Salary Increase for completing degree?
Discussion
I've been in the same job for the best part of a decade and I've just completed a BEng (Hons) degree with the OU.
All done in my spare time, over about 6 years, which meant very little time for socialising, etc., but continued as I knew it would be worth it in the end...
Review time is around the corner, but what would you expect/ask for as a percentage increase for completing a degree? (If it helps, I'm currently paying 20% tax...)
All done in my spare time, over about 6 years, which meant very little time for socialising, etc., but continued as I knew it would be worth it in the end...
Review time is around the corner, but what would you expect/ask for as a percentage increase for completing a degree? (If it helps, I'm currently paying 20% tax...)
Congratulations. I suppose it depends on how applicable your degree is to your current role and how much additional value you now bring as a result. I wouldn't say there's a set nominal figure or % increase you should aim for; What level would you be happy at? pitch that figure and see what happens. The worst that can happen is they say no...
I didn't get a rise directly because of my degree, I did however get a promotion due to elevated qualifications shortly after which did come with a pay rise. Probably got about £2k in 2010.
Next one will be getting my IEng which will come with another promotion, a car and a rise, so I'm putting a bit more effort into that one!
Next one will be getting my IEng which will come with another promotion, a car and a rise, so I'm putting a bit more effort into that one!
I did my degree with the OU over 6 years, too.
It's pretty tough going, doing it all in your own time while working full time on top, isn't it!
My employer paid my course fees throughout but I didn't get a rise at the end. I didn't really expect one though, to be honest.
I did leave a couple of years after graduating though...
Almost forgot to add: well done!
It's pretty tough going, doing it all in your own time while working full time on top, isn't it!
My employer paid my course fees throughout but I didn't get a rise at the end. I didn't really expect one though, to be honest.
I did leave a couple of years after graduating though...
Almost forgot to add: well done!
Thanks for all the responses!
Not figured out multi-quoting, so roughly in turn...
The degree is probably the closest degree to my job. Colleagues at the same place with a degree and comparable industry experience (although 20 years older) are on around 30% more, but I think my boss would simply laugh if I asked for that!
£5k is more that I was thinking, so I'd be very happy with that.
IEng/CEng is interesting. I don't know of anyone at the company who has done this while at the company (it's not really needed for the job - a colleague posted on here a few months ago asking for opinions on career moves as there's no opportunity for Chartered status - although it looks like he's now got a new job
).
And, yes, very tough
I do a fair amount of travel for work (mostly NW Europe only), which is bad because you lose weekends/evenings in airports, etc. but you can use a bit of that time studying (actually, I don't know what I'll read on planes now ) Oh, and Well Done as well!
Not figured out multi-quoting, so roughly in turn...
The degree is probably the closest degree to my job. Colleagues at the same place with a degree and comparable industry experience (although 20 years older) are on around 30% more, but I think my boss would simply laugh if I asked for that!
£5k is more that I was thinking, so I'd be very happy with that.
IEng/CEng is interesting. I don't know of anyone at the company who has done this while at the company (it's not really needed for the job - a colleague posted on here a few months ago asking for opinions on career moves as there's no opportunity for Chartered status - although it looks like he's now got a new job
).And, yes, very tough
I do a fair amount of travel for work (mostly NW Europe only), which is bad because you lose weekends/evenings in airports, etc. but you can use a bit of that time studying (actually, I don't know what I'll read on planes now ) Oh, and Well Done as well!Edited by Silgo on Sunday 22 February 22:01
I see two sides on this one-
1. You are not suddenly better at your job, so why should the employer pay you more? But...
2. You are now very likely to be able to find a better paying job elsewhere, and hopefully the employer realises this.
I would approach it on the basis that you wish to be paid the market rate and so wish to review your current package, which with a degree would probably be higher than you are currently paid. This is a general view, as in many cases an undergraduate degree doesn't automatically equate to better jobs, however the subject of your degree should interest employers. The fact it is an OU degree also plays into your hands- I have the utmost respect for people that complete a degree from the OU.
A good employer would at least give this some thought.
1. You are not suddenly better at your job, so why should the employer pay you more? But...
2. You are now very likely to be able to find a better paying job elsewhere, and hopefully the employer realises this.
I would approach it on the basis that you wish to be paid the market rate and so wish to review your current package, which with a degree would probably be higher than you are currently paid. This is a general view, as in many cases an undergraduate degree doesn't automatically equate to better jobs, however the subject of your degree should interest employers. The fact it is an OU degree also plays into your hands- I have the utmost respect for people that complete a degree from the OU.
A good employer would at least give this some thought.
There are 4 people where I work all doing the same job and on the same salary scale. I'm best qualified by a mile but as I took the job as an easy wind down towards retirement I don't get and don't expect any more than my colleagues. However, if I wanted, I could double my salary tomorrow if I changed jobs but I doubt whether any of my colleagues could.
p1stonhead said:
swerni said:
What value does your degree have the the business?
Does it allow you to do you job any better?
Not sure why you'd expect a rise.
ps congratulations
Because it instantly makes you a lot more valuable on the job market and if your employere wants to keep you, they will realise they will have to pay market rate for your current qualifications.Does it allow you to do you job any better?
