AIBU if I ask for top end of salary band ?

[yoyoman]

I am thinking of applying for a job that I think I will be quite good at. I do about 70% of what is required already at my current job and I know I can easily learn the rest.

The salary is graded so something like:

Min-20k Mid-30k Max-40k

I have been told that they usually give mid so about 30k

AiBU if I has for the max in the grade? (40k)?

I know I'm good at my job and will do well in the new role. I'm just not used to or comfortable with asking...

Recruiters/ HR people- is is it usually for you to give the max ? Do people ask for it ?

Thank you!

I would ask if I think I'm worth that. They are advertising it after all, but be prepared to justify you're worth it when you're in your role and during your probation period.

Also expect that if they give you the top of the band you may not then get any pay rises as that would take you over the top of the band.

I will preface this by saying I don't work in HR. However, I do a lot of interviewing for new recruits with a banding similar to what you suggest. We score candidates based on the competencies and interview. Their negotiation power is related to the grade they get. We have offered the maximum to candidates that scored highly. But refuse to negotiate with lower scoring candidates.

It is always worth negotiating! We have never withdrawn an offer because someone asked for more money so it is worth trying.

If you only current have a proven record of 70% of the criteria I would doubt that they would give you 100% of the salary advertised, but you should aim high or they will give u the minumin to recruit you

I mean on the surface, it would be hard to justify giving you the max salary when you admit yourself that you can only excel at 70% of the responsibilities

However there’s nothing stopping you from asking and selling yourself

That's a massive salary range for the grade.

There's no harm in asking but the maximum salary is for people with experience of every element of the role who are, essentially, ready for promotion if the range is that broad.

Ask. Sell yourself as hard as you can.

Men do it far more than women which is one of the reasons they get paid more.

OP, I have never asked for more money for a job before but after reading that most men did, and based on the fact that I met most of the criteria and did an interview that I felt had gone really well, I asked for another couple of increments within the scale and got them. Just have a few reasons why you're worth the higher salary and be enthusiastic about the job and what you can bring to it.

If you ask for £40k they might give you £40k. The worst they can do is say no and give you a counteroffer.

I negotiated entry at the top of the salary band for my current role, but it’s a job where I had significant experience in all areas of the role - I was seeking better work/life balance. You can only ask but be prepared to evidence why they would appoint at the top of the scale.

What am I reading? If course you ask for the top band salary, why would you not? You do 70% already in your current job so there is only 30% that you have to learn and believe me, if you ask for 30k and they give it to you, you will not get 30% payrise once you have learnt everything.
You go girl! No man would ever had that dilemma! Best of luck!

As a recruiting manager, I would only offer the top of the band for someone who met 100% of the person spec. I'd raise an eyebrow at someone who only met 70% asking for the highest salary.

There's probably no harm in asking if you are offered the role.