Being offered a new salary next week - what if I don't agree?

SideWinder

SideWinder

SideWinder

Consigliere
Joined
12 Jun 2004
Posts
151,030
Location
SW17
Apologies to the poster whose name I forgot but there was a really insightful post about salaries and asking for more...I just wanted to mention my own upcoming experience.

For context, I am an experienced customer focused operations manager that due to the pandemic, took a large pay cut to find a much needed job and joined the world of fast paced start-ups. The Directors knew my vast experience but of course, I had to prove myself. I had no KPI besides 'answer the phone' and over the past 10 months, I have become critical in managing the customer experience.

The company is growing extremely well with 30% + year on year growth and we have new products launching this year that will make us explode.

I have my notes prepared, proof of achievements, evidence and the Directors have already said in my 6 month review, that I requested, that my salary will be reviewed to reflect the work I am doing. My title is also being changed.

I am on 24k (I am 33 years old) and I am expecting them to offer me something I won't be satisfied with/preparing for the worst...but I could be surprised! I am gunning for Customer Experience Manager as this reflects the role I am doing and these salaries are around 29-32k however I want to go bigger with 35k to allow knock back.

During the review and when they say a figure, what should I say back? I was thinking "Thank you for the offer and I'd like to come back to you with a figure that reflects my value"...to which they will say lets discuss now...is that the way to do it? Or do I straight in say "I was looking at a figure closer to 35"

Advice needed as I have never done this before...

Thank you.
 
Worthy said:
People are always so scared to discuss salary, like they're being cheeky. Just tell them what you want in your review, and back it up with the evidence you've already prepared. The worst they can say is no!
Click to expand...

Exactly. :)

But...is there a specific way of saying it politely? :o Or literally go in and say I was looking at X due to XYZ?
 
@dLockers - Great sentence, thank you and it is bang on.

I know I am a huge asset to the business now and I have so so many examples of how I have managed to reverse negative reviews/experiences/calmed people down. It is down to me that we're flying with regards to high levels of service. Plus training the rest of the team.

@Rroff - Is there a way of wording that, politely/hinting? It is a good point and to be honest, I know they have someone unique with me. :o
 
randomshenans said:
Who do you report to in the startup? Would be interesting where you fit in the org chart of things
Click to expand...

To the Directors. I have kinda asserted myself, politely, as a senior member of the Customer Support team due to my knowledge and experience - something they knew they were getting hence my hire...I believe anyways.
 
peterwalkley said:
Do they have real money coming in the door to match the growth in the business ? If there's nothing in the bank account then you're going to get the "we can't afford it" response. The other thing startups do is to offer equity or options, so be prepared to understand whether those have value to you.
Click to expand...

I do not know but due to the level of growth and record sales, my indication is there would be.
 
@dowie - Yes it was, hey again. :)

The business, by their choice, have kept it private so haven't opened it up to investment. Working with them for the past 10 months, they like to very much keep things under their control and grow at a rate that we can fully adapt to and still give good service plus great products. I asked about equity in my 6 month review and they said they'd like to ensure they get to know me aka am I here for the long haul. I will certainly ask about this again.

Noted on the wording of 'offer' as yes I am already there which, linking in with @ivrytwr3 's post, we'll see how they in fact provide the new salary to me.

@randomshenans - This is something they do not know and something I asked about when I started. There is such a massive gap with reporting, my speciality, and this is where I really want to swoop in. It is something I mentioned in great length on my first day.

@HangTime - Mm this is my thinking. It is more fluid and I feel confident I can have more of a discussion with my evidence. Who knows, I could be surprised! Maybe they'll email me with the new salary, very true. (we're all remote).
 
Thank you all!

I have all received good advice which is of course, be grateful and thank them for the first figure that comes along. But express I am disappointed in the figure (so not them!). Need to be polite also. :)

Plus confirm I enjoy working for them, want to grow with them and as @mid_gen said above, I want to own CX.

Review is today at 4pm...
 
Will update in the morning don't worry! :)

Quick update - they offered 30k and 1k bonus. They have agreed to review the title as I said it wasn't industry recognised and politely explained my value using examples, honesty and all in a polite, thankful but honest way. Also mentioned London wage and said 35k.

They have said i will be looking the CS team!

Next review is on Tuesday.

Will type more tomorrow though!
 
Morning!

So honestly I think it went well. They were extremely complimenting about my work and said they tried to find faults and the one they could find, I knew it and explained I was told to write something in a certain way and it was from March. :)

They see me as a long term solution for leading the CS team and feel that I can take them in the right direction - which is great. There will be a transition between the current 'lead' and myself over the next few months. I won't be rocking the boat but I do have ideas to help the team.

