Offered job with lower pay

[eggcellent]

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.

If they think the OP will need more training and supervision than other candidates but still prefer her, then they should make this clear; stating what training and supervision she would receive (over and above what any new recruit would get), and when and how this period of T&S would end so she that can receive the advertised amount.

Anything less than this is cheeky and disingenuous.

But you have a years experience? If you think you’re worth it then negotiate. If you’re confident you can secure something elsewhere then go for it.

I negotiate for a living - if you’re right then there will be a middle ground. Always better to discuss than just walk away. Walking away is right at the end of the process. Show your worth. Generally companies don’t want to waste time interviewing lots of candidates you might be in a good position!

Good luck either way. Just be positive.

If they think the OP will need more training and supervision than other candidates but still prefer her, then they should make this clear; stating what training and supervision she would receive (over and above what any new recruit would get), and when and how this period of T&S would end so she that can receive the advertised amount.

In a nice and perfect world maybe, but we are taking the OP at her word that it was advertised at 22k, not "up to", hyperthetically the situation could be that she doesn't have a full understanding of some essential software. There is no special training needed as this will be picked up on the job.

But this is the offer stage, she should go back and basically say no I want the 22k, but be prepared to get knocked back or meet halfway.

@expatinscotland

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.

I didn't write my post based on any assumption about the OP's sex.

Whether the op is male or female doesn't matter a hoot, all salaries are negotiable.

Unsolicited advice from an old bird but an old bird who has just negotiated a good pay package

A company that behaves this way is taking the piss, even if they promise something better later. It's just a race to see how much they can squeeze out of people. Quite possibly, "later" will never materialise. Unless you are broke and this is your only option, don't fall for it. Also it's easy to look at a company and think they're good, but you don't know till you get there and companies change ethos and culture anyway.

At least they put a salary on the job advert. Competitive really pees me off. If it's so competitive why not attract people with it on the job advert!

Bet if you were male they wouldn't be pissing about with 19K.

19K is feck all nowadays.

And you're doing admin not cardiac surgery.

How much experience do you need for admin? 1 year is plenty.

No way is op entitled. They never specified the years experience needed then dropped her salary because she wasn't experienced enough. Avoid at all costs.

I'm with @WeAllHaveWings here. Salary negotiation is standard in many industries - I've always negotiated a rise on first offer, it can be done!
They have certainly gone about it a rubbish way, by not indicating that the £22k depended on experience. My assumption would be that with only one year of experience they anticipate more training, less ability to immediately take everything on etc vs a more experienced person. I'd understand if you wanted to stop now, but if you liked the team and role then all this doesn't mean they are necessarily terrible so much as disorganised.

I'd do what other posters here have said and say you're really interested in the role, but unfortunately not at £19k - you had applied on the basis of the £22k offered, and are confident that you currently perform at that level. See what they come back with...

I think I’d reply along the lines of:

Thank you for the offer of the job at 19k. Unfortunately it’s just not financially viable for me at that salary.
Is there any room for manoeuvre?

And see what they come up with.

Take your time and see what the other interviews come up with.

Don't ask if there's any room for manoeuvre, that's a really weak negotiating position. Either you're prepared to negotiate/accept something below £22k so go back with a counter offer, or you're not in which case use the sentence as pp said and be prepared to walk away if thy say no.

Agree with @MaggieFS, don't say room for manoeuvre! That's practically telling them that you'll accept less than £22k.

Bet if you were male they wouldn't be pissing about with 19K.

Of course they would, this isn't a sexist issue

You say that you think that your skills and experience are worth the £22k and invite them to reconsider their offer.

I did something like that after my last job offer and they increased their offer by about one-third.

This is the moment when you have your most bargaining power as they've tipped their hand by saying that they want to employ you.

What is your current pay? will you get a pay rise or a drop?

I would hold out for the advertised rate. I’m really surprised by the amp not of people here who think this is acceptable. If you tell people that you’re offering a certain salary and you deem someone to be good enough to do the job then give them the bloody salary you advertised! I would be very unimpressed with a company that tried this. I would also not accept a review ‘later’. They didn’t put provisos on the salary when you applied so they shouldn’t now.

I'd be blunt and reply with if I'd wanted a 19k job I would have applied for one. I applied for a £22k job, appear to have been the best candidate as you offered me the job, but I am not prepared to accept at that lower salary offer. Forget about your supposed lack of experience, they offered YOU the job, not somebody else, which leads me to think you were the best candidate they interviewed. What have you got to lose?

Accept the job @ £19K.
Negotiate a start date in a few weeks.
Go for your other interviews.
Get another offer.
Then go back to the first place & tell them you had a better offer & that they can go fuck themselves.
If no other offers, start at the first place.

IMO its not appropriate to negotiate after they stated the salary. Cheeky fuckers.

This advice is based on me being a bolshy fucker, so feel free to disregard.

Posters here are taking the 22k as a deadline figure.

She has every right to negotiate her starting salary, but I would bet you cannot find any job on indeed etc with a stating salary without caveats.

The caveats are the issue the issue here.

How does the 19k relate to what you are currently earning? My assumption is that they have picked up your current salary from your cv and decided they can get you cheap.
Wine interesting to see what they come back with.

Most companies have salary landings based on experience and length of service. I'd guess they have several staff at 22k and your experience matches similar staff on 19k.

Have they published gender pay gap report?

Negotiate. It's standard.
I accepted a lower amount but with an agreed plan to pay my required salary in x mths when I'd proven my value.

It's not personal, it's business.

Have they published gender pay gap report?

If you want to make it political/social, the BBC did a review and ended up giving more men pay rises than women to close the gap of pay disparity.

The OP's situation is not a gendered issue, and suggesting it is doesn't help.