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Opportunities are rising back, keep an eye out and make a move. If you like your firm and have a good relationship with your boss, have a conversation about how you feel and see if there’s middle ground — commitment to raise/promotion after 6 months, any flex or other benefits that they could provide.
I agree, things are bouncing back. Give it a try and you may be surprised what you find.
I was an AAE during the 2008 recession and had my promotion put off for the same reasons. Ultimately I had to move to get it. I feel like once they have excuses they have excuses. If other places are hiring and want you, they will make the title/money work.
The reality is that promotions are not only based on your progress but also business need. When I was leading agency teams I had to adhere to budgets, as did all of my colleagues. If we promoted people across the agency without business need (growth of existing clients, new clients or staff departures) we would have to reduce the level of service we were providing to our clients as the staff member’s billing rates would go up when our ability to increase budget to accommodate that had not. So while I empathize with your situation in feeling that you are ready for a promotion you need to accept the reality of business finance. There are some places hiring and you should absolutely look; but if you like everything else about your current gig and feel confident in the business succeeding in the long run you should consider that strongly when making a decision about accepting another job.
Have you been explicitly told that your specific promotion is on hold - or that promotions / salary increases in general are on hold. I’ve seen a lot of agencies use the pandemic as an excuse to avoid the hard conversation about performance.
It’s worth asking you manager to document that you’re ready for promotion / give you the title change now, what your salary would have been and outline commitment to deliver the $ when the business lifts the freeze/they are financially able.
If they aren’t able to do that, then start looking for a new role.
Ask for a promotion now and a pay increase when they can make it happen. Having the title now means you can get a better job with congruent pay elsewhere.
Senior manager 1, I have never done that, but if I can't give a raise, will absolutely try to at least give a promotion because I can then argue that person is first in line for a raise. I have a business case that top management can't argue against. Most importantly with a higher title, you can easily ask for 20 to 40k more at your next job, but please do keep arguing with me 😅
Talk to you manager and make sure you’re doing everything you need to be for promotion when they are happening again. He or she should know if you’re on track or on the list for consideration.
Two years is a long time to be entry level. If there are not signs that things are improving there and nothing is imminent, you should interview and see if you can find a new role at a growing company with a good culture. Maybe by getting an offer it will force the issue, but you have to be prepared to leave if they don’t call your bluff with a counter. Good luck! I am sure you’ll have a long career and this will seem like a minor blip down the line. I was an SAE for almost three years during the tech downturn and 9/11. Don’t let this bump in the road convince you you’re in the wrong industry if you like what you’re doing.