Q & A Table of Contents
I've Got Experience, But They Want To Pay An Entry-Level Salary
From: Erik, San Francisco
Question: I recently received an offer from a professional services firm to
start as an entry level consultant. Employment would begin after I graduate
with a BS in Business Administration. I have several years of management and
technical skills that are transferable to the profession (6 years), but I am
unsure how to approach the firm with a request for both a higher position
and higher salary. Do you have any suggestions regarding the direction in
which I should pursue?
Response: The most important thing for you to do is to re-interview the
firm. It shows them that you are serious in your interest, that you are
sufficiently eager not to want to wait until your first day on the job to
begin getting yourself oriented to the company.
In effect you want to say, "Okay, you've made me an offer -- now I want to
learn more about you." Find out why they hired you rather than other
people. See if their responses relating to the issues that follow give you
hints about what arguments will appeal to them.
You should find some way to compare yourself with other entry-level hires
made by the firm. If you can differentiate yourself from them, then it
could make sense to go to the firm and ask them to reconsider the pay scale
and professional level of your initial position with them.
Part of the problem is that they may not share your feelings about the
'transferability' of your experience. Was your experience something that
induced them to hire you?
Did any other firms offer you jobs? At what pay and responsibility levels?
For example, you may want to work for this firm because of their location,
their corporate culture, or other reasons. But if other companies have said
they would value having you, that is meaningful evidence you might present
to your most likely employer.
If the company says they've taken your experience into account and their
offer reflects it, the decision-maker might lose face if they are 'forced'
to change the initial offer. What you may do is bargain for more frequent
reviews of your work with a view towards getting promotions and pay
increases faster than is normal for new employees.
Good luck with your career advancement.
Steve
| 
