Salary Negotiation

[Jbo]

Hey CP:

Looking to a few of the brain trusts that can help with there own experiences.

Background:
Graduated in 2007. Started work in Manufacturing sales, hated it and got out. Salary was based on sales so there were good and bad months. Following leaving that job, I took an entry level job downtown Calgary for a crappy salary to get experience and get my foot in the door.

After a year there, some connections and networking got me to into my current job, and have been here since. I have had good performance reviews and have enjoyed my time here so far.

The issue is that the company I work for compensation is well below the Market Data Point for the industry. I just recieved a promotion for a job I was working towards, and felt that when it came to salary, it was a lowball offer. I now have a meeting to basically negotiate my worth to my manager.

I am prepared to walk away if the offer remains low, but would prefer to stay where I am.

Something as personal as a salary can be a little daunting, and this is the first time post-university I feel I am in a position to argue an increase.

Any advice would be appriciated.

[burn_this_city]

I usually use the lines, I want to buy a home ect and a decent increase would help me cover the ever increasing cost of living.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

The issue is that the company I work for compensation is well below the Market Data Point for the industry. I just recieved a promotion for a job I was working towards, and felt that when it came to salary, it was a lowball offer. I now have a meeting to basically negotiate my worth to my manager.

If your previous salary was lower than it should be, chances are, after the promotion, your salary will still be lower than average for your position. You can bargain a bit but I don't think that will get you more than 5%-10%.

[SeeGeeWhy]

If salary is your only point, you're bargaining, not negotiating.

Make up for it with other perks - training, trips, seminars, etc.., additional vacation, whatever.

[VladtheImpaler]

What do you offer the company that makes you valuable? Why should they pay a premium for you instead of hiring a random off the street? Seriously. Think about the answers to those questions, and then present them in a professional way to your manager.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by fotze

Serious? haha.

For starters, take what you eventually get, don't quit on the spot, way easier to get another job while you still have one. Other than that, I have never negotiated as I am crappy at it, I take what I'm given.

Its worked surprisingly well. They believe it until I roll up to work a week later in a new car. Thankfully there's so much turnover in the industry that I end up with a new manager before my next review.

This only really works early in your career. Lately its more merit based.

[Icon]

I've typically been surprised with what I've been given... so other than reminding my boss when our raise period comes up... I haven't negotiated anything.

[Fobulous]

Go find what you are worth on the open market by applying elsewhere...

Get a job offer and if you still want to remain with the company you are with show the offer to your boss and let him know that you want to stay and that you think you deserve as much as the offer that you received was worth. Can't really argue with hard facts.

That way, if you are given the ultimatum to work for what salary they initially offered you, then you can always leave the for the new job.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by darklord700

If your previous salary was lower than it should be, chances are, after the promotion, your salary will still be lower than average for your position. You can bargain a bit but I don't think that will get you more than 5%-10%.

This is my fear. The last thing you want to do is be playing a game of prepetual catch up. If you don't try and make the jump to move up a bit now, you will be behind.

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

If salary is your only point, you're bargaining, not negotiating.

Make up for it with other perks - training, trips, seminars, etc.., additional vacation, whatever.

That is one perk of the job I am in. Lot's of training and lots of travel. Vacation is mandated pretty clearly (big company) so not lots of room to negotiate there. Really salary is the big issue.

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

What do you offer the company that makes you valuable? Why should they pay a premium for you instead of hiring a random off the street? Seriously. Think about the answers to those questions, and then present them in a professional way to your manager.

Good Point. I like to think that 4 years Uni. 4 Years work experience (2 years directly relevant to the job) successful track record. They have also spent money training me, it would cost them more to replace then to give a raise.


All some good tips thanks so far!

[Knut]

Take a poop on the bosses Desk

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I make up for the fact I'm underpaid by stealing office supplies.

Yep...another day, another box of stolen pens.
-- Homer leaves work for the day, "The Last Temptation of Homer"

There's another one where Mr Burns comes over and Homer has to hide all the stationary he's stolen but I coudn't find it. At least I think there is.

