Pay review soon - how much to ask for?

[datalol-jack]

If similar local employers are paying better for the same level of skills, qualifications and experience you have, then that's the answer to 'how much?'. Sometimes it's useful to negotiate, but having a definite number in mind is better.

PDR talks or less formal ways of discussing pay increases without fixed numbers, milestones and dates against them will result in one or both parties being disappointed. I suspect your employer leans on at least some of your performance being seen as a favour, while you clearly see yourself working towards a goal. Whatever the case behind the business offering inflationary (before inflation shot up) increases, having a concrete external offer will focus their mind on the following points.

A) What they have in you
B) What they are losing in the role you do and its financial implications
C) What you want
D) The numbers involved
E) What it will take to keep you, including quality of life bits aside from the money - not being taken for granted, training, more responsibility, less/no unpaid overtime

The worst case is then that you accept the other job and move on; the best case is that you get a lot of what you want - at minimum the money, if not everything, and stay content where you're for a while. In fact, always err on the side of wanting to develop yourself and it being a benefit to the business with concrete examples of what you did, are doing and will do, since elements like pay and conditions will naturally follow from this in a positive light.

On the other hand, if the employer is unprofessional, won't hear you out and generally doesn't care, then I wouldn't even waste my time being clever - I would find another job and part ways without much drama.

 

[Jds1990]

Hi all,

Still at my current job however beginning to really resent it. I told my manager over a week ago the salary I think is fair and he said he would discuss with the director but this has not happened and I am tired of waiting around. It has been almost 2 months now since I first mentioned to my manager I want to discuss salary and nothing has happened.

I had a meeting with a recruitment agency last night after work and they have positions they feel would be a good fit for me paying 10-12.5% more then my current role.

I really feel like my current employers just dont care so I am more leaning towards leaving now rather then waiting and hoping for a pay rise.

When I first started my current position 2.5 years ago, I didn’t sign an employment contract. I am just wondering therefore how many weeks notice I would have to give before leaving? I don’t want to give 4 weeks if I don’t have to.

 

[MissChief]

Hi all,

Still at my current job however beginning to really resent it. I told my manager over a week ago the salary I think is fair and he said he would discuss with the director but this has not happened and I am tired of waiting around. It has been almost 2 months now since I first mentioned to my manager I want to discuss salary and nothing has happened.

I had a meeting with a recruitment agency last night after work and they have positions they feel would be a good fit for me paying 10-12.5% more then my current role.

I really feel like my current employers just dont care so I am more leaning towards leaving now rather then waiting and hoping for a pay rise.

When I first started my current position 2.5 years ago, I didn’t sign an employment contract. I am just wondering therefore how many weeks notice I would have to give before leaving? I don’t want to give 4 weeks if I don’t have to.

They’ll likely want 4 weeks but chances are two weeks will be sufficient. If you deal with finances or customer relationships they may even ask you to leave right away and pay you in lieu of notice.

I will also add, pay is rarely the only reason to leave a job. Should they ask you to stay and offer you 15% above what you’re on at the moment will that really encourage you to stay? Most people who take an increase when they put their notice in end up leaving within a few months anyway.

 

[HangTime]

In the absence of a contract, or any other evidence of an agreement on notice period, the statutory minimum is 1 week.

When you say you didn't "sign" an employment contract, did you receive one? It might be arguable that if you received one and worked there over two years that really it should be adhered to, but IANAL.

 

[Jds1990]

In the absence of a contract, or any other evidence of an agreement on notice period, the statutory minimum is 1 week.

When you say you didn't "sign" an employment contract, did you receive one? It might be arguable that if you received one and worked there over two years that really it should be adhered to, but IANAL.

I did not receive one no, I am not surprised now that I have worked here for 2.5 years and seeing how they are, not organised at all.

I have a meeting tomorrow with my manager and director to discuss salary so will see how that goes. I also have 2 interviews next week so I am more leaning towards taking a new position elsewhere, if offered one of course.

 

[HACO]

I did not receive one no, I am not surprised now that I have worked here for 2.5 years and seeing how they are, not organised at all.

I have a meeting tomorrow with my manager and director to discuss salary so will see how that goes. I also have 2 interviews next week so I am more leaning towards taking a new position elsewhere, if offered one of course.

The funny thing is that once you hand in your notice to leave, they'll offer you the raise.

 

[MissChief]

I did not receive one no, I am not surprised now that I have worked here for 2.5 years and seeing how they are, not organised at all.

