I am faced with a dilemma and hope that some of you might be able to throw out ideas that will help me solve it.
I am coming up on my annual review. After having done some research on what the average salary in my field in this town is, I am severely underpaid. In order to be even within the average 25% - 75% of folks in my field I would need to get a pay raise between 11K (low end) and 21K (high end).
I know that considering the current state of the economy, the tons of unemployed people we have and my boss' remarks that "people should be glad they have a job" it will be a very tough negotiation.
I love my job. I really like the people I work with and I know I can and do contribute a great deal to the success of the firm.
I know that if I say to my boss I would like a 15K raise he will ask me if I am insane. I am trying to think of ways that would benefit both the company and me and still get me the raise I want. But it wont be as obvious to the boss that he is actually giving me the raise.
e.g. I would like for the company to pay for my PMP certifaction.
What are some other "barter" arguments I could come up with?
Thanks so much!
Sometimes "majority" simply means that all the fools are on the same side
Do you have somewhere else to go? Negotiation relies on more than being able to make the case for being underpaid. It also relies on being able to actually carry through on getting a higher salary somewhere else.
Whatever you do, make sure you stress how much you enjoy and appreciate the job.
If you find something evil that wobbles, push it. - Gary North
liberty student: Do you have somewhere else to go? Negotiation relies on more than being able to make the case for being underpaid. It also relies on being able to actually carry through on getting a higher salary somewhere else. Whatever you do, make sure you stress how much you enjoy and appreciate the job.
I think Liberty Student is right. You need a good offer from another organization, ideally a competitor. Then, as LS suggests, explain that you have this offer to your boss but also that you would like to stay and ask what could he do to make it financially viable for you.
I really hate to tell you this since you love your job and the people you work with but if you need 11k to 21k to be within the average salary of your field then most likely you will not get the raise you want from your current employer.
Do not be tempted by free certification to stay. I bet 11k to 21k can pay for that with some money left over for you as well, so I am afraid I have to advise you to look for another job.
However, it cannot hurt to try. But first get an offer from someplace else. I am a master of looking for work (a mastery I hate having) and you have to treat it like a full time job when you are unemployed and a part time job when employed (15 to 20 hours a week). When you get the offer, approach your boss and state the pay you are getting now and the average pay for your profession and what you would like to earn from your job now. Mention that you view your current lower salary as a entry-level salary and thank your employer for the opportunity to get experience in your field with pay ...but now you feel it is time to move to the intermediate salary level of the amount you mentioned earlier. What will happen is one of two things....He will give you the raise or he wont. If you do not get the raise then most likely it is that your job simply cannot afford to pay that kind of salary to you or to anyone.
A day or two later announce your job offer but do not ask for money again. Instead ask your boss how you can help with the transition from you to someone else. A happy ex-employer is still a potential future employer so be as helpful as you can be.
Good luck.
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