Post # 1

Member
633 posts
Busy bee
I am applying for an internal position at my company and I think there is a good chance I might get it. The position would be considered a lateral move, because it is the same pay grade level as I am now. My company’s policy is that lateral moves receive no pay increase. Now, the range of pay in my pay grade is large and spans around $20,000. So, someone can be a level 5 like I am and be earning $50,000 or earning $70,000 and still be in the range.
The position I am applying for requires someone with a Master’s, which I have, and the position itself also seems much higher level than what I am doing now, despite being the same pay grade.
If offered the position, I would like to ask for a raise, but I know it will be difficult to pull off since they expressly told me lateral moves do not merit raises. However, to my benefit, when they posted the position I am applying for externally on Monster, they list the pay range for the position and the bottom of the range is $3,000 more than I currently make, and the top of the range they posted is $10,000 more! So, I KNOW they have the budget to afford to pay someone at a higher rate for this position.
If offered the job, how can I phrase that I would take it if it came with a pay raise?
Post # 3

Member
13943 posts
Honey Beekeeper
To be honest, in my company, they say no pay raises for lateral moves, and they mean it. Someone argued for it once, and a year later, there’s still bad blood between that person and the company.
I would be very careful with how you phrase this if you decide to do it.
Post # 4

Member
1007 posts
Bumble bee
@maggierose: Maybe if the raise is a no-go you can leverage more vacation time or something?
Post # 5

Member
42 posts
Newbee
@maggierose: Since the company policy is not to have pay raises with lateral moves, maybe they’d be willing to do your review sooner than usual (and with pay raise if you have a good review)? For example, if the regular reviews are usually at 6 months then annually after that – maybe they’d be willing to do a review (and pay raise) at 90 days after hire? than again 6 month, 1 year, etc?
Post # 6

Member
47430 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Where are you on the pay range now? (You don’t have to answer that)
When was your last pay raise?
I think you could still ask for a pay increase. I think the minimum you could ask for is $3000 because they have already made it clear in the ad that they are willing to give a person new to the company $3000 more than the previous starting salary.
If you don’t get the raise and decide not to take the postion because of it, you can expect that the position you are in now will pretty much be where you’ll stay.
If you don’t get it, and want to take the job, you can always ask for a review in 6 months.
Post # 7

Member
633 posts
Busy bee
@julies1949: I make $65,000 and the job was posted externally with a range of $68-75 k. I think the range overall for this grade level is like $60,000 – $80,000. They make it very broad!
Anyway thanks, I may try to ask for more…if I get the offer – does not hurt to ask!