I have a meeting tomorrow with my manager and director to discuss salary so will see how that goes. I also have 2 interviews next week so I am more leaning towards taking a new position elsewhere, if offered one of course.

Get any offer in writing.

 

[Jds1990]

Hi all,

I have just had a meeting with my manager and director and they have given me the raise I was after but I feel it is kind of forced.

I have been asking my manager for a review for almost 4 months now and I have only just got a raise I feel I deserved for a while now. I mentioned to my manager the other day that I wanted an answer and that I had been contacted by an agency who wanted to put me forward for roles on more money.

I feel my manager and director have only now given me this raise due to feeling threatened at the possibility of me leaving. I don’t feel they want to give me this raise, I dont feel they truly appreciate myself and other staff.

I am still planning on going ahead with the 2 interviews I have next week as I want to get a feel for both positions.

If I am offered the same money as my new raise at either of the other positions I still feel like there is a possibility of me leaving as I feel a fresh start could be good for me.

Any Advice?

 

[HACO]

I feel my manager and director have only now given me this raise due to feeling threatened at the possibility of me leaving. I don’t feel they want to give me this raise, I dont feel they truly appreciate myself and other staff.

Don't take it pesonally. This is a business transaction. They took you for granted, then felt they may lose you, so offered you more. And if in 6 months you have a better offer in hand, they might give you another raise. This is how the game works. If a business doesn't feel they may lose an employee (or that it's no big deal if they lose them), they wouldn't offer them more money.

I am still planning on going ahead with the 2 interviews I have next week as I want to get a feel for both positions.

If I am offered the same money as my new raise at either of the other positions I still feel like there is a possibility of me leaving as I feel a fresh start could be good for me.

Any Advice?

Tell the recruiter that you've received a raise to £Xk and you would only consider leaving if you're getting a reasonable upgraded package over what you have now (whether you want more money, more holidays, etc). Don't ask them to match it, tell them to beat this new salary.

If these two companies can't offer you more, there will be others who will. You've got the raise, you don't need to rush it.

 

[HangTime]

The advice is to push for more money from the new opportunities than originally planned and/or be more picky about taking a new role (rather than just taking anything because it pays more money) as you now have the safety net to fall back on of a raise where you are now.
That said, it sounds like there isn't a good long term future where you are now so if a good fit is found it may be worth considering even for a modest raise.

 

[Jds1990]

Hi,

I am a bit torn now as I have the pay rise I initially wanted but having looked around for potential new roles, I realise I can get more elsewhere. At least I have the raise now though so there is no rush, I will continue to look elsewhere incase I come across a better opportunity paying more money.

I will speak to the recruiter and inform him I have the raise I wanted and see If either of these 2 interviews I have lined up can improve on their offer (they both are offering the same amount I now find myself on with the raise).

 

[Semple]

Remember to also weigh up perks, commuting time and cost, any flexibility for wfh or starting/finishing at different times.

A lot of the time people focus too much on what the salary is without considering everything else.

 

[LeoK]

The funny thing is that once you hand in your notice to leave, they'll offer you the raise.

That’s definitely the time to play that card. I always feel you can do it once. You cannot keep doing it every year or two.

Last time I played this card, my firm called my bluff. So I left anyway and got a better paying job elsewhere. It’s a gamble though. I’ve known it to not pay off for others

 

[HACO]

That’s definitely the time to play that card. I always feel you can do it once. You cannot keep doing it every year or two.

Last time I played this card, my firm called my bluff. So I left anyway and got a better paying job elsewhere. It’s a gamble though. I’ve known it to not pay off for others

You can do it more than once, you just need to be smart about it especially with timing. Do it at a time when a project has a tight deadline and they can't afford to spend time recruiting, you'll most likely get it. Like all negotiations, you always have to be prepared to walk away (which as long as you have the better offer in hand, you can).

 

[dowie]

I am thinking of asking for another 10% which would mean an overall salary increase of 12.5% since I started in July 2019. Minimum I want is another 7.5%.

Another 10% is fair isn't it? I don’t feel that is unreasonable.

Yup, that sounds fair, don't leave for 10% though, if you're going to leave then try to aim a bit higher and go for 20%.

Today I have had a recruiter contact me about a position she believes is a good fit for me and paying 10% more than I am currently on. She asked if she could forward on my CV to which I agreed.

I am just debating if it is a good idea to let my current employers know I am being put forward for new positions

This is generally a bad idea, can easily backfire if you don't then get the job offer you're pursuing as you'll look like a bit of a chump. It's best not to say anything and wait until you actually have an offer in hand that you're seriously considering and be prepared to actually leave too.

