Question on Promotion Offer

[Surfbum84]

Hello friends.

As some of you know, I'm in sales. I just got offered a promotion to a new position (still sales) and they're offering me a $5000 pay increase per year, which in all honesty isn't going to make a tangible difference for me. They approached me to take this position, but I'm very happy where I am right now. I'm just wondering if it is okay to do the following:

1) Get them to put in writing that I"ll accept the position, but if I'm not happy after a quarter I can have my old position back.
2) Obviously I'll ask for more money

I'm not sure how all of this negotiation works so any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[lawyerman]

If you are happy what you're doing, do you still want the promotion? It seems as though you have doubts about moving up the company ladder and you have to seriously look in the mirror and ask yourself why you don't want to move up. Is it because you're not ready, more responsibility, more time at work, don't want to be a supervisor, manager? There could be more reasons why but I don't think any of us can answer those questions. This is your decision and I hope this helps.

Since it is a sales job, what type of salary structure will this new position entail? Will the position be taking that much more of your free time?

If you're ready for it then go for it and make sure you get the proper support needed for the new job. That is paramount.

Good luck.

 

[a 1 player]

I'm not sure how all of this negotiation works so any help is greatly appreciated.

With all respect... You are in sales and not sure how to negotiate?

Well, I would start by asking specific details of the job. Then decide if the increase in pay is worth the added responsibility. If it is a position you would be interested in, but they are unwilling to budge on the salary, you might want to try at some 'soft' pay increases. An extra week holidays, higher gas allowance, covering meal expenses, etc.

Of course, ultimately it is your decision if the promotion is worth it for you, however, in my experiences, turning down a promotion can cause a sudden stop in the climbing of the corporate ladder.

 

[Cycleguy007]

What he said:

With all respect... You are in sales and not sure how to negotiate?

Well, I would start by asking specific details of the job. Then decide if the increase in pay is worth the added responsibility. If it is a position you would be interested in, but they are unwilling to budge on the salary, you might want to try at some 'soft' pay increases. An extra week holidays, higher gas allowance, covering meal expenses, etc.

Of course, ultimately it is your decision if the promotion is worth it for you, however, in my experiences, turning down a promotion can cause a sudden stop in the climbing of the corporate ladder.

Smart guy that player!

 

[Surfbum84]

THanks all for your help.

Essentially, right now I have a base, commission, and bonus (provided I hit my numbers). All gas is paid for etc...so that isn't an issue. My concern is that right now I have an abundance of free time with my job. I've figured out how to hit my numbers without overworking myself. This new one requires a new area, new product lines, and will subsequently require more work.

I didn't know this position was open, but my director approached me about it yesterday asking if I could take it to "help the company out". I think this gives me some negotiation power...no?

Again, thanks a lot. I'm a young/immature guy and I value the wisdom of those on here!

 

[a 1 player]

THanks all for your help.

Essentially, right now I have a base, commission, and bonus (provided I hit my numbers). All gas is paid for etc...so that isn't an issue. My concern is that right now I have an abundance of free time with my job. I've figured out how to hit my numbers without overworking myself. This new one requires a new area, new product lines, and will subsequently require more work.

I didn't know this position was open, but my director approached me about it yesterday asking if I could take it to "help the company out". I think this gives me some negotiation power...no?

Again, thanks a lot. I'm a young/immature guy and I value the wisdom of those on here!

With a new product line, this is your chance to shine. I would be asking for an increased % for every ($1,000/$10,000/$100,000) above the quota that you make. The unfortunate reality of the situation is that in the corporate world today, people are EXPECTED to put in long hours. Again in my experiences, the higher up the ladder you go, the longer hours you will put in. Fortunately there is an upside to this. As you work longer hours, and earn more money, it gives less chance to spend it thereby making you rich more quickly. Work hard and do the long hours when you are young, they get much harder to do when you get older, and that is the time for taking it easy and reaping the rewards you have accumulated.

 

[fuji]

Sounds like if he wanted to shine he could just work more in his current job and massively exceed his number. Must be that the commission is not great if that's not motivating.

 

[a 1 player]

Sounds like if he wanted to shine he could just work more in his current job and massively exceed his number. Must be that the commission is not great if that's not motivating.

Very likely the case. Which brings us back to the art of negotiating.

 

[Keebler Elf]

A couple things. First, as the other poster pointed out, turning down a promotion can hurt your climb up the corporate ladder. Unless you've got a good reason, they may pass you over the next time (which may be for a promotion you do want).

That being said, make sure you have a good reason for them. If it comes down to, "I don't want the added responsibility", that makes you look bad. Come up with an excuse. Things are rough at home right now or something like that. Or justify why you're happy where you are right now.

You could make it conditional. Say a 3 month trial period that either party can cancel if they so choose with a certain amount of notice (say 1-2 weeks). Don't phrase it as, "I want to be able to pull the plug if I don't like it." Employers won't go for that if they can't do the same thing.

We'd have to know your salary before we can say whether $5,000 is worth it or not. If you're making $100,000, that's 5%, which isn't bad but I've seen promotions that only give 3%. I'd say 7-10% is a good range for an average promotion.

You have the leverage in this negotiation because you don't really want the job. Make them pay you to take it.

On a related note, this is increasingly becoming a problem for employers. People don't want the promotion because they don't think the added salary is worth the added headache. When you have stagflation, people eventually say "To hell with it, I'm happy enough with where I'm at."

I've personally seen this in two major sectors and it's a big problem. And it pisses off executives to no end when they see people who (and this isn't a shot) don't have any ambition to progress further up the corporate ladder. They feel comfortable enough where they're at and don't want the hassles of additional responsibility. (I love how this behaviour royally fucks over armchair economists who can't wrap their heads around the "irrationality" of it, lol! )

And this problem becomes magnified in unionized environments where potential managers could make more if they remained in the bargaining unit (e.g., better benefit plan, overtime, sick leave, vacation time, job security, etc.).

