Salary Expectations

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SaoirseB

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So I had an agency contact me last week about a position with a really good company. The job sounds interesting, but I have to admit I'm a little scared as it's a really big company. The agent asked what my salary expectations are and I really don't know what to say. He told me I don't have to reveal what I'm currently earning, so I'm thinking 45% above my current salary. At the same time I'm worried I could be shooting myself in the foot.

What's a realistic going rate for a System Analyst with 10+ years of experience?
 
SaoirseB said:
So I had an agency contact me last week about a position with a really good company. The job sounds interesting, but I have to admit I'm a little scared as it's a really big company. The agent asked what my salary expectations are and I really don't know what to say. He told me I don't have to reveal what I'm currently earning, so I'm thinking 45% above my current salary. At the same time I'm worried I could be shooting myself in the foot.

What's a realistic going rate for a System Analyst with 10+ years of experience?
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Depends how good you are, not on how many years of experience you have. Could be anywhere from R360k to R1.5m
 
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Pls describe systems analyst, because that could be anything from a full backend dev to a business administrator.
 
JStrike said:
Depends how good you are, not on how many years of experience you have
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Agreed to a point. How good you are is more important, but experience does count quite a bit (especially for more senior positions).

@OP - What increase will make you happy to move? 30%? 45%? Well add 15% to that expectation and see what they come back with.
 
30%+ is generally good for a move, but it all depends on how happy you are right now.
 
Batista said:
Pls describe systems analyst, because that could be anything from a full backend dev to a business administrator.
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I do a bit of everything. Predominantly db management. Besides the normal day to day crap, I develop, test, implement and train. I also handle the backend if it's not already there (db, network). Recently started assisting with managing our virtual environments - setting up some our old servers as vm hosts.

TehStranger said:
Agreed to a point. How good you are is more important, but experience does count quite a bit (especially for more senior positions).

@OP - What increase will make you happy to move? 30%? 45%? Well add 15% to that expectation and see what they come back with.
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45% + 15% would be super great, but then I feel like they would expect me to ***** gold for that. But then again it's not like I have anything to lose.

Garson007 said:
30%+ is generally good for a move, but it all depends on how happy you are right now.
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I've only been with my current job for one year and it hasn't lived up to my expectations. I'm totally bored with it.
 
Your current job sounds more like an software/implementation engineer than a systems analyst?

SaoirseB said:
I do a bit of everything. Predominantly db management. Besides the normal day to day crap, I develop, test, implement and train. I also handle the backend if it's not already there (db, network). Recently started assisting with managing our virtual environments - setting up some our old servers as vm hosts.



45% + 15% would be super great, but then I feel like they would expect me to ***** gold for that. But then again it's not like I have anything to lose.



I've only been with my current job for one year and it hasn't lived up to my expectations. I'm totally bored with it.
Click to expand...
 
SaoirseB said:
45% + 15% would be super great, but then I feel like they would expect me to ***** gold for that. But then again it's not like I have anything to lose.
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Ask yourself - would you **** gold for a 60% increase? I would (and have in the past), especially considering you're bored at the current job. If the new job pushes your boundaries, keeps you engaged, expects top quality work and increases your salary by 60%, what's not to like? You'll probably have to put in some overtime, but then again who doesn't nowadays? Plus if the new job can push you so much and it's in a big company that's in a growing market, more increases will come over and above the current pay jump. And even if they don't, in 2 to 3 years you'll be armed with even more experience and skill, and can aim for another 30%+ jump.

There is serious money out there for those that are willing to graft.

Just be sure that the job can provide the engagement you desire, otherwise you might find yourself in a similar position a year on from now, asking the same question.

nakedpeanut said:
Your current job sounds more like an software/implementation engineer than a systems analyst?
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Also, this.
 
SaoirseB said:
45% + 15% would be super great, but then I feel like they would expect me to ***** gold for that. But then again it's not like I have anything to lose.

I've only been with my current job for one year and it hasn't lived up to my expectations. I'm totally bored with it.
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I've moved jobs 3 times, averaging well over 100% more (one was an overseas move, another was an industry move). It does dramatically push up your employer's expectations of you, but really if it didn't, you would just be bored again. I think that pushing hard for a big increase may well improve both your money and job interest situations.
 
SaoirseB said:
So I had an agency contact me last week about a position with a really good company. The job sounds interesting, but I have to admit I'm a little scared as it's a really big company. The agent asked what my salary expectations are and I really don't know what to say. He told me I don't have to reveal what I'm currently earning, so I'm thinking 45% above my current salary. At the same time I'm worried I could be shooting myself in the foot.
Click to expand...

I read that and was about to lambast you for not doing your research. Then I saw this:

SaoirseB said:
What's a realistic going rate for a System Analyst with 10+ years of experience?
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Asking here is ok, but rather look at all the different job sites and see what the going rate is, for the position you're looking with your level of experience. Take into account then Joburg has the highest salaries in the country, with Cape Town a close second, then a while after that Durban. Anywhere else nowhere near as close.

Depending on industry of course.
 
TheFriendlyGhost said:
if you could **** gold - money wouldn't be an issue :D

but on a serious note, speak to the agency and ask them what a person in your position, with your experience should/could be earning
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All that glitters is not gold. :whistle:

Also remember most agencies work on commission from successful placements (and it's usually serious money linked to your salary), so it's in their best interest to place good candidates for as much as they can.
 
TehStranger said:
Just be sure that the job can provide the engagement you desire, otherwise you might find yourself in a similar position a year on from now, asking the same question.
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This. I moved to a job that increased my salary by nearly 70%, but the engagement is much much much worse. My career is stagnating and I'm at a position where I might decide to take a pay cut and move back to a fast-paced IT environment.
 
Where are you based? Location makes a huge difference.
 
SaoirseB said:
Thanks for all the advice. I asked for 60%.
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Good stuff, let's see what they come back with.

One thing I forgot to mention is understanding where the ceiling is in terms of your position. No point in asking for a 60% increase if you're already at the ceiling for your current position, and can't really expect to earn more without moving up to a higher position in a higher salary band.

But I assume that's not the case here.
 
TehStranger said:
One thing I forgot to mention is understanding where the ceiling is in terms of your position
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Yea I was going to add the same thing.

If you're earning R10,000.00, then R16,000 is fine - but if you're already on R100,000, I suspect an additional R60,000 is really going to need motivation !
 
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