Being unhappy with a pay rise

[AyBee]

Situation: Been in my job (permanently) for 18 months having previously been an intern and then a temp (3+9 months). When I joined, I was told by the recruitment guy that market for my experience was £Xk. I was offered significantly less than that but took it anyway because I wanted the job and assumed that the rec guy was probably overestimating anyway. Two pay rises since I joined and I'm still not making £Xk which I'm not too pleased about, especially when I'm being told about other jobs in the market at my experience level which are significantly higher than £Xk. Before I start looking elsewhere, I'd like my feelings to be known but I'm not sure how best to approach the situation with my boss so would be grateful for any advice.

Thanks,
AyBee

[dazp]

Have you asked for a pay rise to what the other jobs have been advertised for?
It is the old saying of if you don't ask you don't get.
I have never been given a pay rise I was really happy with unless it was one I had asked for.

[Jonnas]

Just sit down with your boss and tell him what you told us in an unemotional and non-threatening way.

If this doesn't realise anything, then its time to move on.

I have just done exactly that. My boss then offered me what I was asking for in the first place but I had already made up my mind to leave.

I will say however, do your own research on slaries before you believe what a recruitment consultant tells you. It is in his interests for you to leave if he places you and maybe he will also get to place your replacement.

Good luck....

[Terminator X]

Imho simply take it as a lesson learnt. People will tell you almost anything to get you signed on the dotted line ... if it's not written down (a) don't rely on it (b) forever wonder why they're happy for you to have it albeit they don't want to put it in writing

TX.

[AyBee]

Terminator X said:

Imho simply take it as a lesson learnt. People will tell you almost anything to get you signed on the dotted line ... if it's not written down (a) don't rely on it (b) forever wonder why they're happy for you to have it albeit they don't want to put it in writing

TX.

The problem isn't with what X was on the day I signed, I took what the rec guy had to say with a pinch of salt and decided I was better off signing than not. My problem is that I'm still not at X 18 months later and I'm certain that the market for my skills is now above X, possibly by as much as £10k!

[MikeHull]

What's a pay rise?

[blindswelledrat]

Its pretty straightforward.
Find other jobs advertised at market rate.
If that rate is significantly higher then just have an adult conversation about it.
I would suggest you appear to be putting a bit too much store into the Recruitment COnsultants market rate conversation as if the market rate was significantly higher than you were offered, then he should have had jobs that were paying that rather than sending you to one which wasn't, which you accepted.

[AyBee]

I was already doing the job (intern, then temp), so it wasn't quite as straight forward as that. I was interested in getting a permanent position, not trying to get as much money as I can in the market. The company is one of the best at what we do, I enjoyed working with the people I was working with and the learning/development was good so the money wasn't a huge factor. I'm not overly bothered about being on top whack, but I doubt the rec guy would get it 18 months wrong. Point noted though!

[ewenm]

Forget about the recruitment consultant. Do your own research on job websites for your industry and make your own judgement about the market rate for your role and experience. If you still feel underpaid, talk to your manager about it with the evidence of your research. Make sure you have a figure in mind you'd be happy with. Be prepared to negotiate or to have to decide whether to start applying for other jobs.

To reiterate: Forget about the recruitment consultant.

[BMWBen]

It's quite simple. Apply for one of those jobs and get an offer. Now you are in control.

[Dominicc01]

AyBee said:

The company is one of the best at what we do, I enjoyed working with the people I was working with and the learning/development was good so the money wasn't a huge factor.

By all means ask for a pay-rise, but ^ this is possibly the reason why you're not paid more - people are sufficiently happy to work for the company as best in class, that they value the experience over a higher salary. I have recently been looking at roles, and it tends to be that the biggest and best companies pay 10-15% less than the mid-tier and smaller companies for the same role.

[Sir Bagalot]

Jonnas said:

Just sit down with your boss and tell him what you told us in an unemotional and non-threatening way.

And justify it rather than simply picking figures out of thin air.

I always had a policy of only asking for a pay rise the once. If they didn't provide then I took it as a signal to start looking.

[MitchT]

I'm a graphic designer... being paid 40% less than the amount my graphic design GCSE teacher told me graphic designers got paid 23 years ago. People lie.

[AyBee]

MitchT said:

I'm a graphic designer... being paid 40% less than the amount my graphic design GCSE teacher told me graphic designers got paid 23 years ago. People lie.

They do - the rec guy was an example to use but I also know people in the same industry with more experience than I have who have told me what they were being paid at my level of experience. I'm not about to have a conversation with my boss without the knowledge to back it up.

[BMWBen]

Sir Bagalot said:

Jonnas said:

Just sit down with your boss and tell him what you told us in an unemotional and non-threatening way.

And justify it rather than simply picking figures out of thin air.

I always had a policy of only asking for a pay rise the once. If they didn't provide then I took it as a signal to start looking.

Also if you ask for it, don't get it, and then don't leave... they know they're paying you enough.

[MarshPhantom]

I asked my boss for a pay rise and was told there was no extra money available, yet when I handed my notice in to go to another job they offered me more money. I still left.

[Hoofy]

BMWBen said:

It's quite simple. Apply for one of those jobs and get an offer. Now you are in control.

[Hoofy]

MarshPhantom said:

I asked my boss for a pay rise and was told there was no extra money available, yet when I handed my notice in to go to another job they offered me more money. I still left.

Tell me you're much happier at your new place.

[MarshPhantom]

Hoofy said:

MarshPhantom said:

I asked my boss for a pay rise and was told there was no extra money available, yet when I handed my notice in to go to another job they offered me more money. I still left.

Tell me you're much happier at your new place.

Yes, I should have left the old place ages ago.

[MikeHull]

I actually left a higher paid job to take a slightly lower paid job. Much happier in the lower paid job, and with over time, I'm actually earning more.