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Sixty-seven percent or respondents to Convene’s Salary Survey 2019 said they have had additional responsibilities piled on to their job description this year and 75 percent were not given increased compensation for doing so. Those results are similar to what respondents said in last year’s Salary Survey.
It’s not a situation unique to business event strategists. Nick Hindhaugh, founding manager at Six Degrees Executive, shared the following strategies with job site SEEK to make the most of the more responsibility, no-pay-rise scenario:
Play the long game
Taking on additional responsibilities “sends a powerful message to your manager and other potential employers that you are willing to step up,” Hindhaugh said, “and this has the potential to far outweigh any short-term salary increases.” He stresses the importance of documenting the added tasks you are taking on, so that you are able to clearly communicate how your additional work benefited your organization when the time comes to apply for another job or ask for a raise or promotion with your current employer. If you can put a dollar figure on how you saved your organization money or time, even better.
Ask for career development
It’s a great time to request additional education, Hindhaugh said, to “help you upskill or hone your skills in a new area.”
Consider other benefits
“If a pay raise is out of the question, there is no harm in asking for non-cash benefits that might assist you in managing the greater responsibilities you have been asked to take on,” he said. These include additional leave, a more flexible work schedule, and the ability to work from home.
Promote your personal brand online
Be sure to update your career highlights on your online career profile. “With recruiters and employers increasingly using online career platforms,” Hindhaugh said, “you might just get approached out of the blue about a great opportunity.”
Ask for a pay raise anyway
There’s no harm in asking if you can schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss a salary review, he said. If a raise is out of the question for the time being, ask to set a timeframe for a salary review in the future. “Having the courage to ask to be compensated for the work you do, shows that you value yourself and your time, and there is no doubt,” Hindhaugh said, “that a positive attitude goes a long way towards helping you achieve your goals.”
Michelle Russell is Editor in Chief of Convene.