Need Some advice on job opportunity

[kenyg]

Hi folks,

I wanted to ask some advice from those of you that are more skilled in the business (corporate world) that I.

I've been offered a new position with my firm - I'm positive that I can do the job - in fact it may lead to even better things.

However, it will be a salaried position. Currently I'm an hourly employee - and I do pretty good. With overtime, I do even better.

They havn't discussed $ for the new position. I am thinking of playing 'hardball' when it comes time. As I don't want to lose any money, and in fact, I think when being 'promoted' I should make more. I'm thinking - my current level, plus OT, plus a percentage is a reasonalbe expectation.

Do you think this sounds reasonable? Once many years ago I accepted a salaried position - losing the OT nearly killed me. That company seemed to have no clue, and I vowed ' never again'


Nothings going to happen until March - but its on my mind alot.


Thanks,

Ken

[MDS]

I don't know what kind of job you'd be doing,but I recently went to a managment job and I got 10% raise over last years income,which was pretty decent.Plus there are usualy more benifits.

[Brainchild]

I would think it would be a reasonable expectation to expect more income when promoted. I certainly would.

I feel that you can expect to work OT as a salaried person, some places consider it an unwritten rule. And as a salaried person vs. hourly, you will not be receiving 1.5x for the OT hours, so you've got to figure that in.

What I would do is average your current gross salary including OT and start upwards from there, including what raise you think is appropriate for the promotion.

On the Internet, there are many salary guidelines posted for specific positions, calculated on a minimum-to-maximum median for all areas of the country. One of these could be your guide in determining what you wish to propose to your employer.

Congrats on the new position offer and good luck in your negotiations

[I_W]

I think it would be a mistake to even talk about overtime in a salaried position. It is NOT part of a salaried position. You work overtime whem needed without additional compensation. It's part of the job.

The company would probably snicker behind your back if you mentiioned it. Even if it were something that would be possible they wouldn't do it because all the other salaried employees would then want it.

Some companies "promote" people to salaried positions to take advantage of the free extra hours they can get from them. If your company is like that I'm sure you know it and you may want to consider turning down the opportunity if it doesn't offer other career advantages that are unavailable in your present position.

Definitely what I_W said

[Chuckiechan]

I think that you don't already know the answer to this question shows that maybe it is not a good move for you right now...

By this I mean that you should know enough about your conpanies' management to know how the other salary people are treated. Some companies are predatory to their employees, others aren't. You gotta know what your company is about.

First, since you work quite a bit of OT, are the salary people (like you will be) there when you are?

Second, do you have any management or salary types you can ask casually... "Say, Gomer...do you work a lot of extra hours?" ...You need to learn the coporate "culture". Also, do salary people keep quitting or getting fired?

Lastly, you won't know if you can hack it until you try! To those who take risk, go the rewards...(in good companies)...

Do your research, keeping in mind that if you refuse their offer it is unlikely you will get another one. And it is difinately OK to ask how much the position pays, and you can be sure that the offering person knows how much you are making....

Good Luck, and Keep us posted, please

I have been doing this for about 17 years - until three years ago - I was hourly - I averaged about 59 hours each week - carried a pager and cell - and was expected to answer asap where ever I was in Can or US.

The Gen Manager wanted to control costs and I wanted to control my income - stability for both of us - after pressing both our cases - we agreed to a 5 figure increase - and a 40 hour work week .

How has it worked - great while he was GM - now the Accountant has been hired by the board as GM and she expects us [salaried] to work as she does - problem is - one salried gets paid for 40 - works 36 and never answers any calls - [please understadn - no offense - this one is a control freak - she works from 9 am until 8 pm each day and then comes in on the weekend to work in the afternoon sat and sun] because she spends so much time meddling in other persons job that we all have to have daily meetings with her. I hav ebegun recording all meetings because of this kind of stuff

I still work an average of 45/wk and still carry cell for 168 hours a week - just last night got a non urgent call at 4:56 am. Whiile I do like this situation. It is a far cry for the GM who is making $100,000 a year - and the other manager who nails 67,000 a year for being availalble for forty hours 8 - 5 each day.

BTW - my raise last year - the first since three ago - I needed to add 0.50 to it a day to get a coffee a day.

And her complaint was that my departemnt was over budget-She forgot that I had to train 4 new staff - on my time - this blows my budget out the window -

So - get it in writing - and make sure you keep a copy of it - with his/her signiture on it, I am digging mine out for just such a occasion!

wiz

[kenyg]

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate your comments. Socal, yes, I've been to several salary sites, and found the Pennsylvania labor board had some really great statistics. I've also been reading the want-ads - to see what other firms pay - the position is national account manager - and also requires some travel, but not lots (I already do some now).

I figure, the position, as a promotion should be more than what my W-2 says now. If not, they can bring someone in from the outside.

Thanks again,

Ken