Salary argument w/ CFO

[child of wonder]

Something else to consider:

Try to negotiate IT training into your compensation package. For example, tell the CFO you'd like to virtualize servers (if you aren't already) to lower costs and management overhead but you need training in order to do it.

A VMware class is about $3,500 and you can only get the VCP if you take a class. If he'll send you to class, get your VCP. Then you'll suddenly have a lot more job opportunities and can leave for a higher salary if you want to.

 

[airdata]

Congrats on the promotion.



I think the people saying to wait for them to give an offer are probably right.

If you're moving into the head position, I don't see what the problem could be w\ paying you what they were paying your predecessor.

my 2 cents :

70k + 40k = 110k

Ask for 80k and 30k allowance to hire a subordinate to do your bidding.

 

[Scotteq]

Hedge your bets: Keep in contact with your former boss, in case he come through. Say nothing to anyone at your current place of employment. *And* work with your current CFO to get yourself a good deal, but take the position he's offering.

 

[Zargon]

And the average unemployment rate nation wide is close to 9%. Now is not the time to be demanding anything.

Take what they give offer him with some negotiation, then go back 3 - 4 months and discuss things further.

3 - 4 months after the takes the position, if he can say he has improved certain things, then that might give him more leverage room.

You ever hire and transition in a new IT guy?

total effing PITA. takes months, atleast. no company really 'looks forward' to that, not to mention hiring can take months, even with unemployment rates where they are. I spent 4 months looking for a guy to fill this kind of spot, most of the people IMO sucked balls. it takes a real good guy to handle being part of that small of a team

 

[FDF12389]

Does your CFO know that you know what your boss was making?

 

[KentState]

The salary for both jobs seems very low. My advice is to take what they give you, gain some experience and move on in a couple years. All system admins that I know are in the $75-90k range, help desk out of college is typically around $40-50k and directors are in the $120k+ range.

 

[Saint Nick]

lmao, if you really are only a two man IT support group, and one leaves, you're the main man. if the company is smart, they'll do what it takes to keep you on.

 

[Saint Nick]

The salary for both jobs seems very low. My advice is to take what they give you, gain some experience and move on in a couple years. All system admins that I know are in the $75-90k range, help desk out of college is typically around $40-50k and directors are in the $120k+ range.

Wow, maybe for corporate business, and in your area. I know that a fortune 200 transportation company in Omaha hires their help desk people on around $33k. You don't break $45k until you're an analyst, and you're at maybe $55 if you're a programmer.

Small companies aren't going to shell out $40k for a help desk job...they'll maybe hire on a few help desk and pay them $17/hr part time.

 

[Scotteq]

lmao, if you really are only a two man IT support group, and one leaves, you're the main man. if the company is smart, they'll do what it takes to keep you on.

Either that, or they'll contract out to a 3rd party. :hmm: Depends on the environment, and in this case we don't have enough information about that to say one way or another.

He does indeed have a lever, but it's best to not get carried away.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Depends on what exactly he's doing. How large is the company? What exactly is he responsible for? How long have you been with the company? What's your company's revenue look like? What city are you in? How long have you been doing your job (regardless of company)?

Taking Salary.com as an example, the median for an "IT Director" is $161k. $106k for a manager and $91k for a mid-level supervisor. So, it all depends really on your environment.

The position the OP is talking about is hardly a true "IT Director" position. Sure, they may call it that, but it is a two-man department. The IT Director position you mention above is likely one that has several managers reporting to it.

 

[Railgun]

Agreed. But as it was suggested to check out some salary sites, I wanted to bring the title thing into perspective.

It sounds like it's a pretty small operation, which naturally has to be taken into consideration, but also wanted to reel in any false hopes based on title and workload alone. Yeah, he may be on call 24/7, but what industry is he in? IT in medical? Financial? A school? 24/7 may not really mean anything when the average off-hour need for support is small.

Also wanted to bring into perspective that at his current $40k salary, the hope for a 50% increase is small. Where I would hope that he got it, I don't think he should count on it. Again, depending on all the other questions I've brought up, I'd be willing to bet that he got at most 35%.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Salary "argument" with CFO not found. Quite the opposite in fact if he said he'd take care of you, "arrangement" or "negotiation" might've been the better word here. Misleading title is misleading.

