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Subject:Re: Posted Pay Ranges & Government Jobs From:eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Fri, 26 Nov 2004 10:39:22 -0500
bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com wrote on 11/26/2004 09:09:30 AM:
> If you hit the top of your position's
> range you have 3 options: transfer to a higher position,
> accept the salary freeze or look at leaving your cushy, benefit-rich,
union-protected
> government job.
?!?
What's so horrible about a salary freeze? Anyone who feels happier with
annual raises (but always earning below their maximum potential) than they
are being comfortable knowing they're making the most possible failed
basic mathematics and needs their head examined.
If there's a range posted, I'd would think that it would be perfectly
acceptable to ask the interviewer what the range represents (skill and
qualification wise) and if you consider yourself fully qualified for top
spot have them rationalise to you why they shouldn't be paying you top
dollar. The range may be linked to seniority or may cover different levels
of the position. If that's the case you may not have much negotiating
leverage when being hired.
But, you should absolutely get the person you are negotiating with to
clearly outline how and when you can be paid top dollar. Watch out for
gobbledygook explanations. It is highly likely that if that (HUGE) range
covers one job description that the yearly calculations will be to have
the salary mass migrate (although usually at a glacial pace) towards the
middle. If it is such a case, you're far better off with a salary freeze
and all the extra money in your pocket than your peers who will be slowly
catching up but never matching your pay.
If you're happy being paid mid-range and getting raises and are fully
aware that you are losing tens of thousands each year for the joy of those
raises you're delusional. What good is a $5,000 dollar raise if you know
that others made $10,000 more than you last year and will make $5,000 more
than you this year and 2 or 3 thousand more than you the year after that?
But the reality is that the rate at which you "catch up" (if ever) will be
far lower than that example (more like 1-2% a year).
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