Please help me word an email asking for a higher starting salary

[bunjies]

I have been offered a job which is great. It's an internal move into an area I am interested in. The role is a promotion into the next band. I am being offered the lowest salary in the band with the justification that this is significantly more than my current salary (it is 6k more) & that i would also be ineligible to receive any performance related pay increase in April. If I accept the offer it is also likely I would have to relinquish my flexible working arrangement of compressed hours which is an added hassle.

I am looking to increase the offer to 10k more than I'm currently on which would still be at the very lowest end of the scale but more in line with the role being offered.

Can you help me compose a compelling email to HR?

[flowery]

I would suggest making your argument in a conversation with the recruiting manager rather than in an email to HR.

[bunjies]

Thanks flowery. The thing is everything is handled through hr.

[bunjies]

bump

[flowery]

I'd still suggest a conversation rather than just an email. Maybe both.

What would be the grounds for your request? They are offering you something in the correct band for the role, and it's more than you are currently on, so no "matching current salary" argument. Other than you'd like more money () on what basis do you think they should pay you more?

[ggirl]

I negotiated an increase in banding by picking out all the extra skills I was offering the post to justify the increase.
Basically I discussed them with my recruiting manager and she apporached HR.
My discussion was focussed on job spec details and experience I brought

Sounds like yours is more complicated .

[eurochick]

I can't imagine negotiating salary over email. I agree with flowery

[Technical]

Yes, flowery is right (as always)

Even if the final decision is with HR, I think you need to put your case to the recruiting manager and have him/her make your case to HR.

But, you are getting a significant rise and they are paying you on the correct scale for the job. Ultimately, why should they pay you more? What will happen if they don't?

I'm actually in the same boat ATM. Have been offered a promotion for a role that is well within my capabilities (I took a step back to enable a better family life) and which means they are getting very good value for money (which my boss recognises) I have asked not to start on the bottom of the scale but I'm not really in a strong position, as I'm going to accept it regardless. I think what will probably happen is that I'll be set various targets to achieve in my first year and each will be recognised by a one point increase, so if all goes well I could get 3 pay-rises in the first year.

Don't try and do it by email.

[givemeaclue]

I work in hr. If its already a £6k increase I would need a compelling reasonto give you another £4k. I would be taking into account what other candidates were asking for and my budgets. The hassle for you of not having the same working pattern wouldn't convince me I am afraid.

[Unexpected]

I wouldn't even mention the change in working pattern. You presumably decided to apply for, and certainly accept, the job knowing that this is the case. Just wanting more money is not a compelling reason to get them to offer it to you! What are you bringing to this role that no-one else will?

[lucidlady]

We had someone do this the other day and to be honest, it's put us right off them. Is this a job with prospects? If so you're better off just getting in and progressing upwards.

[bunjies]

Thanks for all the advice. i am basing my request on what the going rate for the job is within & outwith the organisation. I applied (and was shortlisted) for another internal job for a similar role but a different part of the business and the same grade. The starting salary is what i am hoping to secure and is, imo, commensurate with the role. Surely it shouldn't be irrelevant what my current salary is.

The working pattern isn't something advertised rather that it may be different to what i currently have.

Take the point to negotiate in person rather than by email.

Why should it put you off someone lucid if they want to negotiate if you can both come to a mutually agreeable outcome?

[bunjies]

*should be irrelevant!

[namechangeagaininnit]

For balance, it would never put me off someone OP. In fact one out of three people I've recruited recently didn't negotiate - I thought that was odd.

Good on you for asking for more money.

[flowery]

Current salary not particularly relevant, but if other people within the organisation with the same experience/qualifications as you start mid range rather than bottom of range then that's a good argument.

Some organisations have a policy of always starting at the bottom, are you sure that's not the case?

[LordEmsworth]

I don't think you should not negotiate - but you need to think about why it's in the organisation's interest to give you more money, rather than yours. The reasons you've given represent the disadvantage to you - though to be honest, I would expect to start at the bottom of the next band up and not jump higher straight away. I don't understand how the starting salary can be higher than the bottom of the band...

So, why should they pay you more? Do you have any additional skills or experience gained elsewhere that you're bringing in to this role; you need to tell them why you deserve more, rather than why you need more.

[GarthsUncle]

Yes to "in person".

Would you rather have the flexibility than the additional money? You could negotiate that instead. Or an agreement to have an interim salary review (I did this once but I'd taken a pay cut to join a small company so was in a stronger position).

[bunjies]

Yes, I would rather the flexibility than the additional money but I would obviously prefer both . Have a meeting tomorrow with the recruiting mgr to discuss the role in more detail so will put forward my proposal & see where this gets me.

Thanks all.

[MrsMargoLeadbetter]

Good luck.

[lucidlady]

Hi sorry for late reply. Basically the conversation became all about the money, rather than the job and the career that accompanies it. It was all done by email too, which didn't go down well with the boss.

Good luck with your discussions!