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-   -   How much was your pay cut? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/how-much-your-pay-cut-397399/)

Majj Sep 19th 2006 6:47 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by iaink
Its a crazy idea, but tell em! They have a lot of time and expense invested in finding you. If they could find someone local , they probably would have. Tell them what it will take to get you there, give them good reasons why their current offer is not attractive enough (either cos you are worth $X to their business, or cos you have done your research into the cost of living and its not enough to get you ahead of where you are now)

Be nice about it, and you might be surprised how little they want to go through the hassle of finding another candidate when they have already decided on you.

Really, this is the only time in employer/ employee negotiations when you have the upper hand. Right now they want you, and you dont really want them for what they are offering.

You need to be nice and intelegent about it though, and give them good reasons why its not enough. If they move, great, if not, well, it wasnt enough money anyway, so nothing lost.

Thanks for the response. I'm pretty sure they would have gone local if they could filled positions. But the fact is they do not teach my profession in Canada and it is currently undertaken by immigrants, UK, South African, Australian, Indian etc.

I'll see what they offer.

Majj Sep 19th 2006 7:01 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by britsnake
I just came back from a few weeks in Canada where I spoke with a few friends on this.

One friend gets just over $100k he told me that there are many people in the company doing exactly what he's doing for a lot less money.

He told me it's about what you think your worth with his company. You have to be willing to sell yourself. Just don't sell yourself short.

With his first job he just took what was offered and once he realised he was being underpaid he moved on. (He just used it as a way in)

Yes, I agree. I saw my postion earlier advertised in Toronto at $120k. But I would not expect that right now because I know I dont need it. I'm quite happy to make a reduction for no Canadian experience etc.

Majj Sep 19th 2006 7:57 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by flashman
Good point. There's a couple of factors to be considered.

1) The days of employer/employee loyalty are long gone so don't expect a job for life with the same employer.

2) If you are any good at your job and your employer values your work then any wage deficiencies should soon be resolved because they will know that you're likely to move on.

3) Look at the first job as simply getting on the job ladder. Don't expect an equivalent position to your UK job immediately until you prove yourself.

I am quite happy to take a nominal reduction for not having Canadian experience, however, I do have US experience. However, I'm not prepared to take a hand to mouth salary simply just to get that first job. I will end up starting on day 1 in a pissed off mood.

Rob_999 Sep 19th 2006 8:00 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 
OH and I moved from London to Vancouver last year, and are both on similar salaries. Although the cost of living here seems to be less than home, I would have been reluctant to move with anything over a 20% pay cut.

The main reason for our move was for the standard of living, not in a $$ sense, but for the outdoors lifestyle..

I would think very hard about the move if you're only motivated by the $$ aspect.

Souvenir Sep 19th 2006 8:01 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by Majj
Yes, I agree. I saw my postion earlier advertised in Toronto at $120k. But I would not expect that right now because I know I dont need it. I'm quite happy to make a reduction for no Canadian experience etc.

If it was being advertised at $120k, that's what they are expecting to pay. If they are considering hiring some one from overseas, it's because they couldn't find anyone here. Stand your ground.

dbd33 Sep 19th 2006 8:02 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by Rob_999
The main reason for our move was for the standard of living, not in a $$ sense, but for the outdoors lifestyle.

Please expand on the "outdoors lifestyle", I don't think we have that here.

What do you do in Vancouver that you could not have done in the UK?

shabby1 Sep 19th 2006 8:27 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by dbd33
Please expand on the "outdoors lifestyle", I don't think we have that here.

Is that "cardboard box because you can't now afford a house having taken such a drop in salary" outdoors lifestyle?

Rob_999 Sep 19th 2006 8:30 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 
Haha - I can afford a hell of a lot more in Vancouver than I could in London!!

dbd - there are many many things. For one, having Mountains on the doorstep... worldclass mountain biking, skiing, hiking. Can't remember London offering these things, maybe I just missed them ;)

shabby1 Sep 19th 2006 8:33 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by Rob_999
Haha - I can afford a hell of a lot more in Vancouver than I could in London!!


Tell me about it.

Despite what many warn, i.e lower wages etc, I still firmly believe that life will be better and more month left at the end of the money in Canada. We are well out of London, but prices here are still :scared:

nivlad Sep 19th 2006 8:41 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 
Heres my 2 cents

I was on 25 000 pounds in the UK and came over here for $35 000, I don't regret it and we own our own house (well we did in the UK...). Anyway, even without a mortgage we could not live on $35000 so my wife went and got a part-time job paying $800 a month. We just get by (we have two kids too). I am searching for a new job that pays better I can't even afford good beer (lakeport for me then :( )

dbd33 Sep 19th 2006 8:43 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by Rob_999
Haha - I can afford a hell of a lot more in Vancouver than I could in London!!

dbd - there are many many things. For one, having Mountains on the doorstep... worldclass mountain biking, skiing, hiking. Can't remember London offering these things, maybe I just missed them ;)

We certainly had bicycles in London, I rode one to work. Hiking was also popular, there are long footpaths in the UK such as the Pennine Way and the coastal ones. Skiing admittedly is a bit more problematic in southern England but there are alternative outdoor activities such as sheep dog trials and fox hunting. If the "outdoors lifestyle" is primarily about using cheap transport such as bicycles and feet then surely Alf Tupper is the exemplar; one doesn't have to go to BC to live like him.

I don't get the "outdoor lifestyle" thing, I suspect it just means dressing up in lots of spandex to do things other people just do.

shabby1 Sep 19th 2006 8:46 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by nivlad
Heres my 2 cents

I don't regret it :( )



And surely this is what it all boils down to?

Have you thought about homebrew? :beer:

Calgal Sep 19th 2006 8:47 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by nivlad
I can't even afford good beer (lakeport for me then :( )

Hey -on the bright side - you CAN afford beer ;)

Rob_999 Sep 19th 2006 8:47 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by shabby1
Tell me about it.

Despite what many warn, i.e lower wages etc, I still firmly believe that life will be better and more month left at the end of the money in Canada. We are well out of London, but prices here are still :scared:

Agreed - but only if you can land that job!

Rob_999 Sep 19th 2006 8:53 am

Re: How much was your pay cut?
 

Originally Posted by dbd33
I don't get the "outdoor lifestyle" thing, I suspect it just means dressing up in lots of spandex to do things other people just do.

Try it, you might like it :scared:


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