job offer - but am I being too greedy

M

Mowflow

Senior member
 Glasgow
After all the great help on my last career related thread I thought I'd see if I could get some more free advice.

Started the new year well with a new job offer. It's a step up at a company with better prospects. However, I asked for an admittedly rather greedy 30% over current salary. There's been a bit of back and forth through a head hunter regarding salary and their "final offer" in their words is 10% plus another 10% arbitrary bonus after x months (not yet agreed).

I'm just wondering if I should push back for a bit more. From what I gather it was second offer. I'd like the job but am I just too greedy?

The overall package taking the bonus into consideration is attractive but I've been screwed on bonuses by my current and previous employers so I obviously view them with suspicion. I'm thinking get it all in writing this time and be sure there's no loop holes.

Sorry for rambling.. any advice will be greatly appreciated.
 
Good start to the new year :thumbsup:

IMO it's not only the money you should think about so it's something you'll need to use your gut feel on...

- are you confident that you're defo worth +30% , if so push, what you don't ask for you won't get
- is that a good 'market rate' for your tangible skillset, would you be balls out able to stick to your price tag
- does the new role offer benefits over your current pos if money was not an issue
- is the new role as secure - offer same longevity of earnings
- what's plan b if new role doesn't work out

Only you will know the answers to the above, but good luck and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger

Btw, heard on the radio that just after new year is the most popular period for changing jobs, so a good time to test the market even if this isn't what you end up taking
 
Some good advice there from Sae. I'd add that if the new role has better scope for advancement in the medium term, and it's a role you are really keen on, then don't push too hard on the remuneration package if it is already 10% better than you are on (assuming there are no additional costs involved on your part in commuting etc.)
 
Hi

From my perspective I partially agree you must push for not only the market value for your skill set, but remember your experience and knowledge of the company etc. increases the intrinsic value of those skills.

Could the company buy and train an external resource to the same competency level and be productive In the same timescales for anything like the value that your asking ?

Just a comparator thought.

Best of luck
Neil

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
30% is a lot. An awful lot. Especially in the current market. Unless you really are gods gift to your profession or seriously underpaid right now...Both of which are entirely possible of course :D Sae's questions should help you figure out where you're at.

The very best I could have done when moving recently - in a sales job, in the same industry, doing the same thing - was 20% and an increase of my bonus from 50% of my salary to 100%. But my previous employer is notorious for underpaying in the context of their market and I am gods gift lol. When I accepted a job I ended up with 10%, a reduction in my bonus to 40%, but a very good benefits package that totals an additional 25% of my base. Assuming I hit my targets my total take home is about 15% more, about £30k less than I could have been on... However I am in a totally different industry - finance not telecoms - with different customers & products, so I effectively know nothing - prospects are great though given what I am actually good at and the company itself, so I judged the difference between desire and reality to be very worth it, as in 18 months time I could be doing very well indeed. I hope I'm right as my M is waiting for me :D

I think one mistake many people make is to focus on what you'll get on day 1, rather than what the new job will give you over and above cold hard cash as well as where it could take them in a couple of years. Sometimes it's not all about the money. Just my tuppence worth...
 
What is the market rate for your position? Is the 20% far below this level?

If they are offering around market rate, I wouldn't push too hard for the 30%. The last thing you want to do is be viewed as a mercenary.
 
good advice already given...

I'll just add, stop viewing new people with suspicion just because others in the past have let you down.

so what if another company, somewhere else didn't pay your bonus, do not go into a new place thinking they are the same.

a really bad frame of mind, both in business and person life (relationships).
 
Good luck with the decision, just remember that a company now has two years to decide if you are good enough for the salary and position they employed you for.
 
sars said:
Good luck with the decision, just remember that a company now has two years to decide if you are good enough for the salary and position they employed you for.
Click to expand...

Really ? :o
 
Bing said:
sars said:
Good luck with the decision, just remember that a company now has two years to decide if you are good enough for the salary and position they employed you for.
Click to expand...

Really ? :o
Click to expand...

Really really :(
 
Lot s of sound and detailed advice above.

I've recruited around 900 people in my career so here's my rough take on the world:

Was it really a headhunter who tracked you down on behalf of the future employer and has thus selected you as the best fit, or do you really mean an employment agent? Different in what the objectives are and how strong your position is. The former you may get it the latter - no way.

In general if anyone came to me and demanded 30% increase over their prior salary and I'd offered an increase of 10% and a bonus and they came back for more, as a matter of principle I'd move onto another candidate. My rationale is they would have set their stall out as a demanding and confrontational employee.

If that person fed back that they accepted the position on the terms offered and would like to review in 12 months based upon mutual review of performance, fit, correct rate, etc. then I'd be happy.

From a personal perspective I take jobs/contracts because I truly want the job and role, not purely the money. That invariably comes later.
 
Constructive and intelligent advice from you lot as ever. I've had quite a long night lying staring at the ceiling.

Sars, You mean the new unfair dismissal rules? I work agency side in the creative industry and people tend to get dropped very, very quickly if they are not producing the goods.

StevenH, What people get paid is a bit of a secret in this industry and i doubt many would tell you if you asked. I don't doubt that I will be getting paid at a level that reflects my position within this company in relation to other staff salaries but whether it's industry standard or not is a mystery. It's a very small industry up here and wages from other areas in the country will differ greatly.

Cueball, that's a very good point. A friend has likened my situation at my current company to being that of an abused wife. I trap myself in this situation always believing that anything else will be no better. I'm not treated particularly well but i stay because it seems to be easy and keeps other people happy.

I will get back to them to accept the position with the current offer based on the bonus details being officially written into the contract this time. I've never been wise enough to get that in the past and have subsequently been avoided and lied 2 by more than 1 previous employer when the bonus has not materialised..... oddly enough a new sports car for the boss at both those companies did materialise on a yearly basis :x
 
Yes it's the unfair dismissal ruling post April 2012, which means that you can't claim unfair dismissal until the two year "probational period" is over.

https://www.gov.uk/dismiss-staff/eligibility-to-claim-unfair-dismissal
 
Yes Im currently doing my HR level 3 CIPD course and they can get rid of you within 2 years!

:o
 
Well it's all up in the air again anyway. I accepted and got the official job description in and it doesn't agree with me so I've asked for changes to be made.

Most will think i'm mental but i'm actually asking for more responsibilities to be put in without asking for more money. I'm a control freak and i like things to be done my way.
 
Nope, I'm being employed to run a creative department as I have a proven track record of doing so very effectively. The directors of the new company see that i am the man to take their "currently not performing to a level that we would like" to quote them, creative department to where it needs to be. To do that I need to be able to build and manage that team as I see fit.

An effective creative department is a dictatorship ruled by tantrums.
 
Do you mind telling us what industry or what you actually do ?

Curious as my career is in a SC environment and it's very unacceptable to discuss anything outside the "office"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Job offer.
Replies
18
Views
345
bluespit
B
colb
Another cam cover gasket job
Replies
0
Views
207
colb
colb
W
Greatest Paint Job Ever!
Replies
3
Views
135
buzyg
buzyg
T
Another little job done
Replies
5
Views
426
AnubisZed
A
Doddsy
The Italian Job 🇮🇹
Replies
0
Views
529
Doddsy
Doddsy
Back
Top Bottom