This the first very time I've gone through this. Background cliff notes; 1) I work for a major O&G Company in the Trading section making let's say $5 2) I'm seeking a new position because it's contract to hire, and the hiring time usually is a 12-24 month timetable and I'm on month 3. I want security and I want benefits. 3) I have one year of experience; 3 months at the O&G firm, 9 months at Private Equity firm 4) Former Salary was let's say $3.5 for 3 months at the PE firm, $4 for the 2nd 3 months, and $4.5 at the last $3 months. Now, at this job it's $5. I don't have much family or experienced friends in life, so I got nowhere to ask. Here are my priorities; 1) Opportunity to grow(must be Full-Time so I can actually be promoted) 2) Higher salary 3) Benefits 4) Traveling ** bonus ** 5) Work/Life Balance **bonus** Here are my offers: 1) Top O&G firm better than the one I'm at. Making $6, very good benefits, but ZERO room to grow. 2) One of the better O&G firms, making $6.3, average benefits, very limited room to grow and apparently word of mouth is turnover is high and they are awful to employees 3) One of the better O&G firms, making $5.4, excellent benefits, traveling often, great w/l balance, extremely high room to grow. They said verbatim they want me to move up within the 6-12 mo frame. Hence the low starting salary. I want #3, but I want pay up in the $5.7 range. And no $5 does not equal $50k lol, I just wanted a new range. How do I go about, diplomatically, asking for more money. When we first brought this up, I mentioned $6 is what I'm seeking. $5.4 is their offer, middle ground is fair-- that's subjective. But what do I say in specific, I get SHAKKKY in these situations.
I want #3, but I want pay up in the $5.7 range. And no $5 does not equal $50k lol, I just wanted a new range.
^^ that part. I "want" $6, they knew this before hand, and have offered $5.4 this morning. How do I get them at the $5.7 range. I figure that's the most "fair"?
From my personal experience, I chose to take a position where growth was significantly higher and salary was a lot lower than the other position. If I took on the higher paying salary, 15 years later, I would have been making 5X less than what I am currently making now. Growth is the most important thing when you are planning a career path. Money will eventually come.
Agreed. I am hopefully conveyed that in the OP, but money is at quite a disparity. More than 10% difference. I'm willing to take less money, but THAT much less?
10% is nothing when you think about long term future and you can easily make that up once you have attained more skills and make yourself more marketable.
You have to argue that you deserve more money based on fact and reason. The good news is you have fact and reason -- other job offers. Any old fool wants more money, but you can actually say "Company A is offering me $X more". Let them know your other offers (you might need to be careful about the names of the companies -- it's a small world).
Just get it at 5.5 and consider yourself good. Eat the .5, unless it's a 6 figure job, that .5% you are eating really isn't a difference maker. All that's going to happen taking .5 less is eliminate a few outback meals. Just push for 5.5 and be happy
Promotions often come with changing companies. That said, bank on what you know you will get, then on what you will likely get. Don't put as much stock in potential. There are too many variables that can change to bank on long term employment. Im not referring to actual salary amount, but the experience that will allow you to grow.
How much experience do you have. I'm guessing young since you're asking advice and have no family to worry about. Which means not a lot of experience. Which means the employer you want can easily just move to the next candidate and it'd be all the same to them. You can tell them you have richer offers but you'd want to work for them if the money was better. But, it could easily go two ways -- either they have the money in the budget and really like you so they raise the offer, or else they don't have the money in the budget or think you're interchangeable and they say no. But, go ahead and try it -- they're not likely to pull the offer off the table altogether.
1 year of experience. So yes, you are right. I guess I should bite the bullet, I have more intel on the situation though since my last post. There's no other applicants they are considering and they want someone in by June 3rd. This is intel from one of my friends, whose a headhunter, and has worked with this company before. This position has been open since December of 2012, she's sent 12 applicants none have gotten an offer. She knows they've talked to about 30 people, and they are quite picky. I'm trying to use a little bit of leverage, I have time to wait and a good job as is.
The question is how do I convey that without crossing the line or divulging too much info? Let's put it this way. In the oil & gas sector, I work for a top 3 company. From the OP, Offer #1 is from the best Oil & Gas company(isn't that super secretive lol) Offer #2 is from the 8th-9th best Oil & Gas Company Offer #3(the one I want) is from the 6th-7th best Oil & Gas Company but they are very lean in their Houston post I don't walk into offer #3's salary discussion saying well, hey, Exxon is paying me so and so...so, you guys want up that a bit?
Start the conversation off with "Hey Motherf'r, gimme some more money". That's a conversation starter.
From your responses, it appears that this 10% is what is keeping you from taking option number 3. If I were on your shoes, I would say something like.. "I really like to work for your company but I am undecided as another company has offered me 10% more. Is there anything you can do to make my decision a lot easier?" I personally don't feel there is anything wrong with trying to get the best possible offer. They are trying to pay you the lowest possible salary they can get away with and you are doing the opposite. It is standard practice in the corporate world to negotiate your salary. You have leverage - use it.
Will do it that way. I think that's the easiest way to frame it. I appreciate the help. It's my first time doing this, don't want any rookie D-Mo mistakes.
first off, what's up with saying that one company is the "8-9th best" oil & gas company? As rated by whom, exactly? Are you equating size with being "the best"? Seems silly and you're likely getting caught up a bit too much in that. Secondly, yes, I would walk in and say "ExxonMobil is offering to pay me $X. I'm willing to take a little less than that to work with you, since I like the people I've met there and I can see the potential for career growth, and if you close the salary gap to $Y dollars, I'd accept your offer immediately"
From the interviewer themselves, from the website, and from rankings from other O&G places like Rigzone, etc. That's where I get that position ranking.
Sent an email over yesterday before the business day just to see the offer increased to $6 this morning and they'd like me on Monday!!
