Negotiating Base Pay

[goarmy2014]

After over a year-long process, the trades I am interested in are finally open, and I have successfully written the CFAT, passed personality test, had the medical, and the interview. During the interview, when I was asked about my salary expectations and whether I could meet my current financial obligations with an Ocdt salary during basic and then 2Lt pay, I mentioned to the recruiter that I had read on the CF recruiting website that recruits with previous relevant experience and training could start at a higher salary. Now before you guys tell me that this is a special recruiting bonus only for specific in-demand trades or for doctors, read the reference, which is in the "On the Job - Career Development" sections of most officer trades:

"The starting salary for a fully-trained Officer is $51,000 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher."

The recruiting officer was very surprised that I brought this up in the interview and said that he had never heard about this before, but that he would inquire and get back to me on that particular issue. I explained that I would leave a job with a higher salary and that, while I could meet my financial obligations with the lower salary and had no expectations that the CF would match that salary, I strongly believe that my education, training, and work experience would make me eligible for the provision of starting at a slightly higher pay increment. I'm not asking to be payed at the Colonel level, simply a higher increment within the entry-level rank.

My questions are:

1) Has any DEO successfully negotiated their starting salary to a higher pay increment within the pay scale (i.e., start at pay increment 4 instead of pay increment 1 in the 2Lt salary range)? If so, what were your arguments, and how was the process?
2) Has any DEO successfully negotiated a faster promotion to a particular rank, i.e, promoted to Captain within two years of effective 2Lt promotion date (instead of the regular 3 yrs)? If so, what were your arguments, and how was the process?
3) The trade that I am applying to only recruits through DEOs or component transfers - does that make it more amenable to a negotiation?

 

[DAA]

Can't really provide you with an answer, unless you provide the DEO Occupation that you are applying for.

Other than that, I can only speculate that any of what you have mentioned/asked, would require a PLAR to validate not just your education but your prior work experience and any professional qualifications/licences which you might have.

 

[The_Falcon]

After over a year-long process, the trades I am interested in are finally open, and I have successfully written the CFAT, passed personality test, had the medical, and the interview. During the interview, when I was asked about my salary expectations and whether I could meet my current financial obligations with an Ocdt salary during basic and then 2Lt pay, I mentioned to the recruiter that I had read on the CF recruiting website that recruits with previous relevant experience and training could start at a higher salary. Now before you guys tell me that this is a special recruiting bonus only for specific in-demand trades or for doctors, read the reference, which is in the "On the Job - Career Development" sections of most officer trades:

"The starting salary for a fully-trained Officer is $51,000 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher."

The recruiting officer was very surprised that I brought this up in the interview and said that he had never heard about this before, but that he would inquire and get back to me on that particular issue. I explained that I would leave a job with a higher salary and that, while I could meet my financial obligations with the lower salary and had no expectations that the CF would match that salary, I strongly believe that my education, training, and work experience would make me eligible for the provision of starting at a slightly higher pay increment. I'm not asking to be payed at the Colonel level, simply a higher increment within the entry-level rank.

My questions are:

1) Has any DEO successfully negotiated their starting salary to a higher pay increment within the pay scale (i.e., start at pay increment 4 instead of pay increment 1 in the 2Lt salary range)? If so, what were your arguments, and how was the process?
2) Has any DEO successfully negotiated a faster promotion to a particular rank, i.e, promoted to Captain within two years of effective 2Lt promotion date (instead of the regular 3 yrs)? If so, what were your argumets, and how was the process?
3) The trade that I am applying to only recruits through DEOs or component transfers - does that make it more amenable to a negotiation?

Salaries are not negotiable. The "previous experience and training may result in higher pay" means either a) you have prior military service/training which means you "may" start higher up the pay grid, then a brand new raw recruit or b) you are granted training equivalencies for your occupation, based on civilian qualifications, which means less time in the training system, and therefore eligible for promotion sooner.  Both routes would be determined by PLAR/review, and you are TOLD what you are getting.  Your beliefs, to what you think you are entitled to, are irrelevant.  If you don't fit into a or b, then you will start at the bottom of the payscale like everyone else.

 

[Transporter]

You will notice within the CF pay guide for General Service Officers that the ranks of Ocdt, 2Lt and Lt have multiple pay levels (i.e. A, B, C, etc) in addition to annual pay increments. It is my understanding that upon consideration of your past relevant employment experience, you could be started at a pay level (not increment) above that at which other qualified applicants without relevant experience would start. I seem to recall some Nurses and other specialist-type officers doing that when I went through CFOCS years ago. They didn't get promoted any faster though.

None of what you've asked about is negotiable in the sense that you will not get a chance to plead your case for special consideration. You provide your relevant background information and you will be advised at what pay level you will start and the minimum time in rank required before becoming eligible for promotion (which in all likelihood will be the same as everyone else at your same rank and MOSID).

 

[Navy_Pete]

When I joined about a decade ago, the MSEO and CSEO trades started at a slightly higher pay scale and incentive then the base rate for OCdt.  At the time there was a big shortage so there was also a signing bonus, which has been gone for years.  However, it effectively made no difference, as we all went to the same pay rate once we finished basic and were commissioned.  Just meant some has larger raises then others (by about $50 a month).

Basically when you get your offer, it'll have the predetermined scale/incentive on it for the pay.  So unless you come in already trade qualified (ie previous experience in a military), you can expect to be somewhere on the beginning of the 2Lt scale.

As a funny aside, if they make a mistake somewhere and bring you an incentive or two higher then whatever you are supposed to get for your trade, they can't retroactively change it and take the money back because it's a contractual commitment at that point.  Happened to a few guys, but really made very little difference in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

I'll be that guy....maybe this isn't the job for you.

 

[goarmy2014]

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated. I'll wait to see if I'm even offered a position and what the offer would be.