A recruitment expert has revealed her advice for people looking to bring home a few extra pennies at the end of the month as the cost of living continues to rise.
Laurie Macpherson, who describes herself as a "career wing woman", says now is the perfect time to push for a better wage - which might help to ease the cost of living pressures over the coming months. According to Ms Macpherson, the market currently favours employees, meaning it's easier for workers to push for extra pay providing they back up their request with evidence and present their cases the right way.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Ms Macpherson said: "A lot of people say 'oh there's nothing I can do' but actually most people who go to their employer with a bit of evidence and take the time to set up meetings are getting a raise because employers don't want to lose people.
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"Most people at the moment, if they pitch it right and can go to their employer with evidence, are getting a raise or extra benefits or more flexibility. You don't have to accept it as it is, there are option to make it more manageable and more stable if you have the courage to ask.
"It's just about helping people understand what they want, women in particular struggle to ask for money. This is not a 'just go and get more money', in this moment at this time most people in employed roles are in a position to earn more if you can, as now would be a good time to speak to your employer. If you can't, it's not about shaming, it's not about 'just get a better job', just what a fantastic opportunity we've got right now."
Career coaches, as they're often called, predominantly help people who already have jobs, but feel dissatisfied with either a part of their role, the pay they receive, or the inflexibility of their working arrangements. They also help people who are searching for work, and Ms Machpherson spent a lot of time over lockdown helping clients find roles they were happy with.
Working with people to find out what exactly it is they're missing can be quite difficult, with clients sometimes realising what they think they're missing is completely wrong, and they're happier with more flexibility with working hours - or even want to leave the company completely.
One of the most important questions Ms Macpherson asks her clients is whether they would be willing to leave their jobs in order to find what they're looking for, as it can sometimes be easier to negotiate your terms with a new employer than with your existing one. Although this is her advice at the moment, the recruitment expert isn't sure how much longer the market will remain candidate-orientated, so if you want to move now is the time.
However, she discourages people from looking for other job offers to take to your employer for a "counter-offer", as the practice wastes both your time applying and interviewing, and the other company's time before damaging the goodwill they have towards you as a potential employee. Instead, build up evidence of what salary you want, backed up by salaries from similar jobs, and the value you bring to the company to show how much you contribute to the firm.
Ms Macpherson added: "It's important to get a bit of a benchmark of what similar roles are worth; because money is shrouded in mystery we think we're not allowed to talk about so we don't know how much our jobs are worth so you don't know if you're underpaid. So have a look at a benchmark, use Glassdoor, look on LinkedIn under the work tab at the top and check salaries - they're not exact as they can be quite global but it gives you an idea.
"You can also go on a job site and put in your job title without worrying about location and look at other listings to get a rough feel. The process of getting evidence can make people see that 'I'm worth it' and if they don't offer it I know I'm a good candidate'. There is a fear right now that you won't get something else but you absolutely will.
"Negotiations fail when people are wooly, saying the words in your head will help. You've got to have a figure in mind and you've got to be able to say that without cringing or looking awkward. People say 'oh well I would like that but if you can't it's fine' rather than saying 'I'm looking for this amount and here's the evidence'."
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