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AIBU?

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Original poster

to send this to my prospective employer

79 replies

meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 22:27

Just accepted a job but trying to negotiate the pay. It's my first time dong this so please steer me in the right direction MN!

or how would you better word it? Thanks in advance!

Dear Manager,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me on day, I hope you had a lovely Christmas.

Please feel free to forward this email to and/or copy in Senior Manager.

I would be very happy to join business commencing from date as discussed. However re: salary, upon further calculations from the hourly wage to net monthly salary I do feel I would require more than originally proposed.

Upon meeting with HR manager I was told the role would be a starting salary of £10 per hour and from my industry knowledge I believe the current value for someone with my skillset and experience in a similar standard of venue is around £12-14 per hour. I would be willing to accept a lower salary than what I have been used to previously as do very much like company as a company and what you can provide in terms of a long term career in industry. However, it would be silly for me to take a position on considerably less money than what I know I can earn in many other business of this standing. Is there any way we could come to a more mutually beneficial agreement?

Please do let me know your thoughts.

Kind Regards,
MeandYou

OP posts:
Pumpkinpositive · 25/12/2014 22:29

Did you know what the salary would be before attending the interview?

I wouldn't word the email as you propose.

Jewels234 · 25/12/2014 22:35

Always fine to negotiate on salary. I would call, though appreciate it's a scary prospect.

Can you say something along the lines of 'really pleased to have been offered the job, however the salary is less than I was expecting, and can accept. If you can increase to £X, then I would be able to accept the job today'. Then stay quiet and see what they say.

Always best to keep it simple.

Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 22:38

How would you word it pumpkin that was the whole point of my question?

jewels I was unsure whether I should give an amount and risk doing my self out of more money.

OP posts:
Sn00p4d · 25/12/2014 22:39

Didn't realise this was a 'thing'.
Definitely isn't in my sector anyway.
Did you not know the salary when you applied? Did the advert say it was negotiable? Agree with pp I wouldn't email & definitely not as worded above but it's not something I would do in any event.

Redtartanshoes · 25/12/2014 22:40

Why have you got 2 threads on this??Confused

Hobbes8 · 25/12/2014 22:40

Why would you be willing to accept less than industry standard? I'd call and ask for £13 per hour and then there's room for them to negotiate.

Your email is too apologetic. You have every right to ask for more money if the wage is lower than you were expecting.

Pumpkinpositive · 25/12/2014 22:41

I like Jewel's suggestion about phoning.

With regards to your proposed pitch,

I would be willing to accept a lower salary than what I have been used to previously as do very much like company as a company and what you can provide in terms of a long term career in industry.

However, it would be silly for me to take a position on considerably less money than what I know I can earn in many other business of this standing.

Those two statements seem to contradict each other. Are you willing to accept job on the proposed salary or aren't you?

LadyLuck10 · 25/12/2014 22:42

Your email is waffling on with too much of unnecessary context. You need to keep it simple.

ScrambledEggAndToast · 25/12/2014 22:46

I agree with everyone who says you are waffling. You need to open the lines of communication with either a short email asking to negotiate the salary but not putting a specific amount or even better, phone up. Don't be apologetic, there is no harm in asking. I did it once and managed to get an extra 10% on top of what they were offering. I just put my case to the manager over the phone, she spoke to HR and all sorted.

thatstoast · 25/12/2014 22:47

Are you earning £12-14 an hour now? Or do you just think that you should/could? Obviously if it's the former then you're in a much stronger position.

I don't like the wording of the email though it just sounds weak but I think the fact that you've already accepted the offer confuses the issue. It seems like you knew the hourly rate and were happy with that but now you've 'done the math' you're not happy?

It's a dangerous game to play with roles that pay an average salary because there's every chance there's someone who's almost just as good as you and willing to do it for £10p/h.

If you can afford to take the risk then I think jewels is right and it should be a phone conversation. You could pick the £14p/h figure and hope they come back with a mid point?

MidniteScribbler · 25/12/2014 22:48

However, it would be silly for me to take a position on considerably less money than what I know I can earn in many other business of this standing

Quite frankly, this line would be the end of our discussions. "Fuck off and work for them" would be the response. In fact, the whole email would get my back up.

