This is for a friend. I gave him some advice and he's a bit hesitant to take it without finding out how other people in the tech fields deal with this so I thought I'd ask here.
He started a little over a year ago with a small company in Maryland (as an EE). Salary was lower than market but he liked the field and there was talk of bump. Fast forward, no bump and company hits rocky waters. He still has a job but he decided to venture out and look at another field that he likes and looked at before accepting his current position. Its a larger company and a more stable field so he's banking on it being less rocky. In the interview, he was honest about what he makes (I read the other thread, some would argue that it was a mistake - damage done and I don't have a spare time machine).
Last week he got an offer - ~2.4% bump over his current salary. He went to school with me and graduated with a Masters from a top 20 field but since he's switching fields (I think the difference is cosmetic but it will require some time to ramp up). I think the salary is closer to the start for a B.S.E.E. and he has an M.S. My advice to him is to ask for a higher start because it looks bad if he were to switch companies and his salary history is lower than it could be for someone with his education. He will also likely get less in raises if he starts lower.
So my question is, is asking about $3.5k higher than the offer an acceptable counter offer? (would make an 8% bump from his current lower than "market value" salary). From what I've heard, the benefits package is pretty standard.
So keep this in mind - Young guy, smart and planning on working hard to gain more skills and tools (already talking about writing the FE exam next year - which will help him). MS from a top 20 school and then balance that with little over a year of experience (good applicable experience but not in the same field) and different size company in a new field. I know a lot of people here have good experience in their field and would find it easier to ask based on that but its hard for a new professional. Any and all help is appreciated.
Should the request be phrased as a request or a counter offer? I've been helping him sift through Salary.com but there is a wide range being listed there for EEs and his new title is not even in their list of positions.
A much quicker question - who should be the person to contact for the counter offer - the HR rep or the supervisor of the position that he's been offered. I said HR unless they ask him to contact someone else.
He started a little over a year ago with a small company in Maryland (as an EE). Salary was lower than market but he liked the field and there was talk of bump. Fast forward, no bump and company hits rocky waters. He still has a job but he decided to venture out and look at another field that he likes and looked at before accepting his current position. Its a larger company and a more stable field so he's banking on it being less rocky. In the interview, he was honest about what he makes (I read the other thread, some would argue that it was a mistake - damage done and I don't have a spare time machine).
Last week he got an offer - ~2.4% bump over his current salary. He went to school with me and graduated with a Masters from a top 20 field but since he's switching fields (I think the difference is cosmetic but it will require some time to ramp up). I think the salary is closer to the start for a B.S.E.E. and he has an M.S. My advice to him is to ask for a higher start because it looks bad if he were to switch companies and his salary history is lower than it could be for someone with his education. He will also likely get less in raises if he starts lower.
So my question is, is asking about $3.5k higher than the offer an acceptable counter offer? (would make an 8% bump from his current lower than "market value" salary). From what I've heard, the benefits package is pretty standard.
So keep this in mind - Young guy, smart and planning on working hard to gain more skills and tools (already talking about writing the FE exam next year - which will help him). MS from a top 20 school and then balance that with little over a year of experience (good applicable experience but not in the same field) and different size company in a new field. I know a lot of people here have good experience in their field and would find it easier to ask based on that but its hard for a new professional. Any and all help is appreciated.
Should the request be phrased as a request or a counter offer? I've been helping him sift through Salary.com but there is a wide range being listed there for EEs and his new title is not even in their list of positions.
A much quicker question - who should be the person to contact for the counter offer - the HR rep or the supervisor of the position that he's been offered. I said HR unless they ask him to contact someone else.
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