Lockheed Martin Ho?i

[MQuang]

I just got hired at Lockheed Marting..I think I might have underbid by myself because I just break into the Industrỵ Do you think I should ask the manager to increase my salary or should I just learn first then ask for a raise later ?
My job is IT Technician ..

[dipbean]

Congratulations, That's all I can say ,

[KaaBOOM]

Hi MQuang,

We are more than happy to congratulate you with new opportunity for your new job.
We wish you doing/learning well enough to keep your job long in many years to come.

Moreove, you should know that you are among other new-grads-should be happy to take jobs and prove to your bosses that you will take this ooportunity to show them
you are capable to handle all tasks.

I am so happy to have chance to tell you that a good handbook for you to read
REFLECTIONS FOR THE WORKPLACE - The Pathway to a Successful Job and Career - by BRUCE HYLAND & MERLE YOST .

All of us want our work life to be successfull and rewarding. Yet there are common challenges that everyone faces and most of us are unsure how to handle: What do you do when you notice your coworker not doing his fair share... you assume you know that your boss wants, needs, and expects - and you're wrong... you have to do a task at work and you don't know how... you didn't get along with your old boss and you need a new reference for a new job-what do you do ?

Reflections for the Workplace shows you how to deal gracefully with workplace problem and make the most of your opportunities. If you sometimes feel you were left behind the door when the keys to success were handed out, these reflections will give you wise, practical advice on how to:
[b]
- Work Successfull with others
- Handle conflicts on the jobs
- Show initiative
- Understand your job description-the way your boss understands it
- Earn the reputation of being trustworthy and reliable
- Develop your people skills
- Find ways to enjoy your job
- Deal with criticism constructively
- Develop professional discipline
- Plan for future of your career
[/]

In this companion book to their best-selling Reflections For Managers, the authors tell you 64 principles or "rules" on how to thrive in your company and advance in your career, no matter what your field. Each rule is illustrated with a real-life story of how someone either followed or broke that rule--and what happened to his or her career as a consequence.

From the other side of the desk, managers tell what they look for in a good employee--and what the red flags are.

These inspirational guidelines and stories can be read in only a few minutes each day. They capture the wisdom of ordinatry kindness, honesty, and had work in our dealings with others. They will remind you that there is no secret to success that can match simply being the kind of employee you yourself would wish to have.

Good luck .

CàBùm & others

[amtham]

I just got hired at Lockheed Marting..I think I might have underbid by myself because I just break into the Industrỵ Do you think I should ask the manager to increase my salary or should I just learn first then ask for a raise later ?
My job is IT Technician ..

Hi MQuang,

You have to prove that you worth more than what they paid you now. Then, wait until the review and ask for raise. If they don't give you one then and you still think that you should get paid more than what you getting, start sending resume to other places, go for interviews and see what other places offer you.

[asdf]

I wonder what's the typical salary range for entry level IT person at company like Lockheed Martin, Chevron IT, Cisco, etc. ?

[MQuang]

Thanks...I'll prove myself!
I'll search for that book and read it...thanks for your advise.

[KaaBOOM]

Thanks...I'll prove myself!
I'll search for that book and read it...thanks for your advise.

MQuang,
Propation period is very important. Try your best and prove it to others
that you know your jobs well and handle with care. Some other things , I want to tell you to :

* Keep closed contact with your Direct Boss by reporting your daily tasks.
* Ask him/her feeding back any mistake/progress in weekly basis.
* Ask him/her to give you a Evaluation report so that you can use it as a Reference in the future while looking for new place (IF-ONLY-IF you have been trying your best at first place)
* Ask him/her sending you to more training wherever he/she thinks you are in need.

Good luck and enjoy new job.
/KB :wiggle:

[homer]

man, people say and write too much!

Let's get directly to the issue here.
What exactly your job function as an IT Technican? Just give me a short version.
What your education level? 3 yr college, 4 yr University, or grad? In what field?
What's your salary? just give me a range, don't have to say exactly. And why do you think you were underbid?

You have to know that IT field has been taken a hard hit in the past 5-6 years up to now. It's no longer burning hot as before. There are tons of IT guys out there looking for jobs, waiting to take your place. You have yourself a job at a big company like Lookheed Martin is considered to be lucky and better than other guys.

At a big company like Lockheed, they have a standard pay system which is fair and the same for thousands of employees based on your job level + education when you are just starting. It's not like any small company where they don't usually based on any pay standard or system. So once you are in the groove, you won't get that much of a raise unless you are promoted to the next level which will be based on the number of years of experience and your performance. If you want more, just hang out at Lockhead for a year or so then move on.

