Question about job search

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Question about job search
9
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 9:44am

I just got sent a posting for a consulting job back in my home town!!! I'm so excited! I really hate working for the government, so this may be the perfect thing for me. I meet all of their requirements too!!!


Question for my business oriented friends. There is no salary posted. How would I go about figuring out what the salary may be (or what I should ask for?) A big part of the consideration about whether I go back or not would be if it can at least come close to what I make now. To me 70k a year (what I make now) seems reasonable for a private consulting firm (the title is Medical Manager) but I don't want to go to all this trouble to find out its only 40 or 50k a year.


How do you figure these things out?


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 12:32pm

I don't know the answer to your question but I wanted to post anyway.

Usually jobs in the private sector do not pay as much as ones in the public sector so be prepared for that.

I would look at the cost of houses in that area too though because even though you might make less money, the cost of living may be that much lower as well. Would it put you in a lower tax bracket? Not to mention being closer to relatives as a perk?

Perhaps Marie will have some ideas here. If if were me and I was really interested. I would apply and ask them straight out what the salary was. But that is just me.

Just some things to consider. Good luck!


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 1:38pm

Hi Bex!

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 2:14pm
I don't think I'm of much help either.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 5:05pm

Bex I have worked for both the public and private sectors and there are benefits and disadvantages to both...


In the public sector there is a lot of dead wood and you are not rewarded often if you work hard...however in the private sector financial rewards can be great in middle and upper levels (lower level workers are paid abysmally)


Private sector work is not as secure and there is rarely a decent pension plan but if you are innovative and work really hard you can reap great financial rewards...


Duke


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 5:42pm

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!


Here is what I am thinking. I took a paycut when I moved from private to public about 2 years ago (not significant, but a paycut still). Granted public sector offers a lot of benefits (i.e. pension, stability etc) but I don't think I can do this in the long term.


Based on my salary in the private sector about 3 years ago and how this consulting position is a step or two above what I was doing prior, I think its reasonable to expect a comparable salary to what I am doing now.


I am going to send in my resume and then speak with some of my contacts and see what they think about salary ranges. Heck, this could be ahead of the game. They may look at me and say no way!! Lol, who knows!


As a side note, I am also applying to more positions within the public sector so that I can keep moving and gain experience and not get "stuck". I just always like to be learning and taking on new challenges!


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-15-2008
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 7:22pm
They aren't always accurate but you could look for salary surveys for the area on the internet. This is what I've done before and for the US they are pretty close. Also if you still have contacts in that area I would call them and see if they've kept up with the salary ranges.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 8:43pm

This is an art more than a science.




iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
Wed, 01-06-2010 - 9:43pm

Oop's I meant to post this to Bex!!!


Several suggestions here although since you are in Canada you probably do not have the very same terminology, so please bear with me on this.


We have the federal department of labor, and I am sure Canada has something similar. The states all have some hybrid of that....who deals with job centers, unemployment, and things like employment discrimination etc.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2005
Thu, 01-07-2010 - 1:51pm
In my area it is standard to put your "salary requirements" in your cover letter.
Wedding