Competitive salary
Discussion
My other half is going for an informal chat tomorrow for a new job. Same as what she is doing now but a different company.
She is currently on just under £20,000 a year.
They have mentioned that the salary will be based on experience. She has seven years experience and is bloody good at her job (yeah im biased!).
What's the best way to go around talking money? She will be more than happy with the same amount as she's on now and would be willing to take a slight pay cut if there is career progression (main reason why she is looking at leaving).
Any advice would be great!
She is currently on just under £20,000 a year.
They have mentioned that the salary will be based on experience. She has seven years experience and is bloody good at her job (yeah im biased!).
What's the best way to go around talking money? She will be more than happy with the same amount as she's on now and would be willing to take a slight pay cut if there is career progression (main reason why she is looking at leaving).
Any advice would be great!
It would be helpful to know what type of work she does. With out trying to sound like a dick, if she is doing a job where experience is valued and she had 7 years, £20k sounds very low.
Again, depending on the type of role there may be sites out there that can give you guidance on expected salary levels. In the US there is glassdoor. Perhaps there is a UK based equivalent. If not, there's a billion dollar idea!
Two other things to consider, first, changing company is your best chance to get a decent pay rise. Two, just because the world has gone mad doesn't mean companies do not value good talent. If you don't ask, you don't get. I recently asked for 20% extra and they accepted without hesitation. Clearly I hadn't thought big enough!
Again, depending on the type of role there may be sites out there that can give you guidance on expected salary levels. In the US there is glassdoor. Perhaps there is a UK based equivalent. If not, there's a billion dollar idea!
Two other things to consider, first, changing company is your best chance to get a decent pay rise. Two, just because the world has gone mad doesn't mean companies do not value good talent. If you don't ask, you don't get. I recently asked for 20% extra and they accepted without hesitation. Clearly I hadn't thought big enough!
Some say, only move for a 20% improvement in remuneration; this covers your costs and risk of making a move.
Some also say that measuring experience in terms of time is the worst way of displaying competence; one could have been underperforming for those ‘6 years experience’!
To steal a march on both salary and marketing oneself; be confident and display keen knowledge of your worth and why that salary will be well spent on you.
Some also say that measuring experience in terms of time is the worst way of displaying competence; one could have been underperforming for those ‘6 years experience’!
To steal a march on both salary and marketing oneself; be confident and display keen knowledge of your worth and why that salary will be well spent on you.
h0b0 said:
It would be helpful to know what type of work she does. With out trying to sound like a dick, if she is doing a job where experience is valued and she had 7 years, £20k sounds very low.
Like you say though, it depends on the job, for some jobs £20k is a decent figure, even with 7 years experience. She's a pharmacy dispenser. She appears to be at the upper limit for around here.
Annoyingly her current company are dragging their heels when it comes to career progression.
She found the hourly rate and it works out as the same take home each month for less hours (36 a week here currently does 41.25 a week). The same distance away as well, so more free time which I think she needs.
Annoyingly her current company are dragging their heels when it comes to career progression.
She found the hourly rate and it works out as the same take home each month for less hours (36 a week here currently does 41.25 a week). The same distance away as well, so more free time which I think she needs.
Or 1 years experience 7 times.
I think we need a bit more info. Job role, old and new companies thinking.
Be cautious of promises of progression, does the new company have a positive record for this? They are usually a line to justify a lower salary or make a move look attractive. If she wants / has the skills for a more senior role, then apply for it, or apply for a role with specific training associated with it (such as a mature apprenticeship).
I think we need a bit more info. Job role, old and new companies thinking.
Be cautious of promises of progression, does the new company have a positive record for this? They are usually a line to justify a lower salary or make a move look attractive. If she wants / has the skills for a more senior role, then apply for it, or apply for a role with specific training associated with it (such as a mature apprenticeship).
Speaking from an interviewer’s perspective, the final salary is rarely set in stone but it’s often tricky for us to assess what sort of money someone would be looking for. Most people are often (understandably) reluctant to discuss salary too early in the conversation, so it can be a bit of a dance.
I like to ask something like “what are your salary expectations for this role?” just to make sure we’re not miles apart. If the interviewer doesn’t ask that, I’d recommend that your wife throws it in somewhere, along the lines of “I am currently earning x, so ideally I’d like to be as close to that as possible but with a greater opportunity to progress.” It does sound like a fairly low salary for such a responsible job though, so I might be tempted to amend that to “...Ideally just a little more if possible”.
I know a lot of people say don’t discuss salary, but to be fair, we all need to know if we’re at least in the same ballpark.
