I'd like to do it, but I'd like the money...
November 7, 2018 7:43 AM Subscribe
How do I handle this salary discussion situation? Have you been in this situation? How did it go?
Based on some market research, I'm probably around underpaid around 25%. At the same time, I've been asked to get in a role which is not my first choice, but is still pretty good. I just got told by the client that without me in the role they are not sure what they will do. I'd like to use this as leverage to get to the market rate. Some details insde:
- The client (which we are pretty transparent with) told me today that I'm the key, if I don't decide to take the role, they're not sure if they will take the rest of the team (i.e 6 other people)
- 6 people is roughly 40x is what my preferred raise in terms of revenue to my company
- Originally I had requested a rolloff, but some things changed on the client
- I've been with the company over 7 years, and known as a chill guy that doesn't rock the boat
- I was promoted last year with a meager raise (~5%) but was happy with promotion so didn't anything. But seems like it was inadequate
- I moved to expensive city a couple years ago without any real business reason (we can live anywhere) so I never asked for a salary adjustment. Plus I can live off it.
- One of the reasons for the client wanting me is because I live in expensive city
- I'm in a role that is next to impossible to staff and in a high demand field
- However, I'm terrible interviewer so I don't know how easy for me to get another job, which I think is the only other real leverage outside of this
- I've spoken to some other people and they understand that there is plenty of precedence
- I think there is quite some leeway in salaries, though typically these are only adjusted twice a year
- This is a pretty decent company, our only assets are the people (billing) so we are not just cogs in a wheel
- The client (which we are pretty transparent with) told me today that I'm the key, if I don't decide to take the role, they're not sure if they will take the rest of the team (i.e 6 other people)
- 6 people is roughly 40x is what my preferred raise in terms of revenue to my company
- Originally I had requested a rolloff, but some things changed on the client
- I've been with the company over 7 years, and known as a chill guy that doesn't rock the boat
- I was promoted last year with a meager raise (~5%) but was happy with promotion so didn't anything. But seems like it was inadequate
- I moved to expensive city a couple years ago without any real business reason (we can live anywhere) so I never asked for a salary adjustment. Plus I can live off it.
- One of the reasons for the client wanting me is because I live in expensive city
- I'm in a role that is next to impossible to staff and in a high demand field
- However, I'm terrible interviewer so I don't know how easy for me to get another job, which I think is the only other real leverage outside of this
- I've spoken to some other people and they understand that there is plenty of precedence
- I think there is quite some leeway in salaries, though typically these are only adjusted twice a year
- This is a pretty decent company, our only assets are the people (billing) so we are not just cogs in a wheel
Oh wow, you're in a great position to ask for the raise you want!
I found a ton of helpful info for renegotiating my current salary on this site. (It worked).
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:52 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I found a ton of helpful info for renegotiating my current salary on this site. (It worked).
posted by Juliet Banana at 7:52 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ask A Manager is my golden resource for all things job-related, and she has a ton of guidance on salary negotation, including specific success stories: https://www.askamanager.org/category/salary
You can also check out the comments on any posts that sound good - people often share more personal stories in the comments that I find useful for scripts/wording. Good luck!
posted by jouir at 11:06 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
You can also check out the comments on any posts that sound good - people often share more personal stories in the comments that I find useful for scripts/wording. Good luck!
posted by jouir at 11:06 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
What really matters is whether you're willing to simply not take the offer if they don't pay what you want. Are you prepared to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't accept this position for less than $X," and then actually follow through? If so, then you're in a great position—after all, they can't force you to accept.
Either it's worth it or it's not. Go in knowing what your minimum acceptable pay is for this position, and stick to your guns. You get to decide what your price is.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:30 PM on November 7, 2018
Either it's worth it or it's not. Go in knowing what your minimum acceptable pay is for this position, and stick to your guns. You get to decide what your price is.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:30 PM on November 7, 2018
Best answer: nthing NSTD. You NEED to read this book.
However, I'm terrible interviewer so I don't know how easy for me to get another job, which I think is the only other real leverage outside of this
They don't know this, if they ever did you've been there too long for them to remember. Discard this piece of info as noise.
You're in a prime negotiating position. Go in, tell them that you'd like to COLLABORATE with them on how YOU can help them LAND THIS DEAL (this is a deal, for a team, not just for you). State what you need to be able to that for them, then get them to agree to it.
You can find a brief summary of NSTD here but you really should read the book. The general idea is that if you were negotiating for 4 hostages, you would never split the difference and accept an offer for 2 of them and they kill the other 2. Same thinking applies to any negotiation. There's a whole lot more good tactical stuff in the book - like mirroring. I've been using it in conversations with clients and IT IS JEDI MIND SHIT Ishityounot.
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:05 PM on November 7, 2018
However, I'm terrible interviewer so I don't know how easy for me to get another job, which I think is the only other real leverage outside of this
They don't know this, if they ever did you've been there too long for them to remember. Discard this piece of info as noise.
You're in a prime negotiating position. Go in, tell them that you'd like to COLLABORATE with them on how YOU can help them LAND THIS DEAL (this is a deal, for a team, not just for you). State what you need to be able to that for them, then get them to agree to it.
You can find a brief summary of NSTD here but you really should read the book. The general idea is that if you were negotiating for 4 hostages, you would never split the difference and accept an offer for 2 of them and they kill the other 2. Same thinking applies to any negotiation. There's a whole lot more good tactical stuff in the book - like mirroring. I've been using it in conversations with clients and IT IS JEDI MIND SHIT Ishityounot.
posted by allkindsoftime at 2:05 PM on November 7, 2018
Response by poster: FYI I got a 16% raise, though I had asked for a 20-28%. I probably should have held out, but not good at these things (i have not read this book) and the 16% is above my "i'm looking for new jobs asap" amount.
posted by sandmanwv at 8:53 AM on November 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by sandmanwv at 8:53 AM on November 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Getting most of, but not all, of what you asked for is very par for course. Congratulations!
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:16 AM on November 20, 2018
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:16 AM on November 20, 2018
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This will walk you exactly through what you're going to do to get a raise because you are going to get that raise.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 7:48 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]