Q&A: Pay rises and promotions

I love helping women get the pay rises and promotions they dream of and deserve so I thought I’d share some of the most popular questions I get with snappy, savvy answers. 

Q. What makes the biggest impact when going for a promotion, pay rise or negotiation?

Your energy. Set your intention/ideal outcome, know the number that you want, then prime yourself before going into the conversation or interview using power poses, anchors, pumped up music - whatever you need to get high vibe.

Q. What’s the best time to look for a new role?

My dad always said, "It's easier to get a new role when you're already in a role." Because of that sense of desperation that can come up if you are not in a role. Already being in a role does give you some leverage because they have to dangle a sweeter carrot in front of you for you to go through the stress and the pain of leaving and having to start somewhere new. Right?

Q. Should you ask for what you truly want if you get a new role opportunity from a recruiter?

Absolutely! If you’re not actively looking to change roles and a recruiter has cold called you with a role, be honest about your role, title and salary expectations. You never know what the client might come back with and if they can’t match your expectations you’re already in a role so no harm done!

Q. How can I find out the day rates and salary rates that are possible in my industry?

You can ask other people outside your company, look at job ads online, look at your company’s internal job board, speak with recruiters, download market salary guides or work with a coach or mentor outside your company. If you’re in the Change Management industry, I share the career paths and pay rates for Australia, the UK and the US for Change Management roles in my Intro to Change Management webinar.

Q. What should you do if you’re offered a role and asked what your salary expectations are?

Don't undersell yourself at the start because it's a bit of a trick that recruiters and hiring managers can use where if you go in less than what they had budgeted, they're like, “Great, I got a bargain!". Alternatively, if you go in way too low, they might wonder whether you could actually do the role because you might start to water down the perception of your value and your positioning in the market. Always wait for them to make the first offer – you can deflect any questions about your salary/rate expectations by asking what the salary range or rate range is for the role, or that you’d like to hear where they believe you would fall. It also helps to know the day rates and salary rates in your industry (see question above)! 

Q. What happens if you are out of their budget?

If they turn you down, that's okay. If you need to turn them down because it's just too low, that's okay as well. When I teach Vision Setting to my Leading Successful Change members, I’ll often recommend they have a range so there’s flexibility to move (the lowest number is their non-negotiable, and while there might be an upper number… really the sky’s the limit!). 

Q. What happens if my manager asks me what my development areas and careers aspirations are when I’ve only just started in a role?

Be open with them. If they're going to open up that conversation, let them know what it looks like. I remember once having an interview with somebody and they're like, "What's your five-year plan?" I said, "I don't know. But I can tell you my 20-year plan! That's to be an incredible leader, etc"  Let them know what switches you on and what you want to achieve in the future. And maybe you can start to choose a bit of your work as well. This can happen when you're going into those conversations around your preferences.

Q. What happens if I get recommended by a previous boss for a role in the new company they work in?

It’s up to you if you want the role. And if you do, get the right price because they’ve clearly sought you out.

Q. What should I do if I get offered a bigger role with more responsibility? 

Ask for a pay rise! If you’re putting in more work and effort and accountability, that should/could be compensated. If you don’t, you might end up becoming a bit resentful because there’s more at risk for you personally. 

Q. What’s the biggest pay rise you’ve ever gotten?

I went $20,000, $20,000, $15,000, and then doubled my income with an almost $100,000 pay rise. That's what could be possible from working day rate contracts. It's freeing on the side of your employer because they can utilise you for as long as they need you. But it's also freeing on your side because you have an end date, and you can use that end date to either negotiate or leave and go get something higher somewhere else.

Q. If I negotiate on the money, won’t that impact our relationship? 

It's about taking the emotion out of it and going, "No, they're actually two discrete things." If you've been doing a good job, people will remember that for years. I've got people reaching out to me from my very first Marketing role going, "I’ve loved watching your journey, and you were always fantastic." They remember that. They remember your performance. One pay rise or promotion conversation doesn't tarnish your reputation for the rest of your career. If anything, it's finding the right match at the right time, and you might go back into that organisation later at a higher rate when they've got more budget or when they have a different need or when you've built a different skillset (i.e. “boomerang” employees).

These are exactly the kinds of questions I cover on the Monthly Group Coaching Calls of my Leading Successful Change program. There’s a special Valentine’s Day Package offer on and as part of it you'll get an extra limited-time bonus of a private and exclusive “1:1 Career Strategy Session” with me, valued at $997 AUD. Along with my “Starting Out in Change eBook” to nail the recruitment process for Change roles (valued at $97).

But the Valentine’s Day special closes tonight Tuesday 18 February at 8.00pm AEDT (Sydney time) so join ASAP:

Join LSC with the V Day special offer and get your bonus private 1:1 session and eBook

Lata xx