Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Another Salary Expectations Thread

  • 19-10-2012 9:04am
    #1
    The Cool
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I'm currently doing an internship and gearing up to ask the company for a paid position and wondering how much I should expect to ask them for in terms of salary.

    I have a 2:1 MA in my field (Translation) and my role is translator and project manager. I have been doing this for 4 months, unpaid and now feel that I am in a position to ask for a fulltime paid position as (a) I have impressed them with my work since week 1, (b) they'd be fecked if I left and (c) other interns that were not given as much responsibility as I am, were offered a position when they were due to leave the internship after 3 months.

    I feel that the ball should be in my park a bit, since I am qualified to do this exactly and I work my bum off for them and perform excellently. I have very little clue though as to what is reasonable for me as salary. Any ideas?


Comments

  • #2
    statss
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,802 ✭✭✭statss


    the place I work in just offered an intern, with a relavant degree, a salaried position in the low 20's. It's a small office.


  • #3
    CruelCoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭CruelCoin


    Low to mid 20's. Its a buyers market i'm afraid.

    The grade of degree matters little in salary negotiations.


  • #4
    The Big Red Button
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,390 ✭✭✭The Big Red Button


    The Cool wrote: »
    I have a 2:1 MA in my field (Translation) and my role is translator and project manager. I have been doing this for 4 months, unpaid and now feel that I am in a position to ask for a fulltime paid position as (a) I have impressed them with my work since week 1, (b) they'd be fecked if I left and (c) other interns that were not given as much responsibility as I am, were offered a position when they were due to leave the internship after 3 months.

    My opinion is that you can discount both (b) and (c).

    (b) It's very unlikely that they'd be fecked if you left. It's extremely rare that an employee is irreplaceable. Trust me, if you really were that invaluable to the company, they'd have approached you by now with a job offer. It really won't do you any favours to go into the discussion with that approach.

    (c) Were they in the exact same position as you for the internship, with the same responsibilities? It's irrelevant otherwise. You're fighting for your own role, not someone else's.

    If I were in your position, I'd be arguing for a paid position. Minimum wage, if needs be. But with the promise of a salary review in six months. Work it from there.

    You really do need to think long-term here. Get your foot in the door, don't piss them off, don't worry about the money for now - just work on getting a longer-term contract. Then is the time to think about negotiating salaries.


  • #5
    sky2424
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭sky2424


    Hmm I wouldnt broach the issue of pay with them until the offers firmly been made. Ideally Id wait for them to mention a figure- you'll know yourself if your happy with it or not. I suggest you look at recent Irish salary surveys such as brightwater ect to get an idea of typical rates but Id take it with a pinch of salt.

    In truth, If I was the employer, and as youd be moving from an unpaid position to a paid position, I wouldnt ask you your salary expectation. Id be nice about it but firm in the sense that its a take it or leave it situation. Id also underprice you cause you'll effectively be moving from an unpaid internship and I'd wager that youd be grateful for anything in excess of your current income. Worst case scenario, if you reject my offer, id be happy to train a new intern for free- seems like theyve trained up a few at this stage so theyve probably established a routine by now.

    Unfortunately your kind of in a weakish position in the sense that its not like a typical job offer where the offer has to be financially tempting enough to lure the interviewee from their current paying position. In your case, theres no incentive for the employer to make your financial package attractive enough (for you to leave your existing role) as the employer is aware that the position that you want to 'leave' is effectively unpaid.

    If I were you I would however aknowledge the rate offered isnt what you hoped for, but your happy to continue in the role for the time being and look forward to a finanical review in the summer. At this point I would start playing hardball- by that point youd hope that your more of an integral part of the company


    All the best


Advertisement