Promotion & salary conversation

[CalNaughtonJnr]

I have been given the opportunity to move up the ladder and replace my line manager upon his retirement towards the end of the year and whilst a handover and training has been discussed in the meantime, salary has not yet been mentioned

Is there an appropriate time to raise this or should I get it out there as early as possible?

[CHLEMCBH]

As early as possible. Are you nervous about doing so for some reason?

[snuffy]

I would have thought they would have told you what they are prepared to offer you.

Without knowing their offer, how can you decide to accept or not?

[simon_harris]

Do NOT fall for the lets see how you do and discuss later - you need it agreed in advance or you will never get it. Don't forget it is much cheaper to employ you than go through a recruitment agency and pay 15+% of the salary of an external recruit.

Either you are good enough for the job or you are not, if you are then you are worth what it costs for the position.

[CheesecakeRunner]

And don’t assume what the guy leaving was getting is the right amount either. He could have been on an old pay package and just counting down the days to retirement. Do your research, figure out what market rate is for the role, and ask for that.

[a311]

simon_harris said:

Do NOT fall for the lets see how you do and discuss later - you need it agreed in advance or you will never get it. Don't forget it is much cheaper to employ you than go through a recruitment agency and pay 15+% of the salary of an external recruit.

Either you are good enough for the job or you are not, if you are then you are worth what it costs for the position.

This. I've become more cynical over the years, I have been with the same employer for a long term and generally have had no reason to leave plus the benefits don't really exist anymore elsewhere.

Three dirtiest words in my place 'career development opportunity' which is code for we'll heap more responsibility on but won't pay you any more.

I've been offered this that and the next thing over the years but without a concrete pay increase in some instances offered, others its been a ~10% pay increase. Turned it down every time, as I've got older I want maximum cash for minimal responsibility. Being generally unstressed, able to take annual leave without restriction, go to things for the kids at school etc are worth a hell of a lot to me.

Bring it up ASAP, maybe they'll have to advertise and interview.

[xx99xx]

However, the extra responsibilities and different work is all good experience to gain a different job in the future, applied for through the usual processes.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I've done a few short term 'development opportunities' for no extra pay and enjoyed it.

[Mirinjawbro]

xx99xx said:

However, the extra responsibilities and different work is all good experience to gain a different job in the future, applied for through the usual processes.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I've done a few short term 'development opportunities' for no extra pay and enjoyed it.

you are a sucker yes. would you of enjoyed it if you weren't paid even your normal salary?


i've been done over in this way before. promised this and that. did it ever come? nope. so for the last must be 8-10 years i do the job im paid and i leave when its home time.

my brother also worked a role 2 grades above his level with the promise of getting it "if he did well".

1.5 years went by and the role finally came up with which he interviewed for

did he get it?

ill let you guess

[Mr Penguin]

xx99xx said:

However, the extra responsibilities and different work is all good experience to gain a different job in the future, applied for through the usual processes.

Maybe I'm a sucker, but I've done a few short term 'development opportunities' for no extra pay and enjoyed it.

Do the work to get the earning potential on your CV.

[Sslink]

Absolutely get as much information in writing as you can and don't assume any additional responsibility until the terms are agreeable to both parties.

I too have become more cynical over my working life, a favour becomes an expectation.

If they want you to lead they should pay for it, try and get an idea of what your line manager earns, don't let them take advantage of you, it will be a lot easier and still likely cheaper to promote you than to hire externally and then go through the onboarding faff.

Good luck.

[Mirinjawbro]

Mr Penguin said:

Do the work to get the earning potential on your CV.

cant you just add it to the CV anyway

as long as you can speak about it enough and not completely make something up come interview you can answer.

[littlebasher]

Mirinjawbro said:

my brother also worked a role 2 grades above his level with the promise of getting it "if he did well".

1.5 years went by and the role finally came up with which he interviewed for

did he get it?

ill let you guess

I hope he went elsewhere

[StevieBee]

simon_harris said:

Do NOT fall for the lets see how you do and discuss later

It is reasonable for an employer to defer any pay increase until the person has proven themselves in the new role.

It is also reasonable for them to set out the time period over which they will be assed and what, precisely they will be assessed on. And the level of increase that will be awarded if all is good.