Not sure why you'd expect a rise.
ps congratulations
Well, it seems some of you were right, but not the ones I wanted to be! 
One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...
)
One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...
)Silgo said:
Well, it seems some of you were right, but not the ones I wanted to be!
One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...)
Good for you. Hope the search goes well. One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...
)If you are any good at what you are doing, I bet they offer you a rise to stay. Don't take it.
I had similar situation, degree related to work, studied part time, with company approval & backing (they paid for degree) also had a agreement with line manager re payrise once completed (verbal not written)
Over course of degree line manager changed, and payrise never materialised. nothing more forthcoming in annual review, gave it 6months between finishing degree & resigning.
Had to pay back large % of my uni fees but moving jobs was still best move I've made in my career so far!
In summary, as alot of other posters have said you are more employable now, if you don't get what you want, look for some where that will give you it.
ETA:
didn't read above properly, good luck with the search
Over course of degree line manager changed, and payrise never materialised. nothing more forthcoming in annual review, gave it 6months between finishing degree & resigning.
Had to pay back large % of my uni fees but moving jobs was still best move I've made in my career so far!
In summary, as alot of other posters have said you are more employable now, if you don't get what you want, look for some where that will give you it.
ETA:
didn't read above properly, good luck with the search
Edited by Tommo Two on Tuesday 24th February 13:27
p1stonhead said:
Silgo said:
Well, it seems some of you were right, but not the ones I wanted to be!
One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...)
Good for you. Hope the search goes well. One of the reasons I asked this, was my boss had long refused a pay rise, on the basis that I hadn't got a degree...
So, now I've got a degree, I can't have a pay rise as I'm doing the same job as before!
Oh well, time to find a new job (already got an application in progress with a recruiter...
)If you are any good at what you are doing, I bet they offer you a rise to stay. Don't take it.
OP, for them to say they won't bump you up because you didnn't have a degree and then not do so when you've worked hard to get one is going to come back and bite them in the backside.
I'll echo p1stonhead's comment; if they counter to get you to stay, ignore it - they've already shown they don't value you that highly and will be countering to benefit themselves, not to recognise/reward you.
Sorry to hear you didn't get your payrise.
Personally, I wouldn't have given a payrise to one of my staff who had decided to do this in their own time. I can not speak for your industry, but in mine a degree does not really make you a better computer programmer, experience does.
If they went out and got an industry specific qualification, thats a different matter.
Personally, I wouldn't have given a payrise to one of my staff who had decided to do this in their own time. I can not speak for your industry, but in mine a degree does not really make you a better computer programmer, experience does.
If they went out and got an industry specific qualification, thats a different matter.
If the lack of salary increase post graduation is factor enough to warrant leaving the current employer then why would you not ensure the desired outcome and the conditions of how it is achieved is agreed and signed off prior to committing a huge chunk of spare time to it.
I am not sure you can pin this on the employer if nothing was formally agreed in the first place, for all we know the employer may have had good intentions many years ago when first discussed (but never formally agreed)- but now time has moved on and now it just may not be feasible. If the employer had signed up to it and had been diligent in budgeting for this salary increase to happen in 2015 then the OP would have stood a better chance of attaining an increased salary.
Salary increases need to be budgeted for, if a request comes out of the blue its likely to be turned down unless the owners are satisfied that their nett profit hit will be made up by increased productivity. Perhaps they arent seeing that the productivity, or in real terms, profitability will increase enough to cover the rise.
Good luck with the new job OP , and in future perhaps get future agreements in writing - or otherwise consider them "hot air".
I am not sure you can pin this on the employer if nothing was formally agreed in the first place, for all we know the employer may have had good intentions many years ago when first discussed (but never formally agreed)- but now time has moved on and now it just may not be feasible. If the employer had signed up to it and had been diligent in budgeting for this salary increase to happen in 2015 then the OP would have stood a better chance of attaining an increased salary.
Salary increases need to be budgeted for, if a request comes out of the blue its likely to be turned down unless the owners are satisfied that their nett profit hit will be made up by increased productivity. Perhaps they arent seeing that the productivity, or in real terms, profitability will increase enough to cover the rise.
Good luck with the new job OP , and in future perhaps get future agreements in writing - or otherwise consider them "hot air".
Sounds like typical middle managerial incompetence; i.e. rather than being straight and consistent with a member of staff and thereby managing their expectations and incentivising them, instead manager is reactive and blurts out excuses off the cuff. "You can't have a pay rise because ... uhm ... <insert the first thing that comes to mind that makes it the employee's fault>".
Net result: an employee who had the determination to get themselves a degree to enhance their career potential is going to leave the firm. That is a huge man management cock up and exactly the sort of thing a halfway decent HR dept would spot and investigate. However back in low productivity Britain, exactly nothing will come of it.
Net result: an employee who had the determination to get themselves a degree to enhance their career potential is going to leave the firm. That is a huge man management cock up and exactly the sort of thing a halfway decent HR dept would spot and investigate. However back in low productivity Britain, exactly nothing will come of it.
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