Small vs. Big company salaries

eden_my_ass

As i've a review coming up I just wanted to get some ideas from people out there. I'm working for a small/medium company (total of maybe 40 people across 3 offices here and UK) where I'm currently on 28k. Just after buying a property and obviously will soon start feeling more financial pressure than I was previously (renting out part of it to help) so I do genuinely NEED more money. Because of the nature of small companies, I have no perks or benefits past my basic salary, no overtime (luckily don't get asked to do it unpaid either though!) or anything else that I might count into the overall 'value' of my employment when compared to working with a larger company with specific employee benefits packages (not sure of their value either though). Point is, with that in mind, should I be getting rewarded more in my paypacket to compensate for the lack of benefits and to keep me in the company, I'm very tempted to be bold and aim for as much as 35k which I know is a big jump but this is a profitable company and without giving away too much my position is such that losing me would seriously hurt or slow down future developments because of gained knowledge and skills (small companies inevitably leading to very few people with lots of the internal knowledge).....any opinions on this area in general or my case in particular....am I likely to offend by aiming so high? thanks for reading

Pablo

It all depends on what area you work in and where you are.

What is the average wage for someone in your area in that job. Obviously if you are in London or Norfolk there would be a difference in your wage, because of the cost of living discrepancy.

Also how many years of experience do you have, and when was your last 'significant' raise.

Sleepy

How would you offend by aiming high? They may think you're being a bit arrogant but if your leaving would cause serious problems, they need to know that you're aware of your value.

Without going into specifics, I've had similar raises over a 12 month period in a slightly bigger but similar business, so my advice would be to go for it.

eden_my_ass

Pablo - Not wanting to give too much away cause you never know whos reading but my point isn't so much to compare myself to the average wage, because if you're doing my job in a team of 100 I'm thinking you're less value to your company than if you're doing the work in a team of 2

Sleep - I do feel that my position is a good one to make the request and as the closest skilled colleague is taking a sabbatical, it makes my leaving the company an even more undesirable outcome for them. I'd like to stress again though, I'm not doing this out of greed, but pure need....I like the place,the people and the work, but if I work to live not live to work, and if they can't meet those needs, I'll tell them honestly that they are forcing me to keep my options open :-)

BossArky

eden_my_ass wrote:

I'd like to stress again though, I'm not doing this out of greed, but pure need....I like the place,the people and the work, but if I work to live not live to work, and if they can't meet those needs, I'll tell them honestly that they are forcing me to keep my options open :-)

Just tell them this ... you may be suprised how considerate some people can be.

Cantab.

eden_my_ass wrote:

As i've a review coming up I just wanted to get some ideas from people out there. I'm working for a small/medium company (total of maybe 40 people across 3 offices here and UK) where I'm currently on 28k. Just after buying a property and obviously will soon start feeling more financial pressure than I was previously (renting out part of it to help) so I do genuinely NEED more money. Because of the nature of small companies, I have no perks or benefits past my basic salary, no overtime (luckily don't get asked to do it unpaid either though!) or anything else that I might count into the overall 'value' of my employment when compared to working with a larger company with specific employee benefits packages (not sure of their value either though). Point is, with that in mind, should I be getting rewarded more in my paypacket to compensate for the lack of benefits and to keep me in the company, I'm very tempted to be bold and aim for as much as 35k which I know is a big jump but this is a profitable company and without giving away too much my position is such that losing me would seriously hurt or slow down future developments because of gained knowledge and skills (small companies inevitably leading to very few people with lots of the internal knowledge).....any opinions on this area in general or my case in particular....am I likely to offend by aiming so high? thanks for reading

Why did you buy a property if you couldn't afford it? Well if you "need" more money (sounds to me as if you feel you're magically entitled to it), why don't you think creatively. Either quit and go elsewhere that pays better, or set up your own company. Otherwise, you'll just have to put up with your miserly salary of 28k...

eden_my_ass

Cantab. wrote:

Why did you buy a property if you couldn't afford it? Well if you "need" more money (sounds to me as if you feel you're magically entitled to it), why don't you think creatively. Either quit and go elsewhere that pays better, or set up your own company. Otherwise, you'll just have to put up with your miserly salary of 28k...

Wow, someones got a chip on their shoulder....I'll buy whatever I choose, and I never said I can't afford it, just that I need more money to improve my situation, like most these days. And I don't need to quit, my miserly 28 was a starting wage out of college, so I was quite happy with it and I have every confidence of more, which I'm not magically entitled to but I have earned the right to. So go spread your discontent elsewhere :-p

magpie

Always ask for more than you want, I find they'll usually meet you half way. In your case try asking for €40k, explain your circumstances and see what happens.

Employers love people who don't ask for raises - and very rarely hand them out unless prompted.

eden_my_ass

magpie wrote:

Always ask for more than you want, I find they'll usually meet you half way. In your case try asking for €40k, explain your circumstances and see what happens.

Employers love people who don't ask for raises - and very rarely hand them out unless prompted.

Thanks magpie, got the exact same advice from a friend, so I may take that approach :-)

magpie

Good luck - the key is not to be pushy, just be matter-of-fact about your outgoings. €28k doesn't go very far these days.

Tabnabs

According to this article http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/06/30/story265673.html you are under the average industrial wage and so there should certainly be room to manoeuvre with your wages. If you ask for nothing, you get nothing!

Cantab.

eden_my_ass wrote:

Wow, someones got a chip on their shoulder....I'll buy whatever I choose, and I never said I can't afford it, just that I need more money to improve my situation, like most these days. And I don't need to quit, my miserly 28 was a starting wage out of college, so I was quite happy with it and I have every confidence of more, which I'm not magically entitled to but I have earned the right to. So go spread your discontent elsewhere :-p

I'll tell you something for nothing: you'd earn way more than 28k if you became a painter and decorator or taxi driver or something. I used to work in a multi-nat where they paid me 29k after 6 years in college. I quit after 4 months when I realised that the technical coordinator (with 15 years' experience) opposite me drove a nissan micra from his 2 bed flat in blanchardstown to work every morning... What did I do? I thought outside the rat-race, set up a small business and have a taxi which I drive part-time. I make more money working two nights a week than I would working 10-6 in the multi-nat. I would recommend reading "rich dad, poor dad" if you want to find out about having money work for you, instead of working for money, like the masses do.

kluivert

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is written in what is meant to be an entertaining anecdotal manner to make finances interesting. The most central element stressed by Kiyosaki is the advocacy of owning the system or means of production, rather than being an employee of someone else.

In general, if you take a business that you have an interest in and expertise, you will make a success of that business.

For the OP, in general larger companies* may pay more than small company.

In general I agree with the above post that in order to really start "making" money, the self employed route is the most advised.

I had a job offer which would have increased my salary by 10k a grand, which I didnt take just because it was slightly in a different area than what I have been trained as, I regret it now.






*(companies as defined by the companies act).

eden_my_ass

Cantab - I've read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and I do think along very similar lines as yourself, I'm not trying to climb the career ladder in my chosen (and like you 6 years in college qualified) position, I'd just like to try the mundane if for no other reason then to give me the impetus to get off my ass and start doing my own thing. Actually considered taxis a while back, but is it really that lucrative?? Ever look into franchising? Or any suggestion for other low level entry points to self employment?

Kluivert - It amazes me how spot on and how widely ignored some of Kiyosakis points are, why people suffer the jobs there in to line their employers pockets I'll never really understand, like I say I'm looking to employ and not be employed in the future....thanks for your comments