Name your price?

[Williambridge]

This is a first for me and it left me feeling a bit confused

Whilst discussing a few things with my line manager today we got onto the subject of job satisfaction, Where I was honest and did let him know a few of my frustrations

He said he will alter a few things as he wants me to enjoy my work, This conversation then lead onto salary. This is where it got strange for me.

My manager said tell me what you want, in terms of salary.

But how do you put forward something that is reasonable without undercutting yourself or really over shooting it and looking greedy?

At the moment

I have (just) broken the higher tax bracket at the start of last year with just over 10 years experience in the industry and i have been with this company just over a year.

My salary sits at just over 50k currently

Looking at jobs currently advertised elsewhere these have a salary range from 35k-50k up to 100k as a senior....

[85Carrera]

Would probably be useful to know what field you work in.

Are there any recruiters who specialise in what you do who publish salary surveys and/or who you could speak to about salary levels?

[vindaloo79]

https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/c++/java%20d...

This is pretty good resource.

[Hoofy]

You could ask for something that seems like a nice increase but also talk about increased responsibilities/a more senior position to justify the increase?

[Williambridge]

Field service / food and beverage

[Williambridge]

Hoofy said:

You could ask for something that seems like a nice increase but also talk about increased responsibilities/a more senior position to justify the increase?

Over my time here there has been increases in responsibilities no salary changes previously

[alscar]

Is your current role deemed “ senior “ as regards the company and the Industry first off ?
If so then based on you being there only 12 months but with a Manager that wants to keep you ( I’m assuming he’s not simply testing you / has a separate agenda btw ) maybe a salary request of say £75k ( said with a smile from you ) isn’t too outrageous.
If not senior then if you already at the top of the salary range presumably 10% on top of your £50k as a request again doesn’t sound too silly to me.

[Countdown]

Williambridge said:

This is a first for me and it left me feeling a bit confused

Whilst discussing a few things with my line manager today we got onto the subject of job satisfaction, Where I was honest and did let him know a few of my frustrations

He said he will alter a few things as he wants me to enjoy my work, This conversation then lead onto salary. This is where it got strange for me.

My manager said tell me what you want, in terms of salary.

But how do you put forward something that is reasonable without undercutting yourself or really over shooting it and looking greedy?

At the moment

I have (just) broken the higher tax bracket at the start of last year with just over 10 years experience in the industry and i have been with this company just over a year.

My salary sits at just over 50k currently

Looking at jobs currently advertised elsewhere these have a salary range from 35k-50k up to 100k as a senior....

Tbh it sounds like your Manager wants to make sure you're not looking elsewhere.

In terms of what salary to ask for - do you know what the market rate is for your role? How often do you see jobs with similar requirements and what kind of salaries are Companies offering.

I'd be asking for £60k and be happy to meet in the middle.

[Hoofy]

Williambridge said:

Hoofy said:

You could ask for something that seems like a nice increase but also talk about increased responsibilities/a more senior position to justify the increase?

Over my time here there has been increases in responsibilities no salary changes previously

Well, just ask for the industry standard rate and say that's why you've chosen that figure.

[adamfawsitt]

You have provided limited information but from what you have written I would invent an approach by a headhunter offering £65k (a meaningful bump but not outrageous) and maybe a few perks that you want to benchmark a request for an increase in remuneration from you boss.

I finished climbing the greasy pole some years ago but this worked really well for me and I wasn't given the open goal of being asked what I would like!

[Wilmslowboy]

I have a black belt in salary negotiation

First you need to know your mkt rate for your role.
You need to know how you rank against other people doing the role (in other organisations)
How likely/ quickly you could get another role
What it would cost the organisation to replace you (loss of productivity and cost of new hire)
What is your red line - the level at which you are willing to leave

Then ask at a level near the top of the range and leave it to the company to talk you down.


I know a few will argue against this approach, however I’ve always believed an extra £10k is worth much more to my family than to the company.

I happily admit that I’m mercenary, I have left companies for more money.

[Gary29]

I'd be asking for 60 based on all the information you've disclosed.

[rawenghey]

Wilmslowboy said:

I happily admit that I’m mercenary, I have left companies for more money.

People go to work to earn money. Almost everyone I know cites money as the main reason for job changes.

[fat80b]

Wilmslowboy said:

I have a black belt in salary negotiation

First you need to know your mkt rate for your role.
You need to know how you rank against other people doing the role (in other organisations)
How likely/ quickly you could get another role
What it would cost the organisation to replace you (loss of productivity and cost of new hire)
What is your red line - the level at which you are willing to leave

Then ask at a level near the top of the range and leave it to the company to talk you down.


I know a few will argue against this approach, however I’ve always believed an extra £10k is worth much more to my family than to the company.

I happily admit that I’m mercenary, I have left companies for more money.

Good post - I'm also quite mercenary (although I also require job satisfaction but it's entirely possible to solve for both). I was having a similar discussion with someone I knew a number of years ago who worked for one of the big consultancies and they had a fairly aggressive version of this approach (that I have followed since) in that:


Regardless of how happy you are with your current role, it is only your responsibility to know that you are marketable and employable and you must check this at least once a year.

In order to do this, you must always keep your CV up to date and you should interview for roles fairly regularly to prove that you are on the right track.

Whilst you aren't necessarily going to change roles, you must own your own career and you must make sure that you are improving / staying current etc in today's job and this is one way of doing so.


I've followed this advice and I am forever surprised when I speak to people who say "I've been in this job for n years, never updated my CV in that time, and have no idea what my market value is" - Well more fool you, sucker!

In my case (software engineer -> product management), I have worked at 4 companies across 20 ish years, but have received a competitive job offer every year of that time.

[ZedLeg]

rawenghey said:

Wilmslowboy said:

I happily admit that I’m mercenary, I have left companies for more money.

People go to work to earn money. Almost everyone I know cites money as the main reason for job changes.

Aye, I actually said that labour isn't a virtue, I'm here for the money to a manager during pay negotiations .

As far as what you ask for start at about 10% higher than what you'd be happy with.

[boyse7en]

[quote]
I've followed this advice and I am forever surprised when I speak to people who say "I've been in this job for n years, never updated my CV in that time, and have no idea what my market value is" - Well more fool you, sucker!
[/quote]

I'm pretty much in that position, except i do keep an eye on similar roles in the industry and they are all several thousand below what i am paid, so i keep schtum