Negotiating higher salary for new job

[yorkshapudding]

I have been shortlisted for a job and due to interview soon. The salary advertised would be a significant pay cut for me but my current job is so stressful it's impacting on my health so i need to get out. Friends have suggested that I should try to "negotiate" a higher salary as I have skills and experience over and above the standard requirements for the role but that will be very much relevant to the post. This is all new to me as I've always worked in the NHS where the salary is set in stone and no room for negotiations unless you're at a very senior level.

So, when would you bring this up? Would it be best to discuss it at interview so I'm being upfront or will that be considered inappropriate? Should I wait and see if I get an offer and then ask? Anyone have any tips as to how to handle the actual conversation itself without coming across as arrogant or 'grabby'?

I don't want to sell myself short but I don't want to put them off altogether.

Any tips much appreciated.

[IceMaiden73]

It would be best to negotiate this if you are offered the job, not at the interview

[WeAllHaveWings]

It really depends on whether your additional skills and experience are required for the role, they wont want to pay for these skills if someone else is already paid for that role. You would be asking them to make the role bigger than what they are advertising.

If you would take the job at the reduced salary go for the interview. I have done this before with the hope of quick promotion/internal move and it worked out ok.

If you wouldn't take the job at the reduced salary, but interested in the area/company I would still go to the interview to show interest in them, tell them what you can offer them, and find out about future opportunities for progression/expanding the role. I wouldn't discuss money until there was an offer.

[snowgirl1]

As PPs have said, don't discuss salary at the interview; wait until you have an offer - or wait until they ask what salary you are on and what your salary expectations are. At that stage, you can say 'I'm currently on £x and was hoping the salary offered would be close to that because I have XYZ skills".

It will depend on how big the significant gap between what they have advertised the role at and what you're looking for. Businesses can sometimes find an extra £2K for the right candidate, but if it's £10K or £20K it's pretty unlikely.

[yorkshapudding]

Thank you all for your advice. Will go to the interview with an open mind and broach the subject if im made an offer. To clarify, it's a significant drop (about 8k pro rata) but would be a lot less stressful than my current job, term time only which will be lovely when my DC are older and only a 10 minute commute (vs my current 45mins-1 hour) so need to weigh that up.

I wouldn't expect them to match my current salary because the new job is not at the same level in terms of responsibility. We could manage with the salary advertised but obviously anything extra would be a big help and I have seen very similar roles advertised for about 2-3k more than they're offering.

[EBearhug]

I have seen very similar roles advertised for about 2-3k more than they're offering.

That's a key piece of information. Check websites like payscale.com and glassdoor.com to see what they think average salaries for that sort of role, too. Are there any other differences in the total package, e.g. pension provision, private health care, number of days leave, whatever else? Those things can count, too (especially if they're things you'd actually use.)

Organisations which are more open with salaries, and have their payscales published will be less able to negotiate (but at least you should have a good idea of what you're likely to get.) Start by giving a figure higher than you are prepared to settle for, so you've got room to negotiate. But do wait till the job offer - let them make the first offer.