can I negotiate my salary after I already started working
June 29, 2015 8:44 AM Subscribe
I started a new job and never even thought to negotiate a higher salary. Now that I've started it seems like I really should have countered their offer.
Being super green it honestly never even crossed my mind to negotiate for a higher salary. It's my first salaried position but it's relatively specialized (design related) and I'm working in the commercial industry. I never signed a contract or anything like that but I've already been working for two weeks.
It's an open secret in the office that my predecessors quit because of the demanding nature of the position. Furthermore I happen to know another employee hired at the same time countered successfully (although he did have a salary history to his advantage).
I now know you should always negotiate when you receive an offer (if the pay seems low) but I haven't found any information or anecdotes about renegotiating after you've already started. Probably because it's a bad idea I guess.
Being super green it honestly never even crossed my mind to negotiate for a higher salary. It's my first salaried position but it's relatively specialized (design related) and I'm working in the commercial industry. I never signed a contract or anything like that but I've already been working for two weeks.
It's an open secret in the office that my predecessors quit because of the demanding nature of the position. Furthermore I happen to know another employee hired at the same time countered successfully (although he did have a salary history to his advantage).
I now know you should always negotiate when you receive an offer (if the pay seems low) but I haven't found any information or anecdotes about renegotiating after you've already started. Probably because it's a bad idea I guess.
Best answer: Yeah, that horse is already out of the barn.
I'll add a little bit to what TPS already mentioned: Keep copious records of what you do, what you have accomplished, how you have made the place better, how you have amazing metrics, etc and negotiate at your first performance review. Hint: You need to come to the table with two tangibles: What you have done (back it up with numbers) and the new salary you desire (also back this up with research and fact finding, don't grab a number out of thin air).
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 8:50 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'll add a little bit to what TPS already mentioned: Keep copious records of what you do, what you have accomplished, how you have made the place better, how you have amazing metrics, etc and negotiate at your first performance review. Hint: You need to come to the table with two tangibles: What you have done (back it up with numbers) and the new salary you desire (also back this up with research and fact finding, don't grab a number out of thin air).
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 8:50 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: you should always negotiate when you receive an offer (if the pay seems low)
change that to "you should ALWAYS negotiate when you receive an offer" regardless of the pay. You have nothing to lose. Even if they won't budge on salary, there is often room to negotiate on relocation expenses, benefits, etc. The worst they can say is no.
I've hired many people and I always offer less than what I'm willing to pay so that I have room to negotiate if needed. Always shocks me that the majority of people who accept the offer do not make any attempt to negotiate, but works out great for me because I end up saving money. And it's probably because I mostly hire women, sad to say.
As for the direct answer to your question, I agree with the commenters above. If you've just agreed to their offer as satisfactory, you have no leverage to negotiate again unless you are looking for another job already, which likely wouldn't reflect well on you to your new employer.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:54 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
change that to "you should ALWAYS negotiate when you receive an offer" regardless of the pay. You have nothing to lose. Even if they won't budge on salary, there is often room to negotiate on relocation expenses, benefits, etc. The worst they can say is no.
I've hired many people and I always offer less than what I'm willing to pay so that I have room to negotiate if needed. Always shocks me that the majority of people who accept the offer do not make any attempt to negotiate, but works out great for me because I end up saving money. And it's probably because I mostly hire women, sad to say.
As for the direct answer to your question, I agree with the commenters above. If you've just agreed to their offer as satisfactory, you have no leverage to negotiate again unless you are looking for another job already, which likely wouldn't reflect well on you to your new employer.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 8:54 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
The worst they can say is no.
Actually, the worst they can say is "we rescind the offer." I've actually heard of this happening, with the hiring manager accusing the candidate of being "greedy" and "not a team player."
Of course, if this happens, it means you dodged a bullet. So, yeah, negotiate.
posted by kindall at 9:12 AM on June 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
Actually, the worst they can say is "we rescind the offer." I've actually heard of this happening, with the hiring manager accusing the candidate of being "greedy" and "not a team player."
Of course, if this happens, it means you dodged a bullet. So, yeah, negotiate.
posted by kindall at 9:12 AM on June 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I wouldn't go back after two weeks unless you've got another offer on hand (or even better, on paper.) Otherwise, work extraordinarily hard, keep your ears and eyes open for other opportunities, and think about role-playing negotiation with a trusted pal.
Now, I'm someone who would bargain at the post-office, if I thought it would work, and I believe that there's always wiggle-room for more money, more time off, a higher rate for kit rental (equipment that you bring to the gig), mileage, free coffee, free parking and so on. But it has to happen before you show up, because the employer has to think that they'll lose you. Once your butt is in the chair, they don't care as much.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:24 AM on June 29, 2015
Now, I'm someone who would bargain at the post-office, if I thought it would work, and I believe that there's always wiggle-room for more money, more time off, a higher rate for kit rental (equipment that you bring to the gig), mileage, free coffee, free parking and so on. But it has to happen before you show up, because the employer has to think that they'll lose you. Once your butt is in the chair, they don't care as much.
posted by Ideefixe at 9:24 AM on June 29, 2015
"I never signed a contract or anything like that but I've already been working for two weeks."
Why are you working without a contract??
posted by seawallrunner at 9:59 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why are you working without a contract??
posted by seawallrunner at 9:59 AM on June 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why are you working without a contract??
Contracts are very uncommon in the US business/salaried world. It is not weird or unusual or a bad sign or anything else to work without a contract.
posted by brainmouse at 10:13 AM on June 29, 2015 [9 favorites]
Contracts are very uncommon in the US business/salaried world. It is not weird or unusual or a bad sign or anything else to work without a contract.
posted by brainmouse at 10:13 AM on June 29, 2015 [9 favorites]
If I'd hired someone at an agreed upon salary, and they came back afterwards and asked for more money, I wouldn't even have the conversation with them, I'd find someone else for the role. If your job changes substantially or it's yearly-review time (or whatever schedule the company uses) then go for it, otherwise let it go.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:06 AM on June 29, 2015
posted by blue_beetle at 11:06 AM on June 29, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:46 AM on June 29, 2015 [9 favorites]