I would like your suggestions on renegotiating my salary.
I need your opinion on something. About seven months ago I started this great new job. The pay scale was large, a $44,000 difference to be exact, from the lowest on the pay scale to the highest salary range. They hired me. They offered me the lowest salary on that pay scale. This is probably due to the fact that they knew what I was getting paid at my last job. I tried to negotiate the salary. Unfortunately, they would not negotiate and offered me the lowest salary on that pay scale. I took the job because I wanted to work full time again. This is a government agency. I figured there would be more job security so I took it.
I found out I am getting grossly underpaid for someone with my job title. All the other employers with my job title are making six figures. In addition, my coworkers are all making $20,000 to $40,000 more than me. They do not have the same job title.
I bring much more software skills then they have to the job. In fact, I am teaching them how to use much of the software. In addition to my 20 years experience using these software applications, I am taking on the job duties that they have been doing during their years at this establishment.
I talked to someone off the record about my concern about my low pay. This person agreed with me. They could not understand why I was being given such a low ball salary figure. In fact, they suggested I bring it up to my superior after being at the job for 6 months. I did. My supervisor agreed that my pay was very low. In fact, this person worried that I would not accept the job offer. This person said since my first job review was coming up, that I he would see what he could do. I revising my resume with the current job specs at this establishment. So this is good news.
What would you do if you were in my shoes? If I do get a raise, I worry it will not be within the range I should be getting with my years of experience and my skills I bring to the organization. I should be getting paid just as much, if not more than the others because I bring a host of skills that they donât have. However, they have been there longer. But I know for a fact that others who have started last year at this establishments are making 30 to 40K more than I am.
I think that you should be looking for another job, if all that you have said is true. Almost NO company will give you the kind of raise youâre looking for / need internally. They might hire a person from outside at the prices youâre looking for, but companies rarely increase peopleâs salaries internally by that much, in my experience at least.
I canât afford to look for a new job at this point in my life. Iâm an older worker and there is major job discrimination out there. At least this job offers me job security and some sort of retirement plan. Since I am a top performer, and I am, really hope they will do what is right.
That may be exactly what youâre looking at, why they offered you lower pay to start with. Age discrimination is huge - workers that are âtoo oldâ or âtoo youngâ can be dismissed out of hand, or offered lower salaries because the employer knows theyâre too old to find better, or in the latter case, theyâre too young and inexperienced to know better.
That is a terrible way for companies to do business, but they do it. Same as any other kind of discrimination. And itâs so hard to prove or fight itâŚ
Hi Ryan,
I am working at a City job. I am full time. However, I am not protected under a union. Therefore, Iâm not considered âpermanent.â I canât recall the exact terminology they for the type of employee I am. Kind of tired right now. I am not a contractor. They like me so they want me to apply for some tests. This way I will be permanent and under a union. So it looks like they want to keep me. I am bring really underpaid for the skills I bring with me and my title.
I know the feeling for Iâm 52 and when I go on job interviews I try to have a positive attitude, but about a quarter way into the interview I can sense the person is just going through the motions. One person I almost wanted to reach across the table and punch her when she said âWhy donât you look at working an unpaid intern job for a year, for while you have the knowledge you donât have the âexperienceââ. Iâve changed job fields and the old job field is a dying art. I knew she wanted to say that most companies donât want to take time training and/or explaining the job to an older employee. However, I kept my composure and thought to myself, my last job I worked almost 20 years was only late to work one time during that time, worked overtime when it was required (once 7 days a week for a month or two for we were extremely busy) and got along with everyone. I wasnât my fault when the company âdownsizedâ that I lost my job. Sorry for my little rant.
My advice is you have a foot in the door at a company and that is a start. I would wait a year when review time comes along see how much of a raise you can get, but in the meantime put out resumes to other companies. It doesnât hurt to do so and some companies might say âHey hereâs a guy whoâs trying to better himselfâ.
I would start looking for new job. Itâs sad but itâs quite rare to find a company who would give decent raise to the top performers. As of right now, Iâm getting what Iâm worth and that was done by switching companies many times in my career. Iâd say, my average length was 18 months. A lot of people say Iâm a ârisk flightâ due to how frequently I change my job but after about 5 companies or so Iâve gained enough network w/ past peers that I never do any interview w/ random company anymore. If you do a great job and youâve helped people in the past then theyâll remember you. Still, job switch does kind of suck but at the end of the tunnel it was always worth it and best way to learn new experience.
