This is my first post, and I am looking for advice.

10 Comments

1. Aubrey ArmesNovember 12,2021 at 10:52PM UTC

   Ouch, that's a hard place to be in. Earlier in my career, I faced something similar in finding out after I was hired that I left a lot of money on the negotiating table when I found out a less experienced male colleague was getting paid more.

   Sounds like your annual review is coming up soon. It's the perfect time to talk to your boss about this.

   One area to look at - are you providing more value than the job you were hired for? I'm curious if you are actually performing at a higher level? This may give you more leverage to negotiate a higher salary.

   Another thing to do is to research compensation for this role. Bring those with you for reference point. Payscale is a great resource.

   And finally, you might want to ask if your supervisor and/or HR team has looked at salaries and if they have done any leveling due to previous gender or racial bias? You might nudge them to do this that would allow for adjustments based on market trends, not poor hiring practices. Let me know if I can help you prepare for this conversation!

2. AnonymousNovember 13,2021 at 2:12AM UTC

   Thank you for the great feedback and suggestions Aubrey.

   At this point I honestly don't think I am performing at a higher level. My added value is that I am a niche technology expert and I have skills that are unique within (and outside) of my company.

   I will definitely have a look at Payscale. But based on my initial research, it looks like I am within the expected range of salaries for my role. However, what the compensation research tools do not always include in their criteria is the unique talents an employee can bring to a job.

   So the problem here is that while my unique talents were not taken into account for my compensation, they were taken into account for my colleague's compensation - although his talents and skills are not nearly as precious and rare to the company as mine.

   There is another angle I am tempted to try during my annual review: I think my current role does not allow me to use my full potential. Maybe suggesting a transition to a new role that allows me to perform at a higher level would be a more natural way to re-negotiate my compensation.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 13,2021 at 3:37AM UTC

   Sorry to hear this is happening to you. That really sucks.

   I would suggest you put some feelers out in the job market. See if you can gather some market data from potential positions and you'll have some ground work laid in case you decide that making a move is your best option.

   Don't rely on Glassdoor for comp info when doing research - there are other sites more data driven. Try Payscale and Salary - both use data provided by employers.

   Here's an article by the awesome Kristen Fife -everyone interested in salary negotiations or in a job search should follow her on LinkedIN:

   Let’s Talk Offers, Salary Negotiation, and Compensation
   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lets-talk-offers-salary-negotiation-compensation-fife-she-her-hers-/

4. AnonymousNovember 13,2021 at 8:07PM UTC

   Thank you for the advice Joan. I think putting out some feelers in the job market seems like my best option at the moment.

5. AnonymousNovember 14,2021 at 4:27PM UTC

   At the end of your review, if it is good, be clear that salary parity is important to you. And that you would like to know the company's position on fair pay.

   Also, start looking elsewhere, just in case. It will give you more bargaining power.

6. AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 2:15PM UTC

   Others have given you really good advice so I only want to add one thing. People lie, especially about their salary. It is possible that what he told you regarding his salary is not entirely true.

7. AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 2:32PM UTC

   This is a valid question. But I have known this colleague for 10 years and we have been close friends for the past 4 years. We also planned our recent transition to a new job by reviewing each other's resumes, preparing for interviews, etc. So I really doubt he lied. Also, his N+2 position was officially announced by my management, which strongly confirms the compensation he shared with me.

8. Laura LeachDecember 1,2021 at 1:08AM UTC

   All of the advice below is true. Make sure you've done your research, write out what you want to say. Practice the words coming out of your mouth. I know it sounds silly but until you say it out loud to yourself, it's harder to stand your ground at the moment. Here are a few other resources:

   comparably.com
   Salary.com
   Glassdoor.com
   salaryproject.com
   payscale.com
   linkedin.com/salary/
   carta.com
   Equity Calculator
   H1BData.info
   levels.fyi
   paysa

9. Heather L.January 21,2022 at 5:14PM UTC

   I think everyone's advice is great. I'm only commenting to let you know that you, of course, aren't alone. At one of my previous employers, I was assisting in the hiring process, sitting in on an interview for an employee that would be under my supervision. During the interview, they offered her a higher salary than I was making, which they must have not noticed until later. Granted she was older than me, but I was upset that I had several years of experience under my belt and was going to supervise her but for less money. Eventually, they apologized for talking negotiations in front of me (not for offering her more than me). I regretted not pushing the issue more to equal things up more, but it was also drilled into my head up until that point that their budget is the budget set legislatively, so there wasn't much negotiating room for raises. So, personally, I think you will regret it if you let this moment pass. Best of luck!

10. Heather GrahamMarch 31,2022 at 5:34PM UTC

    You should try. Write it up like a business case showing your benefits and why you're worth more.