It was also explained about just how big this year will be for us, how they weren't even sure they would find someone like me but here I am.

When they offered the new position, they provided the title Customer Service Experience Manager, the 1k bonus and 30k which they explained was 20%.

@dLockers - Your post stuck in my head actually for this as after they had finished, I of course said thank you and even fumbled my words a bit (totally by accident!) as I was a bit nervous and said I loved the company but I felt a little bit disappointed in the figure and was looking at something else. They asked and I said 35k. They came back to say it was 20% and I explained, politely, that I was performing at a higher level from the start and briefly touched on my experience from my previous role - to get them out of the mindset.

I also asked if the title was finalised but they said no, open to ideas and also thanked me for my honesty/openness about the situation so I want to push for Customer Experience Manager as I said at the start I wanted to own all parts of the customer experience.

Lastly I added that I knew my value and again care about the business but I also have a lot more to offer that they haven't seen yet. I added a few examples of reports I had created but said this is a glimpse of what I can do for the business/work with you with what you want. I also mentioned London living briefly.

Next review is Tuesday 4pm for them to come back to me with a figure closer to 35k.

I'll be saying, if its not 35k, what did they base it on/can we agree KPIs/success for me to reach this but imply very gently that this is the figure so if it isn't reached, I would keep my options open.

What are your thoughts all for the next meeting? :)
 
@Trig - I think I will. I know my value to the business and I have evidence that backs up this. Plus they openly said how highly they think of me and want me to be there for Panda especially for the upcoming year as we're launching a very important product - make or break. I am a very open/polite/warm person by nature so it certainly won't be a very 'direct' response back.

I feel they have said 20% because that is what they have done before but they knew I took a big step down to join them so that is what I politely explained - doing it because I wanted to grow with them/love the brand/enjoy our relationship when we first met in the interview.

I think I would at the minimum ask for KPIs etc to reach 35k and a salary review in 6 months perhaps.

Open to your thoughts too! Need the OCUK guidance as I am new to this. :)
 
dowie said:
I'd try equity, but it doesn't sound like they are what would normally be referred to as a "start-up" they sound more like a regular small company.

Equity is quite standard at startups as part of your compensation (granted options or RSUs as part of your total comp) but small companies on the other hand perhaps won't give any or will allow you to buy tiny amounts via some share scheme etc..
Click to expand...

Ok thanks dowie.

It was discussed 6 months ago (I requested a 6 month review to gain clarity on my progression) and they said they'd like to ensure they know me well enough first which is understandable.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
I think you already have some great advice in here

If equity is an issue. Then consider the lines of asking for a bonus based on this new launch. They should have some ideal of scale and an estimate of its value.
Put it to them that as the customer experience is critical then your happy to take the difference between your target wage of £35k and your new wage as a variable bonus. The bonus linked directly to the expected sales number, and pro rata from 0% to 200% cap based on the actual sales vs this target.

I think you kind of have done this but try to frame your wanted salary as your target, so give the impression its an aim for you, and ask them how you can get to that target working with them.
"I have a target salary of £35k, I really hope that is achievable working within this business, can we formulate a plan together that will get me to that point within 12 months?" something along those lines. (Assuming they come back offering less than you want/hope)
Click to expand...

Such a clever/interesting idea about mentioning a link to the new product...may mention that. But feel your second comment will be the one that I shall lead with if they do not provide the £35k.

They appear to be leading with the 20% as the reason they won't go higher and I have, politely, added that I am working beyond that therefore implying that the % should not be applicable for me.

I do want to stress it was a highly collaborate conversation and it was on friendly terms when the call ended too. :) Just chatting about weekend plans and that sort of thing.
 
Freefaller said:
Just a thought - since they've agreed on an increase could a good compromise be that they give you a 6 month review on performance to "bump" you up to the salary you want? Make it performance based? Then it's a bit of a halfway house?

edit: dammit I just saw that MKW just suggested something similar.

I'll get back to my investment reports :(
Click to expand...

:p Its a good idea though mate, cheers. :)

@Trig - What do you mean? There are only 2 other full time employees if that is what you mean? The rest of contract and not in the country.
 
Trig said:
Ahh fair enough, I didn't know if there were others you worked with that might get pissy when they find out you are on a different agreement to them..
Click to expand...

Ah gotcha. :) Mm its a small team and it is another reason I am, politely, pushing a bit. I know my value and they started the review but saying they never thought they'd find someone like me...

The follow up is tomorrow.
 
413x said:
Just caught up on this thread.

Can't offer much help. (besides the time of the events I missed the boat anyway)

But good luck.
I've never gotten a significant pay rise within jobs. Only changing jobs. Which has been crazy lucrative!
Click to expand...

No worries and thank you. :)

And ditto...only 2-5% ish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom