Current Job Posted at Higher Salary
How about this scenario: I am currently making X annually. The employee evaluations are just around the corner and I feel that I am an intergral part of our small but growing department. However, I recently saw the same job (same duties, very similiar title, same position level) posted online with a starting salary of X + 5k. How can I "demand" a new salary of X+5k plus a raise? (Since i SHOULD have been earning X+5k anyway, and my year's performance should merit a basic raise) Thanks! Based on the assumption that the job you saw posted online was with another company and not by the company for which you currently work, there could be a hundred reasons why the salary is $5K higher than yours. It is, after all, that employer who gets to decide what particular jobs are worth to their particular organizations. Frankly, I don' t think you can base a "demand" for a comparable salary on the basis of what some other employer is willing to pay for a similar job. The only valid basis on which you can anticipate an increase in salary is the quality of your own performance with your current employer. Furthermore, I don' t think you' ll have much luck "demanding" another $5K AND a raise on top of that! I think you can point out the accomplishments you' ve achieved, goals you' ve met, responsibilities assumed, initiatives undertaken, money saved or earned for the company, but I honestly don' t think you can base the salary you think you should have or what another employer is paying. If you think the "raise" that' s proposed is too low, you can always ask, politely, if the amount is negotiable and see what happens. If you' re asked what sort of increase you have in mind, I think you can counter with a range by saying something like, "I was anticipating an increase in the X% to Y% range," and see what they say. There is another alternative, however. If all else fails, you could apply for the job you saw online and hope for an interview with the other employer. Asking for a salary increase based on one' s own performance is the way people move up the salary ladder, not by "demanding" a salary comparable to what some other employer is willing to pay - unless you' re willing to switch jobs in hopes of a moving up the salary ladder that way. Finally, if the job posting you saw is with your present employer, let me know and we' ll start over! If this job is posted by your employer, maybe they' re hiring your replacement. ROFLOL! All seriousness aside, just go in and demand the $5K! Demand it be retroactive to the first of the year too! Pound on the desk too. Offer your boss an a$$ whup' in if he doens' t come through.
Paul, as I have mentioned, this my department is growing and unfortunately, it is my current employer posting the identicial job for $5k more. Thus, I feel that a "demand" is not completely out of the question. I believe one such reason for the pay increase is due to how my company has not fielded many candidates for the postiion, thus the more attractive salary. As NewShopper mentioned, I do feel that it should be a retroactive in some sense -- $5k is a significant amount. I have been recruited via email for other simliar positions at bigger companies (Accenture) but my preference would be to stay with the current company. Should I start looking around for other opportunities to create a leverage point for negotiations? Thanks. OK. We' re talking a whole different situation now! I think you need to schedule an appointment with whomever the appropriate person is to talk about the difference in what you' re being paid and what they' re apparently willing to pay someone to do essentially the same job. Before you go to the appointment, compile a list of all your accomplishments, goals met, objectives achieved, initiatives taken - anything that will clearly show you' re not only doing a good job, but a better job than required. I think you have to approach this from a value-added standpoint that will clearly show the contribution you' re making to the cause. I also think you have to express concern about the apparent discrepancy between what you' re currently being paid and salary you saw posted for essentially the same job and ask - politely - how you and the other person - working together - can adjust your salary to more accurately reflect what your contributing to the cause. I would not "demand" that it be retroactive and I would not insist on a raise and a salary adjustment. What you' re interested in, seems to me, is an adjustment in compensation that is reflective not only of your your contribution, but also on what they seem to be willing to pay someone off the street. You' ll be far more successful in this endeavor if you engage the person with whom you meet in a common effort - to two of you - to make the salary adjustment. I also don' t think you want to dangle an offer from another company in front of your present employer - unless you' re fully prepared to accept the other offer - in case you' re told that your salary, for whatever reason, can' t be adjusted and that you' d better take the other job. In other words, don' t make a threat about being willing to leave unless you mean it. Finally, a logical polite approach will always win you more points than being "demanding," no matter how justified you may feel you are in taking that approach. Hope this helps. You said the new position is a "similar" title, not the same title. Although the duties are the same, that may account for the difference. In my (very, very large) company, they recently re-evaluated several job families and switched several of us from one to the other. Although the duties are the same, the salary band is virtually identical, the new family came with several more "perks" than the old one (a higher bonus potential, a bonus at all for my assistant who wasn' t eligible for one before). You also haven' t said how long you' ve been there and what your contribution to the company is. Is that contribution above and beyond what you can expect for anyone else in your spot? Or is it exactly what they' re looking for? Have you been there less than a year? You should be making a case for your own raise based on what YOU bring to the table, not on what someone else might make. The offer that they made you was based on your skills, abilities, education and previous experience. They may be looking for a little more in the next hire, even though you' ve turned out well. So, I would tread gently unless you really do want to be job hunting. Go into your review and discuss your work as Paul said. Talk about your long-term goals with the company and ask your boss what they feel you need to do to get to where ever you see yourself down the road (either salary or title-wise). Make them a partner in your career development, not an adversary.
For my coworker, it is the EXACT same title yet there is the same salary differnce. My supervisors have mentioned that the new hire would be doing the same things as the current employees to help our department do things more efficiently. I have been working there over a year and I have seen others with simliar titles promoted within a year (analyst I to analyst II). I have updated my resume and while I am not actively looking for another position, I will entertain any interest from other employers.
I absolutely understand the need to be tactful but I was wondering if there are any key words that could express my concern. Unfortunately, people cannot be too blunt saying "Hey, I saw this listing for a new hire. I make less than that. Why is that and what can be done about it?" Or can they? I am ignorant of proper salary negtiation lingo. Oh, I don' t think there' s any magic formula for negotiation lingo. It' s more a matter of how one cares to phrase things. You can say stuff like, "I' ve got a concern I' d like to share with you," or "This is a little awkward, but I' d like to inquire about...," or, "Perhaps you can share with me the reason why..." Anything along those lines will be fine, but tone of voice and attitude are also key factors. You need to have this conversation when you' re in a good mood and able to express your concern, however you choose to phrase it, in a non-threatening way. I think you want to sound serious but inquisitive, or sound serious but confused. What you DON' T want to do is sound angry or say something like, "Look, pal, why are you advertising this stupid job with a higher salary than I make, you cheap SOB!" Probably not cool... Before you place your foot in your mouth, why not wait until your review is done. If the money doesn' t come out where you want, it is a perfect time to address it. If it comes out better, you have gotten what you wanted without making a stink about it. | |
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