Negotiating salary...

[Temp_Username]

I'm looking for any advice (positiive or negative) on how negotiating a permanent position. Here's a little background without going into much information...

• Top Level Undergraduate Engineering Placement
• Graduated University
• Went straight into (Graduate) Engineering Design role
• After working 12M left job to gain Masters Degree (1 Year Course)
• Stay in contact, discuss possibility of doing part time work, unfortunately doesn't work out.
• Graduate University again - with Masters Degree
• Now returned to same position under temporary contract

This is where I am now. During the 12M that I left one of the Senior Engineers in the (small) department moved to another department in the same organisation, another Engineer (who has been there a fair few years) is also moving. The department is now mainly younger Engineers (with 5+ years of experience) and I am relitively new but still have some experience.

At least one permanent position is going to be advertised in the coming months. I will likely go for the position but I wanted to get some advice on how (if at all) I can use my situation to negotiate a salary. I expect that whatever salary I get will remain constant for some time..

I'm in an area where there are plenty of Engineers looking for work and also many different companies in similar line of work. Advertised salary appears to be quite stagnant and is on the lower side for Europe. Am I now more valuable to the company or do I run the risk of losing the job to someone else willing to do it for less ££££?

[Shoegrip]

I think your biggest issue is lack of experience.

In our company, you would be laughed at to try to "negotiate". It's a case of that's the salary.

Once you are able to demonstrate ability to add value, then you can consider being rewarded for your "worth".

[edc]

As above, I don't fancy your chances. Having hired around 7 graduate level junior engineers over about 6-12 months they all came in on a fixed starter salary. There was no negotiation. If you really want a proper salary then Germany could be a place to go.

[StuTheGrouch]

OP, you mention your qualifications, which are obviously something to be proud of, but you don't mention how 'good' you are at your job. Can you do things others can't? Have you made a significant contribution to a major project? Have you taken on work which was behind schedule and rescued the project? Have you shown leadership potential?

The salary they offer is one thing, but negotiating it will depend on how you can demonstrate added value to the company. They will know how good you are at the job and will pay accordingly

Are you working towards chartered status?

[Bodo]

Your employer should know your value already - that might be a good or a bad thing. There is also the risk that you are still perceived as the student, even though you have some experience already.

In any case, get your CV ready, and get at least three interviews elsewhere, where you'd get feedback on your value when negotiating your salary. Your first work experience might help.

Else, as mentioned, try have a look abroad - a graduate design engineer with some placement experience will typically get offered £50k pa in a multinational in Germany.

[rog007]

StuTheGrouch said:

OP, you mention your qualifications, which are obviously something to be proud of, but you don't mention how 'good' you are at your job. Can you do things others can't? Have you made a significant contribution to a major project? Have you taken on work which was behind schedule and rescued the project? Have you shown leadership potential?

The salary they offer is one thing, but negotiating it will depend on how you can demonstrate added value to the company. They will know how good you are at the job and will pay accordingly

Are you working towards chartered status?

'nuff said!

[Robertj21a]

Sorry to say that it all sounds like so many graduates - loads of studying but little real experience of the real world.
We've recruited people in a similar position before but don't negotiate salary unless they had a long-term proven track record.