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Welcome to nzgirl’s new advice columnist Frankie. Our advice guru is here to help you get your life sorted – whether you’ve got issues with your love life, friends, family, work or your bank account, Frankie is the woman to help get you back on your feet! No matter what the problem, however big or small you may think it is, Frankie will have some wise and frivolously frank words of advice to help get you through, we promise!
If you have a question click the link below to drop Frankie a line!
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___________________________________________________________________________ Dear Frankie,
My problem is that I wish I was rich - but I'm not. The job I have at the moment is great. The people are awesome, the job itself is fine, everything's great - except the pay. I'm pretty much on the minimum wage, and it's just not enough to live on. By the time I pay rent, bills, APs and petrol, I have $40 a fortnight left over for everything else from unexpected expenses, to clothes and social costs.
I need to find a way of bringing in some more money, but I'm not sure how? I've got my annual review coming up in a few months - is it unacceptable to ask for a pay rise before then? Last time I got a 20c an hour increase so I'm obviously not very good at getting what I think I should. Do I need to look for another job? Should I think about getting a part-time job on the side? However, I'd rather not give up my weekends as my week is already pretty full on.
What should I do?
Desperate and Cashless
 Dear Desperate and Cashless, I hear you sister! I often throw my hands up after the third parking ticket of the month and exclaim, ‘I wish I was rich…that would solve all my life problems!’ Usually a nearby slightly scared friend or family member will point out that parking in the right places might also help. Damn it, I’m trying to be dramatic! But they have a point, most problems have a yin and a yang to them, lose weight by eating less or exercising more, save money by earning more or spending less.
Obviously in your case the spending less is not a very viable option. $40 a fortnight of ‘disposable’ or ‘extra’ money is just plain unsustainable! What happens when you want to save for a deposit on a house? Go overseas? Or heaven forbid you get sick or your car gives up the ghost? That $40 won’t get you past Tuesday, do not go past go, do not collect $200. You haven’t mentioned what industry or role you fulfil but all jobs work on a basic supply and demand system with the added hassle of personal agendas, egos and hierarchies. Surprise surprise, the business world was established by men and therefore to get ahead you often need to be a man or behave a bit like one. So for us nzgirls, we can get the best education, be a great team worker, be great at our jobs, flirt a bit but we also need to know how to negotiate and stare down the barrel of a scary testosterone driven money game. One good way to prepare yourself is to do your research. Arm yourself with industry standards of pay, speak to the institution or association in the field you work in and ask them how the pay scale works. Find out where the industry skill shortages are and how you can fulfil them? Maybe you need to get another qualification, move around the country or maybe you already have the skills and work in the high demand sector! Use this information to give yourself confidence when you approach your boss or to realise it’s time to find a new job! When asking for a pay rise it is always good to start with your direct manager, e.g. the person directly above you, they will probably refer you on but they may help you with your quest and they won’t feel like you’re going above their heads. Try to use the word ‘I’ a lot. Say things like ‘I feel I contribute a lot’ rather then, ‘Don’t you think I contribute a lot?’ In terms of when to ask for a pay rise, now is probably a perfect time. Say to your manager, ‘I wanted to map out my key performance indicators required to receive a $3 an hour pay rise at my next review.’ Then stay quiet. Let them talk themselves into helping you. My father always says, ‘the first one to speak in a negotiation loses.’ Let them speak and convince themselves. It will also work when discussing pay levels and stop you from accepting or suggesting something too low initially. I understand that the friends you have made are great, but work is for money and you are a lovely person who can make new friends and deserves to be paid what she is worth. Go on seize the day! You’ll be glad you did. All the best girlfriend, .jpg)
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