| One way to raise your pay is to switch to a new | | | | If she followed my advice in the Get a Raise |
| employer to fill the same or similar job you're | | | | Workbook for Women (which she apparently did), |
| doing now. Depending on the circumstances, you | | | | Debbie set an ambitious target figure within a |
| can negotiate a substantial salary increase. Here's | | | | well-researched market value salary range. |
| an instructive example. | | | | Combine that with her situational advantage, and |
| Debbie is a Long Term Care (LTC) dietitian who | | | | she was able to secure a hefty hike in salary. |
| wrote to tell me of her negotiating success after | | | | Takeaway Advice: Do the research on the fair |
| using the Get a Raise Workbook for Women. She | | | | market value of your position given your |
| reported negotiating an $11,000 increase in salary | | | | experience, geographic location, etc., and set an |
| when she went from being an employee of a | | | | ambitious target based on the salary range you |
| contracted company which served a LTC facility | | | | uncover. Assess and explore ways to increase |
| to working for the facility itself. (The contract | | | | your negotiation leverage before engaging the |
| was cancelled and the company cleared Debbie to | | | | other party in discussion. |
| be hired directly by the LTC facility.) | | | | Look ahead to apply this advice. I realize that the |
| Whether Debbie was woefully or adequately paid | | | | current job market has stripped most employees |
| by her former employer, we can safely surmise | | | | of negotiation leverage. And new hires, who have |
| that an $11,000 salary increase when joining her | | | | been out of work and relieved to find a job, are |
| new employer reflects an impressive double-digit | | | | accepting lower-than-usual salary offers. So as |
| percentage hike in her pay! | | | | you consider this negotiation nugget, look ahead: |
| Let's assume the additional $11K brought Debbie | | | | once the economy rebounds to a point where |
| solidly above the fair market value average for a | | | | companies ramp up recruitment again, you may |
| LTC dietitian in her area. | | | | find yourself looking for a new employer. |
| How did she pull it off? I have no specifics beyond | | | | The fact remains, changing jobs is the best way |
| the email that she sent me, but she included this | | | | to significantly increase your salary; a negotiated |
| clue: "...the administrator wanted me to stay." | | | | offer with a new employer should be higher than |
| This gave Debbie situational advantage, also | | | | any annual raise you might get with a current |
| known negotiation leverage. My guess is that the | | | | employer. Keep this advice in mind as you plan for |
| administrator was simply willing to pay what | | | | your next job in better times ahead. |
| Debbie wanted to keep her at the facility. | | | | |