 

[SunnyD]

Are you prepared to walk out on the job? If not, you're going to take what they offer you.

 

[jmolayal]

Are you prepared to walk out on the job? If not, you're going to take what they offer you.

So very true. I heard a great saying once, and I like to keep it in mind when walking into any negotiation, be it house, car, or salary.

The key to winning any negotiation is the ability to walk away.

- Jaison

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Congrats on the promotion.



I think the people saying to wait for them to give an offer are probably right.

If you're moving into the head position, I don't see what the problem could be w\ paying you what they were paying your predecessor.

my 2 cents :

70k + 40k = 110k

Ask for 80k and 30k allowance to hire a subordinate to do your bidding.

This sounds like the best possible scenario for you. You're THE IT guy. Even if you negotiate vacations and time off, you're still going to be attached to your phone the entire time on vacation. Better to promote you, then hire another guy. Perhaps you can negotiate for $65k, a $35k replacement for you and then press for stock options. Shows you want to save the company money and shows an interest in the company as well.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

So very true. I heard a great saying once, and I like to keep it in mind when walking into any negotiation, be it house, car, or salary.

The key to winning any negotiation is the ability to walk away.

- Jaison

It's more important that the other side thinks you have the ability to walk away.

 

[Corporate Thug]

And the average unemployment rate nation wide is close to 9%. Now is not the time to be demanding anything.

Take what they give offer him with some negotiation, then go back 3 - 4 months and discuss things further.

3 - 4 months after the takes the position, if he can say he has improved certain things, then that might give him more leverage room.

Disagree. If you are really good a what you do, the Company will pay.

 

[classy]

I think a lot this depends on how large a company this is. If they other guy left because of money then obviously money is sensitive issue for the company at this time.

 

[Paladin3]

I've seen a lot of senior grunts elevated to manager/director when the boss quits. They often have no mentors or senior leadership who really understand what their job entails, and eventually crash and burn due to lack of support.

Beyond negotiating salary, which I'm sure you already know what kind of money you want and what you will accept, make sure you have a comprehensive plan for getting you up to speed as director and filling your old position.

 

[Regs]

The CFO will know every option at his disposal before you enter his door which will include long term goals for your "department".

Let him throw out the number. It depends highly on what type of business it is and what kind of market it is in. Non profit org's or private enterprises will likely throw you a huge raise, but in more competitive industries like pharmaceuticals and financial services, you will be lucky to see a 10% raise.

 

[aceO07]

Why did your old boss leave? If it was due to money, you'll have a hard time. I think your boss gave you some valuable information by telling his salary and suggesting the least you should take.

If you see good growth potential (skills or money) in the job, then be willing to accept a bit less for now. Be prepared to be proactive and take control. You'll need to be able to do everything your boss did.

Also do some job hunting. There may be other opportunities that are better and give you more room to grow.

 

[ultimatebob]

And the average unemployment rate nation wide is close to 9%. Now is not the time to be demanding anything.

Employers like people who think like you... since they can hire them for $20K under the medium income for their position and they'll accept it because they're paranoid about losing their job.

Best of all... more money for executive bonuses later!

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by Texashiker
And the average unemployment rate nation wide is close to 9%. Now is not the time to be demanding anything.

Take what they give offer him with some negotiation, then go back 3 - 4 months and discuss things further.

3 - 4 months after the takes the position, if he can say he has improved certain things, then that might give him more leverage room.

Disagree.

If you are really good a what you do, the Company will pay.

Not true

 

[seepy83]

I've seen a lot of senior grunts elevated to manager/director when the boss quits. They often have no mentors or senior leadership who really understand what their job entails, and eventually crash and burn due to lack of support.

Not to derail the thread, but I'm feeling the pain of this scenario...especially is a smaller (less than 75 employee) organization. We were a 3 person IT dept, the boss got canned, I (with only a couple years fulltime experience out of College) take over and I get compensated very generously (in both salary and benefits). I'm holding my own, and I'm regularly told that what I have done impresses our directors and trustees, but it's incredibly difficult to steer the IT direction of an organization when the rest of the Managers/Directors are not tech-savvy, and you have practically no staff to support you. If I wasn't being compensated so well, I would probably be gone already, because burnout happens quickly without support around you.

 

[alkemyst]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2fDJPS6aw&NR=1