And lastly - and importantly - you should be told what would happen should you prove to be unsuitable. Not everyone is cut-out for more senior roles and if that's the case, you need to have assurance that you will be able to slip back into your current role.

[alscar]

As I got more senior in my career I acquired more responsibility but rarely instantly more salary.
Only once did I get an instant uplift of iirc 20% but when salary rises came around ( usually in April ) post said additional responsibility I usually saw a better increase than perhaps I would received otherwise.
However long term tenure meant I was already on a better package than many others including bonus schemes that were very decent so it worked both ways.

[Mirinjawbro]

littlebasher said:

I hope he went elsewhere

he did. they also got nasty with delaying references and holiday

[Mortarboard]

If it isn't in writing, it's worth nothing.

Big red flag is a handover plan, which doesn't outline you "new role", with all that goes with that.

NOW is the time for that conversation.

M.

[xx99xx]

Mirinjawbro said:

you are a sucker yes. would you of enjoyed it if you weren't paid even your normal salary?


i've been done over in this way before. promised this and that. did it ever come? nope. so for the last must be 8-10 years i do the job im paid and i leave when its home time.

my brother also worked a role 2 grades above his level with the promise of getting it "if he did well".

1.5 years went by and the role finally came up with which he interviewed for

did he get it?

ill let you guess

But I was paid my normal salary and gained additional experience in the process.

However, to answer your question (which isn't related to the OP question) no I wouldn't be happy (but I wouldn't agree to do it if that were the case anyway. Plus, salary reductions are non existent in my organisation - except for below inflation pay rises).

So are you saying you've temporarily taken on a more senior role in the past and they reduced your salary?

[Mirinjawbro]

xx99xx said:

But I was paid my normal salary and gained additional experience in the process.

However, to answer your question (which isn't related to the OP question) no I wouldn't be happy (but I wouldn't agree to do it if that were the case anyway. Plus, salary reductions are non existent in my organisation - except for below inflation pay rises).

So are you saying you've temporarily taken on a more senior role in the past and they reduced your salary?

never have, never will.

i learned 10-15 years ago about putting in all the sucking up and extra time and effort to get nothing. even if you do and you get the maybe 5-10k payrise not like the extra 400 a month take home changes much.

ive had 35-40 jobs in my life and nearly every single one has the same (all office ) . fake lying managers who say and do whatever it takes to make them selves look good to the ones above.

the people you think are friends but backstab you.

the promises

so now i do the minimum it takes and leave without a second thought. 10 ish years of doing this and i regret nothing (so far)

[Steve H]

Mirinjawbro said:

never have, never will.

i learned 10-15 years ago about putting in all the sucking up and extra time and effort to get nothing. even if you do and you get the maybe 5-10k payrise not like the extra 400 a month take home changes much.

ive had 35-40 jobs in my life and nearly every single one has the same (all office ) . fake lying managers who say and do whatever it takes to make them selves look good to the ones above.

the people you think are friends but backstab you.

the promises

so now i do the minimum it takes and leave without a second thought. 10 ish years of doing this and i regret nothing (so far)

35-40 jobs and you keep coming across the same issues you say?

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

Steve H said:

Mirinjawbro said:

never have, never will.

i learned 10-15 years ago about putting in all the sucking up and extra time and effort to get nothing. even if you do and you get the maybe 5-10k payrise not like the extra 400 a month take home changes much.

ive had 35-40 jobs in my life and nearly every single one has the same (all office ) . fake lying managers who say and do whatever it takes to make them selves look good to the ones above.

the people you think are friends but backstab you.

the promises

so now i do the minimum it takes and leave without a second thought. 10 ish years of doing this and i regret nothing (so far)

35-40 jobs and you keep coming across the same issues you say?

Indeed, it is almost like there is some other common denominator...... wonder what it could be?

OP - please don't listen to this "advice" - it may work for Mirinjawbro but out in the real world where people do want to get on and perhaps have a career and think that an extra £400 a month might be useful, there is much better advice. Have the conversation and discuss the salary. Preferably get something in writing if it is deferred, as people have said above.

Alternatively you can be a bit of a "work to rule, do the minimum" grumpy type of guy and then have to change jobs every year, at least you will get to meet lots of people.