I am just about to email to turn down a job offer for a job I actually really want. Anyone else had this occur?

[ThatBliddyWoman]

I have had two interviews for the job, one just an informal meeting and the second a presentation. Both went well and I was offered the job. It was advertised as (for example) the pay starting at about 2K less than I am on now, and going up to 3 and a half thousand more.

They've offered me the very lowest end of the scale, because I don't have all of the experience they wanted.

They wanted a degree, experience in one particular field and experience in another field. I have two degrees (a Masters) and experience in one but not both of the areas so they'd start me on the lowest pay.

It's also more hours than I do now (albeit not many) some hours WFH some in the office. So I'd have to factor in petrol costs, and paying a dog walker.

I've looked at my finances over and over and I just can't do it :(

I keep re-wording the email. What I want them to do is to come back and say 'Great we'll give you more money then!' but It's not likely is it.

I have a gut feeling that they've not had many people apply. I breezed through both the interviews, I got the impression they really liked me :(

It's also in a field I really want to work in and really want to gain experience in. They'd offered to put me through a qualification I have always wanted too.

Gutted. Has anyone else had something such as this happen?

Fingers crossed for you OP

Definitely go back and state what you're worth. Don't just say they need to match your salary, they have to make it worth your while moving jobs.

Pretend you're a man, ask for the highest salary possible at the top of the scale and see what they can do.

There's a scale for a reason, they'll always try to give you as little as possible but they have the budget for the top of the scale so ask for it!

This advice comes from watching DH rather than my own career but if you have marketable skills in the private sector you need to demand proper payment.

I've been doing some seminars lately called "knowing you worth" one of the topics was around the gender pay gap and how some of it is led by women thinking that they have to take what's offered but men more inclined to ask for more.

It sounds to me like they have some pay flexibility if they were going to offer someone with the right experience more than they've offered you, it is most definitely worth asking. They've already done the outlay for interviews and application sifting, they all cost money...if they have to do that again they may just find the funds you need!

When they've offered you the job is exactly the right time to negotiate the salary and package so good luck OP. I have done that and they pretty quickly came back with an improved offer.

I've also not done that with a previous role and accepted the same salary as the job I was in when the new job involved higher commuting costs. I wished I'd negotiated, but the experience I gained was good.

Please negotiate. They already know to expect it. The person offering just needs you to justify (masters, experience, current salary etc) so he/she has a reason to go into bat for you.

It will likely cost them more to re-run the recruitment exercise (not to mention hassle for the interviewers) than whatever delta you are asking for.

I hate these conversations too but remember you just need to feel uncomfortable for 5 minutes. That's all: 5 minutes! Then reap the long-term rewards of your bravery.

Ask for 5k more than they have offered.

Well done OP.

When I “negotiated like a man” for my current role, I ended up with a 25k pay raise, working a 4 day week & delaying my start date significantly so that I could finish my mat leave.

I reckon if you were going to bin it off anyway then you've got nothing to lose by negotiating. Good luck OP 🤞

This is a great thread. Well done, OP! Hope you get a good response.

Don't feel awkward negotiating. It's the normal thing to do, especially those in more senior positions. She was vague as she's waiting to see what you put forward as she wouldn't want to offer more than you're expecting. She wants to feel she's done a good job negotiating as well.

Watching this with interest. I’ve recently applied for a job on a lower NHS banding than I am currently (top end of band 6, recently promoted to a 7 but decided not to take the role, now applying for a band 5 job!) hoping that given my experience, they’d pay me the top end of the band. I can’t really afford to take the job if they won’t/can’t.

Are you mad?

Email them. Insist you can't move unless you get the top of the pay bracket. The extra 3.5k is probably barely more than inflation on your current salary.

Women drive me nuts (i am one). Don't accept shit pay in an inflationary environment. Unemployment is low. They DO NOT have their pick of staff.

I negotiated on a job in the summer and got 8% higher than the amount listed in the ad.

Lunalovelemon

Why the hell are you applying for effectively a 2 rung demotion?

Honestly people baffle me.

Don’t ‘turn it down’ - just thank for them for the offer and say you are happy to accept it on the basis of £x salary

This 👆🏻

Also, you are the market. They can’t get what they think they want / therefore they have to pay you! I hope that makes sense. There really needs to be a huge mindset shift amongst people, I really don’t know why people don’t know their worth!

