Can anyone explain why the majority of web sites for jobs in Canada fail to include starting Salaries.Is this the norm? My wife has been looking at jobs and none seems to include wages/salaries.Anyone shed any light on this?

Slainte

Dave

Hiya Davie

Yes we noticed this when Phil first started to look for work in Canada.

Think it could be something to do with confidentiality as would you like someone else to know what your worth was ? No one wants the person next to u being able to look at that website and see how much someone is going to get paid to do a job in their workplace.

Much more professional to discuss face to face as well

Well said.

I'm sure it's got more to do with the fact that in the UK [I]most[I]people in the workplace are TOLD what they're worth (or not worth) by the time they leave school. Here in Canada (Kelowna BC), I get the impression that almost everyone is encouraged to tell employers what they believe they are worth from the start! A much healthier way of doing business between employer and employee in my opinion. The bottom line here is that if the employer wants you, but thinks you're expecting too much money, they will tell you you're asking too much and negotiate benefits to keep you onboard.

That said, it pays to do some asking around before you pitch your salary expectations. I have just landed a job in trucking after months of working it all out and getting qualified! This is a major change from running IT networks, project management and satellite comms and infrastructure - hey, I wanted a change and got one! Enough about my personnel situation. The bottom line on this one is simple - ask around first then go in and pitch high whilst being prepared to be negotiated down and meet somewhere near the halfway mark.

I started at $65k being prepared to drop as low as $55k (needing to be on just over $5k monthly to pay mortgage and have a decent life too). My new boss came back with $62k and no additional benefits. Now; this is based on me getting some miles on the road, and talking to other members of his staff they all seem to average between $4.5k and $6.8k after taxes depending on how busy they have been on the road. Seems like I pitched it about right for the new guy. I have a job that will pay me what I need in order to support the lifestyle we (me, wife +3) would never be able to have in the UK on double the money!

You must do some homework and be direct and to the point. Ask employers what they pay. They'll tell you. Pick up the phone and speak to someone in an office that knows the payroll - tell them you're not expecting them to break any privacy act rules by quoting actual people's salary, but "can you give me a ball-park average of what I could expect..." or some other phrase you are comfortable using. Add at least 10-15% on top and start your pitch there. They'll let you know in short order if they think you are expecting too much. Also let employers know you are prepared to negotiate salary against additional benefits (medical and dental being the classic carrot that gets dangled...). Get used to realising that you are worth something - it's appreciated here more so than in the UK.

All the above is just my opinion, but it's got me a contract of employment at a rate I am prepared to work for - doesn't mean that someone else isn't getting more than me for the same work, just that I'm happy on what I'll be getting paid. Anyway, now I have a contract I have to get the BC Govt to ratify the job through a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) - that's the subject of any entirely different kind of battle, more of which is available at any number of threads in this forum. Should take about 4 weeks according to the Vancouver office staff - I'll let you know how that goes.

All that said - I never was one for being jealous over what someone else thinks they're worth or what they get paid ... it's not always about the money in your wallet! Good luck with whatever you end up with

I would just add that there is a flexibility issue here and for many jobs there is a target salary range in the employers mind but they'll keep it flexible and pay what the individual is worth.

As an example, currently we are recruiting a position for a client and the target range is $85 to $110 plus benefits. this is quite a wide range but not uncommon. Someone who can add additional value, experience and be effective right away will be at the upper end whereas someone with basic skills and qualifications but with potential will be brought in at the lower end.

Also benefits play a large part in the compensation package unlike in the UK where you have dental and medical as part of the NHS. How would you compare $xxk pa with and without knowing what the benefits are? The true value could be significantly more - dental, medical, RSP contributions, car allowance, parking etc.

Do some research as you will be asked by qualifying interview what your salary expectations are. Don't price yourself out of the role (on the example above if you asked for $130k you wouldn't be asked for a second interview)but don't undersell yourself.

Couldn't agree more. My last post was full of personal"isms". MCroker has hit the nail squarely on the head - DON'T price yourself out of the market. The key is be sensible and don't expect Brain Surgeon money if what you do for a living is hand him the scalpel!