To try and negotiate this salary up?

[nervousnellyisnervous]

Just this really.

Having a debate with another female friend about negotiation of salary.

I'm interviewing for a role which pays £75k base, 45k bonus but thats not always guaranteed. I'm not at offer stage but its looking good.

If I get to offer stage I want to counter with 95k base, same bonus. And then try and meet ideally at 85 the half way point.

Worst they can say is no.

My friend thinks its silly to negotiate, and I feel way too many women don't and should. But I think any man would, even if it is good money already. I'm from the US and in an industry where negotiation is frequently done on salary... usually only by men.

AIBU? And what would you open with?

Try it. If they really want you the worst that will happen is they say no.

If that's the norm in your industry then yes go ahead. I've only had jobs that are on a union contract - salaries are more or less set.

You’d have a better idea than general MN if asking for a £20K increase is likely to get you laughed at or not. In principle there’s absolutely nothing wrong with negotiating and indeed women often do themselves out of salary parity with male peers because they’re not aggressive enough in their demands. You’d need to perhaps think in % terms if it sounds reasonable.

With that size of bonus is there some kind of sales/ biz dev element to the role? If ao I would definitely negotiata, and would imagine it's expected.

Presumably the bonus is % so you'd have the same % on a higher base? Is it all or nothing or might the bonus vary from 0 to 45k?

If they have advertised the role at up to 75k then 95 is significantly higher than what they've said is the their budget.

Are you prepared to accept what's on offer now, or to walk away if they say no? If you are I say go for it.

Years ago I realised my male peers would almost always just "have a punt" asking for as much money as they thought they could get away with.

I started doing it. I've asked for demanded payrises 3 times since, and been astonished that they never bloody say no.

Get in on that gravy train OP. Definitely ask.

Definitely ask for more. Men always do.
I’m not sure whether I’d ask for 95k as don’t know your job. As long as they haven’t said that’s the max.
In my company the salary bands are quite tight so there’s no way to negotiate 20k more as your boss might be paid that or less.
Good luck!

Depends how much they want you! How well did your interview go? How keen do they seem?

I’ve achieved 15% above the “up to” range on two occasions so it’s not impossible.

"Definitely ask for more. Men always do."

Typical mumsnet sweeping generalisation.

By all means negotiate, but asking for 20k more might be pushing it.

By all means negotiate, but asking for 20k more might be pushing it.

If you want to get 20% above what you think they’ll offer you then yes you’ll need to start somewhere in that region. If they are offering then they want you, that’s your one shot to get what you want. Although if you are worth £85k+ Is this the right level for you or should be looking at the next bracket ie the 90-120k roles?

Sorry 15%

Yes, ask. I asked for a whacking great raise last time I was negotiating (as in 30%) and got it. Gonna do the same again in a couple of weeks time! Worst case scenario is they say no, so why wouldn't you ask?

Asking for 27% more than the amount offered is a big jump - on what basis?
Did you know the salary offered when you applied for the role?

It depends what you’re offering that they won’t get from another candidate who would accept the £75k. You’re going to have to have a good argument as to why you want an extra £20k. I work in sales and have always negotiated a higher salary than the original offer but I do think you might be pushing it there. It’s not like a house negotiation where you get into a back and forwards until you agree. You don’t want to piss them off before you’ve even started.

Also is this through a recruiter or direct? If there’s a recruiter involved then it’s their job to get you the highest possible salary and they should be close enough to the client to know how much they’re willing to go up by. They should also qualify with you what salary you’d be willing to accept before you get the offer and at this point you can ask about whether they feel there’s room to negotiate on the advertised salary.
Remember they’ll be working (usually) on a percentage of your salary as their commission so it’s in both your interests to get you the highest salary possible so work with them.

From an outsider;s perspective (I am not from the US), the only chance you get to set a decent salary is when they take you on... There are very few salary reviews which actually give you a decent raise!

On the flip side.... right now ANY job is pretty damn good to have! With the coming depression, I think only you can take a view...

Best of luck

Definitely negotiate! I don’t understand why you wouldn’t? If they won’t budge on salary it’s always worth asking for extra pto or other perks. Good luck.

I think it makes a difference as well whether you applied or it was a headhunt. The roles I’ve been headhunted for are the ones I’ve achieved a significant uplift on.

Ask! You are right men ask and women dont - it's one of the reasons for the pay gap.

www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Women-Dont-Ask-negotiation/dp/0749929006

Good luck!

Definitely ask but 20k extra seems like a lot for a 75 k salary. Would competitors pay much more for a comparable job?

Do it, do it, do it. A bloke wouldn’t hesitate.
You’ll probably end up somewhere in between bit you’ll get sweet FA if you don’t try.

Hah, I work in the wrong industry

This is more nuanced. How did the initial base salary get discussed with you? Is that their budget? Is that what you asked for? In my field salaries aren’t published but you say what you’re after at the beginning of the recruitment process. If you’ve suggested 75k then YABU to up it by £20k. Also when I’m recruiting if someone knows the budget is X and then tries to push it by a huge 25%+ then I’d think they were fairly amateur making a ridiculous request and wasting my time. A 5-10% increase request (as long as you didn’t set the initial salary expectation) is reasonable, as long as you can back it up as standard for the industry and your experience. There is a real chance of you missing out entirely. If you can get 95 at a different company, go there!

I completely disagree with the absolutely ask for more, blithely. You’re about to counter with an ask for a 27% increase on the basic. On what grounds?

Have you benchmarked the role? If you were to do this role elsewhere is a 95k base more inline with market?
Are your skills a niche area, currently in demand?
Is the employer you’re going to buoyant financially despite Covid?

I’m all for people negotiating. I have negotiated salaries in many jobs. But I have always had a reason why. Such as benchmarking/ knowing a competitor could offer me a higher package. Or actually having another offer on the table that the company needed to match/ beat.

I’ve also had people try to negotiate with me. And if you came to me saying you wanted £20k more on the base (without any reasons that made me think, fair enough, I can see why you’re worth that), I’d stick with the offer and at the same time move into the next candidate.

Totally negotiate by all means. But be sensible IMO. I started a new job midst pandemic in May and it’s the first time ever I haven’t negotiated. Why? It wasn’t the right time and it was fair for the role I am doing...