Sometimes companies have policies that shoot themselves in the foot.? They like you–enough that they’ve said they don’t want to lose you.? But, they aren’t paying you what they would pay an unknown replacement.? Hmmm, perhaps they like you because you’re smart, dedicated, have a sense of loyalty to the company and are .

Yeah, it’s true.? Companies sometimes love their underpaid employees.? They are banking on your guilt and sense of obligation to keep you from leaving.? I swear, some people would rather divorce a faithful, wonderful spouse of 20 years over socks on the floor than quit a company that has underpaid and under-appreciated them for 3 years.? If you’re not being treated right, you may have to leave for better treatment.

Did your company pay any part of your MBA?? If so, how long do you have to work for them without having to repay the cost of tuition?? How much money would you owe if you left?? Don’t let yourself be held hostage at a salary $25,000 less per year than another company would pay you because of a $10,000 repayment required if you quit.? If they did not pay? part of your tuition, you don’t have to consider that in your decision calculus.

There are more reasons than salary to stay at a job.? For one, in this economy, any job is a blessing and there are people who would love to take your place.? Work-life balance is another huge one.? Sure, you can make more money somewhere else, but are they going to let you work one day a week from home?? Sometimes location really gets you–if you live in a less populated area, switching jobs can mean moving, and you don’t want to uproot everything for a strange new town.

You want to stay.? You just want to be recognized for your new skills.? Here are some things to think about.

What is it that you can do now that you couldn’t do before your MBA? Note that I said “do” not “know.”? You may know a ton more, but does that translate into things that are helping your company?? For instance, you may have studied complex international finance policies in school, but if your company deals with nothing more international than ordering Mexican food for lunch, it’s not helpful to them. Why would they list a vacancy at a higher salary than you are making? What?? Why am I asking you that?? How in the heck should you know?? Well, you need to know.? Go ask.? Ask straight out what it is that you are not doing that they expected someone in this position to do.? Expect some sputtering.? It may well be a case of stupid policy, such as not giving an existing employee more than a 10% increase. Could you really make more money elsewhere? I’m sure you’re fabulous and all that, but could you really make more elsewhere?? You said you only have 2 years of finance experience plus the MBA.? The market is flooded now, so they may well be paying you precisely what you’re worth to them.? I realize this is an unpleasant thought, and you have student loans and a mortgage and a Hostess Cupcake addiction (oh wait, that’s me) to pay for, but it’s not the job of a company to pay you what you need to live your chosen lifestyle.? It’s their job to pay you in accordance with the amount you can help the business. Have you asked directly for a raise? You say you got a fabulous retention bonus.? Super.? Your bosses may think, “Gee, weren’t we generous with that retention bonus?” and have no plans to give you a raise.? They may not know that you think you deserve one.? After all, they may feel like they’ve adequately compensated you for your increased skills.? You need to spell it out for them. Show that you are more valuable. Make a list of all the functions you do, along with a description of how you do them.? If you have the chance to write a self-appraisal, now is the time to do so.? Make it extremely obvious that you are underpaid.? Make it extremely obvious that you are fabulous.? This is not the time to be modest.? Save that for dinner with the inlaws. Be willing to move on. It’s a sad truth, but sometimes companies just won’t ever appreciate you until someone else wants you.? Stupid, I know.? But, if you’ve talked repeatedly about your undying devotion, or how you can never leave because you live across the street, they just won’t see any reason to increase your salary.

Now, on another MBA

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