[The Hodges]

I just wondered how other forum members worked out what they are worth in their jobs?

As the job adverts have no salary on them (just like the house ads, but that is for another thread!), I find it extremely difficult. Salary surveys come out once in a blue moon and while salary information seems to be remarkable forthcoming when you talk to peers, it often takes a while to build up a relationship with someone before you can ask "How much do you earn?"

Do you guys and girls go to job interviews with no intention of taking the job just to find out what the market place is offering?

If you feel comfortable spilling the beans, it would be helpful, along with any experiences that you have had.

:cheers

[Moorf]

I remember when OH was looking for jobs when we first arrived, they all seemed to ask HIM "What sort of salary are you looking for?", and at the time we had no clue what we should be asking... we worried we'd go too high and lose the job or too low that they'd be taking the mick....

[Ojai]

I went through a placement agency. They asked me what I wanted, and I told them honestly. They then told me that my range was realistic, and I should ask for a higher range.

If you want numbers you can PM, but the salary guide that just came out was bang on for me. I presume it is pretty accurate for other ranges.

Beware accepting the "Immigrant Special Salary"!

[cappuccino]

Beware accepting the "Immigrant Special Salary"!

How true!!

[dilanium]

Well I'll be worth a lot in negative dollars. :D

[missy+mrmagoo]

www.kiwicareers.govt.nz

Great site. It covers loads of jobs, how to get into them, the outlook over the next few years and.... what you can expect to earn.
Very handy for checking that we are being paid what we should be.

[Lambuel+Ruby]

Regarding the phenomenon of the missing salary figure:

I can't help as I'm still captive in America...but I am a human resources worker and know that conversation well. It's as though two warriors meet in the forest, their swords raised, each knowing that, by making the first offensive move, they are immediately put into defense and sacrifice the advantage. I think the story ends where the warriors die of natural causes?;)

I try to always give at least a range, so people can self select and we don't waste anyone's time. But say I want to find an engineer trained in building a certain kind of machine with a certain kind of software. There may be a few of these people out there, who we would gladly pay $80,000. It's more likely we'll have to train a recent graduate with some interest in those areas, and they are more likely to come in at $45,000. If I advertise at $80,000, the bright young students self select away and if I post it as starting at $45,000, the professionals aren't going to be interested. So...it makes me want to not post a rate at all (though that attracts fewer candidates in the US, anyway). :uhoh

When I first call a candidate, before they get a chance to ask me the range, I typically ask "what do you make now"? It's tricky, because they have to tell the truth, as we will verify with their references or ask for tax forms. I'm not unrealistic that most people want to leave a job to make $10,000 or so more, and may well be worth it. But if I get a recent grad who makes $45,000 and expects to come in at $80,000, well, it's too big of a leap. Essentially, I get "anchored" on their last salary.

Long story short, I know I'll be on the other side of the desk now (karma catches us all...lol). :exit My plan is to 1) set a bottom line of what I'm willing to work for 2) make sure that is appropriate based on research 3) not "bargain" but simply tell them that "this is where I need to be" 4) accept that if I'm not hired, it wasn't the right place, I would have resented the pay or left soon, etc.

I know it seems like a huge waste to go on interviews for jobs that won't work out, but actually, it's a good connection, chance to hone your interview skills, they may create a whole job for you that is different than reason you came in and it renders us "objects in motion" perhaps? :raebanana

Anyway, a bit of a long post. I so appreciate that everyone who is willing to talk about money on here. It really helps. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[The Hodges]

I just thought that I would give a bit of advice on salary levels. I had an interview with a recruitment consultant and we chatted for about an hour and a half about everything.

He did confirm though that I was on a pretty good salary for what I do (which didn't really please me as I think that my industry is being short changed as a result), but at least he has given me some guidance and some direction.

So, overall, I came out of my meeting with him a lot more positive than when I went in and now I have a dilemma of having one job, one job offer and another interview this afternoon.

So, I hope that this helps piece of advice helps at least one person out on this forum. :cheers and :nice1

[andrewandjane]

one job, a job offer and another interview!! good place to be in, especially if they all want you as you can then let the auction commence...
good luck

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Aside from the money matters, I would always advise going for interviews if/when invited. They are pretty traumatic affairs at the best of times, so the more you attend, the better you will get at them.

A better interview technique is more likely to A) land you a job you really fancy and B) give you a better chance of getting a higher salary out of it.

At the end of the day, you can always turn down a job offer, but you have to get an offer in the first place!

Salary discussions I've had have generally happened with the ball in my court to start with. I usually start with "my last role paid $x so I my starting position would be $y".

I like using the phrase 'my starting position' as it it's a softer approach and (obviously) the figure quoted is on the high side, giving the potential employer the oportunity to knock me down whilst we could still end up both thinking we've got a good deal.

