"We will review your salary after 6 months..."

GreeBo

Hey,
would you take a job in a company that seems pretty good, but the offer is a good bit less than you were looking for (15-20%)
The promise is that once I "prove myself" they will better align my salary.

I've heard this before and it didnt happen.
Also I'm a bit worried about going into a company on a low salary, in my experience if you come in low, you will *always* be low.
Moving jobs is "supposed" to be your best chance to get a good raise..
Any opinions/experience?

leeroybrown

I took my current job for less money than I would have ideally liked. My reasons were

- It was an interesting position.
- I was moving sector slightly (from Development to Systems) and on paper didn't have the industry experience to prove my skills.
- I wanted to move on from my previous job.

When I was offered a six month probation pay rise I told my employer that it wasn't a satisfactory increase and was given a reasonable increase.

DOLEMAN

If the job looks good, take it.

I onc started in a job for disastrous money, got a 4k raise after 6 months, and then demanded another 2k 3 months later (I threatened to quit.)

If you can prove yourself, and make them rely on you, it'll work out OK.

Imposter

Although not in Ireland, i'm starting a new job in a similar situation next week. The job gives me the chance to learn new things and if after 6 months or 1 year, if I feel it's deserved and I don't get a raise, i'll be walking.

It's probably not the best mindset to be starting a new job with, but they are the ones who asked me what I expected in terms of money and then turned around and offered me 20% less. Surely they don't expect me to be happy!

GreeBo

Imposter wrote:

they are the ones who asked me what I expected in terms of money and then turned around and offered me 20% less. Surely they don't expect me to be happy!

Exactly what is happening to me, I just dont get it.
Whats the point in asking for a range and then undercutting it?
I'm thinking of not taking it, I dont want to have to go through this whole interview process in 6 months time because they start being stingy with the cash.
Its a pity, I like the look of the place, but I gotta live too yunno?
Also, its through an agency so I dont know how well what I am saying is getting back to the company.
Because I was so disappointed in the offer I have started other interviews, now the first crowd are looking for a reply and I havent heard back from the others yet.
Argh.:(

leeroybrown

GreeBo wrote:

Exactly what is happening to me, I just dont get it.
Whats the point in asking for a range and then undercutting it?

Plenty of companies (particularly the manager you deal with) will try to talk you down to a figure they prefer. A reasonable percentage of people they interview probably accept lower figures.

If you're not happy with the figure then tell the recruitment agency to feed back to them that it is below expectation and that you are not interested unless the offer increases. If they're not willing to increase the offer then so be it.

DOLEMAN

Personal question: are we talking about a figure like 18k or 30k?

cargrouch

Depends, if you are in a position to push for more now then do it. If you are the best candidate then you are the best candidate. I've done a lot of electronics interviews, they will always ask what are you paid now but will never tell you even a range they will offer the best candidate.

This 6 month review, I've had mixed results. On one occasion it was written in my contract that wages would increase to X after 6 months except in the case of an unfavourable review. This is a million miles away from we will review you in 6 months and may give you an unspecified raise!

It's a trap really, if you aren't careful it will look like you're not willing to stretch yourself to prove you deserve an uncertain and unspecified increase. If it's a big company then they will have a standard line and you have a choice of following it or not. A smaller company may be more flexible. If they say, "oh if we gave you x, then everyone else would want it", you could always say you "didn't realise there was absolute transparency in the salary scale", and politely ask to see it haha.

GreeBo

DOLEMAN wrote:

Personal question: are we talking about a figure like 18k or 30k?

You mean the base salary or the difference?
The base is more than either of those.

GreeBo

Well they have come back twice, once with a 2k increase and the second time with a sign on bonus of 1.5
Which to be honest doesnt mean much to be as its a once off.

I'm going to ask the recruiter for something more definite to be written into the contract.