hmm..what am i talking about man..
Well in my course of work, actually with most jobs I do get a 'promotion' in terms of a pay raise and change in job responsibilities...
when i first started out a proper marketing job,
2004 @ a local cosmetics company I was given a 'promotion' in terms of pay raise and job scope from market research and promotion to business development.
- was that really considered a promotion? or so I was being told it was...
2007 @ IT industry - actually throughout my stay there, there's couple of changes and portfolios i managed. from one product to a maximum of 3 products at my peak. and so I was given another raise and my portfolio expanded to not just product marketing but also product sourcing.
- level wise it's still the same, still an executive. And IT industry is unique in a way that you get commission for marketing your product and this commission comes quarterly in a 4 digit figure. So you can say that it's partly comm based.
2008 @ Canon - this is a very sales based job so you're expected to earn from mainly your commission. Being a sales-sales job, there's hardly any chances of getting a promotion. Even if they promote you to a senior or to an account manager, you're still doing the same thing = sales.
That was why I've also decided that pure sales ain't my cup of tea. Imagine having to run around carrying printers, running for roadshows and visiting sim lim etc when you are pregnant and with a bulging tummy?
Money versus Job Role
Though the salary at Canon is the best and really attractive but I'm not as money motivated, hence I've decided to move back to a proper marketing job and not rely on a commission based job instead. (that is having relied on the heavy commissions for the past 4 years)
Just like what my ex-boss used to tell me, yes being a sales person you earn alot more, but being a marketing/product person, you get to learn more.
That's some truth in it. Unless you are really $$$ motivated else the daily sales job can get so mundane.
It ain't easy for me to switch from a comm based job to a proper basic pay job since most companies will offer you base on your previous Basic Pay.
And of cos it didn't help that I've to take min. of 50% pay cut, meaning to take up a proper basic job, i'll earn half of what i used to earn in sales.
So were the previous considered a "Promotion"?
So all in all usually I do get a pay raise, not sure if it's cos my stay in a company is relatively short, averaging from 2 - 2.5 years and that could be part of a reason why am I not at a managerial position yet? Or do i lack the qualities to be one?
How difficult is it to climb a notch higher and to advance in your career to be of a managerial level?
What does it take to officially qualify a proper Promotion? Does the pay raise in my previous jobs equates to a promotion?
The Current Situation
A year ago when i joined my current company (a totally new industry), i started off in a sales and marketing role, doing some sales and some marketing. And yes I was given some commission too.
A year later, I'd my appraisal done. And that's what I've received;
Finally in my career, I've made some advancement, at least something closer to a Managerial role. Though the pay raise that comes with it is probably one of the highest I've gotten and I was told it was higher then the usual standard % they'd give.
The negative part is that, the sales commission factor will be removed from my entitlement as sales will no longer be part of my job officially.
Of cos I'll still have to cover sales till the new sales person comes in.
In terms of gross income, it's about the same as i used to have commission but in terms of adding value to my CV and basic pay, I've finally reached another mark and gotten out of the previous range.
It's not just the salary I'd be bringing home as I used to bring back a lot more, doubles if not triples of my current, it's the assurance and stability of a proper basic pay as the base for negotiation in future jobs.
