Q & A Table of Contents
How Can I Find Out What Pay To Ask For When I’m Offered A Promotion?
From: Meg, Durham, NH
Question: I currently work a temporary position doing data
entry. Today I was approached by my supervisor and he
offerred me his position because he will be moving onto a
different position within the company. I've never had the
oportunity to work as a manager and am not sure what type of
salary range I should even negotiate for. The position is to
manage the data entry department within the marketing portion
of the company.
Please help, I do not want to ask for less than is deserved
but don't want to look foolish by asking for way too much. I
have looked for positions available similar to what I would be
doing but could not find anything in the area. Not sure how
else to research this.
Response: Your research should include doing whatever you can
to find out what the current manager is paid. You are likely
to succeed if you are honest with him — especially if he is
not the person with whom you’ll be negotiating about
compensation. Tell him you need his advice about what you
should ask for in terms of pay, vacation, retirement, and
other possible elements of the compensation package. He may
not give you the exact number of dollars he is paid, but you
can see whether his response gives you a sense of the salary
range.
If there are strong reasons not to rely on him for an answer,
you should look at web-based resources (major job-search
sites) to find out whatever information they may offer. You
should not hesitate to go way outside your market area for
information — check on how similar jobs are paid in major
cities within 500 miles by networking with folks who know
folks with those jobs, look in newspaper advertising sections,
or simply go to a national employment company and describe the
kind of job you’re looking for, express a willingness to
relocate, and see what you learn.
Frankly I think the straightforward approach is likely to
yield the most useful information.
Good luck,
Steve
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