Job: Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer (United States)

I work hard and I always finish before everybody else so I offer my help to others but I make sure my manager is in front to hear it. Be careful because it can make you not very popular with the other co-workers that are lazy but in the eyes of your manager you will be the star.

If your manager has no idea what you do, meet every two weeks and email them a list of what you've been working on for the last 2 weeks. Discuss during your 1 on 1 meeting. Keep a log in your email drafts or journal of your accomplishments throughout the year and when you do your review at the end of the year, you have a nice list of things you did way back in Feb, March, etc. Save the emails you sent to your mgr for your 1 on 1 discussion. It helps.

When I see negative advice from others I can't help but think about my career in previous years and see myself in that mind set. Disgruntled, frustrated and cynical.

The truth of the matter is that these days you have to expect to get laid off no matter how good you think you are. Your experience has not reached its pinnacle until you have gone through this process. What keeps you going is knowing that you are competent and that these things are going to happen.

When things get slow, try to pickup a new skill on the job. In my case, I got good a UNIX and scripting, which landed me a better position. In my last job, I picked up DOTNET before I got the axe and landed a Linux/C++ gig.

So, learn how to read the writing on the wall and if you don't like it get busy picking up a marketable skill to take you to the next job. There is no security in the work place anymore, so make sure you stay ahead of the pack and pick up skills. Volunteer for assignments which will stretch you so you can gain and stay valuable.

The best way to get a raise is to get a higher offer from another company. If you work hard, some managers will help you but others won't or can't. To get that higher offer, practice interviewing by going on dozens of interviews. You'll eventually get every question asked and develop a good answer for all of them. However, it is probably best not to bluff with the other offer. In addition to possibly having your bluff called, your desire to leave for the company will only come out if you are serious. They'll see the truth in your eyes and fight to keep you.

It's a bad idea to involve in office politics. Try to stay away from it. Sometime you don't have choice and you have to take one side. Try to do a balancing act and don't get involved.

I feel that in order to recieve a pay increase your company must see a return on investment. Organizations are not going to give you something without something in return. The best way to show your organization that you are worth the promotion is to increase your education. Go get a Masters degree.

My "manager" (boss) gave me a finished project to work on, prohibited me from doing anything else, and then said I had low productivity - just in time for the layoffs. Fight like hell to get a task that can show visible productivity. Even though productivity is the result of the sum total of ALL factors, including the ones that the boss is responsible for - you're the one who will get all the blame. Managers like to assume that productivity is like height - it's solely an attribute of the individual, like height.

I don't think i'm paid fairly. I see others getting a higher pay than me when we do the exact same kind of work. I think i deserve a good raise.