paid well. I've been looking forward towards this time for the last six months. They are not even telling me *when* they are disclosing the new terms and conditions.
It would be very mean on their part if they are trying to take advantage of the bad job situation.
[ September 13, 2003: Message edited by: Ahsan Saeed ]

[Mark Herschberg]

Originally posted by Ahsan Saeed:

1- Is is customary to increase salary after probation period is over ?
2- Usually by what percentage is the salary increased.
3- Should I insist that my next month's salary be paid as per new terms and conditions or just keep quiet ?
4- How long should I wait for the company to tell me new terms & conditions.

Probationary periods themselves are rare, although I suspect they'll be more common in the future. I doubt there's much data aviable about the liklihood and size of increased post-probation.
It's a startup. It's choatic. They may be struggling trying to get the next round of funding and so may be trying to hoard pennies. They may simply be not quite above the board.
Personally, I would talk to them about this, ask them what's going on, and ask them when you can expect an answer, and get a general feel for the nature (i.e. can I expect a salary increase in 1 month? 3 months?). Then evaluate if it's worth waiting for that.
--Mark

[Ahsan Saeed]

Originally posted by Mark Herschberg:


Personally, I would talk to them about this, ask them what's going on, and ask them when you can expect an answer, and get a general feel for the nature (i.e. can I expect a salary increase in 1 month? 3 months?). Then evaluate if it's worth waiting for that.
--Mark

I did talk to them. They are every *evasive*. Basically my supervisor/the proprietor/the one who makes policy/ the one who signs checks/the one who evaluates me/the one who is in total control told me that they will change the terms and conditions. And 'speaking informally' my job will continue. But they will decide every thing 'formally' once they carry out a 'formal evaluation'.
So I asked them when is this formal evaluation going to take place. And he said he did not have a 'schedule' for it.
So you see he is a pretty good talker, makes clever use of words, commits nothing.
I am getting pissed because they are not even willing to tell me when can I expect an answer.
Ahsan

[Matt Cao]

Originally posted by Ahsan Saeed:
Hi !
1- Is is customary to increase salary after probation period is over ?
2- Usually by what percentage is the salary increased.
3- Should I insist that my next month's salary be paid as per new terms and conditions or just keep quiet ?
4- How long should I wait for the company to tell me new terms & conditions.
Cheers,
Ahsan
[ September 12, 2003: Message edited by: Ahsan Saeed ]

Hello,
1. Yes.
2. It is depended on the job you have done for them so far. Is it an exemplanary?
3. Need to have a lunch meeting with your superior go over all your contributions and ask him is he satisfied with your works. Remind him of your career goal too.
4. Should not wait. This should follow with the previous question. If the lunch with your superior went well, you should have the benefit package ready for you to look over and sign. Don't expect to have a new contract to sign, but expect to have a trade secret or invention agreement contract to sign.
Now, have you research the company even though it is a startup. Some start up have gigantic backbone overseas.
All the companies I have been through in the US have some kind of probation periods. Some 3 months while the other 6 months, the reason behind it for company not so hurry go out and purchase all your benefits package right away.
Regards,
MCao

[Mark Herschberg]

Originally posted by Ahsan Saeed:

So I asked them when is this formal evaluation going to take place. And he said he did not have a 'schedule' for it.
...
I am getting pissed because they are not even willing to tell me when can I expect an answer.

Granted, I'm judging with limited information, but I'd be very cautious and would start sending out resumes. I could possibly understand if they needed a little time, or even said something like "we're trying to get VC funding, hopefully next month, but it could be longer, we'll keep you in the loop." But this sounds like they are trying to control you. I would not want to work for those people.
--Mark