New employer has offered me the same salary as I'm currently on.

[marshmelloow]

Is this normal? I'm on 30k and they have literally just matched that. I'm going to ask for more as it's a step up from my current role but I feel pretty deflated to be honest. I thought they would have offered me around £35 and I'd try and get £38. It's made me a bit irritated to be honest

That offer would annoy me so much that I would't even bother responding to be honest.

Ask for more

Yes I think lying is bad advice. For many government employers or positions of trust type jobs this would be cause for dismissal or withdrawing a job contract even after signature.

OP, £30k is the initial offer, just counter with the £38k and talk about how it’s the right salary for the role based on the market and going rate for that position type and level. Point out any desired qualifications you have above the minimum, these mean you are worth more.

Its the opening salvo…as others have said time to start negotiating. If you have any other potential job in the pipeline, feel free to mention that if it helps. Saying “oh, I’m about to do a second interview for a position paying £37k next week and they seem very eager…” it hints you are being head hunted and if they don’t offer more, you just might turn down the offer.

Are you going through a recruitment agent, I'm assuming not?

You tell them your expectations, add on 5 for luck and negotiate down, so tell them 40 and aim to end up at 38 with the same or better package than you have now.

I've been in this position and I just politely pointed out that my current salary was for the role and responsibility of my current job, and that as the new job had a greater level of responsibility I was expecting X salary.

I would consider all your interactions with them so far though. Unless they come up easily then I would consider whether you want to work for them. In my experience employers who will haggle and are awkward over salary often are bad in other ways too.

That is so crappy I would be inclined to just reply "I would only leave my current role for an increased salary." Then leave it with them to make a better offer (in which case I would go to the trouble of negotiating) or fuck off.

when you say new employer do you mean that you’ve already started the new job? Or been offered it?

What do you say in an interview where you are asked by the recruiting partner - not an HR person - what your current salary is?

Don't lie - it's an easy to lie to be caught out on due to National Insurance and Tax, P45 etc, plus references.

Just tell them you expected 40,000 and reasons why and then hopefull you will get close to 38k.

Never understand why so many people lie to new employers.

Go back to them saying your current salary is 30K and as this is a step up in responsibility you were expecting a significant raise in salary. See what they come back with and negotiate from there.

You tell them that the £30k salary is part of the reason you are leaving. That your current salary is due to increase to £32.1k and you still believe that is below current value. You are mowing looking for a role that that enables you to take on additional responsibilities and earn £40k, you had assumed this would be possible with the role they have advertised

You've told them what you're on (you should have added on a bit of embellishment) but ultimately that's what you're on now. You are moving jobs to progress, so it's pretty much expected that they should be offering more if they want the advantage of your talent and experience. You say "I need X in order to take up the offer".

To add OP that YOU need to value yourself in this. Some of these companies will pay as little as possible if there are candidates who are pushovers or that they can dictate to.

Tell them what you expect, what you deserve. It's not about being difficult, it's about you recognising your own value in the market.

Was an extra £8k based on your knowledge of what the going rate was for your skills or was it just what you'd like to be paid now?

My salary is confidential and is connected with my current role. For this role my expectation is X.

HNRTT but if now you don't believe you can ask for the additional £8k then they achieved their cynical purpose by their ANCHORING offer. If you don't need the job then remember you are the best candidate, treat it like a board game and dismiss their offer with a counter offer of £45k but own that to try and reanchor the negotiation where you need it to be. This is the best time to negotiate. Good luck.

In what world is it normal to get an £8k increase for moving jobs? I agree that the OP could have played this better, but in my sector (which employs millions of people) an £8k increase would be exceptional. £1.5 - 2k at best would be normal.

The market is crazy st the moment - lots of employers having to pay new hires more than existing employees . I’d tell them you’re looking for £40k. Even if you’re desperate to move, there will be other opportunities

It is possible my friends and I have always got lucky 💁

I would not be leaving a secure job for 2 years on insecurity for less. I might consider £5k if the other benefits were good

I think that, as you would be better off staying where you are financially than accepting this offer, you have nothing to loose.

I would email back, "Thank you for offering me the job, however the offered salary is so far below what I was expecting that I don't think it's even worth negotiating over it. Thank you for your interest." They'll either withdraw the offer or raise the offer. They'll probably raise it minimally, to £32k perhaps, that's when you go back with £40k and then settle for somewhere in between.

because I feel I can't really go up £8k now which is around what I wanted

Why ever not?

You are in a very strong position to negotiate. They want you , you have a job so don't need their offer. You are giving up continuity of service snd all the bother of changing, making new contacts etc.

Start by saying that you want the job but you just can't afford to take it at that rate. If they ask what you want, make sure you ask for more than you 'need' so you have some room to negotiate down.

They can offer more, and more benefits, better pension, starting bonus, pay review on six months.

You are playing into their hands if you think their making a low offer limits what you can ask for. As PP points out, this is their anchoring offer. You will never be in a stronger position to negotiate than now. It's in their interest to get you as cheaply as possible. You already know they want you.

Play the game, see what they offer. Enjoy.

Don't lie but do stick to your guns.

Oh I agree. I once got £10k increase. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm just questioning the statement that it is normal. It isn't normal for many people. If we stay within sector then there it no job insecurity as employment is continuous - public sector.

In what world is it normal to get an £8k increase for moving jobs? I agree that the OP could have played this better, but in my sector (which employs millions of people) an £8k increase would be exceptional. £1.5 - 2k at best would be normal.

£1-2k for a step up?! I would call that side step salary, not promotion.

P.s. back in the day, I was earning £25k and negotiated a new job at £41k. I could hardly believe it and found myself asking them to repeat the offer. Afterwards I discovered the could have offered even more.

Never take the first offers, especially when you already have a job and the market is as hot as it is now.