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YA Promotion/Salary Thread

rcpratt

rcpratt

Lifer
I know these are a pretty common theme here, but they all seem to be subtly different so I figured I'd throw my situation out there and get some thoughts.

I work for a large, Fortune 500 company. Energy utility. It's the type of place where we get bonuses and raises every single year, but the promotions are probably generally more modest.

I've worked here for nearly six years in a few different organizations. Various engineering functions. Since last year, I have been in a "developmental" assignment as a supervisor, managing three to four professionals. "Developmental" meaning unpaid. In order to move out of developmental, they have to post the job and go through the whole process.

The job is going to be posted on Monday. These things are generally more of a formality, and they have gone as far to tell me the job is mine. They're looking to understand my salary expectations.

I currently make just under the minimum pay level for the new job. The pay midpoint is another 27% higher, with the maximum 52% higher than the minimum. This may not be entirely relevant, but I also have employees working for me that make about 10-12% more than I do. Finally, I have heard from others that have been promoted to this same job level within our organization -- I've heard both just short of 10% and just a bit more than 10%.

What should I tell them as far as my salary expectations? It's kind of a strange situation because I do have some leverage (I know they want me), but at the same time it really wouldn't make sense for me to turn down this job after working at it for the past year. I also feel pretty strongly that this organization is the best place for me to be right now, long-term career wise.

The absolute minimum that I feel I would accept is 10%. A individual contributor --> management promotion feels like it should be AT LEAST double digits. Also, that would bring at least within spitting distance of my employees. But really, I think 15% seems like it's the level that would satisfy me.

Do I ask for 15% and hope to settle in the 12-14% range? Ask for 20% and hope to settle more back towards 15%? Something else?
 
So there's a 52% spread and, so I'll assume about a 12% mid-to-mid. What are your qualifications vs. the minimum reqs?
 
What a lot of people don't recognize is that despite there being a lot of candidates for jobs these days, it's hard to find really qualified ones. Especially since you're familiar with everything and they're comfortable with you and know what they're getting. Ask for what you feel you deserve without reservation. You also have the advantage of being interpersonally familiar with them so even if it's above what they want to give, you can both still negotiate without so easily being passed on for another resume.
 
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PenguinPower said:
So there's a 52% spread and, so I'll assume about a 12% mid-to-mid. What are your qualifications vs. the minimum reqs?
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They re-worked the minimum requirements so that I met them. There's a 17% spread from the midpoint of my current job to the midpoint of the new job.
 
Go for the midpoint of the new job, before they lowered the minimum to match your current pay. That was a dick move on their part.

Mention the years you've been doing the job without the correct level of pay. And hopefully, those you've been managing have been meeting or exceeding expectations on the projects they've been working on, so you can manager speak about your team is efficient, meets the goals set on time etc.
 
rh71 said:
What a lot of people don't recognize is that despite there being a lot of candidates for jobs these days, it's hard to find really qualified ones. Especially since you're familiar with everything and they're comfortable with you and know what they're getting. Ask for what you feel you deserve without reservation. You also have the advantage of being interpersonally familiar with them so even if it's above what they want to give, you can both still negotiate without so easily being passed on for another resume.
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I think I remember hearing the saying "It's so hard to find good help these days" in things like Looney Tunes cartoons, and maybe even some Laurel and Hardy productions.

I feel like that's been the case for a very long time.
 
Go to direct supervisor.

Drop trow and shit on his desk.

Offer to clean the shit for a 15% raise.


Hey, it works for vacuum salesman!
 
rcpratt said:
They re-worked the minimum requirements so that I met them. There's a 17% spread from the midpoint of my current job to the midpoint of the new job.
Click to expand...

If you just meet the min reqs, I would expect to go in at about 25% of the range, especially if they had to rework them. Without knowing internal comps I can't say for sure, but that's where I would put you.
 
PenguinPower said:
If you just meet the min reqs, I would expect to go in at about 25% of the range, especially if they had to rework them. Without knowing internal comps I can't say for sure, but that's where I would put you.
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Coincidentally, 25th percentile in the new job range is almost exactly a 15% raise from current. It seems like that is an appropriate goal.

Do I open with 15%, or open higher? Opening at 20% seems maybe a bit aggressive.

Cuular said:
Go for the midpoint of the new job, before they lowered the minimum to match your current pay. That was a dick move on their part.

Mention the years you've been doing the job without the correct level of pay. And hopefully, those you've been managing have been meeting or exceeding expectations on the projects they've been working on, so you can manager speak about your team is efficient, meets the goals set on time etc.
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Just to clarify -- only the requirements changed, not the salary. It was done knowing that they wanted to hire me, as I did not meet the existing requirements (age discrimination much?)
 
rcpratt said:
Coincidentally, 25th percentile in the new job range is almost exactly a 15% raise from current. It seems like that is an appropriate goal.

Do I open with 15%, or open higher? Opening at 20% seems maybe a bit aggressive.


Just to clarify -- only the requirements changed, not the salary. It was done knowing that they wanted to hire me, as I did not meet the existing requirements (age discrimination much?)
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Depends on your employer's compensation philosphy and company culture. Normally, there is little wiggle room for internal promotions, especially with companies that use a market driver pay range.

In my company, I would ask for the to be paid at 25% of the range knowing the market rate and my experiences and past contributions.

In terms of your age discrimination comment, I'm going to assume you bring that up because you are young. Welcome to legal discrimination.
 
Sounds like they've been fucking you in the ass for a few years. I'd ask for 30% and settle for no less than 20% since (correct me if I'm wrong) you have been essentially doing the job already on a smaller scale without compensation
 
Depends on your employer's compensation philosphy and company culture. Normally, there is little wiggle room for internal promotions, especially with companies that use a market driver pay range.
Click to expand...

definitely true in my company, but I was still able to negotiate a few extra %.
 
Sounds to me like you want to play it safe and would rather take the 15% or so. Regardless, good companies are hard to find and harder to find a position to where you're comfortable in so i'd say go for the modest figure and im sure with cost-of-living adjustment and whatnot that you'll get up there.
 
I want to get what I can get. But yeah, I also really don't have much of a choice. Although I'm sure I could get a similar job elsewhere, I haven't done that and it's not going to happen in this timeframe. Internally, my options are...accept the job and get paid something, or don't accept it and...I don't even know. Go back to doing the job for no pay or go back to my previous lower-level job? Doesn't seem like a great move.
 
Honestly, I advise everyone to just move around more in general instead of this bullshit employer loyalty of yesteryear.

My first job out of college was ~$45k. It was for a large company, but a complete "foot in the door" type of shit job. I actually had a PERFECT line-up of getting laid off from the 2nd biggest layoff in the history of the US and switching jobs. My new job paid ~50% higher salary.

1.5 Years into that job and I hated my life. My boss was a complete micro-managing asshole. Switched to a competitor, now I'm up another ~20%. Now I'm happy with my job for the most part. I have the occasional issue, but the best thing about my new position is that every project ends and a new one begins. Just knowing that the current situation will end is an awesome feeling.
 
So, I ended up asking for 15%. Had the interview last Thurs, got the offer today -- about 13%. I'm making one more run at 15%, but I don't really have high hopes. Oh well, pretty happy with 13% in the big picture.
 
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