Job offer - AIBU to be unhappy with this salary?

[Robin42]

I have never negotiated a salary before so I am completely unsure how far to push this and the etiquette!

I applied for a job within the NHS where the salary was advertised as "22,143 - 24,949".

I have been offered the job and they offered me the lowest salary. I was surprised because even though I have not worked this specific role, this role is as a band 4, and I have previously worked as a band 6.

I replied saying that I would love to accept the offer however I believe that I had the relevant skills and experience that would justify an increase in salary. Because I don't see any reason why I shouldn't get the higher amount and they obviously have it available?

They replied back today simply saying we have attached your revised offer, please let us know if you want to accept it, and they have only increased it to £22,909.

Like I said, I have never negotiated before so perhaps I was too soft in my original email, but that isn't much of an increase at all! They also haven't given any reason or justification as to why they aren't increasing it towards the higher end of the scale.

I really want the job so if they say that is their last offer I would still accept it anyway - but I just feel like if they advertised that amount, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't get it as I believe I am more than experienced and competent for the role.

What do I do?!! I'm worried about looking really cheeky, but also the worst they can do is say no?? What should I respond back with?! Do I try and push for more?

Make a counter offer - explain that, having worked as a band 6, you expect the top end of the scale (£24,949).

They'll come back with another revised offer.

I think often in civil service careers they advertise the range for that band but they wouldn’t expect someone to start on the highest bracket, that would be highly unusual.

I think if you want a higher salary you have to be really blunt, point out your skills and say you’d like x. They problem is, once in post, it might not leave anywhere for future pay increases.

Make a counteroffer, and make it specific. Then it looks more justified, as though you've looked into it and 24,379 or whatever is exactly what you are worth. Or give a range, "given x,y,z, (reasons for higher salary) I was looking for something more in the range of £x - £yk." Bear in mind they might well go for the bottom end of your range, so the bottom number should be something you'd be happy to accept.

Tell them the amount you want.

Having worked within civil service type thing, they advertise the pay brackets as your starting wage and the maximum wage. So they essentially plan to start you at the minimum wage offered and then over time you will work your way up to the upper end. If you start at the upper end, you will never earn more than that until you go up a pay band.
In my experience, they are not open to negotiations.

the scales are formal and fixed a new job person goes in at the bottom and it allows room for increases over the time expected in the job. Offering one above bottom of scale is the norm for a bit more experience - i would say they would be unlikely to go higher as it leaves no head room for future raises, at the end of the day you applied for a job on a known salary well below where you have worked before - so decision is down to you - if you ask for even more I wouldn't take you as a serious contender personally - as you would always be wanting more and there isn't alot of room in that band anyway

Those are yearly increments. I've worked in the NHS for 14 years and you move up one each year.

How relevant was the band 6 work? Can you walk into the band 4 job, hit the ground running and do it with next to no support or do you need to learn the ropes?

It will be incremental, so next year tour pay will rise and the year after until you hit the top band

Are you currently an NHS worker on a Band 6?

If not, then you start at the bottom of the salary band of the job you're offered.

Civil Service bands and NHS bands are different, bear no relation to one another and transfers across are not possible.

You applied for a Band 4 role, you get Band 4 money.

I'm Band 2 btw.

You don't really get to negotiate in the public sector. If you've done the job before, elsewhere in the NHS, they should match your current salary, presuming it's in the same band, but it's usual for new starters to start on the bottom of the scale, and usual for new starters to be bumped up more than one or 2 spine points.

Essentially, that is their offer. Do you want it or not, because they are not going to offer top of the scale. Public sector employers save money when current staff leave by saving the difference between [long standing member of staff at top of scale]'s salary and [new starter at bottom of scale]'s salary. If you get asked to make 5% savings from the staff budget, that's the money you give back first.

They are very fixed in the NHS banding. Unless you are currently employed in the NHS, you are very lucky to have had any increase on the lowest band in the range. It's not a negotiable salary banding iyswim. You start at the bottom of the band and go up based on experience.

I moved trusts from band 6 to band 6 role and managed to get an increase, but this incredibly rare and the role had been vacant for a looooong time.

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee actually you no longer go up yearly in increments with the new pay scales, so a new employee would only receive a pay rise in line with the yearly increases in inflations, and not a step up in pay. They are usually every 3-4 years depending on the band.

Starting points are normally fixed unless you are transferring within a similar role I'm afraid. Worth asking but you won't be able to negotiate like a business

I went back into the nhs after a career break and took a flexible band 6 role after 10 years in a band 7. I was offered the bottom. I looked at the job description/person spec and said I believed my previous experience would allow me to act in the post as if I had x years experience after the initial settling in period, therefore it was reasonable for me to be paid at x point. I had the advantage of previously recruiting a lot and knowing you can move up the points for relevant experience. I asked for 2 points below the top. It requires director sign off but I got it.

Try to negotiate again, giving an exact figure or range rather than just "more". Make reference to the job description in your response, highlighting that you have x amount of experience in each of the essential/desirable criteria and you feel that the higher end is more fitting with the competencies you bring to the role.

I negotiated appointment at the top of the salary scale in my current job. I was moving from a higher paid post in a different sector, with clear transferable skills - I have evidence of my higher salary and they returned with an offer at the top of the scale. Always worth asking but be specific and give evidence as to why you should go in at a higher rate.

Are you currently working as a Band 6 in the role you’re applying for?

If so, I’d push for more.

If you were a Band 6, five years ago in a totally different area, then I wouldn’t.

Had this same thing in the civil service. Everyone coming in for the job started on the lowest salary in the band, no negotiation for anyone. I’d been doing an equivalent job for many years, but not taken into account at all.

As other have said it is the pay bracket and the most you will earn in the same bracket is the top figure. So you wont get any pay rises if you go in at the top end.

They are unlikely to negotiate anything better I am afraid but you can always try.

You need to start talking numbers, how are they meant to know what you're willing to take if you don't tell them?

How relevant was the Band 6 role to the Band 4 role, and how long ago was it?

You are very lucky to have been given even one increment extra, IME.

If you're a Band 6 why are you dropping to a Band 4?

I work for local council and the advertised bracket allowed for pay rise over time. You always start on the lowest then move up with service. Assume this is the same

I work in university admin and it's the same system. My friend was a grade 6 but applied for a grade 5 job in an area that interested her, and because she was current university staff they put her on the top band of the lower bracket.

If you are not currently NHS staff they will start you on the bottom rung of the ladder.

Look at job spec. If your skills and experience match exactly to what they are asking for then state this in an email. You need evidence why you are worth the extra money. Just because your pay was higher before - doesnt matter. You need show the specific skills and experience you are bringing to the post. Plus state what salary you are expecting ie - top end of a band 4