I am a level 1 help desk tech at an MSP. I’ve been at this job for a year. I’ve been working in IT for 1.5 years, though.
I have my yearly review coming up and I have no idea what kind of questions to ask. I’m drawing a total blank.
I do know that I am being prepped to become a level 2 tech, but I’m not there yet.
My company is small and I can be totally open and honest with my boss.
I’m still anxious though.
Can I have a raise?
Don’t take random people’s advice at face value. You know your circumstances best.
That being said:
“I’ve done the following this year and feel my work meets or exceeds expectations. That being said cost of living has been going up quite a bit and I would like to discuss how my pay can reflect this”
Or
“What steps do you think I should take to advance my career here? What’s the best path forward to taking on more responsibility and the commensurate compensation?”
And, if you’d rather just ask in general how things are going
“I feel this and this has been going great. Are there any areas you feel I do best in? Any areas that I should work on refining?”
And if the last question doesn’t have anything then that may be a good time to ask about pay. Just the COL alone is reason enough because there’s always the option of finding a new job whose starting pay is what you want.
If you’re on the path to level 2, ask what you need to get there.
If you can get specific feedback then you can work on those things, and it also shows your boss that it’s your goal so they can help you work towards it.
I know that I have to get a specific Microsoft cert to get discussions on a promotion started. I attempted the cert exam and failed pretty badly. Gotta study more.
I plan on asking for specific feedback and how I can improve and all that.
Would it be helpful to ask for suggestions on getting better at the exam stuff, or do you already have what you need and just need to put in the study time?
Don’t have any MS certs myself, but the conventional wisdom is this: Answer how you think Microsoft wants you to answer. If there are two correct answers, go the Microsoft way.
I know that’s a little nebulous at your experience level. Wish I had some examples, been a few years since I looked at it.
Ask what the most important skills or experiences to develop are for the transition to level 2, if there are any new or unexpected needs emerging in the department, if there are any specific departmental or company-wife priorities or goals for the coming year, and if there’s any way your specific role can more actively support those goals.
Depending on the type of place, you can ask if you’re perceived as taking feedback well and/or being up for a challenge, saying that you want that to be clear and would like to work on it if it isn’t. The fine line is asking a question that seems like it’s just meant to make you look good vs. a legitimate request for somewhere you can grow or do more good for the team/company, which is why keeping things focused on questions that will have actionable responses is a great move. Hope this helps and good luck! Sounds like you don’t have much to be worried about if they’re already prepping you for a promotion!
A yearly review is generally more for them to give you feedback so you really don’t have to ask questions if you don’t want to. If you’ve been doing a decent job you have nothing to be anxious about. But here are some questions you could consider asking:
What do you consider my strengths? Is there anything I can improve on?
I would like to develop my skills in xyz, are there any opportunities in the company for me to do that? Or do you have recommendations for how I could do that outside of the company?
What are the career path options after level tech 2?
Am I meeting your expectations for where I should be at the current point in my career?
What direction do you see the company/our team moving in in the next few years? How could I help us align with that?
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Try to secure a firm schedule for your L2, and what conditions need to met-to achieve it, . Not because you are especially ambitious, just because you want to keep growing into your job.
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Demonstrate a wider interest in a) your department (what is the current state of tools, processes, what are the pain points) b) the wider company (how is the company performing, does your dept have a good reputation within it)
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Tell him you think you are in a good place to grow both technically and as a person and as long as that remains true, you are happy and loyal.
When you are running the place, don’t forget your friends 😉
