AIBU - Successful Interview & Salary Negotiation

[Newjob2024]

I applied for a job a few weeks ago and put on the job application what my current salary was. The recruitment consultant called me the following week and I was very honest that, since applying, I have been offered an internal promotion at work. She assured me that the salary was negotiable and that the Company were keen to meet with me.

I have subsequently had an informal chat with the MD and 2 interviews. I was offered the job this morning but the recruitment consultant said that, before they put an offer in writing, they want to know what my current salary is (basic + bonus) so they know what to offer. I went back and explained that I wouldn't be looking to move for the same as I would see this as a step up in my career. She then indicated that there wouldn't be any wriggle room in the salary range.

For context, the job offer was advertised as £40-£50k and I was seeking £54k. AIBU to have expected some salary negotiations when I raised this at the start and was told there would be room for negotiations? Does anyone have any tips on how I could professionally go back to not give my current salary away, as in my view it is irrelevant (and is very clear I am not on a lot less as I have all the skills and experience to do the role).

TIA :)

Or a tight labour market? You need to know which way the market is going for your role.

Yes possibly! They are an expert in a niche field. But some dedicated research and we can all work out our worth.

I'd say the salary was negotiable within the range the advertise £40-50k. If its the company policy to ask for the current salary I don't think it would be a good idea to lie or be coy about disclosing it.

I don’t think many people would accept a new job for the same money (unless some other element was appealing). I’d say to the recruiter ‘this isn’t the package I was expecting, if it can’t be improved I’ll be better of remaining in my current/newly promoted role.’

Candidates for roles are not bound by any company policy to disclose a salary when they do not work for that company, and I would always say that it weakens your position in a negotiation as offers tend to then norm towards that salary.

The reality is that if the offer isn't good enough you just say so and be prepared to walk. They will either match what you want or tell you they can't.

Exactly. Remember you are in the strongest position for negotiation of salary at the point between being selected as the favourite candidate and agreeing to the offer out of any other points in your career.

It's rather simple - if you want me, show me the money!

Yes of course, as an employer we do our research too and if we don’t think a candidate is worth £££ we won’t offer it. We might be wrong - recruitment isn’t a perfect science, I have stuck with my original offer to a recruit and not regretted it - over paying for a recruit can set up very high expectations that they are going to deliver, it definitely means the pressure is on and quick results are expected by the business and the employee - you can’t promise the world and fall flat on your face. Sometimes coming in on a lower salary can give you the time and space to acquire skills - sometimes it’s an excuse for an employer to be cheap - it’s a game, how can you be sure who is telling the truth until you start to work. I read that hiring managers regret hiring nearly 50% of recruits.

Since your current job has made you an offer you are happy with, I would just tel the other company the wage you want and would accept the position for and and why. if they aren’t willing to meet that number then accept the internal promotion, when they see they don’t have you on the hook they will likely compromise for the sake of a few thousand.

Your CURRENT salary has F all to do with it. Tell the consultant what you WANT to be paid. You’ll get it.
Something similar happened to me. I told the company what Inwanted, they mentioned my then salary which I had a already bumped up - but I stuck to my guns.
Got the salary.
And let me tell you -
now after years of hiring and being in big companies - they pull this shit far more with women than men.

Anyone from Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath? Considering a house move to West Sussex with a 15 and 12-year old. Which of the two towns is nicer and/or has good schools? All advice appreciated.

If they were advertising £40-£50k, YABU to expect to negotiate for £54k. They have stated the range within which they will negotiate and if you now want more, they can just withdraw the offer.

You can when you've set out expectations at the start. I have seen this work on several occasions also.

Go on Instagram and there's a lady called

Avdvicewitherin

Ie advice with erin
And she has some great tips on this.

:)

I have just interviewed for a position and one of my final questions is always what are your salary expectations?
Even though I have advertised the position with a salary I know then whether to call people back for second interviews based on the salary they want and the experience they have.
I find recruitment consultants can sometimes "embellish the truth" to candidates just to try and get them to attend an interview, which is not fair on the candidates or the interviewer. They then tend to back track massively when it comes down to it.

you don't have to.... P45's are pretty much obsolete these days now RTI is a thing

We have about 30 new starters a week. We maybe see 5 P45's a month.