[Knut]

Wait... you are not trying to quit.

I would try and find some numbers/projects that can be directly attributed to your performance and present them in a well thought out manner. Make sure you reiterate the desire to stay with the company, but show them the worth that you have to the place.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Fobulous

Go find what you are worth on the open market

Originally Posted by Hesla

Wait... you are not trying to quit.

I would try and find some numbers/projects that can be directly attributed to your performance and present them in a well thought out manner. Make sure you reiterate the desire to stay with the company, but show them the worth that you have to the place.

This and this.

Always best to present things as objectively as possible with as much proof to back up your demands as possible.

I don't know if I'd go as far as applying for another job. You can burn bridges by applying at a place and then rejecting a job you never had any intention of taking.

Ask around though. Find similar jobs in similar sized companies and find their pay rates.

[bomber317]

There are some good Salary negotiating books out there. I would definitely recommend them.

http://www.amazon.ca/Negotiating-You...0501392&sr=8-1

is an example of one, tried getting this one but didn't arrive in time, so I had purchased this one instead

http://www.amazon.ca/Perfect-Phrases...0501392&sr=8-3

[JustAnotherGuy]

I am not sure who you are going to be speaking with but ask them about the salary structure. About the range of salaries for the position you are in. Where you fit within that structure. Ask what you can do to move up in that salary range.

As part of the conversation perhaps you can say you feel you should be higher within that range. Tell them why you feel that way. Don't talk too much. Put the ball in their court and see what he/she says back.

Be confident as you speak but don't be over confident. Turn it into a conversation about the job and the salary scale etc. Makes some comments about how you have enjoyed working there.

Remember you are an asset to the company. You don't have to be beholding to them.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

There's another one where Mr Burns comes over and Homer has to hide all the stationary he's stolen but I coudn't find it. At least I think there is.

You mean the stuff he's borrowed from work.

Homer: Quick, Bart! Hide the stuff I borrowed from work!
Bart: Borrowed?
Homer: All, right, that stuff I stole from work.

And its from Homer vs Lisa and the 8th Commandment episode.

...really wish I could admit I had to look that up. Yikes.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Take a poop on the bosses chest

Fyp

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I am not sure who you are going to be speaking with but ask them about the salary structure. About the range of salaries for the position you are in. Where you fit within that structure. Ask what you can do to move up in that salary range.

As part of the conversation perhaps you can say you feel you should be higher within that range. Tell them why you feel that way. Don't talk too much. Put the ball in their court and see what he/she says back.

Be confident as you speak but don't be over confident. Turn it into a conversation about the job and the salary scale etc. Makes some comments about how you have enjoyed working there.

Remember you are an asset to the company. You don't have to be beholding to them.

Ya I have been looking it up. As the company is so large there is different careers bands/levels and also region pay levels.

The problem is the company uses a median average rather then show a min-max type of thing.

Also, I know that the company is below market-point based on talk with coworkers and other people.

Have to talk in about an hour and trying tobuild a good argument.

Thanks again everyone for the responses so far.

[lazypucker]

There are some good advices given here. I sure could've used them when I was being offered my current job about 4 months ago. But again I just took whatever they give me (which I feel is slightly lower than what my friends and ex-classmates told me). But I needed the job though to pay bills, etc.

Anyways, the question I have is that where you can find the salary lists for comparable jobs online?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by J-bo09

...


The issue is that the company I work for compensation is well below the Market Data Point for the industry. I just recieved a promotion for a job I was working towards, and felt that when it came to salary, it was a lowball offer. I now have a meeting to basically negotiate my worth to my manager.

...

How would someone go about finding out what that was?

I recently asked a friend what a particular position within his company paid, and he came back with "They pay mid-range for the Market Data Point for the field." I didn't pursue it, because I realized the job was a step backwards and that it would conflict with me finishing my last year of University, but it made me curious.