If you are good at your job they will make a reasonable offer to keep you. People who think good receptionists/admin are plentiful have no clue.
I spend my work hours as an administrator for a maintenance contract answering the phone, filing, data entry, purchasing, timesheets, holiday forms and invoice queries. Could anyone do my job? Sure. Could they do it as good as me? I doubt it. I negotiated a £5K raise because I am damn good at my job and my boss recognised how important it is to have someone with a bit of sense and brains.
The only issue that may come up is if you aren’t committed to the job. A bit more money is nice…but I wouldn’t want to hold you back from doing what you love and I would need someone who was looking to stay long term. I wouldn’t invest in you because it would be pointless for both of us.
I think she’s screwed. She’s indicated that the recep gig isn’t her primary gig: it’s what she does between auditions and jobs gained via auditions. Her company is likely now in a replace her when convenient mode.
*Per the requested advice: bring up the previous persons pay rate, and consider that in terms of the previous person’s seniority, training/education and productivity/efficiency. If you can quantify “yours” versus “hers”, then that is a plus. Beyond that, look into salary surveys for people in your job line, considering local cost of living and company type/size.
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Not to pile on, but a recep job isn’t your best between auditions job: waitroning is better in terms of flexibility and availability, especially if you’re attractive and personable.
Companies, to a certain extent, rely on thier receps to provide a stable, reliable face to their colleagues, customers and the public at large. They might want an actual receptionist, rather than an actor/singer/performer/ex-waitress/receptionist.
The first point to consider is the value of the increase you will take as a minimum. This is the crux of the matter bearing in mind you are not in love with the work.
The second point to be noted is that you didn’t call the meeting. They did. The Big Boss knows that you are not ecstatic about your salary and wants to discuss it with you. He may indulge in some small talk before getting down to business and you should engage him in this. Don’t broach the subject of the meeting before he does. Let him open up negotiations and thus you can gain an idea of which way the wind is blowing.
Big Boss just might come up with a number you like, in which case there is no problem. He might give you a figure close to your requirements, in which case you might want to consider it. He might ask you what you think you are worth, in which case you’ll need the next paragraph of this post.
Do some homework. If you don’t know already, find out the going rate for your current job in your area so you have an idea of what you are worth in a similar role elsewhere. Don’t refer to other receptionist jobs directly in the conversation but use the knowledge to augment your confidence. If you really believe you merit a raise your case is that much enhanced. List everything you do, memorise it and use that, and that alone, as justification for your desired increase. Point out (using all your skills in diplomacy) that a job interview rarely describes the exact nature of the vacancy and you find yourself with more on your plate than you had imagined.
Defensiveness rarely works when salary negotiations are under way. Be cool and calm, and firmly and convincingly state your case. Be confident that you have prepared as much as you can and be confident in yourself.
Get up early on Monday morning. Wear something which makes you feel good and tells people you feel good. Don’t go to work with toast crumbs on your chin. This never helps. OK, only jesting there.
The situation is not an easy one to play because of your (understandable) reluctance to commit more to the job. But they know you are a famous actress in the making and they have still called the meeting.
Good luck. But give yourself every opportunity to make yourself lucky.
Thank everyone, I’m taking everything you’re saying into account for sure.
Quick note: They knew about my priorities and my loyalty to auditions and acting gigs when they hired me. IN FACT: I turned down the job at first, because I told them I needed flexibility for auditions. I explained before they even hired me that acting is my primary priority, and that I didn’t think it was fair for them to hire me and have that possibility of having me leave at a moment’s notice.
They called me back the next day and said “We really, really, really want you to work here. Please take the job.”
So don’t think they weren’t aware of my priorities before… they were very aware.
And PS… to those of you who are astounded that a receptionist should get paid more than $10/hr, I feel it necessary to assure you that I don’t just answer the phones. As **Mr. Jim ** said, there’s a lot more to it than that.
I’m an intelligent woman with a university degree and an ability to multitask and be organized. Yes, I answer the phones. I also do some of the accounting, scheduling, organizing, and the maintaining of clients when they come in. It’s up to me to know what everyone is doing and where all 30+ people are in the entire high-rise at all times. I am to know what files they’re working on at what time and what needs to be sent out to who when, among many other duties.
Of course, again, as **Mr. Jim ** said, I’m sure you could get anyone to do my job. But could they do it as well? Likely not.
Could you get university-educated people who did it as well as I to do the job for $10/hr? Who knows. But if they could make more waitressing…well, apparently not.
So why did you take the job? I saw that you said there was some confusion over the hours – was there confusion over the pay rate? Have you asked for time off for an audition and been refused? What was your response at the time?
If you feel you were deliberately misled, you sholdn’t even be negotiating,you should be laying out the agreement as you inderstand it, and walking out the door if they won’t honor it. That is, of course, if you’re certain you can find a better paying gig immediately; I couldn’t afford to quit my job unless I had an offer from another in hand.
I took the job because they told me they would be flexible for my other stuff. So far, they’ve tried to honour that.
As far as the pay goes, the confusion over the hours has led me to be working more hours than I expected for the same amount of money. But that’s my fault, I should have dealt with that on my first day, but I was new and timid. Stupid, but there it is.
The main thing is, everyone on here is right. One way or another, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ll just go in there and be honest about the money thing, and if they figure it isn’t worth it, I’ll thank them very much for their consideration and offer my notice. No harm done.
And interface2x, the latest word from my old agency is that the commercial is still in edits and is expected to air in the fall or early winter. So in a few more months! Thanks for asking!
Wait, wait, let me guess - and you have strong interpersonal communication skills, a professional, ambitious attitude, and are a flexible and focused individual?
Well, that’s simple, then–if you’re planning on asking for the hourly rate you had expected based on the lower number of hours. You just say “I was under the impression I would be working X hours for $Y, which is $Z per hour. But I am actually working A hours, which is only $B per hour.”
Thanks for asking!