I have just had a meeting with my manager and director and they have given me the raise I was after but I feel it is kind of forced.

I have been asking my manager for a review for almost 4 months now and I have only just got a raise I feel I deserved for a while now. I mentioned to my manager the other day that I wanted an answer and that I had been contacted by an agency who wanted to put me forward for roles on more money.

I feel my manager and director have only now given me this raise due to feeling threatened at the possibility of me leaving.[...]

Well you're kind of projecting a bit there, you don't know for sure that you'd not have gotten the raise if you'd just asked for an answer without throwing in the bit about actively looking elsewhere. At least you can just pretend you didn't go for the other roles now because of the pay rise if you're unsuccessful and are asked about them in the future.

If I am offered the same money as my new raise at either of the other positions I still feel like there is a possibility of me leaving as I feel a fresh start could be good for me.

Any Advice?

Don't leave for the same amount of money!

Did you tell the recruiter your current pay at the time?

As far as the recruiter and the future employer should be concerned you're happily employed and IF pushed then your current pay is the new amount you've just had a raise to (ideally though you want to avoid telling them this in the first place and just give them your expectations for what you'd like to be paid).

You should aim to be offered a pay rise relative to your (new) current pay, at least 10% but try to get more like 20%. Taking on a new role carries some risk relative to the role you're comfortable with and you should be compensated for that, it's perfectly reasonable to expect a pay rise and the fact you've got one out of your current employer without having to move so far is good, that's your "risk-free" rate for staying put, your new pay rise for leaving should be higher than that.

 

[Jds1990]

Hi all thanks for the advice.

I had a zoom call with the recruiter yesterday I explained I now have the raise I was after so do not wish to go ahead with the 2 interviews I had lined up this week. One was for £2k less then what I now have and the other was for the same money.

She tried selling me the fact that the position for the same money offers more holiday. That is great but it is almost twice the distance for me travelling and I just don’t feel its worth moving for the same money.

I now have the raise I wanted, yes it took a lot longer then I hoped but at least I have it. July will be 3 years with my company so think I will ask for more then.

Thanks to everyone for your advice

 

[HangTime]

I wouldn't get your hopes up about getting another raise in July given you've already had one in 2022, unless you are really going to push the envelope over the next five months in terms of undertaking additional responsibilities and delivering stellar performance.

 

[MissChief]

Hi all thanks for the advice.

I had a zoom call with the recruiter yesterday I explained I now have the raise I was after so do not wish to go ahead with the 2 interviews I had lined up this week. One was for £2k less then what I now have and the other was for the same money.

She tried selling me the fact that the position for the same money offers more holiday. That is great but it is almost twice the distance for me travelling and I just don’t feel its worth moving for the same money.

I now have the raise I wanted, yes it took a lot longer then I hoped but at least I have it. July will be 3 years with my company so think I will ask for more then.

Thanks to everyone for your advice

I wouldn't get your hopes up about getting another raise in July given you've already had one in 2022, unless you are really going to push the envelope over the next five months in terms of undertaking additional responsibilities and delivering stellar performance.

Agree with Mr Time here. In business terms you’ve just had one. You’ve effectively given yourself a new 12 month raise cycle.

 

[dowie]

I had a zoom call with the recruiter yesterday I explained I now have the raise I was after so do not wish to go ahead with the 2 interviews I had lined up this week. One was for £2k less then what I now have and the other was for the same money.

She tried selling me the fact that the position for the same money offers more holiday.

You don't have to tell recruiters what you currently earn, some might get funny about it and if it becomes a blocker with them then meh, your call, just be prepared to turn down roles if they try to lowball you based on your current pay.

As per the poster above, if you've just had a raise I'm not sure you're going to get one again this year based on some arbitrary joining anniversary... just make sure to push for pay rises each January from now on if you stay there (and have something to justify them).

Lastly, I guess with the other roles the salaries were somewhat fixed? This isn't always the case, salaries can often be negotiable, you should absolutely expect a (significant) raise when moving roles.

 

[Jds1990]

Hi,

I am not expecting one in July however feel I asked for too little this time round. I am happy with the raise but since I have been looking elsewhere the last few weeks I realise I can earn more elsewhere.

I will give it a few months and then may start looking again, I wouldn’t ask for much more in July but i reckon if I was to say I can get more elsewhere they would possibly give me 3-4% more.