Salary negotiation for internal role

[Asiama]

I have been successful in applying for an internal role they have been trying to recruit for it for over 6 months as they were looking for someone with a particular set of skills and experience which is very hard to find. Within the company it's a sideways move for me but I expect will open up more opportunities in the future.

Would it be cheeky of me to try and negotiate on salary? How would I go about it? I wouldn't have an issue negotiating if it's for an external role but being internal it feels awkward.

If it makes any difference,

1. The role reports to my manager's manager's manager ("MMM"). My manager doesn't like me so won't have glowing feedback if asked about my performance. Other people at MMM's level will have great things to say about me, but I guess won't be asked since they are not my direct manager.

1. The role is being offered initially on a 12 month basis with a view to going perm if there is funding. If it doesn't go perm, I go back to my old role and old manager. My manager has not given me a pay rise in the last round where everyone else in our small team got one, so will have to take me back on a higher salary, if I do manage to negotiate. That might sour relationships.

[LordEmsworth]

Please define "cheeky" and explain why it matters if you are it! I wouldn't bother where I work because I know it's not possible in the current environment - managers don't have any extra budget they can dip into - but if your company isn't as strict as mine then negotiating on salary is normal not cheeky.

I would gather feedback from others myself, and present it as part of my argument. The way to go about it is to demonstrate that you are worth more and if it's a niche role and hard to recruit to, it sounds like you may have some scope to do that. Based on examples of what you have done and what you can bring, i.e. why you taking the role will bring value to them.

I wouldn't worry about the future, if you think this role will open other opportunities then presumably you're unlikely to go back to your original role. And if your manager doesn't like you, why would you need to worry about upsetting them?

[flowery]

If they’ve been trying to recruit for six months I’d say you are in a good position to negotiate.

Just on this;

”If it doesn't go perm, I go back to my old role and old manager. My manager……will have to take me back on a higher salary, if I do manage to negotiate”

Not necessarily. It would be perfectly possible for your employer to tie the new salary to the new post and make it clear that if you revert to previous role, previous salary will apply. Not saying they’d necessarily do that, just pointing out that it would be possible.

[Asiama]

I don't know why it feels cheeky! Maybe because it's a sideways move? It's not a promotion, and I haven't proven myself in the role yet. But I know it's easier to negotiate when accepting an offer than once I'm in role. Good point about feedback, I have this and could use it although the feedback I have isn't relevant to the role as such - it's like getting good feedback on my cooking skills when applying for a job as a baker. I know the men at work would totally negotiate!

[flowery]

Always think “what would a man do” and you’ll have your answer.

[flowery]

(When it comes to things like salaries and jobs. Not generally in life…)

[SolasAnla]

Why are you using the word promotion?

The employer is offering to pay X to Y for candidate to fill a role to achieve success in a task.

What is the salary difference (Y) between your role and the other role as being offered to the external candidate?

The employer was not able to attract a suitable candidate to fill the role at the top salary Y offered

Why?

Is this because it is a contract role and Y is unpricing the role?

Is this because the role is specialist but only you have the unique skill?

Is it extremely broad range of skills and only you tick all the boxes?


Summary
Why do you think the role is not worth what the employer is willing to pay someone else?

[MrsFin]

What is the market rate for your new role? Or similar roles if it's a bit niche?

[Asiama]

All good questions and comments thank you! The role is niche because one of the prerequisites is having experience of the organisation, therefore only internal applicants are being considered. There's also a requirement to have experience in l certain countries, but my org has so far only been UK based, so that reduces the pool of applicants even further - and then there's a requirement for certain level of subject matter expertise, which basically means they are looking for someone in my department with international experience, and I can't think of anyone that fits the bill. There's no advertised salary but I know it's the same grade as what I currently am, hence why it would be a sideways move.

[MrsFin]

Are there roles with similar responsibility/accountability then? Eg managing a budget, line managing etc

[TractorAndHeadphones]

The worst they can say is no. What are they going to do, hire someone else from the very limited pool of applicants?