How to ask for the top offered salary - job application related

[donotknowhownottomind]

Hi

I am currently on 21K and went for an interview for a role which is similar but I would say broader and more challenging. It was advertised as up to 30K according to qualifications etc.

The interview went well and they told me they really liked me and had been looking for months and to expect a call. They had a couple of other candidates to see.

They also asked me what I am earning currently. I said 21K but I should have said that my current boss has asked me to stay and is upping my salary (not sure by how much, will find out on Monday).

If and when they do offer me the job, due to my being on 21K now, I don’t think they will offer me 30K.

However, this is what I want and need. When they don’t offer me 30, what justification can I give for wanting and needing that much without sounding pushy.

I think my experience warrants 30 (how long is a piece of string) but I am also a single parent to three on tax credits, so I really need to earn more and receive less in credits before I become ineligible. I wouldn’t tell them all that, but that’s the general situation.

I am prepared to carry on looking for another job if I don’t get the 30, but I don’t know how to imply that. Any advice appreciated 😊!

Since you actually are prepared to walk away if they don't offer £30k then it's actually very easy - you use the word I g suggested upthread and follow through "with regret" if they don't reach £30k. These type of negotiations are only tricky if you would be tempted by a lower offer!

It's always easier to get a pay rise before you start a job (when you can play hardball because you already have the security of a job, and other potential leads), than it is when you are in a job (as your negotiating position is weaker since the job is your security!).

Completely agree with @origamiwarrior and I would use @JassyRadlett's wording.

Ignore everyone saying it's too big a jump - it's not at all if you have the skills. This is why I hate women being asked what they currently earn as it keeps them down and lower paid. Research has shown men to be better negotiators so asking a man his current salary doesn't hold him back when it comes to negotiating his new salary but in the case of women, it does. Good luck Op - hope you get the offer and the £30k salary.

^yup. In business you need to think like a man. Be over confident. Ask bigger than you think you can get or are worth.

Before I retired I was in HR and would have been reluctant to pay top of the pay scale but a lot depends on whether you are the only applicant to fit the job spec or if there are two or three equally well qualified.

I would look at @reginafelangee's advice carefully.

Once you know how much your existing job will offer, you need to decide what is the lowest salary for you would be willing to move. But bear in mind that the higher the number, the less likely you are to get it, so that's a risk you take.

If the offered salary is close to your bottom line, you could try asking for a review after 12 months.

You may feel that the £30k is achievable, but if it is in school admin then you are partly limited by the schools in your area - that is, you might get that much but perhaps further afield with more travel time, expense, inconvenience etc.

30k as an admin in a school might require more experience than 21 or even 24k. It might even be a leadership role. If you lie about your salary then in most cases the manager will be able to catch you out.

30k for school admin? Wow, I'm a teacher and don't get much more than that. I work hugely more hours than our admin staff. I might retrain!

When they don’t offer me 30, what justification can I give for wanting and needing that much without sounding pushy.

You say this:

my current boss has asked me to stay and is upping my salary

Provided they have flexibility to do so, if they want you, they should offer more than your new increased pay.

I don't see how it isn't worth moving for around £26 if your current job will only go up to £24
I'm also very surprised if they have more or less promised you the job when there are other candidates to see, that shouldn't happen.

Or you use JassyRadlett's wording. But definitely dont beat around the bush trying to imply stuff. If you are willing to walk away if they won't offer 30k, tell them that.

30k for school admin? Wow, I'm a teacher and don't get much more than that. I work hugely more hours than our admin staff. I might retrain!

It’s a 9 hour working day with half an hour for lunch so not nothing, but I take your point that it won’t involve taking work home. On the other hand teachers can progress to way beyond that so have more scope.

I don't see how it isn't worth moving for around £26 if your current job will only go up to £24

I am not young and really need to up my salary while I can. It’s London so I guess salaries are higher, and I will also look at non school admin jobs as well. One aspect is the fact that I love where I am, so it would have to be seriously worth it to move.

I'm also very surprised if they have more or less promised you the job when there are other candidates to see, that shouldn't happen.

Yes I took that a pinch of salt.

30k as an admin in a school might require more experience than 21 or even 24k. It might even be a leadership role. If you lie about your salary then in most cases the manager will be able to catch you out.

I did not lie. People told me I should have but I didn’t. The fact that I am on 21K does not relate to my experience but rather the fact that I work in a tiny place now with less money to play with. There are PAs on 50/60K in London. I don’t have that level of experience but it’s all relative.

It’s definitely not a leadership role.

With a pinch of salt

I get the impression some people think that I would be a bit of a cheek to ask for that much, but it’s how to get out of that mindset. And on 30K I would still be getting tax credits, albeit reduced, so as a single parent with three dc I have to take the emotion out of it and try to get what I can get I suppose.

it would be a check

cheek!!!

Of course you can ask, the issue is more will you make it non negotiable. If you really need the money I don't see how having more than your current job isn't reasonable, rather than holding out for 30 and getting rejected.

Yes I agree - 27/28 with a view to making it to 30 over the next couple of years might be one way forward.

This is only the second job I have applied for (in this period of looking) so I guess my reasoning is that I don’t know what else is out there. Will keep looking and applying in any case.

I would ask for what you want explaining the internal promotion at your current role, but don’t say you ‘need it’, it’s about what you offer the new firm. Highlight your skills and knowledge, value add etc. They may consider offering more after completion of probation but if so, get that in the contract.

I think you can push as hard as you like, OP, as long as you're prepared to walk away if they're not willing to budge.

In my organisation, we have to write a justification to HR if we appoint someone above the bottom of the scale. Usually, a higher current salary is sufficient justification. Other arguments might work, but it would be very unusual to appoint someone at the top of the scale when they're currently so far below. If you said that you were going to walk away for any less, I suspect the advice from our HR would be to call your bluff.

Yes I take your point. I don’t think they have a scale - the advert said up to 30K for the right person, but there was no lower scale.

Will see what happens and also keep looking for other stuff. It feels all a little surreal in any case.

Please read my post Op - don't be put off knowing your worth by others saying the salary hike is too much.

don't be put off knowing your worth by others saying the salary hike is too much

This is a bit like people advising you to lie. Easier for them to say but you're the one to suffer the consequences OP. £21k to £30k is almost a 50% jump. If you can demonstrate your worth, then go for it but be aware that you are also taking a risk. Only you can decide whether it's a risk you want to take. If you can prove that you're massively overqualified in your current role, it's worth a try but don't listen to the people telling you to lie and make things up as that will come round to bite you in the arse.

Know your worth and also define it yourself. If you don’t decide how much you’re worth, others will, and they have a vested interest in making that figure lower than you will. So decide your own worth before someone decides it for you. Agree with others, you are in a very good position to say “£30k or nothing”

She’s not making anything up! She’s naming her price!