RE: Career Advice

General Discussion
#1

Figured I would ask here since a lot of you are way more advanced career-wise than myself, and have likely been in a similar situation.

Long story short I received a job offer from another company. I interviewed for the position and it all went well. We sorted out start date, compensation, etc. They called me a few days ago to say that they wanted to offer me the position, and in fact they felt I was overqualified for the position and asked if I would like to interview for another position.

Interview for this position went great too, and they will be calling in the next day or so. As I feel the new role requires a lot more expertise and responsibility, my salary expectation is higher than it was for the original position. The job title of each role was not much different, but the original one was just a technical position, while the new one is a systems admin/technical management position.

I’m unsure of how to best address this when I talk with them next.

#2

Good for you on the job advancement.

It’s always best to wait to hear all of what they have to say first. Voice your concerns in question form. But what would you specifically want to address about this.

#3

I would do some research on the typical salaries for both positions and come to the meeting prepared. Salary.com can be a good resource if you take the time to answer all the questions. It’s pretty hard to negotiate if you don’t know what the typical range is.

Also, be very professional when you address the compensation issue, but also be aggressive. Starting a new job is your best opportunity to drastically increase your salary. If you don’t push the issue, it could take you a year or two to reach the level that you could have started at. And a higher base will mean bigger increases going forward, assuming you receive raises as a percentage of your salary.

The decisions you make in your 20’s (and 30’s) will steer the direction of your career going forward. Be aggressive and work your ass off.

#4

Don’t focus so much on your starting salary either. Look at advancement oppurtunity and your “total package” to include vacation/benefits package.

My wife an I both took a considerable pay cut about a year and a half ago for our new jobs. The new place of employment offerered many benefits though and with automatic salary increases for our first two year we would only have to live with the salary difference for a year or so. Our schedule is awesome, job security is better and health benefits are very good.

Simple answer again is focus on the big picture, not just the $$$, even though we all love $$$.

#5

BWT this is what I’m coming to realize especially with my current role. Since it was higher pay than my last job I happily accepted it, but looking back I could have asked for a lot more starting and be in a better position now. I’ll have to do some more digging to figure that out, there’s a pretty wide salary range for this sort of job.

Euro that’s a big factor in looking at this new job as well. It offers more vacation, flexible hours and the option of working from home, company paid trips, etc. My work-life balance right now is sh*t and I want to take the chance to move away from that. I would likely take the position at the originally discussed salary just for those things alone.

I’m thinking all this assuming they will only offer me what we discussed for the first position, just want to be prepared and address it tactfully.

#6

Just because you’re willing, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should (within reason).

As others have mentioned in thread, this is the time that you will see a good increase in salary. After that, it will just be more incremental (and harder to get bumps).

#7

Work life balance is a huge consideration in my book. I recently took a step back in order to get the fuck out of a town and work situ I despised. The hope and belief is the temp step back in salary will lead to future and ultimate increase in opportunity and salary in next couple years. One thing is for certain, my day to day living situation immediately got better and made it worth my while.

Good luck!

#8

Work life balance is a huge consideration in my book. I recently took a step back in order to get the fuck out of a town and work situ I despised. The hope and belief is the temp step back in salary will lead to future and ultimate increase in opportunity and salary in next couple years. One thing is for certain, my day to day living situation immediately got better and made it worth my while.

Good luck!

#9

Going through the same kinda thing , working on a contract and received full time offer for about 20% more and much higher bonus checks but I know I’ll work sig more, have less vacaction, and potentially less opportunity for growth long-term. I’d also say that even though I bitch about consulting when earlier in your career when you step back you really afforded yourself many experiences with many types if work and people, but yeah eventually it’s hard to keep up…what ever you do enjoy the people you work with because even wuth flexible work arrangements dealing with folks above below and St same level is a large part of the battle.

My number one thing is am I in a position ti learn, stretch and challenge myself, if I am not then I will not be satisfied long term. Good luck and let us know how it shakes out, I still gotta take my own advise sometimes :slight_smile:

#10

something lots of people forget when they switch jobs is the value of a defined ben e fit pension plan, and if they’re already in one for a few years, and switching to another company, the financial impairment they will suffer when they get older. I have had a few offers to leave my current employer for another, with significant up front signing bonuses to do so etc, but when I calculate what it will do to my pension, I am staggered.

For example if you work somewhere for 30 years and make a full pension that pays you say $100,000/year in retirement for the sake of round numbers…comparing this to leaving after 8 years and going somewhere else with no pension plan, it’s shocking.

Job A - $100,000/yr from age 65-85 = $2.0 million ben e fit…not including that which your spouse continues to receive after you die (say 60% of it)

Job B - 8 years in job A pension = $10,000/year in retirement (when you reach 65)…and say Job B gave you a $20,000/year bump on your income for the next 22 years. Total beit = $440,000 salary jump + $200,000 pension from 65-85.

Sure the time value of money on the $440,000 over the next 22 years is significant…however don’t forget taxes etc. It’s still going to be tough to get anywhere near that pension.

#11

Are defined be n efit plans still common in Canada? They are a dying (dead?) breed in the States, with the exception of govt employment.

#12

Ya, few and far between for certain in the states. I took with me (or rather left in place with agency) fully vested pension when I changed jobs. 3% at 60 years old retirement. Frankly I am leaving it be but don’t really have a comfortable feeling about it. Sure it is “guaranteed” but it is also documented as being underfunded. Watching things closely and will decide whether to leave it or move it into another qualified plan without penalty.

#13

Yeah I had a pension for 6 months a few years back, then they got rid of it. All 401k match now. My last company had two 401k one they matched, and one they contributed only so that was nice. But agreed long term thought on full benefits and growth potential at the company is paramount in making the decision.

#14

Yea I calculated all the benefit pros/cons and put it on a SWOT board haha. The only jobs I know of in Canada with proper pensions are govt and union.

#15

Haha right on…I’m doing the same analysis this weekend…what job came out on top?

#16

Hahaha, “Let Blaine Die” if you don’t get it then you might not watch silicon valley.

#17

Hahahaha Gotta love Silicon Valley!!!

#18

[quote=“euroswagr,post:16,topic:7569”]
Great quote euro, love that show. It’s all about ROI.

#19

The new job came out on top. Silicon Valley is one of the few tv series where I will almost cry laughing.

#20

Not common, but certainly out there. Not rare. I think you’d be surprised actually.