I was thinking of jumping on this discussion but it would likely hurt a lot of feelings.
Oh what the hell
1. Former/retired military have to understand that the military and the private sector are completely polar opposites. Promotion cycles do not exist. Avenues to move up but you don't get them by merely hanging around until you are in zone or achieve time in rate.
2. We in my company do not pay retired military less because they have a retirement check. We pay the going rate for experience and education required for a position. Entry or lower level I will go lower until the person proves their worth because the only thing that pisses me off worse is being stuck with a poor performer is being stuck with a poor performer and overpaying for them. On the first review I have the opportunity to increase salary to the level I deem commensurate with performance.
3. We do not let superstars stagnate in lower paid positions just to please customers. Most service contracts are CPFF and it is retarded to think that I am going to hold my salaries low because I make more on higher salaries.
4. Just because you finish your bachelors does not mean I am goi g to up your salary. I had a person who was working a lower salary warehouse type job, non exempt, who finished his BA and came in to talk about the $10k bump in pay he thought he rated. He was shocked to learn it wasn't happening. Would you pay the guy who cuts your grass $50 and then when he finished his BA he demands $150. Harsh fact is he is cutting grass, he is a grass cutter, an over qualified grass cutter.
5. Almost every company out there has a web site that advertises open positions. If you feel you have gained the experience, certifications, or education to move to a more advanced position you should apply. Most companies give preference to internal hires.
6. In a CPFF contract the field is not always level. Some customers have more funds than others. Not my fault but I deal with it best I can, one person could make 10-20% more for the same position simply because his contract/customer allows it.
7. Many people "think" they are management/promotion material but in actuality they are not. I have found there are 2 types of people, movers and shakers who think they are management/promotion material and strive; and those who think they are and they sit back, gripe and wait for the promotion fairy to hook them up.
8. There are these things called pay bands. You enter at or near the bottom, and progress upward over time. You will eventually top out. It is what it is but there is a max wage for every position. When you reach it you have 2 choices, 1. Get the education,cents and apply for a job in a higher pay band, or 2. Come to accept you have maxed out.
9. Unlike the military that promotes across a force of hundreds of thousands a company is vacancy driven. Unless there is a vacancy there will be no promotion.
10. Trip wires, contract ceilings, customer funding limits, short term positions, loss of coverage, accounting and DCAA audits, all complicate matters and would take days to discuss.