Let’s face it: wage reviews in any industry can be uncomfortable. But in a close-knit industry like Allied Health, a review gone wrong can ruin your reputation and burn some much-needed bridges.
Before any review, it pays (pardon the pun!) to do some research beforehand.
Read on to find out how to make your meeting not only more comfortable, but potentially more profitable too.
Look at your review like a house appraisal
Take a step back and consider yourself in comparison to ‘the market’.
Do you know what someone with your skills is worth in the market? What are your peers earning? Do some research around this and then look at your role and your skills objectively, logically and based on your performance. Weigh up the value you bring to your organisation, and find a way to communicate this in your meeting without too much emotion attached.
Call a recruiter
A recruiter who’s an expert in your industry will have insider knowledge of your market value. After all, we pretty much talk salaries all day long!
If you’d like advice on your market value, give us a call – we’re happy to help. You can also ask us about our salary survey data and check our jobs board to get a feel for the market.
But don’t start looking for a new job until you’ve spoken to your current employer!
Be prepared
Be ready to talk numbers. Know what your current pay is (take a recent pay slip in if you need) and the pay rise you’d like.
Be able to clearly show why you deserve a pay rise. Just because you’ve been there an extra year or because the company did really well aren’t good reasons. Be prepared with a list of how you contributed to your employer’s success and the value you brought.
Know what you’d like to achieve from the review. Categorise these into:
- ‘essentials’ (which if you didn’t get, you’d consider leaving your job over),
- ‘negotiables’ (nice to have) and
- ‘bells and whistle’s’ (great to have but really just icing on the cake).
Get across your KPIs
Make sure you have an understanding of what your KPIs are and how you’re performing against them.
- Can you find out what people in other companies with the same or similar KPIs as you are being paid?
- How have you met your KPIs?
- Where have you gone above and beyond and achieved outside your KPIs?
- Have you brought in new business?
- Did you do something that sets you apart from the crowd?
Don’t start looking for a new job!
We can’t stress this enough.
Never try to negotiate a review by using a job offer from another employer as leverage. It will put your employer off, and if you stay with your employer you’ll have wasted your new employer’s and/or your recruiter’s time.
Sure, while you’re researching market conditions you may be tempted to apply for some jobs, but believe us when we say now is not the time to start applying. Give your current role your full attention and use this opportunity to understand the package available to you and the career progression possible with your current employer.
Recruiting staff is expensive and time-consuming and Australian Allied Health is a very small industry – do the right thing by your employer and give them the opportunity to address any concerns you may have.
Stay cool
Reviews can be uncomfortable, but respect that your boss is a professional doing their job. Be polite, but if the situation becomes heated or emotional, it’s ok to remove yourself. Say something like, “Could I have a couple of days to digest what we’ve discussed?” Leave the meeting and schedule a new meeting to follow-up the discussion.
Try not to take a manager marking you down for any KPIs you haven’t achieved personally – it’s not personal. They need to report upwards, and if you’ve underperformed, it’s your responsibility to be accountable for that. If you don’t have clear KPIs, ask for them – you need to know how your performance is being managed, recorded or assessed.
Take on feedback
Is there some truth to the feedback you received at your review? Sometimes you don’t like what you hear, but this can be a great opportunity to improve. It’s really important to go into these meetings with a clear head. If you’re upset, take a week to process the information you’ve been given. Don’t start job-hunting immediately. If you still want to try to find a new job after a week, call us and we can chat.
At Medijobs Australia, we know our stuff. We’re specialist Allied Health recruiters, which means we know the industry inside out. We’ve got the latest salary data so you won’t be left guessing about ‘insider knowledge’. Our brains are yours to pick!
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