Talk

Flip

Chat

Anyone have any advice on negotiating a salary?

8 replies

ReeseWitherfork · 07/09/2020 17:46

Anyone have any advice on negotiating a salary? What angle? How to make someone see you for slightly more than they’re offering? I’m not sure how much you’ll need to know but here’s the full story...

DH lost his job back in April and has picked up manual work PAYE at about 30k annual. He has been offered a job today (white collar, exactly what he was doing beforehand) at 35k. He was making 35k about ten years ago, rose to 40k and went to a petrochem company at 80k. He was fully aware the 80k was inflated and didn’t expect to make anywhere near that, his salary expectations were about 45k based on extrapolation but in the current climate would have been happy to accept 40k. Having looked around for jobs this summer, 40-45k is definitely not unreasonable for the role.

The interview with the company went well. They’re a family run smaller outfit and are looking for someone to stick around. They said they were specifically looking for someone young and keen who could help build the business.

The application was speculative so there was no salary advertised. The only conversation they had re salary was the guy panicking that he’d worked for the petrochem company but DH confirming what his salary was and that he knew it was inflated

35k would make money tight for us but it’s not impossible. The negotiation is more because 35k isn’t where he wants to be at, he thinks he’s worth a bit more, and would likely not stick around on that money for long. We both think it’s important the guy knows this without suggesting/out right saying he’d be looking to move on quickly.

Ironically the boss at his current company came to see him today to advise he was aware manual work was only a stop gap and that they would likely have some suitable office roles come up soon so he’d keep him in mind. (Proactively seeking him out, DH hadn’t contacted him.)

As well as understand what angle to take, does DH go back at 45 and settle on 40, or just ask for 40?

OP posts:

Thanks

Report

Solasum · 07/09/2020 17:52

I would go in at 50, and expect them to compromise. Maybe try and bargain up on the pension/holiday stuff too.

Thanks

Report

jujubeany · 07/09/2020 18:03

It's quite a tough one as salaries have stagnated & if this is a small family firm they may not have the budget. A lawyer in a MC firm will be paid a lot more than in the local law firm down the road. Maybe ask for 40k & explain why he's worth that.

Thanks

Report

ReeseWitherfork · 07/09/2020 18:10

Thanks both - just looked them up on companies house and although they don’t have a P&L account they’re total equity last year was 3mil: 2.5mil the year before. I don’t know a lot about accounts but that doesn’t strike me as a company struggling for money!

OP posts:

Thanks

Report

Chocolateteabag · 07/09/2020 18:10

I would go with £40K but in the conversation mention he was looking for £45K but realises the current Covid situation/he will need to prove himself/blah blah

ie make them aware he wants to get to £45K at some point.

Then it will be up to him to prove his worth - if he does it, he can negotiate up or move on if they don't raise the salary.

Thanks

Report

titchy · 07/09/2020 18:15

Agree with solasum. He really shouldn't sell himself short. Asking for £45 and settling for less is doing just that!

He should just say he's delighted to have the opportunity to develop the company over the next ten years but that there's currently quite a gap between his salary expectations and theirs. And see what they say.