Hello guys,

I have about 12 years experience in the IT business. Currently I have a position of mixed tasks including programming, business analysis and partial project management in a very small company.

I got an offer from UBS as Associate Director, IT Project Manager at the Payments & Cross Products IT department.

My question is if, based on your experience, I can negotiate the salary or they offer once and they stick to their offer?

Thanks in advance.

I believe the salary band for that rank is 220,000 - 270,000chf

In which organization?

That's very low - 350,000 - 400,000cfh is the norm.

What positions are you talking about? Not an IT one for sure. I've talked with most of the top 20 IT companies in Zurich + UBS + CS and there is currently no offer for a Project Manager position over 125-130k per year (excluding bonuses).

...per month, or per week?

Back to my original question, if I tell UBS that I would accept if they raise the offer say by 10%, how would they react: accept, negotiate or tell me that they are not interested any more?

how badly do you want the job??

if its through an agency then get them to get you the best deal.

lots of people looking for not a lot of jobs at the moment, just saying like

It's not a life or death decision but I think bank experience is always good in Switzerland.

I've applied directly.

I'd like to know what my chances are, e.g. if UBS is very hard on that and does not negotiate or they are OK with negotiations.

you don't know until you tried. if they already made an offer then it's a good sign. the worst they can do is reject your counter-offer and not give you the job.

Only will be enough if you're single, you forgot to mention.

Wow - Tradeticker doesn't have a sense of humour!!

Get the offer of the job, dig around on job sites for similar jobs - see how the offer stacks up.

What is a great salary for one person, isn't for another person - it depends what level of income you are coming from, what you expect and what you want.

No, that's definitely not correct. The salary band for an AD in IT UBS is around 125- 140K per annum minus bonuses(as avenger pointed out).

@Avenger: you can try negotiating up to 10% I'd say. I have seen some negotiations work. Rest is your luck - if they really have equally good candidates for the same position they might not give you the offer.

unfortunately you need at least 160k cash here to even think about living within 10 km of the city center and balling it up with models and bottles at jade. on 100k you'll be relegated to the wastelands of oerlikon and will only have enough for some eichhof at your local stubli.

Thanks Shopaholic. They told me they have only me and one internal candidate (I don't know if that's the truth though). It took them more than 6 months to decide which makes me a little unsure. Also they are now pressing me to decide in the next 3 days.

I think this is not "is this salary enough" thread. He looks already "settled" in switzerland.
OP is just asking if there is a chance of salary negotiation in the given circumstances.

Just to clarify: I've been living and working in Switzerland for nine years. I am not relocating at this time.

That's exactly what it is.

Well, that's a fair starter for a job of project manager. Your job will involve a lot of deciding in such blurry and suddenly hasty situations. Don't spend one week for clearing the fog, but don't rush neither, take the best decision after analysis, and stick to it.

/Paul

I don't think it can hurt, so long as you do it nicely and make it clear that you are considering their offer. They are aware that their contractors earn a lot more than the internal staff so 10% more than the base offer isn't like you're asking them to make you rich. But like I said, do it sensitively as the people you are writing to probably don't earn all that much more than you were offered. Good luck!