I Am Not Being Paid Well And Getting No Interview Calls. Is There A Solution?
Question From The Job Seeker
I have a problem that has been causing growing frustration in my life and I need your help dealing with it. I have a Masters degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, with first division. After finishing my degree, I joined an advertising agency and worked there for nearly 4 and half years. I then switched to another agency and worked for some time with that agency before finally moving to an airline company.
The problem I am facing is that the salary package I am getting at this airline company is quite low as compared to my experience level and the jobs portfolio. People with my experience level are getting much higher pays than me. My boss says that since I came to the company on this pay scale, I should be content.
Disheartened, when I applied for another job, I did not receive an interview call, but when my wife who has a BA degree only applied for the same job she received an interview call. Why was I ignored despite being more experienced and educated? Also what can I do to get the company to increase my salary?
Ali Faisal Khan
Answer From The Rozee Team
Dear Ali,
You have good education and a lot of experience which means that you can get a good pay. The first thing that comes to mind after reading your story is why you accepted a job at a lower package than you deserved. It might be that you wanted the job badly enough to accept a lower salary package. If so, you might have to bear the package for some time before you are offered an appraisal or a promotion.
Due to the economic recession that is plaguing the job markets, the pay scales have gone down. A lot of people are willing to work for less and for every job that opens up there are millions of candidate. Under these circumstances it might be best to keep working till you get a better option.
When looking for a job make sure that it is something you are interested in and see yourself succeeding in the long run. Do not make a switch based on pay scale only as that will not be beneficial for you in the long term. Also moving again and again can create a negative impression on the employer.
As per your question regarding the failure to receive an interview call from the job that you applied for, the problem might be that you are overqualified. The fact that your wife received a call from the company despite being less educated and experienced means that she fills their criteria better. Your experience and education level is not desired by the employer so they did not give you a call.
It is advisable that you apply to jobs that cater to your experience level rather than going for jobs that are below your expertise level. Even if you are able to get a job that is below your expertise level, they will offer you a lower pay scale which is the reason you switched your job in the first place.
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July 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 am
A nice article. But one must say the main earning hand of the house is (& should be) male. We have to see the big picture behind the move which came from West for females to take equal part in this earning race. Now, whether it is due to need (the smallest possible fraction), fashion or to fulfill the luxuries (now made necessities) of life. In most of the job ads it is proudly mentioned that they are equal opportunity employers.
July 24th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@Abdullah
Actually in some jobs, it is mentioned that only females are needed.
August 6th, 2010 at 8:49 am
In your question, you have mentioned the following issues:
1) you have higher qualifications and experience for the job you are currently doing
2) other people who are doing the similar job are getting higher pay
3) you are not getting interview calls against your job applicaitons
It shows that you are not taking responsibility for your decision to accept the job which you are doing. You are comparing yourself with other people and then blaming your company that they are not giving you similar pay. And you are finding fault in yourself because your CV is not being short-listed for other jobs.
I exactly don’t know what can be the best solution in your situation, but one thinkg I am sure that your current behavior will not help you to get higher salary or get a new job. This will only drain your energy in negative emotions.
One of the solutions in your situation can be that first you take responsibility that you accepted the job to meet your needs though it has higher responsibilities but low salary. In current economic situations, there are companies who exploit their employees, but cursing such companies, if yours is also one of them, is not a solution to your problem.
The solution of your problem lies within you. You must try to reassess your desire for career whether you want to continue in airlines industry in next few years or wish to work in a company who has business in area of your specialization. Although the job market is tight, but people still get jobs. Identify what are your strengths and competencies (supply profile) and compare them with the requirements of the type of job which you want. One good way of doing it through collecting past advertisements of desired jobs and highlight what responsibilities and specifications they carried. Then list responsibilities and specifications advertised for those jobs and compare them with your competencies and qualities.
Now think that many other candidates would have met those requirements. What qualities and competencies would have distinguished you among other candidates if you had applied for those jobs. List those competencies and qualities (demand profile). Next time when you see the advertisement for the similar job, apply for it indicating how you meet their job requirements and also what additional you can do. Your application should be very attractive in terms of what you are selling (your competencies), reflecting experience customized to the target company’s requirements, and mentioning achievements in your past performance. You may also give strong reference in the same industry where you are applying for the job. Then submit you CV with full faith in Allah.
And also pray a lot, because when nothing works, it works the best.
Good luck!
September 24th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
best of luck.