Questioning Possible Salary / Benefits Package

[katip]

I've been an intern at an advertising agency for almost eight months. I've known that they want to hire me full-time when I graduate in May. Today my boss came to me with a discription of the job I'd do and wanted to know how I felt about it (I loved it). No mention of salary / benefits was made.

I like the company and my coworkers. It's a perfect environment for me and a rare niche market that I was lucky to find.

If I didn't have this opportunity, I would be beginning a job search soon. Would it be too soon to ask my boss what he was thinking regarding my salary and benefits package? I don't expect anything to be set in stone, but would like to have an idea if I should relax or start in on finding other options.

[Bugsey34]

So you're talking about a job you will start in May '06? I would wait a while to ask if that is what you're trying to do. You can't look seriously anywhere else right now anyway, it's too early.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I'd say wait. That's what I did. I knew my internship was going to be my first full time job after college. My boss knew that too. I didn't talk about salary and benefits until right when I became full time. They knew they wanted me there, so they were going to pay me what I wanted and I qualified for benefits just like any other full time employee. The one good thing was that I didn't have a probationary period as a full time employee because I was already working there as an intern, so my benefits went into effect right when I started full time.

[analogman]

Ask if they are going to offer you a regular full-time position. This lets you know if you are actually getting the job or not. If you are getting the job, they should give you a letter/packet saying what the salary and benefits are.

I don't think it's too early to look. I think a large organization should already be done with 2006 staffing plans. Also, I got a job offer in Dec 2000 with a start date of Sep 2001.

[katip]

I don't think it's too early to look. I think a large organization should already be done with 2006 staffing plans. Also, I got a job offer in Dec 2000 with a start date of Sep 2001.

I also don't think that it's too early to look. May graduates typically start looking in March; however, it's always suggested to start sooner to beat the rush. Of course, very few people listen and end up like one of my friends - graduating in less than a month with no offers yet. :(

They knew they wanted me there, so they were going to pay me what I wanted and I qualified for benefits just like any other full time employee.

I can't just assume that they're going to pay me what I want. If I wait until April to discuss this and they're unable/unwilling to offer me what I believe I'm worth, then I've screwed myself over from looking for other positions.

I'm just not sure... I don't want to jump the gun and ask if they haven't thought about it. But then again, it would be nice to have an idea of what to expect.

[katip]

I had a chat with my great dad last night. His advice: Wait until I would start my job search (sometime in January) and bring it up if they haven't.