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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Offered job with lower pay

88 replies

eggcellent · 13/04/2018 17:40

So I applied for a job that was advertised at £22,000, interviewed on Wednesday and got an email today to say that they'd like to offer me the job, but as I don't have a lot of experience they want to start me at a slightly lower level, for which the salary would be £19,000. I don't really want the job if it's £19,000, I have some other interviews coming up that are more than that. Is there a way to politely phrase that, and say that if it's not the £22,000 as advertised then I'm not interested? Or should I just email back and decline the job? I do want to work there, but not for 3 grand less than advertised.

OP posts:

XiCi · 13/04/2018 18:15

They are trying it on and I would politely decline the offer. I'd bet my house that they will offer you the original starting salary if you decline however I would be assessing whether I'd want to work for a company that would pull a stunt like this from the outset. Doesn't bode well for any future salary negotiations

SpringNowPlease2018 · 13/04/2018 18:16

I think they're trying it on. Id politely say "only interested in advertised salary".

Starryskiesinthesky · 13/04/2018 18:23

I would list the reasons why you think you deserve the higher salary and say you are interested in it if they can provide that salary but unfortunately would have do decline if it were to be lower. That way it leaves them with the choice rather than declining outright at this stage.

bevelino · 13/04/2018 18:23

Ewe is right and do not accept the offer at 19k.

Failingat40 · 13/04/2018 18:24

I'd be careful in my reply to them here op.

One year is not a lot of experience to have in a competitive job market. Refusing the lower salary point blank without coming back to them with any counter figure just makes you look short sighted and rather inflexible.

Is it a job via an agency ? I wonder if they are trying it on so they get a bigger cut?

Personally I'd suggest they meet in the middle and negotiate a salary review date in the job offer/acceptance.

expatinscotland · 13/04/2018 18:26

What Ewe wrote. And if it's an admin job and they're already trying it on, it doesn't bode well.

Lulusmother · 13/04/2018 18:27

Depends if you are earning less than £19k at present. You could accept the position with terms of a pay rise dependent on your performance, however in your position I'd go to the other interviews and see what happens. If you are unemployed though I'd go for it.

Knittedfairies · 13/04/2018 18:28

I think they are trying it on too; it costs money to advertise and recruit so unless they go with the second-best candidate, you should be ok.

whensitmyturn · 13/04/2018 18:28

This happened to me and with pretty much the same salary and I just said to them straight that while I was very pleased to be offered the job I couldn't accept the job being paid the salary. We came to an agreement that they paid me 21,000 rising to the full amount offered once I'd completed my probationary period. It's definitely worth pushing for more.

expatinscotland · 13/04/2018 18:29

'One year is not a lot of experience to have in a competitive job market. Refusing the lower salary point blank without coming back to them with any counter figure just makes you look short sighted and rather inflexible. '

And advertising a job at a set level of pay, without specifying 'with X no. of years of experience', calling someone in to waste their time with an interview or two, then trying it on offering them 15% less is a pisstake. This is how women get screwed in the workplace so often. Bet they'd never try this on with a man and he wouldn't dream of accepting it.

MaverickSnoopy · 13/04/2018 18:33

Agree on the reply. Do you think you have the relevant experience?

They are taking the piss and I would expect them to now offer you more than £19k (but maybe not £22k). It would be silly of them not to as they may not have a 2nd choice and even if they did, their 2nd choice may not except less than £22k. I can't see them offering them more than £19k either, given that you are first choice (assuming you are first choice).

WeAllHaveWings · 13/04/2018 18:34

If you won't accept at £19k then reply telling them why you are worth £22k with a years experience and see what happens.

Is your current job the same level, is the salary offered more or less?

NoFear84 · 13/04/2018 18:34

What’s this sense of entitlement you have? Your worth to them is what they’ve offered you have to prove otherwise. The sensible thing to do would be to pick up the phone and have a conversation.

Of course you should be grateful for the offer. As far as they are concerned they were looking for a candidate with a certain amount of experience to offer at the top level. Why not talk through that? Set a salary review date?

