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Got an 8% raise today. I'm not sure whether I should be happy I got it, or disappointed it's not more. I never know whether to be grateful I make what I do, or disappointed I'm probably underpaid.

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Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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(03-14-2018, 05:11 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: disappointed it's not more

Come talk to us in 10 years after you get a few raises that are lower than COLA.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
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(03-14-2018, 05:11 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Got an 8% raise today. I'm not sure whether I should be happy I got it, or disappointed it's not more. I never know whether to be grateful I make what I do, or disappointed I'm probably underpaid.

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It really depends on where you're coming from. A 10% after your first, second, or third year is generally the standard and not bad (in most IT positions, anyway). That being said, I received something similar. My biggest raises (except my last one, due to saving the client a hefty expense and creating slots/work for my current employer on the contract) came from switching jobs/employers.

The best way to find out if you're underpaid is to interview while you're still employed and see what you're getting offered for similar work.
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What's the career path for a Product Owner/Manager?

What's the entry level position for that? Or is it kind of a role that comes from different backgrounds? I'm getting really burned out on being in the technical trenches every day staring at code and trying to reproduce bugs. I'm really interested in the functional side of software and I really excel at that part of my job. I come to my PO all of the time with usage data and we have meetings discussing the direction of the product and where it falls short (Not my job). I'm just not as technical as the CS majors I work with and I don't really enjoy spending hours looking at code and data as much as they do. I know my product inside and out and I'm essentially the counter part for our PO and Lead Dev, but at this rate, I foresee me moving up in my role now and taking on more support responsibility. I already feel guilty enough now to take PTO since my product will have no SME in my department while I'm gone. I'm not interested in "support" anymore and the prospect of always being on call, always having to be in the office 9-6 in case someone has a problem, always being on a code red fire drill. My main job is to solve the unsolvable mysteries and it's absolutely defeating to constantly be in fear of getting the next case that will take you 15 hours to debug when you already have other high priority cases that need to be fixed that day.

I understand every job has pressure and deadlines, but I want something more structured and less technical. What are my options? My hope is to stay within the same company so I don't shake up my life too much. We have software/business analyst roles, product design roles, etc. I also fear I stand to take a hit to my salary as I can't imagine a less technical role paying as well for the level of experience I have.
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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(03-20-2018, 03:29 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: I'm getting really burned out on being in the technical trenches every day staring at code and trying to reproduce bugs.

Quit your job, and get a job where you actually build something. Engineers engineer. The fun of programming is building things.
SM #55 | 06 Titan | 12 Focus | 06 Exige | 14 CX-5
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I don't particularly want to be a full fledged developer. I'm just not that technical.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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There's not a clear path to product management like some other roles. In some ways you have to make your own path, but there's a lot of different ways to make it happen.

Working in support gives you a ton of insight into how user's are interacting with your product, which is immensely helpful as a PM.

This would be a good read for you - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984782818/?co..._lig_dp_it

I worked as a BA/PM for a long time, we can grab a beer and talk more about it if you like.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
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(03-21-2018, 12:02 PM).RJ Wrote: There's not a clear path to product management like some other roles. In some ways you have to make your own path, but there's a lot of different ways to make it happen.

Working in support gives you a ton of insight into how user's are interacting with your product, which is immensely helpful as a PM.

This would be a good read for you - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984782818/?co..._lig_dp_it

I worked as a BA/PM for a long time, we can grab a beer and talk more about it if you like.
Definitely. Let's.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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Either way, don't be afraid to quit your job to find what you want. It's not the good ole days of pensions and lifetime careers.
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^ MAGA
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
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If anyone in the digital product management, paid search, marketing, design, copywriting, sales, content production (aka using a CMS) or any other role within a "Go to Market" digital organization (meaning that you are currently working in an organization responsible for publishing products/offers on a website), we are going to posting a LOT of roles based in our Reston office.

http://careers.sprint.com/page/show/digital

There's only a handful posted now, but there should be a lot more coming soon, so if you're interested keep checking back. If you want to apply for one, let me know. I can give you an internal reference and I might know or be able to find the hiring manager to give a personal reference.
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How do you guys use PTO?