[aznblood]

MQuang,

I got hired for LM-MFC a few months ago and I had a similar ambition. I am not sure what your scenario is; but for your information, if you've gotton hired, then dont ever mention about salary increase to your manager unless you've accomplished something. All neg. should be done within the week after you received your offer letter.

Let me tell you what I did, When LM gave me an offer and I awared that it was too low. I immediately wrote them a counter offer letter with proofs of my experience, awards & regconiztion, GPA, and another job offer (most important). When counter offer, make should that you do not go above the midpoint of salary range that LM has established, if you did, there's no chance that you'd get the job. If you tell me the title of the job and your location, I'll let you know LM salary ranges. Hope that helps.

[MQuang]

well..the reason I'm curious is because my friend who are in the same situation as I'm got hired at a smaller company and they are paying 50K, another friend of mine just got hired 2 days after I am and get 60K (well, he got 3 years of experiences).

One of my friend who graduated with an Management major and got pay 50K at a much smaller company. One years ago, two of my friends got pay 50K at IBM. My point is these are smaller companies and they pay their employees big $$

I guess...what I'm trying to said is beside the salary what other things should I consider.

thanks all,
MQ

[aznblood]

MQang,

My roommate who works for General Dyanmics, a Lockheed competitor, get pay more than I am. however, LM pay approximately 32% more in pay vacation, pension, and health care benefits. Also, just to give you a head up, all employees at LM who get hire after Jan 2006 will not be eligible for retirement plan

[viet1976]

MQuang,

Congrats on landing your job! :)

Like others have said, you should have asked for a higher starting salary before accepting their offer. Generally, employers leave a 10-15% cushion above their initial offer in case you ask for more and can make a good case for it. Now that you have started working, you'll have to work for a year to prove your worth before you'll have good reasons (ie: performance, outcomes, etc.) to back up your request for a pay-raise. Make sure you document all of your work so that you'll remember your achievements when it comes time to asking for that pay raise! :thumbs:

Remember also that besides straight-up pay ($$), there are also other benefits to consider, such as insurance coverage, paid vacation/sick days, employee-match savings plans (ie: 401k, stock options), flex schedule, etc. :)

Best wishes,
Việt

[lalalolo]

a

[MQuang]

thanks for the advise lalalolo

[CaLiForNian]

60K/year - 15K for tax = 45K - 20K for rent+gas+insurance = 25K/year

not bad huh?

[aznblood]

Californian,

Is that the LM salary in California. I figured the salary would be higher than that in Cali, in the 70K's.

BTW MQuang,

Dont be afraid to ask for more if you feel you deserve it. I asked for a few percent more and I got it. good luck!

[GioLanh]

Dont be afraid to ask for more if you feel you deserve it. I asked for a few percent more and I got it. good luck!

Few years ago, it's ok to ask for more.
Today, U should be glad to get a job offer :D
If U try to be greedy, U'll end up with a big O

[lowemissions]

just take the job and find another job if you not happy with it.
High gpa doesn't gurantee job.
If you are new graduated, bite the tongue and take the job and get the experiences that you need even if the salay is low. The job market of IT professional is not as boom as couples years ago. Now a day, big corp. tend to let go high pay IT and hire new comer.
Good luck with your new job.

[trinnie]

Oh my god,
I would be jumping around if I had an offer from Lockheed. I just got turned down by general dynamics just because I am an immigrant. I had an engineering degree but just working as a Tech 2 / Manufacturing support and no I don't get close to 50K a year.

[xoivo]

lay low and use your brain and use benefit at LM. With benefit like tuition reimbursement, you can use to earn higher degree, and certification. With 10K a year for tuition reimbursement, your gross pay is much higher than 50K. Technician and Engineer are 2 different levels. Prove you can excel at the next level throught education, certification. Then you apply from within move up to next level. It is easy to move from within than from the outside.

Let see how long it take you to the next level. Don't forget to post here so we celebrate with you!

[roro]

Oh my god,
I would be jumping around if I had an offer from Lockheed. I just got turned down by general dynamics just because I am an immigrant. I had an engineering degree but just working as a Tech 2 / Manufacturing support and no I don't get close to 50K a year.

LM has lots of openning now, keep sending resume. As I know, @ LM,tuition reimbursement is limited or cut down. and with Eng. degree, much higher than 50K/y and a chance for a promotion when you rotate within LM.