 

[great bear]

Bottom line is this: If he turns the new job offer down he is toast.

 

[Surfbum84]

Thanks for all your replies.

5,000 isn't much...as my total compensation is around 90-100 grand a yr. Is working an extra 10 hrs a week (minimum) really worth it? I'd have to consider that. I value things in life such as free time, low stress levels, etc...and im' in a position where financially I am very comfortable.

This is my dilemma!

 

[Bopper2]

You said basically that you can operate on cruise control in your current job and make your nut. Most likely someone above you on the org chart at one time had your job, and knows it as well as you do.
The new job, as you said, requires more work. Again, the honchos most likely know this too.
I see this as a test and an opportunity. A test to see how well you do when your nuts are up against the wall, and an opportunity in that if you do well, you may have a world of even better opportunities open up.
Also, as has already been stated, turning down a promotion is a great way to side track a career.

 

[Moraff]

Thanks for all your replies.

5,000 isn't much...as my total compensation is around 90-100 grand a yr. Is working an extra 10 hrs a week (minimum) really worth it? I'd have to consider that. I value things in life such as free time, low stress levels, etc...and im' in a position where financially I am very comfortable.

This is my dilemma!

You have to decide if you are happy where you are at... as has been said turning down a promotion has a good chance of killing a career - especially if there are others at or below your level working their way up.

Personally I need new challenges in a job or I get really bored with it.

Other thing to consider... yes right now you are financially comfortable but will it be the same after a few years of inflation?

 

[Diode]

5000 bucks is 250 lapdances....

Or almost 5 more per week.


I'd go for it!


Seriously...people who don't jump at promotions..make their managers nervous.

Perhaps..he's been offered somthing better as well..

Ask for 10-12k more...for 10 hours a week...thats good money.

 

[Lovemsog]

Remember the rule of thumb, the more money you'll get, the more return the company is expected and closer to the doors.

 

[middleweight]

Remember the rule of thumb, the more money you'll get, the more return the company is expected and closer to the doors.

Unless you become an executive and you will still get rewarded for failure (golden parachutes etc)

 

[middleweight]

I believe last year (as part of an earnings poll) Surfbum said that his total was around 100k including benefits, commission, gas allowances etc. I am guessing the $5k is closer to a 10% raise from your base salary?

If it were me, I would cruise and collect the $100k as you are now. Still a very good salary considering your age and considering the real amount of work you do.

 

[Surfbum84]

I believe last year (as part of an earnings poll) Surfbum said that his total was around 100k including benefits, commission, gas allowances etc. I am guessing the $5k is closer to a 10% raise from your base salary?

If it were me, I would cruise and collect the $100k as you are now. Still a very good salary considering your age and considering the real amount of work you do.

That's my feeling. I know I'll come off as the typical "young slacker"...but I find other things more important than this extra bit of money. I like being able to sit around my pool on nice days, or hit the ball around a golf course...and having to work hard and educate myself on these new products/services...and then go find new customers for them...it could be great but it's also going to cut into my free time.

This is my dilemma.
I decided to have a meeting with my manager's boss (the director) tomorrow morning to see what can be done

 

[hoser1970]

That's my feeling. I know I'll come off as the typical "young slacker"...but I find other things more important than this extra bit of money. I like being able to sit around my pool on nice days, or hit the ball around a golf course...and having to work hard and educate myself on these new products/services...and then go find new customers for them...it could be great but it's also going to cut into my free time.

This is my dilemma.
I decided to have a meeting with my manager's boss (the director) tomorrow morning to see what can be done

You sound like a typical "Generation Y" member!

We are in the middle of the worst recession since "The Great Depression" (God, I hope they still teach this in history!), you have been offered a promotion, and yet you are worried this will cut into your leisure time?

Okay, I get that it is not all about the money with Gen Y, but, still, give your head a shake! Take the promotion, give up a little bit of your spare time and learn the new products and services. Is this really too much for your employer to ask of you?

If you turn this down, I predict you will be out of a job in 12-18 months and looking to move back in with Mom & Dad (and trust me, they DON't want you moving back in.)

Think about how you got to where you are today...you likely had to work hard, learn products, develop a customer base. That is why you are on cruise control today! In 2-3 years, you will be right back in exactly the same spot, earning 2-3x what you earn today. Then it will be time to take on the next challenge!

 

[CapitalGuy]

Its great you are happy where you are now. Ask yourself - deeply and honestly - will you be happy in the same place in 5 years? In 15 years? What if you get married and start a family - will the income you are making now be sufficient? Will your wife be happy that you are hanging around the pool instead of earning money - when the kids need braces, she needs a new car, etc? These are not trite questions.

More importantly, will the company be happy with you being where you are now, in 5 years? In 15 years? Or are they likely to dump you, once you play the "no promotion card"? If you are in a portable job (ie. a sector where most people work for difference companies during the course of a career), will your reputation follow you to a new company?

How old are your peers? Is this sales gig you have now, something that only 20-somethings do, or are there others doing the exact same job you are, who are in their 50's? Are the 50 year olds happy?

I would offer that most people I have known (all?) who step off the promotion ladder, eventually regret it and do everything in their power to get back on it. Often, though, it is too late, and they are screwed because they made a mistake in turning down a promotion.

It sounds like you are being asked to grow up, and you are not happy about it. Think long and hard, before deciding that free time to hang around the pool (or whatever) is more important than a lifetime of job satisfaction. Good luck.