If it’s a Company you’re interested in and you don’t take it then it might be a Company you’re interested in at some point in the future. People move round - you want to keep the door open and be polite.

Agencies don’t take cuts. They take a percentage of the salary as their fee so it’s actaully in their interests to ask for more.

My repsonse would be positive in that you’re grateful to have the offer - don’t forget you only have interviews not offers elsewhere - entirely different. Use this offer as a starting point and talk to your potential new employer. Show your maturity and self worth. I don’t know why people think companies are out to take the piss. Sensible conversations and negotiations get you much further in life.

turnipfarmers · 13/04/2018 18:38

I'd get in touch with them and say that you appreciate the offer and enquire whether they are prepared to offer you any formal training which will help you to make progress towards a higher level in the job and see what they say.

Original poster

eggcellent · 13/04/2018 18:40

NoFear84 I don't think it's entitled to expect the advertised salary considering I satisfy all requirements stated on the job description and they clearly liked me to have offered me the job, but thanks for you input.

OP posts:

bilbodog · 13/04/2018 18:42

This has happened to me twice, once years ago and i declined when they offered me less than they had advertised and ive not regreted doing that - on reflection the man was an arse! Happened more recently within the public service - they offered me the job at the lower end of the scale but i had masses of experience so rang and spoke to the person who had offered me the job - and indicated that the salary i was expecting was doable - and got offered what i was expecting.

sonjadog · 13/04/2018 18:42

It’s not entitled to want more money for the job you do. What nonsense.

Butterymuffin · 13/04/2018 18:45

Bet they'd never try this on with a man and he wouldn't dream of accepting it.

THIS. They like OP enough to offer her the job, they're just being cheap. If they don't think she has enough experience, then they should keep looking, but they clearly want her, just at a bargain price. I don't see why she has to explain why she's worth it either. Wasn't that what the interview was for?

I don’t know why people think companies are out to take the piss.

From experience that many of them are?

strongandlong · 13/04/2018 18:46

This is pretty common and not necessarily a sign that they're dodgy. I've sometimes offered jobs at below the advertised rate if I thought the candidate had potential but didn't yet fully meet the requirements for the job. The salary is then increased at the end of the probation period (i.e after 6 months). You need to speak to them.

On the other hand, if you're confident that you're worth the full amount, then tell them that. When i was offered my current post I negotiated the starting salary up a bit - it's normal to try..

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 13/04/2018 18:49

I've sometimes offered jobs at below the advertised rate if I thought the candidate had potential but didn't yet fully meet the requirements for the job.

Do you see from this thread what kind of impression that gives people of you and the company you work for?

EnglishRose13 · 13/04/2018 18:50

This happened to me recently. I applied for a job that was advertised at £25-£30k. I was offered £21K for working 42.5 hours a week. This is less than I'm on and more hours than I currently work.

I was honest and said to the HR manager that I hadn't applied for a £21k job, so would not be accepting a £21k job. I then withdrew my application.

WeAllHaveWings · 13/04/2018 18:51

If they don't think she has enough experience, then they should keep looking, but they clearly want her, just at a bargain price.

Maybe she's not exactly what they are looking for just yet but they think she has potential? Salary negotiation is a standard part of the recruitment process.

persypear · 13/04/2018 18:51

They chose you above all the other candidates OP - they are just preying on your inexperience to see if you will undervalue yourself. I'd firmly decline and be wary even if they do come back to you with a higher offer.

Either they want you, or they want someone cheap - can't be both!

DextroDependant · 13/04/2018 18:55

I think you could start negotiating with them to buy some time to attend the other interviews.

Justanotherlurker · 13/04/2018 18:56

Looks like the situation is that either they are trying it on or that although you fulfill the skillset on paper they want someone a bit more experienced.

They have offered you the job though and you're under no obligation to take it, personally I would go back and say you were hoping for a higher salary.

If they do want you then they will up it, if not then C'est la vie

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