Salary tips : Please help, big salary question

I am going on an interview next week. It is for an administrative assistant position in a healthcare central administration. I have 7 years of administrative background. Currently, I am an accounts payable clerk at my current job....

Question is...I would like to ask for 40K a year if offered or asked what salary range I am seeking. Right now, I make 10,000 less in my current job.

Is this too high of a jump?
And what is a good way to word this?

Also, if anyone that knows anyone that has worked for Genesis Healthcare, can you tell me how you or they felt about it there?

Thanks

Hard to answer your question without knowing more information...

Where is the job located geographically, as that will impact salary. Does this specific position call for someone with your number of years of experience, or a lower or higher level? Have you held the specific title of "administrative assistant" before? And, finally, are you basing your salary expectations on what you "want" or on what you have seen similar positions advertised for in your area?

The job is located in Kennett Square, PA. I looked up on monster salary, 25% percentile would be 30K, median is 35K, and 75% percintile is 39K. I am basing my salary on what I would like, experience, and the position is in another state.

Yes, I have had the title of administrative assistant in my past position and secretary.

It seems some of the work is highly confidential and in depth. If this helps, this is what the position actually is

The Administrative Assistant performssecretarial and administrative work of a responsible nature. Thisposition handles confidential information with a high degree ofdescretion. A variety of assignments, some considerable complexity, areinvolved requiring familiarity with the operating details of the homeand regional offices and the ability to interpret and applydepartmental procedures.

Performs Related Duties:
1. TheAdministrative Assistant interacts with corporate and nursing centerstaff on a variety of professional levels. HeShe carries out othertasks as requested in situations where addiational support may berequired.

Qualifications:

Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

1.Types reports, memos, letters from rough draft on a personal computerdemonstrating and intermediate degree of proficiency in word processingand spreadsheet applications. May also type information from machinerecorders. This typing often involves matters of a confidential andtechnical nature.

2. Makes arrangements for the Vice Presidentandor regional personnel for travel, conferences, appointments, andmeeting; gives information in person and by telephone.

3. Prepares and maintains files of correspondence, reports and related matters.

4. Performs the duties of Personnel and Benefits Administrator for hisher region.

5. Performs assigned duties for Vice President andor other management of Genesis ElderCare Rehabilitation Services.

6. Assists in compiling and distributing all monthly operations reports.

7. Maintains facility and consultant contracts and consultant files.

8. Perform other related duties as requested.

Specific EducationalVocational Requirements:

1. A High school diploma in secretarial science or related experience required for this position.

Job Skills:

1. Must be an effective communicator with excellent verbal and written skills.

2. Must have well developed organizational skills.

3. Must be able to exercise independent judgement within general guidelines.

4. Must posses the ability to positively interact with other employees and the general public.

5.Must have an in-depth knowledge of modern office practices, excellenttyping skills, intermediate degree of proficiency in word processingand spreadsheet applications, knowledge of English, spelling and workusage.

6. Must have the ability to type 65-75 wpm.

Not sure if this will help, but here are a couple of things:

The online salary sites are high--very often very high. Some people here say they're as much as 25% to 30% higher than reality; my experience is that they're maybe 15% to 25% on the high side. If the site is saying that $39k is the high end, then I think your expectations of $40k are too high.

I live in PA, but not in Kennett Square, and have worked as an admin assistant, but not for a number of years. The COL out there is quite a bit higher than here, but salaries in that area are not proportionally higher--they are higher, but not by the same percentage as the COL. (My husband has looked at jobs in that area, and in his field, they don't pay much more than where we live, and our COL here is so much lower....)

Just as a rough guess, I would say that the $35k figure would be more in line with what you could expect. Of course, this being in a health-related field, it may pay more, perhaps up to the $39k. But I wouldn't expect a salary that is outside of the range on a site where, it is generally thought, the ranges are overstated.

If you are asked for your requirement, I would say, if I were you, $35k to $40k per year. I believe that if you come in at $40k, you may price yourself out of the market.

As an aside, although Kennett Square itself is very busy with lots of traffic, there is some very nice country around it. West Chester, in particular, is a wonderful place to live, if you can afford housing there.

Hope this helps a bit!

Thank you for all your insight. I will update you how it went on Tuesday. I haven't even gone on the interview but sometimes I just think way ahead LOL I will do like you say and give them a range. If it's the lower end if they offer, I probably would turn it down since being I work at a job closer to home with less duties. I reside in Delaware. But hopefully everything will work out because I wouuld really love to make the movie into healthcare side.

In addition to what's been written, I think it's important for you to propose a salary range that's realistic for you. I would not, in other words, propose a range that, at the low end, you know you'll decline if that's the amount offered. The low end of your anticipated salary range has to be an amount that you'd be pleased to accept. The high end of your range should be one that you'd be tickled to accept. Besides, it could make you look silly to say that your anticipated salary range is negotiable within the $35K to $40K range and for them to offer you $35K - which you said was in your range - and then turn it down! But you also have to be realistic about the level of income your require and the likelihood of being offered at least that much or more.

Paul W. Barada

The Negotiation Expert

Career Tips

Please help, big salary question