Not obsolete - the employer still has to provide them - but that often proves to be very difficult. A new employer doesn't need to get the P45 they just have to offer a salary subject to evidence of previous salary - everyone has a payslip/contract.

Really, really interesting all of this 'lie about your salary/say your expectations are higher than they are' business. And that some people who actually work in HR are questioning it...

Early in my career I asked for a couple of grand more (like 10%) over what I really wanted when asked for salary expectations, and the employer-to-be immediately withdrew my application and said that it was as my salary expectations were too high. I had asked for a very normal salary for the job and market rates at the time.

Similarly I have always challenged initial offers/asked for more and been given a very firm 'computer says no' answer, and refusal to discuss further. Never once, has anybody ever actually entered 'salary negotiations; with me. Even when I have made clear I am going to walk if they aren't going to give me more. I have walked and that has been the end of it.

I have also had new employers asking for my current salary to be confirmed when requesting references. I know this as my boss at the time asked me to confirm what it was! So I absolutely would have been caught out if I had been lying.

different organisations work differently.

As HR lead in one organisation, because of the attitude of the CEO, our practice would often be that salaries could go to around 10% above the highest advertised rate. Our wages went up, but we were in a tight-recruitment-sector and needed good people.

In other organisations it has been more strict.

The thing around diversity etc is organisations should decide what they want and advertise that and pay it. This would be fairer to those candidates who tend to be disadvantaged - and I commend organisations who do it.

in this case, the OP discussed with the recruitment consultant and they had said that the salary was movable (so more like my first org). It seems that later in the process someone has been a bit stricter on applying the advertised range. I think here the recruitment consultant is at fault. It is what you have to expect from them, estate-agent like behaviour. Saying whatever to get candidates through the door.

I would very openly reference what the recruitment consultant said previously to the employer. The rec con may get a bit egg on their face, but they can live with that. And it is in OP's interest that the employer is aware that the recruitment consultant suggested flexibility on salary ranges - and that is why OP is still involved in the recruitment and is sticking to what OP wants and was lead to believe was possible.

Might go either way, but money is often a part of these decisions, and if you are prepared to walk away, then you have nothing to lose.

As others suggest, OP can dodge or not the request to know current salary, but OP probably needs to be clear what they are asking for.

I think if the recruitment consultant knows you were looking for 50+ and they still told you it was negotiable the fault lies with them, really. It also gives you an elegant get out with the employer as you can blame them (in a very British 'perhaps wires have been crossed' way) without it reflecting badly on you.

Nothing to add except stick to your guns. Good luck

Basing their offer on your current salary is common - and wrong. You already have a job so being realistic about your aspirations is on the table, stick with a modest increase on your new salary and be prepared to politely walk away if they can't agree terms.

Would always ask for at least 10% more than I actually wanted then more room yo negotiate. Basically if they want you they should be on board to offer what you expect. No one should move for more of the same. Better the devil you know.

To be honest I would tell them the offer internally, but let them know what they would need to offer to get you to move and stipulate a figure. You need to be serious about this as if they don't offer it you need to be prepared to walk away.

I only went through a recruitment consultant once. They told me I was the preferred candidate; but the other candidate they like will take the bottom of the pay scale. I advised that they should hire them instead then. I would expect top of the scale as I am worth that and that I don't enjoy being manipulated. I told them I was withdrawing my interest. The whole thing left a bad taste...I hate bartering. It's the kind of role that you take and find that the other people doing the same job are on all different pay. So I get why your uncomfortable.

If you like the look of the promotion internally...go in hard with your expectations of pay in this external role being offered. Your in demand girl 👍😉

Can I hijack this thread and ask a very silly question in general: when they ask for current salary, what's stopping anyone from adding a few ££ on? Like, if I was on 40, could I just say I was on 45k looking for 50?

They also ask sometimes in referencing - being found to be dishonest could cost you the job.

I'd just go back and say that's great news about the role. In terms of salary I'd be looking for circa xxx figure. Or a minimum of xx to accept the role.

There's is absolutely no reason to disclose your current salary. Of course they can ask but you're under no obligation to tell them. I wouldn't lie but I would just ignore the request and respond with what you want to accept the role.

Also this would be the salary figure + benefits (medical, dental ect)