One in four engineering professionals don’t know how to ask for a pay rise

CV-Library, the UK independent job board, has discovered that one in four engineering professionals (27.5%) don’t know how to ask their employer for a pay rise.

A further 35.3% revealed that they’ve never even negotiated on parts of a job offer. 

What’s more, the survey of 1,200 British professionals reveals that 55.7% of engineering professionals haven’t received a pay rise in the last 12-18 months. 

Of those who did, 29.4% received an increase of up to 2%. 

Below, CV-Library reveals that engineering is one of the top ten industries in the UK where Brits are least likely to negotiate on salary:

Social Care (59.5%)

Hospitality (58.3%)

Catering (52.9%)

Manufacturing (48.8%)

Retail (47.1%)

Education (43.8%)

Automotive (42.9%)

Property (42.1%)

Engineering (40.5%)

Distribution (37.85)    

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of  CV-Library, comments: “Our survey highlights that a natural fear around bringing up the subject of pay is holding many engineering professionals back in their careers.

“Being able to negotiate a pay rise will not only bring you financial reward, but the sense of achievement and increased morale in the workplace.

“If you do feel nervous about discussing your pay with your boss, I’d advise doing your research before approaching them.

“Find out what other employers are offering for similar positions, or even what your own employer’s range is for new hires. Determining your worth is the first step towards knowing how to ask for a pay rise.”

Engineering professionals are in a fantastic position for negotiating pay right now, with salaries for new engineering jobs increasing by 1.5% in January. This suggests that candidates who don’t know how to ask for a pay rise could be missing out on the chance to improve their job offer.

Biggins continues: “In the current UK job market, it’s important to be aware of your worth. With Brexit imminent and unemployment being at its lowest in fifty years, businesses are desperate to not only attract top talent, but hold on to the employees that they’ve got. So, if you’re after a pay rise, now’s the time to start negotiations!”