When is it ok to negotiate wage? Decisions.
By monkmano
@monkmano (585)
Canada
March 27, 2013 8:03pm CST
I have a job now at $12 per hour, this is pretty good but I need more hours. So I applied to a pet store for Sundays 10-6pm. They said their wage is only 10.25 minimum wage. But to take this job I would have to move around my schedule with my other boss!
Which would mean losing a shift at the higher paying job.
I am intelligent, and work for this good company is it unreasonable to ask for 11.50 ?
This is what I want to do, but I don't want to offend the employer.
I also put in at 2 other places and I hope to hear back, I need something for the summer. sigh... job hunting is hard work!
There is a job opportunity at the place I volunteer, it would be 10.25 plus 11% in lieu of benefits but this is pretty far out of town. I may put in my resume there as well but I still want to volunteer! Also, the sunday job would interfere with my regular volunteering.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@yoniarnon (1079)
• Israel
28 Mar 13
You can negotiate your payments at the job interview, there is nothing wrong with that, like people said here, and i think it is even make you more professional, because it shows that you know the work and know how much you wanna earn for it.
And i most of the times ask for a rise or wanna talk about my salary a year after i start my job..
1 person likes this
@airkulet (2700)
• Philippines
28 Mar 13
For starting it is hard to ask for a higher wage, you can try but if the employer don't agree with you then it wouldn't be hurt to take it and accept it since you like the job a lot that has something with what your expertise and skills then after months you can either ask for a raise since you already prove that you deserve more rate than your previous wage.
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
28 Mar 13
whoa! slow down there. you are making my head spin. be careful not to spread yourself to thin. you are only one person.
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Mar 13
Sounds like you have a lot of decisions. If you really like the regular good paying job and want to stay there I would just go talk to whoever. Just basically asking for a raise. Have you been there very long? Most places have a raise policy like every certain amount of months(usually 12) you would get an evaluation and then talk to your manager and if your evaluation is good you would get a raise befitting your work. If you haven't been there for that amount of time then I would wait. If you have then I would read the company policy and see what it says. If there is a evaluation type thing in place then wait. You don't want to seem greedy or anything. The rest is your choice about the second job and volunteering. And if the company you work for won't give you a raise, doesn't have a raise policy I would be looking elsewhere. Some places give you a good hourly wage and then it's like pulling teeth to get a raise.
@monkmano (585)
• Canada
28 Mar 13
ya i've only been here 5 months my contract is up this month, i also am a "contractor" so we just set the wage and that's it. in our contract it says we have no relationship with the company! I feel I should have asked for a higher wage at the beginning but I didnt know that they really wanted me and i was so grateful for the job, still am just cant live off it!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Mar 13
In that case you may have a hard time getting any type of raise. I would ask around and see if any other 'contractors' have asked for raises. I wouldn't do it until I have been there at least 6 months. If you do ask for one I would call it a cost of living raise.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
28 Mar 13
It is perfectly alright to negotiate wage before you start working. You are not doing anything illegal or immoral by mere negotiating with your future employer. Nothing to feel bad about it, you are not offending anyone at all including the potential employer, it is better to get it right the first time for both party of concerned than having bad feeling about your wage once you are accepted by the employer into his work force, i am sure every boss understand that every job applicant is entitled to fair wages through pre-employment negotiation. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
1 Apr 13
I am pretty sure by mentioning to your recruiter or human resources manager in your potential future employer company that you possess those skills you just mentioned here will not harm anyone or hurt their annual revenue, so i don't see any reason why you can't negotiate with your future boss on a suitable salary scale that come with plenty of responsibility before you even begin the job. There is nothing wrong on your part for doing that, if this company can't accept that part of negotiation from a potential applicant, then you shouldn't insist working for them. It is still better for you to spend your extra talent some where else or on some other company that appreciate you. 
@monkmano (585)
• Canada
28 Mar 13
yes, the problem i have is whether or not I can negotiate because I dont have exact experience but i do have other skills. also this job comes with a lot of responsibility and i feel one should be properly compensated for that. but really id be looking for only 1.25 more than shes offering so im not sure if thats a big leap
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
28 Mar 13
It's really a hard question. It depends on what the boss is like. Most of the places don't like if someone, who is not even working there, is already starting to negotiate, when they gave out no sign that it's possible (I mean, at a job interview, you could ask, if they don't say that this IS the payment). You should bear this in mind.
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
28 Mar 13
well it all depends and if you are really passionate and compassioned towards the job and you have what it takes,you can go for it
