worth

i finally had my annual review yesterday (only four months behind schedule). i had in my mind what i wanted to say about my job and what i wanted for a salary increase. i was going to stick to my guns. i even received the BCPA salary survey in the mail the day before. it was like fate.

well, my salary did increase over and above the 3% cost of living increase, which is fantastic. but, it's $1200 less annually than what i had decided i would agree to / settle for. $1200. for the partnership, not a lot a year. only $100 more per month. daily, it would be less than what some of them pay for lunch everyday. or beer.

my admin told me that the salary is negotiable and that i should write a memo outlining what i would like and why i think i deserve it (basically).

and now, i've sat down to write it. and i'm wondering if it's even worth asking for. i know that i'm worth it. i feel i bring a lot of value to the firm, if not all through my work. i'm sure that if i were to find somewhere else to work and quit my current job, $1200 wouldn't be much to offer me to stay. i like to think they would offer me that to stay.

but then i remember that i've only been in this job for 2.5 years. and i've only been doing real paralegal work for less than a year. am i being greedy? or am i talking myself out of something i deserve (yet again)?

it's a difficult thing to do, determining what you're worth to a company. i took a glance over the salary survey and, while there are people who are earning more than me with the same level of experience (probably less, since I still have my legal secretary background and four years of it), they didn't get a bonus and they actually have targets they have to meet. plus, they work at least 15 hours a week more than i do.

am i talking myself out of requesting more money? probably. am i sorry i'm doing it? probably will be later. but i think i'll wait until i get back from my holiday to make any decisions, either big or small.

six more days!