(off-topic) what are our skill worth?

HR dept in the right direction?

I would say yes you are underpayed, but it comes down to your skills, your age and your experience, may be it is time to move on. Find another job, try IT job board.

Or look on line for jobs that match your skills, see how much they pay, collect as many comparisons you can then take these to HR, also create a full job dispcrition, every single thing you do, show them this aswell. below is mine, when i done this i got a pay rise.

1. Fun Photos

The creation or sourcing of all graphics, including Targa, palette orientated jpeg’s and bitmaps, relevant ini files for blue masking purposes, and the creation of updater CD for field use.
All, or most of, these duties cover the following Products, and any new product that may be added to the list, which is thus not exhaustive:

2, Booth artwork

a. Working from a basic brief design and creation of all artwork that covers all photo booths working from self made templates.
b. Supplying printers with camera-ready artwork also supplying die cut templates.
c. Regularly updating and improving artwork on an ongoing basis.

3. Adverts

Designing and supplying camera ready artwork for various trade and commercial publications and newspapers.

4. Flyers & Promotional work

Designing and supplying camera ready artwork for all drop flyers, posters and other marketing materials for use in promoting xxxxxx and its clients.

5. Exhibitions & Displays

Creating large format backdrops, pop-ups and other stand material.

6. 3D

To generate 3D mock ups of prototype products, to assist in idea realization and to provide product insight. To apply 3-D to artwork where necessary.

7. Photography

a. To take photographs, of products locations and action scenes, such photos to be used in a wide range of contexts, from presentations to the parts catalogue.
b. Using a digital camera to source images, also to remove backgrounds and enhance said photos for use in other projects.

8. Presentations

a. To take presentations form business packages and convert them to design packages, also to create new presentations from inception.
b. To enhance the design and apply both the Company’s corporate ID and the client’s liveries to reflect the individual departments style in to the presentation. Presentations will be for key clients and new business.

9. Archiving

a. Cataloguing and archiving of all art work including the creation and updating of parts catalogues.
b. Self-supervision of backing up work onto DAT, and archiving relevant work on to CDs.
c.
10. Re-Pro

a. To re-create artwork to replace tired or lost images from the Kiddie Rides and other factory needs.
b. To recreate artwork which only exists in hard copy.
c. To produce Health and Safety posters for use in the factory

11. Corporate Seasonal Promotional Material

Design of company Christmas card and Diary inserts.

12. Consultancy

a. To provide up to date, and relevant information, on printing techniques and pre pres principles.
b. To supply guidance on layout and design of artwork.
c. To supply advice on the corporate website, booth layout, functionality and look.

Hello thee_

It also doesn’t help matters that my immediate boss knows exactly all the work I undertake for the wage I currently get and still seems to not quite know as to where I "sit" in the company’s pay structure. Maybe is location too? (North east) I’ve searched many a time for similar jobs in my area and there few and far between.

Your suggestion too make a full job description list of everything I do on a day to day basis is a good starting point and one I will undertake at the weekend, but I still feel they still wouldn’t know how much that was worth? Wouldn’t know the vision and skills required?

Thanks you for your reply Thee_
Any more views/suggestions would be helpful/appreciated

Erik

Erik,

If it helps:-

I’ve been working for the same company in Devon for 9 years now, since I left uni. 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 20 days holiday

Started as sole designer doing brochures, adverts, leaflets, technical manuals.

Over the years I’ve increased my responsibilities with, amongst other things; web design, AutoCAD, 3D renderings, exhibition design and realisation (budget £100k+ per annum), advertising buying. I’ve had an assistant for four years, who I am responsible for.

Salary now is £20k.

Considering the amount of unpaid overtime I have to do and the fiscal responsibilities I have, I would say I am undervalued, but getting a similar job isn’t that easy.

Ultimately the only way you will get a large pay rise is to leave. If you resign they will have to decide your value to them, and whether they want you enough to offer you more money to stay. BUT they might not, so you can’t just be calling their bluff.

Colin W

That’s the thing Colin, where I work is a god send, only 15 minutes away from my home, so I’ve found the work I’m happy doing 8.30am to 5pm, five days a week! Close to home (no traffic jams or long journeys to contend with) but year by year, I feel more and more under valued. I just need solid evidence, proof on what the work I do is worth in £’s for 6yrs experience for a 29yr old male? Or is it just left up to "someone’s" guess amount? That’s how I’m feeling.

Thanks for your suggestions/input

Erik

You should be getting between 18k-22k, i did a quick job search in your area, and thats about what every body seems to be offering. But I doubt you would get more than a 2k pay rise at the most.

You could try phoning some agencys, pretend you are a boss like yours, and ask them what could you expect to pay some one that does your job.

The Society For Technical Communcation (STC) is the main professional organization for tech writers and illustrators. It is an international organization, but the majority of participants are US based.

This comes into play if you are not a member (although perhaps you should be) because they do an annual salary survey that’s available online.

Also, the group’s annual jurried competition has a large category for technical artwork and illustration. If you haven’t entered your best stuff, you should consider it both to get feedback from the judges but also so you can put "Award Winning" on your resume.

www.stc.org (there are probably local branches closer to you with their own URLs)

Art

Thanks Thee_,
for a un-adobe question/topic, you guys are doing more than I could ever had asked for!

I Really appreciate the help! and I’m going to have a constructive weekend listing my job responsibilities and seek as much input in what I should be expecting pay-wise giving the work I do, the age I am and the years I have within the job/company.

18k would make my life allot easier!!, see I’m not greedy! Ha-ha just Like things done correctly I guess.

Erik

where I work is a god send, only 15 minutes away from my home,

That is worth a lot in anyone’s book. If you get a job that is, say, a 1 hour drive away; 2 hours per day=10 hours per week=500 hours per year that you won’t be paid for. Your current rate of pay is roughly £8.30 per hour so you would need to earn an extra £4000 to cover that. Plus the cost of petrol, car repairs etc.

Or is it just left up to "someone’s" guess amount

Unfortunately, yes. Depends on what your manager (or whoever decides) thinks you are worth. If you have an annual review, send him/her a list of what you do plus what you have done in the last year to add value / save the company money. You need to have as wide a spread of skills as you can get, so that you become difficult to replace. They don’t have to be design based, I became a qualified first aider. If I leave they have to train someone else which will cost them money.

Colin, It’s hard to push myself on to take on such things as First aid and such, when feeling undervalued doing more than I already should be doing, but I can see your point.
I do bring allot of fresh/new idea’s within my dept (technical documentation)and I suppose I’m lucky not to have to travel much, but that’s just "luck" I guess?, if I’m significantly underpaid, I’m underpaid and it should be put right?

Thanks for the reply’s again.

Erik

Thanks Thee_, for a un-adobe question/topic, you guys are doing more than I could ever had asked for!

Drop into the lounge then dude, we can talk more off topic, and you will probably get even more answers on this subject there

say, a 1 hour drive away; 2 hours per day=10 hours per week=500 hours per year that you won’t be paid for.

this is what i do, never broke it down to that though, how depressing.

It must be nice to OWN a car? haha. Serioulsly thank you all who’s posted, Ive took on board all the info and sugestions given, and if I’m sucsessful in securing a rise, I’ll be sure to let you (the world) haha know about it (in the lounge, this time though!)

Thanks again

Erik

What is the ‘Lounge’ and were can I find it? I keep hearing about it but I’ve never really taken and interest before.

You are only allowed in if you can find it 🙂

Hint: It’s not hidden!

Click here for the lounge <http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@@.1de5f905>