Discussion
A company has offered me a month’s trial and has asked me what money I would like per week?
It is not a situation I have ever been in before so not really sure as to what I should do next.
Here is a little more info. The position is for a 'fit out' construction firm and they are looking to create a position as an Assistant Project Manager. I have 9 years experience in construction and did fit out for my first 5 years. I come from a QS background and have recently graduated from a Building Surveying BSc Hons. Initially I could not decide whether to do Building Surveying or PM'ing but as there seems to be very little BS work about at my level I have decided upon PM’ing. I have had some other interest and one other company may also be offering me a trial.
The company has suggested that I would be treated initially as a graduate until they could judge as to what stage I am at.
What do you think would be a reasonable amount for me to ask for a month’s trial?
Cheers.
I'd suggest doing it for free.
Obviously it depends on your financial position and the sort of expenses your going to incur.
Perhaps ask them to give you a cheque at the end of the month to cover receipted expenses eg. fuel & lunch.
That way you show you have confidence in your abilities and will have had time to prove your capabilities and worth prior to agreeing a salary. You can guarantee whatever figure you quote for the months trial salary will be the figure they then try and pin you down to subsequently. Also gives you the chance to try and suss out what others in the company are earning.
Plus, should it not work out you'll have a P45 from them as a former employer, I'm guessing you wouldn't want to include a failed months trial on your CV so could lead to some awkward questions with any future companies HR Dept.
As an aside, if you wish to progress in Project Management it would be worth looking into getting your Prince2 qualifications.
Obviously it depends on your financial position and the sort of expenses your going to incur.
Perhaps ask them to give you a cheque at the end of the month to cover receipted expenses eg. fuel & lunch.
That way you show you have confidence in your abilities and will have had time to prove your capabilities and worth prior to agreeing a salary. You can guarantee whatever figure you quote for the months trial salary will be the figure they then try and pin you down to subsequently. Also gives you the chance to try and suss out what others in the company are earning.
Plus, should it not work out you'll have a P45 from them as a former employer, I'm guessing you wouldn't want to include a failed months trial on your CV so could lead to some awkward questions with any future companies HR Dept.
As an aside, if you wish to progress in Project Management it would be worth looking into getting your Prince2 qualifications.
Say an Average graduate salary in the UK is around £24,000 Therefore a simply £1000 for the month
Two schools of thought on this.
If you let them pay you at £24,000 for a month. They are hugely unlikely to pay you more than 10% higher if they like you.
Whereas if you work for free (less expenses) over the first four weeks, it might be they make a better offer if they pick up your contract.
I am not sure what they will learn in a month though, and presumably this would be covered by a probabtionary period anyway ?
You also don't say what your current work situation is.
If you are currently unemployed and receiving benefits, then working for just a month will play havoc with your status. For that month, you will have to come off benefits, then go through the whole re-registering process at the end of it. On top of that you will be liable for council tax and forgo and lose any housing benefit you may currently receive.
If you work for free then it could be viewed as undertaking a months voluntary work in an attempt to gain some work experience.
Either way it might be worth checking with the Job Centre.
I think the other poster has a point about the probationary period, if they were serious about taking you on why would they just not hire you but have a 3 month probationary period built into the contract. It may be the employer hasn't operated in that way before though so it might be worth putting two propositions to them.
1. I'll work for free for a months trial.
2. You offer me a permanent role but with a 3-month probationary period.
If they arent really serious about hiring you they'll feel to guilty to have you work for free for a month (hopefully). Plus I could see what has happened to me happening to you if you take a wage for the month - at the end of month one "oh could we just try things for another month" and that will continue for as long as they can get away with.
I took my current role on a 3 month temp to perm basis, 3 months was quickly switched to 4 months then 6 months then after being told I can't have a permanent role, despite that being the basis on which I accepted the job, I've had a further 3 month extension and now just had the offer of swapping it to a 6 month extension as they were scared I was going to leave, but in the same meeting it was re-itterated that I'm not getting a permanent position.
If you are currently unemployed and receiving benefits, then working for just a month will play havoc with your status. For that month, you will have to come off benefits, then go through the whole re-registering process at the end of it. On top of that you will be liable for council tax and forgo and lose any housing benefit you may currently receive.
If you work for free then it could be viewed as undertaking a months voluntary work in an attempt to gain some work experience.
Either way it might be worth checking with the Job Centre.
I think the other poster has a point about the probationary period, if they were serious about taking you on why would they just not hire you but have a 3 month probationary period built into the contract. It may be the employer hasn't operated in that way before though so it might be worth putting two propositions to them.
1. I'll work for free for a months trial.
2. You offer me a permanent role but with a 3-month probationary period.
If they arent really serious about hiring you they'll feel to guilty to have you work for free for a month (hopefully). Plus I could see what has happened to me happening to you if you take a wage for the month - at the end of month one "oh could we just try things for another month" and that will continue for as long as they can get away with.
I took my current role on a 3 month temp to perm basis, 3 months was quickly switched to 4 months then 6 months then after being told I can't have a permanent role, despite that being the basis on which I accepted the job, I've had a further 3 month extension and now just had the offer of swapping it to a 6 month extension as they were scared I was going to leave, but in the same meeting it was re-itterated that I'm not getting a permanent position.
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