Unless you have some fantastic skill that no other candidate has, and assuming they advertised the salary before you applied, then it's likely they will just move on to the next candidate. If you really want the job, then pick up the phone and negotiate with them. But that will mean you need to offer something as well - could you make an agreement that if you achieve x, x and x by a certain date that you will get a bonus of x amount. That would be a more reasonable way to approach the issue.

FunkyBoldRibena · 25/12/2014 22:49

What worked withme was 'i am going to need x to consider leaving this company, as with benefits it will leave me oit of pocket'...but do it by phone not email.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 25/12/2014 22:51

I took a pay drop when I started my current job but I get a yearly bonus, maternity pay, a pension and sickness pay so I'm actually better off. Have you checked for these? It may be unreasonable to ask for more money if you get paid more in other ways. I'd be inclined to leave it for now and show that I'm worthy of a pay rise to be honest.

bobbyjoe · 25/12/2014 22:53

I agree with Hobbes - don't settle on £10. I would email though rather than phone as it's on 'paper' then.

I would keep it short and sweet - something like:

Dear X

It was very nice to meet with you the other day.

I am happy to accept the position and start on the date suggested. However, the hourly rate suggested by HR is far lower than the current rate in the marketplace which is £12-14 an hour and with my experience I would be seeking something more towards the upper end of this.

Pad it out a bit but your post was far to humble and apologetic and conveyed you're ever so grateful but they'll say no to that. Go in stronger and more assertive is my view. After all are you really going to be happy six months down the line on £10 when you know you could be getting at least £12 elsewhere. Good luck.

Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 22:53

Oh I'm confused now. Too much waffling padding it out. I don't want to look rude. I've never negotiated like this before as you can tell

red they're on two different boards for more traffic, didn't realise it was an issue.

pumpkin what I meant was I am willing to accept less than average about £12p/h. But not £10 p/h.

Advert salary was not specified, classed as 'competitive' which it isn't. I was told at 1st interview it would be 'around £10 p/h' then when offered the job the manager now said its starting at £9.

My last job was on a little over £14 p/h and was very, very similar in all aspects.

If I was to do it by phone should I just ring up unannounced?

OP posts:
OrangesLemons · 25/12/2014 22:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 22:55

I have another offer which is better in terms of pay but worse work/life balance. Is it in poor taste to mention other offers whatsoever, even if you don't say who/where it is. Or does it just look made up?

OP posts:
Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 22:57

Also the industry average really is 12-14 p/h but this is a big company with lots of employees so it clearly is working ok for them.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 25/12/2014 22:58

I agree with Midnite

I think the email is poorly written anyway and it certainly wouldn't convince me to pay you more. I don't see what's "mutually beneficial" about increasing your salary.
If you can prove that the market rate is more fair enough, otherwise link your request to some kind of performance target.
I'm surprised this wasn't covered in interview.

ilovesooty · 25/12/2014 22:59

And yes - pick up the phone and talk to them.

bobbyjoe · 25/12/2014 23:00

Obviously all this depends on how strong your position is - how much you think they want you, what they pay others etc. Only you know that. I would email rather than phone as if it's an outright no at least you won't get flustered if emailing whereas on the phone they might run rings round you.

I'd say you were on over £14 before and having worked the hourly rate out it's very low - say you want the job and looking forward to it but you're looking more towards the £14 mark. If they say no to that are you willing to walk away? If you are then obviously you can negotiate harder than if you desperately need the work.

Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 23:02

I assumed picking up the phone whenever and just assuming that person would have the time right there and then to have a long discussion with you was a bit arrogant or something. It's also not the type of industry where people are always in the office or easily contactable by telephone.

OP posts:
bobbyjoe · 25/12/2014 23:03

There are lots of considerations the main one is how much they want you. Only you know this so only you know whether to bring up you have another offer on £14 an hour. I would probably say it, perhaps not in the first email or phone call if that's what you do. If they come back and say they really can't increase it then i'd probably say I'll have to go away and think about it as I also have an offer from X company and while I'd prefer to work with you there is a great disparity in the pay so it is a consideration. I'd then probably take the other job.

Original poster
meandyouohyeah · 25/12/2014 23:04

bobby I would prefer to email as I would probably get a bit crumbly on the phone and be talked round.

I could turn down the job, I would prefer not to as I do actually want it , but not for what they are offering.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 25/12/2014 23:04

In that case could you email and ask to arrange a time to discuss salary negotiation?