Same job – NOK 100,000 more in salary
Simen's strategy resulted in higher salaries and a temporary position became permanent. This is how he went about improving his working conditions.
As an engineer in a good labour market, a poor salary in a temporary position was not worth saving. It didn't take long before Simen quit the first job he got after his studies.
"I was pushing for a permanent position for three months, and had played all the cards I had," says Simen Sundet Johansen.
With advice and help from NITO about what options he had, dismissal became the only way out. To have security, he was offered another permanent position, which he didn't really want.
The day after Simen had handed in his resignation, an emergency meeting was held with the line, the immediate manager and his manager. After the meeting, a new and adapted job advertisement was posted on finn.no, with a short application deadline.
Then he was back at the negotiating table and was offered NOK 100,000 more in salary and a permanent position – in exactly the same job.
"Courses in salary negotiations, pensions and contract checks are very important. You don't learn it at school, but it should be the curriculum," he believes.
Through NITO, Simen has gained knowledge, support and better conditions in working life. Something he continues to benefit from with more experience in his professional life.
6 tips for recent graduates
Take the time to follow these six tips when you get a job offer. Maybe you have something to go on before you accept, so you don't have to take as high a risk as Simen did. It's good if everything is in order, before you start your first job as a newly graduated engineer.
- Use the agreement check and see if the employment contract has pitfalls.
- Try the salary statistics and see how the salary level compares to others.
- Try to negotiate salaries, but don't give ultimatums.
- Ask for a salary review after a probationary period.
- Ask not to be exempted from upcoming salary negotiations.
- Talk about salary with an adviser at NITO or a union representative at a potential new employer.
Compare the offer with the wage statistics
Once again, Simen has got a new job and is moving from a position in the public sector, to a new job in the private sector. This has given him NOK 60,000 more to spend a year.
"When I received this job offer, NITO advised me to ask for a defined salary increase after a probationary period," he says.
It was not so well received by the employer, who said no. But he did get approval for a salary interview after the trial period and the contract was updated with this.
"The company was willing to specify what is written in the employee handbook into my employment contract. If I had received a lower salary offer, I would probably have pushed it more. I'm more than happy with the salary.
With the help of NITO's salary statistics, Simen has compared his salary offer with the average. And it turned out to be a good salary in relation to his age and type of engineering position.
"I feel that NITO has supported me when I have needed it, through courses, help from advisors and lawyers, the agreement check, salary statistics and social events.