I agree it's important to have a minimum in mind. Working for a wage you consider a pittance is never going to lead to happy times, unless you are desperate and consider the job a 'stop gap' and expect to move on soon anyway.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Forgot to add that in my interview last week, the very first question I was asked was "How much do you expect to earn". Took me totally by surprise (possibly intentionally I suppose) being right at the start of the interview and I'd barely sat down.

Odd seeing as I had little idea about what the job actually entailed at that point. I just said "my last contract was at $65/hour, so that's the level I expect to be at"

The response was "Oh, that would put you at a senior engineer level" then no further discussion.

Strange response, as I thought the contract(s) I was being considered for were senior engineer/technical lead roles.

I guess that means the rate I want for the role(s) I was expecting them to talk to me about was in the right ball park.

I guess I'll see if they offer me anything this week!

[Lambuel+Ruby]

I'm going to receive an MBA from a fairly high profile US college before we set off for NZ. When we were looking at schools, each one claims to track how long it will take too earn back the tuition investment - usually around "3 years" (or so they claim...it really does seem quite hard to track).

Anyway, what are you thoughts on whether that will hold true in ChCh? I was an Operations/HR director for a large truck plant. I'm 39 and have over 15 years managment experience.


I haven't noticed a lot of manufacturing managment roles that pay terribly well, and almost none that ask for an MBA (which is quite common in the US).

Of course we're excited to live in paradise and I don't want a life that centers around a corporate rat race...but what are your thoughts on how valued my skills will be? Any thoughts on what it's like for women working in manufacturing management in NZ?

[sam123]

Hi there

I will spill the beans on salaries in NZ. We have been here for 2.5 years, originally from the UK, and in that time i have fought tooth and nail to get salary increases from $50,000 to $67,000 per annum. As a Corgi Registered central heating engineer in the UK i worked for myself and earnt well. The truth is wages are a big bone of contention here and people are extremely secretive about them. On $67,000 i am sitting in the top 10% of earners in the country would you believe and if i get $70,000 then i am doing really well for myself! There are also many people here earning vast salaries in comparison, such as $150,000 plus (just like the City of London), but the average person is on about $38,000-$45,000. You dont come here for the money my friend!

The average man in supressed by the people who run the business community and bosses are in the main very mean - staff are not really valued and they will get away with paying you as little as they can, hence no figures on job advertisments! I had to almost beg for a $1 an hour raise (40p) from one of my bosses and i spent a good proportion of my time sorting out other peoples cock-ups and repairing technical faults on complicated equipment they hadnt got a clue about. Annual rises are not a matter of course over here unless you work for a govt department etc.

Hope this helps

Sam

[Moorf]

It's a shame you've had a crap experience, however it's a bit generalistic to say all NZ employers are crap - OH has had a payrise every single year so far and a bonus to boot - and he doesn't work for a big blue-chip company, it's an I.T. co owned by Kiwis that employs probably 50% migrants.

Perhaps you could help buck the system and start your own business and pay all your staff top wages?

As you said yourself, you don't come here for the money and there's little point in comparing them, or the jobs/employers, to those in the U.K. or elsewhere.

[Carey]

www.kiwicareers.govt.nz

Great site. It covers loads of jobs, how to get into them, the outlook over the next few years and.... what you can expect to earn.
Very handy for checking that we are being paid what we should be.

Thank you for this link, I hadn't come across this before. Very useful, have added it to my favourites.

[Pebbles]

Thanks for the link indeed!
Recently gave an employer a bottom figure and it turns out that I was spot on :p

[NickB]

What a useful thread :)
My two-pennorth and a question;

My gf got a salary hike by moving here from the UK. She is an environmental/water scientist, worked for HM Govt before but is now in private sector. So I guess you can earn more depending what you leave at home, and if you are in skills shortage sector.

>>go to interviews for practice

Agree wholeheartedly. What if the perfect job comes up and you fluff the interview because of nerves? So when I was last job hunting I would go to ones I didn't really want for the practice. Its great to learn the 'tricky' questions they come up with.

The question; we are thinking about taking on a small coffee shop in auckland CBD. We'll need to hire a grill chef/sandwich maker and a waitress/waiter, for mon-fri 7-3, weekends off. Would love to hear from anyone who knows this type of job, what sort of salary will we need to offer to get good people????

[Kate D]

If you're in IT, you might find this latest survey of salaries interesting. Covers permanent and contract roles for Wellington and Auckland:


http://www.absoluteit.co.nz/absolute/absoluteweb.nsf/SalarySurvey/$FILE/Remuneration%20Survey%20AbsoluteIT.pdf


Kate