Promotion? Advice Please

[oroula71]

Hi! I have been working as a receptionist for the past year or so. Someone is leaving in a department that I do a lot of work for. They do want me to take over this position. However, I found out how much this person makes - who has worked there for 5 years and her salary is lower than mine. My question is when they offer me this position should I ask if my salary is going to increase, even though I know that her salary is lower than mine now or should I just be happy with moving to this other department. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

[IrishEyes0421]

One thing that I have learned over the years, which may seem a bit counterintuitive, is that one person's salary sometimes has little to do with another's at the same or even higher level. I have been on both sides of it, and it can be confusing. In working for a large political entity, a position I just recently left, I discovered that the Exec. Asst. for my boss' boss made far less than I (Exec. Asst. was my title, too). I negotiated my salary upon my hire, as did she, and apparently, I just happened to drive a far harder bargain. This was a source of frustration for her (I know this because she was the one who revealed, unsolicited, the information to me. She had seen our department's budget and became frustrated about this fact, but I felt is I owed no explanation or apology, and offered none).

I believe it is always unprofessional to speak about someone else's salary, either to them or to anyone. There are many ways to research on what the average salary that a certain title with certain responsibilities makes in your demographic area. I would do that research if I were you and start with that figure in mind, making adjustments for special skills or potential that you may have, as well. If you have already proven yourself as an able employee, and you have done your homework, when you present your expectations to your employer in discussing your taking the promotion, you should have their ear. The next step is being an astute negotiator. I would not worry at all about what the person in the position before me was making.

Hope this helps!

[heavery]

It's hard to decipher what this feels like. I always perceived a promotion as earning more money but I guess I am wrong. It's totally up to you. Do you think the position would look good in your resume then why not take the plunge?