Salary

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Ive been working at my current Job for about 2 months now, Im on a 3 month probationary period, so in a month ill be interviewed again and will hopefully get a permanent contract.

They said in the interview that after the 3 months I can talk more about a better salary, as it is currently 13k. My job is basically It support, over the phones, face to face and over RDP. What kind of salary should I ask for at the interview? 16k? or be a greedy get and ask for 17k.

 

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if you dont ask you wont get

 

i'd take interview and pay rise with a pinch of salt, every job i've had they haven't been to keen on the pay rise part. only way to find out is ask !

grim

 

I started working on frontline for 12K. a senior position with that company netted only about 13K. I was on 15600 by the time i left, and that was with a promotion out to another department (no wonder i took the jump to 22K with my new job with such joy).

It all depends on the company, the area, how well you perform, and exactly what you are expected to do (If all you are expected to do is record the call details and pass it on, then you are unlikely to be getting something as high as 16-17K, no matter how many problems you fix - its not your job to do so, and they are unlikely to pay you to do it!)

 

I also started on a low salary when I first got into IT over a year ago, it was around 12K. I have since jumped to 18K, and have a contract set out that as I pass certifications, I get a certain raise in turn, up til MCSA and 22K, then its time to sit down and work out a new deal.

I think alot of it depends on the company, is it a small or large company? How many IT staff are there? Are you 1st Line support?

 

ive been workin for 6 months as an IT/Network Administrator. I have CCNA, A+ and 1 MCP (as it stands) and im only on 12K.

just make sure that when you bring up the topic of a payrise, that you dont get cocky.

 

A 23% increase in salary (to 16K) is awfully steep... and a 30% one (to 17K) is even more so.

For the answer to this, you'll have to put yourself in your manager's shoes... if they can fill your position with another warm body for 13K, then the chances are low that you'll be given a huge pay raise because people are willing to do the job for that rate (or less). Now, if they can't easily fill your position for that salary, and your co-workers are making much more than 13K, then chances are good that they will give you a decent raise.

Bottom line, entry-level jobs are only worth entry-level salaries. At some point, there will be a salary ceiling that will mandate what the company is able to pay for that position. And the only way past that is to increase your responsibilities (thereby changing your position in the company through promotion) or to switch jobs.

 

I think for a starting salary your looking at around 12k-15k. I started off on 10k 4 years ago and am on a lot more than double now but it takes time. Personally I would only ask for maybe another 1k as 3 months isn't a long time for them to see what you can do. Your annual appraisal would be the time to discuss wages as that way you've bedded in and shown them what you can do so you will have more leverage then you will now plus you don't want to start off on the wrong footing with them.

 

I agree with what's been said, its a very sensitive topic when it comes to negotiating a salary. You want to be reasonable when asking for a wage increase.

When I was getting a raise I was asked what I wanted and then the company said what they want to offer me and I got the salary that is in between what I asked for and what the company offered.

 

Hang on a minute, why aren't all you IT guys earning 30-50k and driving a nice company car? Isn't that what all the training companies promise as soon as you have been on their course?

 

I didnt go. maybe thats why.

 

Ah, of course, THAT'S where I went wrong in my career... I didn't go to an expensive training school! Just think... if I had, I'd be making six figures now, amiright? amiright? huh?

 

just curious because i don't know jack about the pay structure in the UK, but seriously at my previous job i was making just below 30k doing front line phone support for a dsl company. the job sucked, but it helped me get this job which is about 20k more a year. i do understand that the pound is worth double our us dollar, but it seems crazy to see 20k referenced as good pay. forgive my ignorance on the pay structure for the rest of the world.

 

dont know what any of the guys are on, theres currently 6 of us in the office, but me and another guy are it support, got the manager, and a database guy and a developer, and a guy who working on reports.

I basicly get all the helpdesk problems that are submitted, general computer problems, the other it support guy doesnt get much these days since ive been assigned most of the categories, so he can work on other projects.

what i might do is ask what they are willing to pay and negotiate around that i suppose.

 

I don't know how comparable pay between the US and th UK is as I would imagine the cost of living is totally different.

I wouldn't say 20k is a good wage per se, but it's not a bad one either. It all depends on benefits and the hours you work. I'm on a similar amount to the one mentioned but I conisder the benefits in my job outweigh the lower salary.

I only work 37hours a week, I'm not on call and I'm not expected to work outside of my 8am - 4pm hours. This does happen on occation but it's very rare and we can take time in lieu if it does happen. My job is also in the public sector so my pension is very good by UK standards. I contribute 6% of my salary and my employer puts in 9% or thereabouts. I was also off sick for an extended period just before summer, that's pretty rare for me, but I was off in total for about 6-7weeks. I recieved full pay during this time, I wouldn't have gotten anything but statutory sick pay if I had still been with my last employer (SSP is hardly worth even claiming). I enjoy my job, my friend & colleague (and secret lover - in joke ) Ken is great to work with and we get on great with our boss. All of the above translates into quite a bit extra in my book.

 

gotcha, i am in the public sector as well, although sounds like you guys get better benefits than we do. what is the cost of living on average in the UK? i know here in Orlando to live in a nice area my house goes for 280k and thats the smallest in the neighborhood. obviously placed are much more expensive, as in california, but placed in south carolina and such are much cheaper.

 

I applied for a Support Analyst job last week, although the job said it wanted experience I said I was willing to learn etc.

The job advertisment also asked to state what pay you would expect.

In my covering letter I explained that I have just taken an 11% pay cut to drop me down to £17300 per annum, I though it would be cheeky to say I want £19 odd grand a year I was getting 3 months ago and said £18500 would suffice.

I know I have not had a full exposure to IT support but the most of the skills asked for I do on a regular basis and have a good knowledge of the other skills required.

Although I doubt I will get an interview I dont think the pay I have asked for is excessive.

 

NenMaster,

One question that hasn't been asked by anyone else in this thread is how much money do you need to live on? Is your income enough to support all of your basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and transportation? In short, can you afford to be working at least on a breakeven point where income equals expenses? Also, as a minimum, try to ask for a raise that will compensate for the rise of inflation because anything less will probably lead to you basically unable to afford to work. Do you have any benefits that may offset any personal discretionary spending? For example, paid IT exam study materials, study equipment, or exam fees. Also, since you're a member of CertForums, you're probably currently pursuing some kind of IT certification. If you had to spend your own money for study materials, study equipment, and exam fees, at what income rate increase would you need to achieve those IT certification goals? Yes, that means you need to go shopping to find out how much your study materials, study equipment, and exam fees will be, where you should also account for future inflation/price rise. Also account for building some sort of emergency fund for when your car breaks, something in your home breaks, etc.

Good luck.

 

I started on 14k and after 3 months I was boosted to 18k