I like to ask something like “what are your salary expectations for this role?” just to make sure we’re not miles apart. If the interviewer doesn’t ask that, I’d recommend that your wife throws it in somewhere, along the lines of “I am currently earning x, so ideally I’d like to be as close to that as possible but with a greater opportunity to progress.” It does sound like a fairly low salary for such a responsible job though, so I might be tempted to amend that to “...Ideally just a little more if possible”.
I know a lot of people say don’t discuss salary, but to be fair, we all need to know if we’re at least in the same ballpark.
Edited by FlyingPanda on Saturday 22 August 09:22
Tell her to politely skip over any discussions about pay untill after an offer is made.
Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
Edited by hyphen on Saturday 22 August 09:30
LosingGrip said:
She's a pharmacy dispenser. She appears to be at the upper limit for around here.
Annoyingly her current company are dragging their heels when it comes to career progression.
She found the hourly rate and it works out as the same take home each month for less hours (36 a week here currently does 41.25 a week). The same distance away as well, so more free time which I think she needs.
What the career path for a pharmacy dispenser? She’s not earning much above minimum wage.Annoyingly her current company are dragging their heels when it comes to career progression.
She found the hourly rate and it works out as the same take home each month for less hours (36 a week here currently does 41.25 a week). The same distance away as well, so more free time which I think she needs.
How rigid is the 36 hours? Wouldn’t take much for it creep higher, especially if she doesn’t want a reputation as a clock watcher while trying to progress.
hyphen said:
Tell her to politely skip over any discussions about pay untill after an offer is made.
Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
That might have worked last year, but this year, in the current job market? From an employer’s perspective I would say that’s not good advice.Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
FlyingPanda said:
That might have worked last year, but this year, in the current job market? From an employer’s perspective I would say that’s not good advice.
Have a lot of pharmacy dispensers been made redundant? None from what I've heard. So does the state of the general job market matter? If this particular industry is unaffected/doing well out of Covid.She has experience, the alternative would be to train someone up
hyphen said:
Have a lot of pharmacy dispensers neen made redundant? None from what I've heard. So does the state of the general job market matter?
She has experience, the alternative would be to train someone up
Well, I understand Boots are closing 200 pharmacies for starters, but maybe you’re better informed than me.She has experience, the alternative would be to train someone up
hyphen said:
Tell her to politely skip over any discussions about pay untill after an offer is made.{/quote] Agree.
Hyphen said:
Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
I’d mention this AFTER an offer is made, not before. There’s a risk of it coming across as arrogant.Know your worth and your minimum price then work up from there. Don't forget basic salary is just one element, its the whole package and any side benefits. Either be confident and state current package and you'd like xyz more, or ask for their banding details and negotiate above the entry point.
Unless it is somewhere she really wants to work, or she really needs to leave current employer then moving for less is crazy - you are losing all protection and benefits from years of service and that has a value.
Also, going in as a strong negotiator could actually make them want you more as your confidence in yourself will be clear - unless of course its a 20k role and you say I wont move for less than 40k and my own gold plated toilet.
Good luck!
Unless it is somewhere she really wants to work, or she really needs to leave current employer then moving for less is crazy - you are losing all protection and benefits from years of service and that has a value.
Also, going in as a strong negotiator could actually make them want you more as your confidence in yourself will be clear - unless of course its a 20k role and you say I wont move for less than 40k and my own gold plated toilet.
Good luck!
Thanks for all the replies!
Re the salary...she appears to be on the high scale for her job around here. Today was an informal chat. She feels it's gone well.
Found the pay online as well and it's more than she's on now which is good (but less hours, 36 instead of 41). But still takes home more each month. Plus more over time by the looks of it (she works at the moment all the hours the shop is open so OT is very limited).
They seem very keen for CPD as well. I don't understand what the role above is but pharmacy tech or something. Would mean a payrise (and also opens up jobs in hospitals and prison pharmacy that she's interested in).
She's just waiting to hear when they can sort out an interview
.
Re the salary...she appears to be on the high scale for her job around here. Today was an informal chat. She feels it's gone well.
Found the pay online as well and it's more than she's on now which is good (but less hours, 36 instead of 41). But still takes home more each month. Plus more over time by the looks of it (she works at the moment all the hours the shop is open so OT is very limited).
They seem very keen for CPD as well. I don't understand what the role above is but pharmacy tech or something. Would mean a payrise (and also opens up jobs in hospitals and prison pharmacy that she's interested in).
She's just waiting to hear when they can sort out an interview
. Countdown said:
hyphen said:
Tell her to politely skip over any discussions about pay untill after an offer is made.{/quote] Agree.
Often in an interview you get asked "Do you have other applications in progress". They want to know if their is time pressure on them.Hyphen said:
Suggest to her to apply for other jobs too, and if possible bring this to their attention so they know she has other options and is in a position to walk away.
I’d mention this AFTER an offer is made, not before. There’s a risk of it coming across as arrogant.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff