Ask a Manager

It’s your Friday good news!

1.  “I’ve worked in higher education for more than a decade. Although I personally had wonderful support as a person and professional during Covid from my immediate team and leadership (love those STEM Ph.Ds!), higher ed as a whole has been pretty resistant to adapting, and I seriously considered leaving the field for more money. But the easy commute, ample vacation and sick time, rhythm of semesters, and the amazing investment of watching my students grow kept me lingering in my job, though I knew I should look soon. Then a friend sent me a job posting this summer at my university that she said I’d be perfect for, and I got very excited reading the description and applied two days later. I really connected with the group in the first round interview, and then I was delighted to learn I was a finalist. I requested the last available interview slot to leave the last impression, prepared the heck out of it, and felt confident and comfortable during my final interview.

They offered me the job! I read your tips on salary negotiation and looked up my predecessor’s salary (love that public universities have to publish that info every year!), and consulted with a trusted colleague at my university who knows a lot about budgets and hiring here. In my Zoom call with my hoped for new supervisor, I asked if there was any wiggle room on salary, asked for $8k higher than their initial offer, hoping to land at $4k higher. My supervisor looked prepared for the question and said the max she was permitted to offer from the Finance Powers That Be was $4k above their initial offer, exactly what I was hoping for, a 27% increase! I accepted on the spot! I applied for ONE job and got it, something that has NEVER happened to me, and I learned later that I was selected over an internal candidate. So incredibly affirming of my work and career I’ve built up over the past dozen years!

But it gets better! As a state institution, we beholden to the state government for COLAs, and just after I resigned from my Old Job and started New Job, our governor announced a surprise 4.5% COLA increase, which will be applied to my new salary! Before I’d even started, I knew I was getting a raise! I just finished my second week and I love it. My new supervisor is inspiring, my team is amazing, and everyone has been warm and welcoming. Woohoo!

Thank you so much for this wonderful content and community! My sister and I read your site every day and have recommended it to so many friends and colleagues.”

2.  “I’ve been a solopreneur for many years but over the past year I have been taking on interns from the local university to get some more low stakes management experience. Before the internship starts, I have the intern send me a real word job listing that they would be interested in applying for after they graduate. We work together to create projects that will both help my business and give them all the required experience that job asks for. My latest intern recently landed a professional job after graduating. She called to tell me the good news and said that my internship and my management style directly contributed to her getting the job and thriving in the new environment. I’m thrilled!”

3.  “I’ve been reading AAM religiously since around 2013, and I can’t quantify how much it’s helped me in my professional life. I started a job as a Lab Manager in 2014 after a lot of personal and professional upheaval over the previous 10 years. I’ve been in that job for over eight years now and about to receive my fourth promotion. Today I’m a director in a research center and now have my first official direct report. Yesterday we finished up her annual performance review and in the comment section she added a personal note that tells me all of my hard work over the years has been worth it:

‘I appreciate that you’re always accessible, supportive and transparent. Your attentiveness to me learning systems, processes and adapting to my role has been amazing. You’ve help increase my confidence as a team member and my ability to be productive, creative and successful in achieving these performance goals and beyond. Thank You! I will continue to strive to make valuable contributions at [workplace].’

I had to share this personal win with you, because I see it as a win for you and the AAM community you’ve built. Thanks for what you do and how well you do it!”