Pay issues, negotiating a raise early on
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking for advice. I was offered a new job in Jan 14 and decided to take it. While it is good there are issues with pay.
I'd been unemployed for a few months (my last contract role had ended) and had been turned down for a job in Nov 13 because I'd tried to get the top salary for the role (£40k) which I think turned the employer against me.
So I went to an interview in Jan 14 and that company instantly liked what I had to offer, my experience (just over 10 years) and my ideas etc. They offered my the job the next day to prevent me going to another interview. I didn't ask for my desired salary (£40k)as I thought I'd get my fingers burnt again and so agreed on just £35k. (In hindsight I should have asked for £45k as there is no pension etc)
It annoys me that I didn't push them for more. I've been on £35k since I was 26, and I'm 31 now and I've not seen any growth for the additional experience I have.
Now I am in a situation where I like the job but resentment is growing because I feel I am underpaid. There are a few other companies that leave messages on my linkedin/voicemail talking about jobs that have pay and benefits much higher than I currently have. This is where realistically I am in my career, but I don't know how to get that across to my boss without sounding like an arse and jeapordising my chances in my current role.
I know the negotiations I had originally should have been better, but I was pretty desperate for a job and didn't want to miss the chance for the sake of £5-10k. I've not had much luck in my career, but I aiming to change that!
Ideally I want to get my pay at a level I think I am worthy (£40-45k)
In the 7 months I've been in this role I've re-jigged reporting, brought in new business of around £25,000 and attended lots of new business meetings and presentations as well as running a small team of specialists.
Has anyone got any advice on what I should do and the order to do it in?
Thanks
I'm looking for advice. I was offered a new job in Jan 14 and decided to take it. While it is good there are issues with pay.
I'd been unemployed for a few months (my last contract role had ended) and had been turned down for a job in Nov 13 because I'd tried to get the top salary for the role (£40k) which I think turned the employer against me.
So I went to an interview in Jan 14 and that company instantly liked what I had to offer, my experience (just over 10 years) and my ideas etc. They offered my the job the next day to prevent me going to another interview. I didn't ask for my desired salary (£40k)as I thought I'd get my fingers burnt again and so agreed on just £35k. (In hindsight I should have asked for £45k as there is no pension etc)
It annoys me that I didn't push them for more. I've been on £35k since I was 26, and I'm 31 now and I've not seen any growth for the additional experience I have.
Now I am in a situation where I like the job but resentment is growing because I feel I am underpaid. There are a few other companies that leave messages on my linkedin/voicemail talking about jobs that have pay and benefits much higher than I currently have. This is where realistically I am in my career, but I don't know how to get that across to my boss without sounding like an arse and jeapordising my chances in my current role.
I know the negotiations I had originally should have been better, but I was pretty desperate for a job and didn't want to miss the chance for the sake of £5-10k. I've not had much luck in my career, but I aiming to change that!
Ideally I want to get my pay at a level I think I am worthy (£40-45k)
In the 7 months I've been in this role I've re-jigged reporting, brought in new business of around £25,000 and attended lots of new business meetings and presentations as well as running a small team of specialists.
Has anyone got any advice on what I should do and the order to do it in?
Thanks
Or ask for a 6 month performance review from your manager. Raise all the positive things you've done and as about the job progression, see if they are happy with your performance. As a manager if someone wanted more outside of the nomal performance increeases I'd want to see what they were going to do to justify it, going to take on more responcibility, additonal projects etc.
Welcome to the real world.
I'm now earning just over half of what I was 3 years ago. I have accepted I may never earn that amount again, but I find it hard to accept my current wage. Then again I have a job which looks better than unemployment on my CV.
Things are improving out there so there is light. I will keep applying for other jobs and when I am offered a job paying a more realistic wage I will simply resign from my current role and say thanks.
No point getting bitter about current salary, there are many out there with no jobs.
I'm now earning just over half of what I was 3 years ago. I have accepted I may never earn that amount again, but I find it hard to accept my current wage. Then again I have a job which looks better than unemployment on my CV.
Things are improving out there so there is light. I will keep applying for other jobs and when I am offered a job paying a more realistic wage I will simply resign from my current role and say thanks.
No point getting bitter about current salary, there are many out there with no jobs.
I thought companies of a certain size had to offer pensions??
You accepted the role at £35k (even though you are worth £45k) so I think you should suck it up or move on and get what you are worth. The only way to increase salary is to move or perform exceptionally well. Begging for an increase just creates resentment with your employer.
Would you say your performance has been exceptional (quantified)? If so, it might be worth requesting a performance review - but bear in mind this is not a salary negotiation, but a chance to sell yourself.
My posts re usually full of flaws so take with a pinch of salt....
Mike
You accepted the role at £35k (even though you are worth £45k) so I think you should suck it up or move on and get what you are worth. The only way to increase salary is to move or perform exceptionally well. Begging for an increase just creates resentment with your employer.
Would you say your performance has been exceptional (quantified)? If so, it might be worth requesting a performance review - but bear in mind this is not a salary negotiation, but a chance to sell yourself.
My posts re usually full of flaws so take with a pinch of salt....
Mike
You could ask you manager what would you have to do to be offered £40k? Extra sales? Bring in more clients? get promoted?
