I calmly pitched myself at a RIDICULOUS salary today....

[WorkingBling]

Well, not entirely ridiculous. But right at the top end for this sort of job.

It's role that I've been talking to this company about, with whom I already work, for close to 6 months. Taking the job, if I get it, will be both terrifying and exciting. The actual work is 100% in my wheelhouse, but it's a long time since I've have had this sort of traditional corporate job (I've been consulting, freelance, for years now).

I'm fully awre that if they give me the salary, it's right at the top end of what is considered acceptable for a role like this. But I have strong reasons for wanting that pay: as a consultant, I earn a good salary on a per day basis; I have excellent experience; there's quite a lot of risk for me in taking this job and giving up my consulting role; when I left the corporate world almost 15 years ago, I was earning about 2/3 of what I'm asking for now.

I'm just completely gobsmacked I managed to do it. I've known this conversation has to happen for a while so I wasn't unprepared, but traditionally, I've been hugely underpaid. So I'm really really proud of myself for saying what I actually want.

Of course, there's a chance they'll tell me "get lost" now! But it's a risk I felt I had to take as if I didn't get this salary, the reality is that I'd not be able to take the job.

Is it just me who feels like this when asking for significant pay? I'm literally still completely in shock.

Go, you.

I'm currently working on my pitch for a pay rise.

I used to be a lot more humble about it...but when they are paying people who do a lot less than me, more than me....you just have to advocate for yourself and value yourself.

It sounds like you know your worth and what it would take for you to move. Good luck

Well done, OP 👏 Don’t doubt yourself. The data says that a man (on average) wouldn’t think twice.

Yay @WorkingBling ! I think it’s epic that you’ve valued your experience and have gone for it, salary wise!

Well done what was their reaction like ?

This made me smile so much. Really hope it is successful for you 🤞

Go for it OP!

Too often women undervalue themselves

I once had a colleague at an old job, coach me in the salary negotiation for a new one. They gave me what I asked for. I walked away with a 25% rise. Without coaching I'd have asked for about 10%.

Still can't believe I got away with it. It meant I could increase my monthly savings by 50% and buy a house a lot sooner.

Go forth with audacity, the worse they can say is no.

Bloody brilliant op!

I'm assuming it wasn't a job in proofreading. 😉

Seriously though, good luck. I hope you get the salary you asked for, or something close.

A wink emoji doesn’t make rude comments ok.

This. It’s not easy to step out of your comfort zone but these are the conversations where it really matters. Fingers crossed for you!

it wouldn't have been because proof reading pays peanuts (despite what all those ads in the back of the Guardian/Observer used to say)

i really hope you get io!

I would love to know what the main coaching points were! I find it very hard to handle these conversations

Best of luck!! I'm rooting for ya 🤞💪

I've read that part of the reason the gender pay gap is because men Oversell themselves while women undersell themselves.

Don't doubt yourself and good luck.

Many years ago, I was offered a considerable pay rise at a 6 month review. It was more than I’d anticipated and I was so stunned I didn’t say anything, at which my boss then doubled the offer.

Never underestimate yourself. Or the power of silence 😂

Please update us. Hope you got it!

I’m pretty sure the Gurauniad has never known what a proofreader is!

Anyway - well done OP! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Good for you! Took me too long to realise that if you don’t pitch yourself high then the risk is that they doubt your value overall… Modesty isn’t a virtue, salary-wise.

Well done.

The first time dh pitched a salary he went low end, (thinking they would offer more!!) they counter offered 4k less and compromised at 2k under. So dh ended up earning 2k below the low end pay for that role.
He never made that mistake again!

Well done! My employer offered me a £5k raise which isn't much but i accepted it. Then I applied for a job £10k more & now my boss is furious because I've managed a £15k raise in 6 months.

Employers need to value their employees and pay them well otherwise they'll walk. Which is exactly what I'm doing after 5 yrs of being overworked & now burnt out. Instead they try to squeeze as much as they can on little pay & then complain about missing targets.

Water is free from a tap, about £1.50 in a supermarket, £3.50 in a train station, £4/5 in an airport and can be £7 in a restaurant.

It’s not that you’re not worth the higher salary, or capable of performing at that level, you’re just marketing yourself in the wrong place.

Go be the £7 water in the fancy restaurant. Good luck!

Go OP!

Given that you've got an additional 15 years experience since leaving corporate that seems entirely reasonable to me !

I would bring a note of caution though. If tube been out of contract corporate politics and shit be prepared to gird your loins for going back in to the shark tank !

I'd also coach you to worry about the pay thing now and get over it before you start. You've earned it. You're worth it. Now step confidently into those shoes and own it without a second thought. We women o the workplace need a bit more of an arrogant swagger imho

Go a a smash it !

I spoke to a few people before hand. People I trust and who know me and who know my market. They all agree that yes, I'm asking a LOT. But they also agreed with my reasoning and didn't let me doubt myself.

I think, for me, knowing 100% that yes, this IS a lot actually helped. I had to really really believe in the reasons I was worth it and take a good long hard look at what I thought I needed to make this decision.

I

@itsmeafterall The reality of going back to full time corporate work is absolutely the part I'm most nervous about. It's a very different mindset and I'm fully prepared for the fact that the first few months are probably going to be hard, and very tiring. Much to the DC's irritation, I actually plan to spend as much time in the office as possible at first, even though it's 50:50 WFH if you want it. This iis because I want to really focus on the job and "feel" the difference to my current set up. If that makes sense?

'm also conscious sthat there will be some people who will believe this is too much - I suspect, for example, that other people in the broader team will be being paid a lot less so while I would hope they don't know my pay, there might be issues etc. So i need to be prepared to manage that and, frankly, "prove" constantly I'm worth it.