Looking or some advice as I do not know if I am being taken advantage of and if I should speak up/look for a new job.
I've been at my job (my first full-time job) since last May. I got hired into a position that is “number based” (i.e. I, II, III, Senior, Manager). I was hired as I, and I believe salary increases when you move up a level? Anyway, my co-worker was hired as a “I” as well, but 5 months before me (in December). When I got hired in May, she became a II with only 5 months on the job. That same year, in July, another co-worker was promoted from III to Senior.
The co-worker who went from a I to a II in 5 months is clearly unfit for this job. For example, the job requires a solid knowledge of Excel as we extensively work with it for nearly every project. She does not know anything in Excel (and does NOT want to learn it), so she does not get any of the Excel work – it's passed on to me. She does not know our several systems well either, so whenever my boss needs anything I am the one to drop what I'm doing and investigate. Oh, and the incredibly time-consuming busy work that also requires knowledge of our systems? Yeah, I do that too. I worked so hard to learn everything as fast and effectively as I could, and I put so, so much effort into everything I do. I don't know everything either obviously, but when I don't I look it up. I don't just sit back and expect the work to be specialized for me.
Anyway, throughout the past 8+ months, my boss has constantly made these great comments about every part of my work. Last week I had my APR. I got a 3/5 (meets all expectations) which is what my boss said everyone apparently gets in the first 2 years. My only “negative” comment was that I am too quiet and need to speak up a bit more. Oh? and no promotion or raise. I absolutely know that in most companies, this is not expected after 8 months. However, on the team that I am on, promotions are frequent. I have absolutely no idea what they're based on (clearly not knowledge of the job), and they seem to be super arbitrary. The only comment about a promotion was “oh and unfortunately I probably can't promote you until maybe next year or the end of next year or so.” I am really not sure what to do at this point. Do I say something? Look for a new job?