Hi there! I was able to read this thread and fortunately I came across with some effective ways to ask for a raise in the past. Hope this will helpâŚ
If possible, arrange a meeting with your boss at a casual place (say, a coffee shop). The reason for this is to âlevel out the playing fieldâ since the office is where your boss feels heâs in controlâŚ
Dress up properly (in office attire, coâz you mean business) and be confident. Yes asking for a raise can be nervewrecking, but you just have to pull it off for your own sake.
Show up the location at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. When your boss arrives, it is important that you make him comfortable right away.
Get to the point right away, but be sure not to get your boss âoff the hookâ by starting out with statements like: Thank you for coming, I know that you already know why were here and you already said ânowâs not the right timeâ⌠Instead, set the tone by asking your boss to be REASONABLE so youâd be able to gain more control of the conversation without giving the impression that you are being threatening. This sets up a bar for his decisions without making him feel that you are asking too much.
Most of the time, employers will say âtimes are tough right nowâ or something similar. If this happens, mention something that will impressed your boss and make him think that you are more than aware of the situation like, âI do understand the situation sir, but the Consumer Price Index of the company has increased to 3% this year aloneâŚâ Basically, try to state something about the company where it is doing good while mentioning (of course, this should be based on statistical facts. So you have to do some research) to impress him. The goal is to impress him because are more than aware of the companyâs progress than what he expects.
When you get to the point where heâs going to ask you âSo how much are you looking for?â, donât forget to mention âSurely by now you know that I have proven my worth to the company. So Iâll be asking forâŚâ. âHaggleâ for the raise increase if you need to as long as it is reasonable.
Donât accept something like âIâll see what I can doâŚâ from your boss. Your goal is to make him make a commitment before ending the conversation or agree to a specific time/day where he can reach a decision.
If all else fails, ask him this question: âWhat do you think Iâm worth?â. By asking your boss to put a value on you, this also enforces him to commit on something. Moreover, this puts him at a position where he have to justify the fact as to why you donât deserve a raise. If you get a good answer from this question, then all you need to do is wait and your request will be granted in no timeâŚ
Thanks for your responses. I appreciate it.
There simply is no justification for the GROSS low pay I am getting. They took advantage of my situation. I should not have caved in.
Donât let Envy turn into bitterness and resentment, the unhappiness will eat you up and drain you.
Try to look at it as though you were unaware of âothersâ.
Are you earning enough and would you be satisfied if you didnât âknowâ?
It isnât so much that you should try to eliminate all of the emotional energy.
It is very much that you should do your best to channel that energy into taking positive steps.
For example, Go look for and apply for other work and be bold asking for salary requirements. Nothing to lose, yet possible gain.
If you do get accepted for hire, you can then approach your current supervisor, ask to be compensated at that same level and move on if need be.
Also, donât focus on money alone, consider benefits, flexible work hours etc.
I would move on regardless of whether your c urrent employer would match the level. It would create an awkward situation where they know you are only there for money and the next time you want more money, you can just go out in the job market and look and try and get another match.
I did what Mitt did; I looked in the job market, gothired, but didnât give my company the chance to match. They tried, because my contracting place was furious I was leaving due to low wages (they lost the contract shortly after since they have a history of this). The fact I had a job while looking really made me bold with my salary. The recruiter initially offered me x, and I fought back and in the end, my next job (my current job) is over double what I was making at my previous job.
All in all, Mitt gave great advice, but I do disagree with the recommendation that you should negotiate with them if you do get an offer of employment. They had their chance to up the wage. They are paying you what they want to pay you. If they thought you were worth more, they should up it themselves instead of being forced to because you may leave otherwise.
Even my supervisor admitted I was getting underpaid. In my mind the salary I am getting is barely a livable wage. However, others would disagree with me. They are going to see what they can do when I am up for review. All salaries are public knowledge due to the type of job I have. Like I said, I took the position out of real need, because I wanted and needed a full time job that was secure. I should not have caved when when they would NOT negotiate my salary with me.
I took the job because I wanted to work full time again. This is a government agency. I figured there would be more job security so I took it.
I am full time. However, I am not protected under a union. Therefore, Iâm not considered âpermanent.â I canât recall the exact terminology they for the type of employee I am. Kind of tired right now. 
I am not a contractor. They like me so they want me to apply for some tests. This way I will be permanent and under a union. So it looks like they want to keep me. I am bring really underpaid for the skills I bring with me and my title.