Employer Type: Non-Profit Organization (United States)

When I started this job I was very excited because it gave me an opportunity to work in a rewarding environment. I did not realize they had reduced the previous job title from Chief Operating Officer to Director of Operations kept the same amount of responsibilities but lowered the level of authority. I do almost everything but I am restricted from calling all of the shots that affect final outcomes. At this level the position should pay a min of six figures and have the authority to execute.

If you are thinking of joining a not for profit organization in a career change, know one thing. You will not be paid what you feel you are worth unless you land in an executive level job. Those types are generally OVER paid. But, there are a lot of wonderful perks/benefits. Shorter work week (generally 35 hours full time) lots of paid time off and good medical benefits.

The money stinks but the work is rewarding and the benefits can't be beat!

You're only worth what someone is willing to pay. That being said, SLP's are extremely hard to come by right now....especially in home health. Make sure you are getting paid what you are worth. I contract with different home health agencies and average $100/visit. How? Because I asked for it and they needed the service I offered. You should do the same with your next job quest!

I have been in the field of crisis intervention social work with youth for approximately six months. I have heard so much from coworkers regarding burn-out. It appears to me that this can be avoided. Although I am new, I have been faced with learning how to separate work from home, and I believe that this is a skill that can and will help me to avoid being burned out. My advice to those of you just beginning your career, and those of you who have been in the field for a long time already...

*Work hard while you are AT WORK...there's nothing you can do for your clients at home, anyway, so leave the work at work.

*Remember the goal is to help clients be the best they can be, not the best that you wish they were.

*Above all else, you will be useless to your clients and your family if you do not take care of yourself...read a book, see a movie, have a night out with friends...whatever it is, it doesn't involve work.

***You can and will make a difference in this world! Always remind yourself why you got into this field and what you hope to achieve. And if all else fails, and you simply cannot take it any longer...it's time to change fields!!!

I don't believe I am being paid fairly, when a younger lady of a different nationality is assigned a position above my current position and she only has a high school diploma; much less knowledge of what's required to perform the job, fewer years of experience, inability to organize, plan and successfully implement plans that will develop clients. Ther are other duties I perform that I'm not paid for. There is much more than bias in the workplace and I should be paid a minimum of $42,000 a year.

Talking about pay is kinda taboo in my company, so specifics are hard to come by. From what I've been able to understand however is that annual increases are expected and usually given. Based on my experience and observations:

* Merit pay increases range from 3% (for those who meet expectations and stay out of trouble) to 4% (For those who show initiative and accept leadership) to 5% (for those who consistently go "above and beyond").

* A co-worker who earned a 5% last year routinely works unreported overtime in order to reach her goals. She's slowly showing signs of burnout though.

* The company's Vice Presidents makes merit increase decisions based on the following: how much salary money is left in the budget at end of fiscal year, the employee's written self-evaluation, the supervisor's written evaluation, employee-of-the-month nominations received, and the employee's quantitative productivity statistics.

When it comes to negotiating salary, I keep in mind that almost everything I do day-to-day fits into a goal of doing the best I can on the annual review. To that end, I volunteer for extra committees and offer to help organize special events, I let my supervisor know my personal goals and frequently ask for his feedback, I attend as many trainings as I can, I track all my productivity statistics and write them into my self-evaluation, I do my best to get to know co-workers outside of work, and finally I make use of the company's "open door policy" pass along good ideas or constructive suggestions to corporate leadership. My first year in the company, I was a 3%-er without doing all this. My second year, after using the above tactics, I became a 4%-er.

(yay) My advice to anyone wanting to negotiate their best possible merit increase is to first get realistic expectations. For example, my husband's company grants 5% raises for average work and they get end-of-year bonuses. Second, set goals for yourself and track your own progress so you can let your supervisor know you are interested in personal/professional growth (not just more $). Then at annual review time, you can demonstrate why you deserve the best and your supervisor will be willing to go to bat for you. Third, have an accurate realistic idea of your strengths and weaknesses. Know what you "bring to the table" and what you are doing to improve on. The result will be a more confident you who easily demonstrates your worthiness for your share of the cake. Best of luck!

My career track has taken me into the chemical dependency field as an BSW, so by the time I received my MSW. I already had 2 years experience as a clinician. This allowed qualified me for a leadership position as a clinican supervisor of facility of 250 and 10 counselors working under me.

There is also great family experience and exposure to maladaptive behaviors that you get working in the chemical dependency.

I hope to be achieve a program director position in a year.

Good luck everyone.

I've been reading and see more and more individuals complaining about their peers who possess no college degree, who coincidentally, have experienced growth with a company. Let me be the first to let you know that degrees mean absolutely nothing... ...well, nothing that is, unless you put it to good use to benefit those around you (and how I wish more companies would see this). This could mean providing services to others, utilizing your educational background to increase revenue, etc. I would much rather hire an associate without a degree, who has contributed more to the growth and success of others than someone with a degree with no relevant proof of fortitude and passion. If you're flashing your education around, I challenge you today. Other than complete the required courses to obtain your degree, what has been your contribution? What truly, have you accomplished prior to obtaining a high level position to prove to the world that you deserve it? And to those who have no degree, what has been your contribution? I hope not complaining. That is much time wasted where you could be utilizing your skills to show others you stand out above the rest...even the well-educated. As for me, you may be asking (and quite possibly, judging). Yes, I made my contributions. I have always possessed the passion to serve others first as Christ did. And only before having the passion to obtain any degree. I'm 29, have a Ph.D. and will continue to serve others first. My opinion though, is that degrees mean absolutely nothing until you utilize your talents for those around you. As far as the good books...go ahead and read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. This is for everyone.

Don't get hurt on the job because you will get let go from your job.

I am going into a meeting with two heads of the treatment program that I work for to ask for a raise. My reason is that I am the only Life Skills facilitator in the program which makes my position unique. I also cook, drive clients to and from our facility, keep the van maintained and any other job the program manager ask of me. My problem is I love my job but I am under paid for all the work I do.