[aznblood]

trinnie and xoivo

tuition reimburstment at LM is cut to 7.5k/year starting this year (2006), it used to be uncaped.

trinnie, I am curious, If you have an engineering degree, why would you work as a tech level 2. That's non-sense, something is wrong there. You should obtain an engineering position through the LM Career Network.

xoivo, how long did it take you to get promotion? I am hoping to get a promotion in less than 18 months :-)

[MQuang]

You're right about tution reimburstment at LM Aznblood. I was recently speaking with Human resources in regard to this matter.

Wow promotion within 18 month+, I hope you'll get it, and once you do, let me know how you do it.
Thanks


trinnie and xoivo

tuition reimburstment at LM is cut to 7.5k/year starting this year (2006), it used to be uncaped.

trinnie, I am curious, If you have an engineering degree, why would you work as a tech level 2. That's non-sense, something is wrong there. You should obtain an engineering position through the LM Career Network.

xoivo, how long did it take you to get promotion? I am hoping to get a promotion in less than 18 months :-)

[xoivo]

In reality, you seldom get promotion within one group or it would take forever like never happen. When you think you can't hold your word to tell your supervisor, then it is about 2 or 3 years already. You get raise every year but not your title.

If you work in the environment that the turnout rate is high (old people leave, new people come), you can get promote several ranks within couple years, but it associates with the risk that it may get you unemployed too. If the environment is stable, the whole stack must be moved to your turn; or they will see who contribute the most to be awarded, what called "employee of the month, sh..". To be eligible, you must work really hard. Some people use politics, some people kisses someone's a.. Working really hard is the least effective than politics or kissing someone's a..

Large company each has probation period. Within that period, you can't change group. Utilize this period to earn more certificate, nigh classes. After this period, improve your title by applying to different groups.

Again, technician and engineer each belongs to 2 different tiers. As a technician, when working harder and longer, you only become an experienced technician or senior technician. But as an engineer, when you work longer, you can be a lot of different roles: senior, staff, principle, techlead, project lead, ....

So my advice is to try to improve your title to engineer, then pick an area and work at it as for your career and work yourself up. If it is a career, you won't compare salary any more. It is that you find it fun in your work and get paid. With job, there is no fun.

If money is #1 priority then: what college grad does right now is to get a job after graduate, work for 2-3 years to get some experience, then start jumping around more frequent. Each jump gives a big boost 10K (10-15% raise) in salary easily. These associate with big risks. And what they do is job not career.

good luck

[xoivo]

I don't know what I am talking about! :writing:

In reality, you seldom get promotion within one group or it would take forever like never happen. When you think you can't hold your word to tell your supervisor, then it is about 2 or 3 years already. You get raise every year but not your title.

If you work in the environment that the turnout rate is high (old people leave, new people come), you can get promote several ranks within couple years, but it associates with the risk that it may get you unemployed too. If the environment is stable, the whole stack must be moved to your turn; or they will see who contribute the most to be awarded, what called "employee of the month, sh..". To be eligible, you must work really hard. Some people use politics, some people kisses someone's a.. Working really hard is the least effective than politics or kissing someone's a..

Large company each has probation period. Within that period, you can't change group. Utilize this period to earn more certificate, nigh classes. After this period, improve your title by applying to different groups.

Again, technician and engineer each belongs to 2 different tiers. As a technician, when working harder and longer, you only become an experienced technician or senior technician. But as an engineer, when you work longer, you can be a lot of different roles: senior, staff, principle, techlead, project lead, ....

So my advice is to try to improve your title to engineer, then pick an area and work at it as for your career and work yourself up. If it is a career, you won't compare salary any more. It is that you find it fun in your work and get paid. With job, there is no fun.

If money is #1 priority then: what college grad does right now is to get a job after graduate, work for 2-3 years to get some experience, then start jumping around more frequent. Each jump gives a big boost 10K (10-15% raise) in salary easily. These associate with big risks. And what they do is job not career.

good luck

[hhnguyen]

i am not sure what degree do you have. but I started at LM 6 months ago with a BS in CS at $55K. then a few months ago, at the yearly review period, i got another 3% increase, which is nothing after tax for single person like me. the good thing at LM is that they match 50% of your 401k. so, i put 8% of my salary, and they give 4% more, this is the max.

and believe me, at LM, you don't have room for negociation when they give you an offer. either take it or leave it. the only way to get a higher salary is get another job within LM, you can only do this once a yr. look for new opening in LMpeople

[MQuang]

Thanks. You guys provided great comments in regards to this thread.