At least you then know the boundaries in your current company. Salaries sadly are not about what you are worth as we would all be paid much more, they are about what you negotiated
At least you then know the boundaries in your current company. Salaries sadly are not about what you are worth as we would all be paid much more, they are about what you negotiated
Yup. Had a similar situation years ago when I qualified. I assumed it would get sorted out at the next review, but it did not. Brought it to the attention of my boss, who researched pay scales with a recruitment agent and then lied about what she said....
As soon as a job offer was on the table discussions were a little more progressive.
As soon as a job offer was on the table discussions were a little more progressive.
Sir Bagalot said:
Welcome to the real world.
I'm now earning just over half of what I was 3 years ago. I have accepted I may never earn that amount again, but I find it hard to accept my current wage. Then again I have a job which looks better than unemployment on my CV.
Things are improving out there so there is light. I will keep applying for other jobs and when I am offered a job paying a more realistic wage I will simply resign from my current role and say thanks.
No point getting bitter about current salary, there are many out there with no jobs.
Yes I know those feelings. The company is doing well and paying certain people very well. Despite being in a pretty good industry, I seem to watch former colleagues go off and progress and do well, wheras I can't seem to get any luck at all.I'm now earning just over half of what I was 3 years ago. I have accepted I may never earn that amount again, but I find it hard to accept my current wage. Then again I have a job which looks better than unemployment on my CV.
Things are improving out there so there is light. I will keep applying for other jobs and when I am offered a job paying a more realistic wage I will simply resign from my current role and say thanks.
No point getting bitter about current salary, there are many out there with no jobs.
dingg said:
jellywire9 said:
Apply for the other jobs you keep getting offered for more money. Go back to current employers and state they are 'offering me X can you match it'. If not move on.
This is your only option I suspectI've been frustrated with bouncing between jobs over the last few years but that's because I've never been able to "Get" a reasonable salary. I seem to get turned down when I try for a higher salary (not unreasonable I might add, I've got over 10 years experience)
[quote=Salaries sadly are not about what you are worth as we would all be paid much more, they are about what you negotiated
[/quote]
Not always true. I started a new job last year, showed them how bloody good I was, and then told them I wanted a 25% rise or I'd leave. They agreed there and then.
We're not talking about a huge salary, but I knew they wouldn't find anyone else with the broad range of skills that I brought to the job, and they knew too.
[/quote]
Not always true. I started a new job last year, showed them how bloody good I was, and then told them I wanted a 25% rise or I'd leave. They agreed there and then.
We're not talking about a huge salary, but I knew they wouldn't find anyone else with the broad range of skills that I brought to the job, and they knew too.
budfox said:
We're not talking about a huge salary, but I knew they wouldn't find anyone else with the broad range of skills that I brought to the job, and they knew too.
The problem is that a lot of arsewits (not suggesting in any way that you are) also think the same as you and have utterly unrealistic expectations.If you want a good salary then move jobs, there is no incentive for a current employer to give you a rise, they have already got you for what they are currently paying.
If you demand a pay rise by threatening to leave then you had better be prepared to do just that, many companies would let you leave than pay more so be aware that this sort of thing can backfire very easily.
If you demand a pay rise by threatening to leave then you had better be prepared to do just that, many companies would let you leave than pay more so be aware that this sort of thing can backfire very easily.
Personally, I'd go to an interview, say that I'm currently on 37k (I usually blag an extra 2k) and see where the stand, if they match it, you're still 2k up, they then (depending on interview) offer you even more to get you closer to your desired wage.
I did it for my job, and got offered an extra 1k, but get a lot more benefits than my old job (mileage paid, on call allowance and proper pension) meaning that I'm on what my target was, and to top it off, when I fully qualify, I get even more, but the benefits won't change
This is just my (admittedly limited) experience, hope it helps.
I did it for my job, and got offered an extra 1k, but get a lot more benefits than my old job (mileage paid, on call allowance and proper pension) meaning that I'm on what my target was, and to top it off, when I fully qualify, I get even more, but the benefits won't change
This is just my (admittedly limited) experience, hope it helps.
Mr SFJ said:
Personally, I'd go to an interview, say that I'm currently on 37k (I usually blag an extra 2k) and see where the stand, if they match it, you're still 2k up, they then (depending on interview) offer you even more to get you closer to your desired wage.
I did it for my job, and got offered an extra 1k, but get a lot more benefits than my old job (mileage paid, on call allowance and proper pension) meaning that I'm on what my target was, and to top it off, when I fully qualify, I get even more, but the benefits won't change
This is just my (admittedly limited) experience, hope it helps.
May have worked for you but as a warning to others, larger companies can and will ask for proof of previous salary bonus arrangements. Inflating expectations, negotiating wildly and playing hard ball with agencies is one thing, fibbing in an interview is another. I did it for my job, and got offered an extra 1k, but get a lot more benefits than my old job (mileage paid, on call allowance and proper pension) meaning that I'm on what my target was, and to top it off, when I fully qualify, I get even more, but the benefits won't change
This is just my (admittedly limited) experience, hope it helps.
jefftings said:
In the 7 months I've been in this role I've re-jigged reporting, brought in new business of around £25,000 and attended lots of new business meetings and presentations as well as running a small team of specialists.
Has anyone got any advice on what I should do and the order to do it in?
Thanks
So on your current run rate you'll bring in £42,800 of business into the company and you think you're worth £45,000 + employers NI on top.Has anyone got any advice on what I should do and the order to do it in?
Thanks
Sorry but that's not worth a pay increase and certainly not this early on.
Prove yourself and then you'll have a case.
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