I joined an organisation and they had to pay me what I wanted. My boss after I joined said he had to adjust the whole team’s salaries (I mean fair of him really) because of what he was paying me. It meant those people had been underpaid for years and me joining shifted their salaries up.

It’s an offer, now you negotiate.

you say it’s an exciting role, that you can see yourself adding value (give example) but you are looking for x amount, can they accommodate.

Good luck! I'm so glad you've emailed them! Fingers crossed.

L'Oréal negotiations
"I'm worth it"

Yes, don’t suggest the minimum you can afford, and don’t accept that you are missing a key skill. Also, when they come back to you with a better offer, speak to your current employers and explain that if they matched the offer and gave you more challenge, you would be happy to stay. And don’t apologise, you sound fantastic!

I can't believe some of the examples that have been given here! This is crazy that anyone thinks this way...people need to know their worth and not try to plead for employers to help them pay their bills! Women are so guilty of undervaluing themselves and we need to stand stronger together.

I'm a decision maker in recruitment and strategy at a national organisation and this is what I respect from people who apply for a job and then negotiate for their salary:

• laying out clearly how much it will take for you to join the company - what is the magic number? Aim for the top of the salary scale - I've pitched beyond and got it but this depends on your confidence level and how much you want/need the job!
• what value they will add - outline your experience, knowledge and work ethic
• acknowledge the training and what that is worth to both you and the company.
• ambitions - your career ambitions and where you will take this role - it's a next step
• current salary - OK, not always necessary but it can help to make the case if this helps them understand that you need to take a step upwards in your career rather than sideways or back

I don't care if you're applying for a role as a kitchen help or at Director level. Everyone wants to see commitment, enthusiasm and ambition. Do not accept less than you can afford - you will resent the job and your boss once you see that other people are being paid more or that the organisation could afford it.

Please do not mention:

• pet or childcare costs
• actually, any bills - your employee is not there to help you pay your bills - that's your personal business

By the way, this is in the ideal world with reputable companies. If your boss to be is a narcissist or has any kind of personality disorder then it won't be so straight-forward. If they turn you down then this is a good sign that they're going to be crappy to work for. If they negotiate then you've got a good 'un and them starting at the lowest point isn't necessarily a red flag...it's a game at this point.

They will not want to go through another recruitment cycle.
As everyone has said email back and say the salary is not what you were expecting. You have demonstrated the skills necessary for the position during the interview process.
Due to the additional commute and costs involved with this new position you want £xxxk and after successfully passing your probation period In 3 months time you expect to be given an additional pay rise to the higher end of the salary range.

Totally this and a man would deffo ask for more by default.

And you are in a great position!

OP,

I have negotiated loads of times. The way to do it and feel comfortable is to be honest.

Say:
Thank you for your job offer. I was delighted to receive it as I am extremely keento join your team because X Y and Z. I really felt when we met that I could offer you A, B & C to help this project/team/department develop and meet new targets.
However I am unable to take any reduction on my current salary, which I'm sure you can appreciate, given the current financial climate.
I sincerely hope you are able to review the pay package on offer as I am eager to accept this role.

Unless they are a tiny company, ther eis always room for negotiation on pay. They try it on.

An offer is the start of a negotiation - it’s not a final offer. Chances are it will be fine. They are very possibly just being cheeky fuckers. HR depts are, especially in times like this.

Think like a bloke and word your request with positivity and energy - point out just how brilliant you are - if they aren’t just being CF and are genuinely broke/shit payers it’s almost certainly cheaper to pay you more than go through another recruitment process.

Eg

Dear CF

I’m delighted that you’ve offered me the gig - it’s exactly what I want because X, and yours is exactly the company I want to work for because Y. (Make your egs about what benefits them not you)

I’m looking forward to starting. However I do need a minimum stating salary of X (add a dollop on to of what you actually need), to reflect my immense experience A, B, C which I am looking forward to using to make your company even greater - and underline what you will do for them. I addition the current offer is less than what I earn, and it isn’t possible for me to reduce my earnings and cover rising costs.

As above, I’m really excited about the job so look forward to hearing from you with a revised offer

Brilliant Bliddy

If they ring you up and Bleat be lovely but firm. Do not concede the bit on top of what you have actually asked for unless you absolutely have to.

They sound like a slightly low energy outfit, so be prepared to push for more money on a regular basis. Also do some reading about how to get what you want. You need to be more assertive