I never really have to use PTO for errands and stuff since I can WFH and be a little flexible with my hours, so I'm struggling to find the right time to take off PTO. I didn't realize it, but I ended up with a full month this year (they added another floating holiday) and I've requested off everything I could think off and still have 9.5 days (5 roll over).

I guess I should just take some days and do nothing? I don't want to waste them by doing nothing though.
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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Go on vacation.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply
(04-26-2018, 04:06 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: How do you guys use PTO?

I never really have to use PTO for errands and stuff since I can WFH and be a little flexible with my hours, so I'm struggling to find the right time to take off PTO. I didn't realize it, but I ended up with a full month this year (they added another floating holiday) and I've requested off everything I could think off and still have 9.5 days (5 roll over).

I guess I should just take some days and do nothing? I don't want to waste them by doing nothing though.

what's your policy for PTO? Are you capped at a certain amount? can you cash-out, etc.?

Other than the obvious vacation/trips, i use mine for when the kid gets sick and my wife is working, when i get sick (no sick leave), and when i need a day off (mentally drained or otherwise REALLY not wanting to go to work. We're capped at 144 hours, so if i ever approach that number i'll be just taking days off here and there. Any errands or stuff i need to do at home (contractors) i can WFH as long as it's not consistently.
'19 Golf R

Intro
J Ray's Top Ten

Previous: '99 BMW Z3 2.8L | 2019 Honda Ridgeline2010 VW GTI | 2008 CBR 600RR | 2005 Nissan Titan SE King | 2003 Honda CBR 600RR | 1998 Integra RS | 1998 Suzuki GS500e | 1999 Honda Civic Si | 1986 VW GTI 8v
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(04-26-2018, 04:06 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: How do you guys use PTO?

I never really have to use PTO for errands and stuff since I can WFH and be a little flexible with my hours, so I'm struggling to find the right time to take off PTO. I didn't realize it, but I ended up with a full month this year (they added another floating holiday) and I've requested off everything I could think off and still have 9.5 days (5 roll over).

I guess I should just take some days and do nothing? I don't want to waste them by doing nothing though.

Keep an eye on cheap flights and fly somewhere new for a long weekend. CheapCarribean.com or, i started using ScottsCheapFlights and just booked Toni and I for a 4 day weekend in Bermuda for $400 RT. Just gotta find an AirBnB.
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These are the 22 days of PTO I used for 2017.

Birthday - 1 day
Vacation - 6 days
Rafting - 1 day
Vacation - 7 days
Camping - 1 day
Visiting Mikey - 1 day
Vacation - 5 days
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply
drive your awesome new car somewhere awesome, eat awesome food, drink awesome beer, fall asleep in a cabin looking at something awesome. if i had to recommend anything, start by going west and finding the twistiest lines on the map you can, and make an adventure of it.

i'm planning a trip to The Dragon and surrounding western NC area myself sometime this year. i'm kinda introverted so going to the tropics by myself would feel awkward to me, maybe you're the same way.
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2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
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Past:  03 Xterra SE 4x4  |  05 Impreza 2.5RS  |  99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T  |  01 Accord EX  |  90 Maxima GXE  |  96 Explorer XLT
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Great suggestions! I'm trying my best to just go and do.

I'm struggling because vacations cost quite a bit more than I have.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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They don't have too.

Plenty of shit to do in DC on a day off.

Metro in and do touristy shit while it's nice out and not summer. Take advantage of the fact you live 30 minutes from what I think is a bunch of cool history.

Catch a Nats game.

Richmond brewery tours.

Take advantage of having the PTO to burn now while your single and kidless.
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Vacations don't have to be big trips to other countries. Since we have a kid, the cost of traveling has jumped quite a bit. The way we cope is to drive places, get an Airbnb, and just explore what the area has to offer in way of local attractions, nature, museums, and history. We cook a lot of our own meals and spend the rest of our free time just sitting around relaxing. It can be hard to sit still on vacation, but that's the best part of it... giving yourself permission to do nothing but drink a beer and stare at the trees.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply


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