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 :)

I think there is. What do they think that role is worth? What do they think that applicant is worth? They will have costed the role. They will know what the market rate is. Same story of offering either the same or 1k or so more. Because of the gender pay gap often a women is on a lower salary so even if they offer more, it wouldn’t match what they might have to pay a man.

Evening all

I can't thank everyone enough for their support on this thread! They have come back with the formal offer of £50k. They have said that this is benchmarked etc and in line with other positions within the company.

I REALLY do want to take this job, I think a fresh start would be good for me. BUT, leaving the job security etc needs to be worth it. I don't think I will get them to go up to the £54k and I don't want to piss them off, so to speak. Do you think it would be reasonable to go back and say £52k? That would be worth it for me financially (only a small increase) but there is a lot of potential there, where my wage is sort of stagnated in the current company.

I think it's difficult when you are emotionally engaged in something! If a friend asked me, I would be like 'of course ask for me', but I want to make sure I don't walk away from a good deal

I have negotiated up £5k before. At this point, having offered you the job, they are invested in you and it would probably cost them more than £2k to turn you down and go back to the drawing board. I think that is a very reasonable counter offer and there is no harm in you asking. Negotiating on a salary is a normal part of recruitment.

You have nothing to lose by asking for 52K. The company won't walk away at this point having got this far.

This is easier to negotiate through the recruitment agent. Make them work for their commission. They were the ones who put you up even though you made it clear what your expected salary is.

So say to the agent there appears to have been a 'miscommunication' (rubbish, agent was being duplicitous) and you had made it clear from the start you wanted 54K so not sure why the company is sticking to 50K. Ask the agent what to do? Then say ok, by way of compromise you wish to counteroffer 52K and ask the agent to propose that to the company. Make that agent sweat. If the company does not agree, you can always back down. Sometimes the company can compromise by giving you a better title and that might be a consolation prize.

Tbh op an extra £2k doesn't really make much difference. Once past £50k your on higher rate tax. So your prob looking at an extra £1k take home a year if your lucky pushing to £52k. If their offering the same/ slightly more than your promotion pay and you want to move anyway I'd go with it if they can't go beyond. Good luck 👍

I would just say it's 10% below what I was looking for and leave it in their court.

They might make the leap or they might meet halfway or they might do nothing.

I took a job once, where at the time I was on 42K and the job was advertised at 32-38K - they seem surprised that I wanted the 38K and were a bit funny about it. "You should have mentioned that at the interview", err no I'm asking for something within the advertised range. "You should have said at interview".

So they did pay me the top of the range but they were a bit funny about it. Turns out they were like that with a lot of things so I moved on after two years anyway.

Where I work (private sector) we have pay bands, and you really wouldn't get higher than the top of the band, mainly because the people interviewing/offering the job wouldn't be able to get anything higher approved. It would be different for a really high level role (Senior Director, VP, C-suite role) but not for positions at the £50k mark. You could obviously ask for the extra £2k, but you should also plan what you will do if they say "No" - would you be happy to take the job anyway, or would you feel you needed to walk away at that point?

Hmm. Benchmarked? Against what? Internally or externally?
In line with....isn't as cut and dried as 'at upper level of banding'
To be honest this tells me they have only assessed what they think the JOB may be worth. They haven't really addressed what YOU would be worth.
Make that counter at £52K and be prepared to walk away if they don't agree.

I would only accept if there was a clear structure in place for pay rises and professional development. So I have had a new role (internal) and have had a 20k hike in pay, but it has come in 2 slots, one of 13K immediately and then a further 7k in 3 months (different financial quarters). This structure I am happy with. It is written into my contract as well, so no backing out!

Yes exactly this. Different industries have different pay scales, and it depends on so many other factors ( bonus/healthcare/pension/flexible working… )

This.

I'm so with you here. Puts me off moving jobs as they expected to offer a small increase. Likely to be matched by current employer. I know someone who lied to get a bigger uplift

To some extent. The bad negotiator I have at work happens to be male. He’s sweet, apparently not bothered by money but his salary drags down what other people earn.,

You simply lay it on the line. No apologies or explanations just something like "I am receiving a salary which is in line with industry standard in my current position. I will be happy to accept an offer of 54k per annum as renumeration for this role".

Quibbling over £2k - if this role is an improvement and comes with more opportunity, is it really worth losing it for less than £100 a month?

Provide recruitment with your updated resume (new job,role, skills, salary)

any don’t go for more than a 20% bump. Especially if it’s a higher/career progression move.

always a different story if you’re unemployed. But you aren’t!

recruiters expect to pay 20% more for you. But they will take advantage of you!!!

or maybe you are out of their range. Move on, that’s bit the company you want to get on with!

I recently negotiated my offered salary higher with a blunt question of what the salary range is. Then saying that I clearly wasn’t clearly communicating my qualifications as …. Launched into how I hit all their points and more. They said they had internal equity to consider, well so do I. Hello additional 5k. They can typically add ten percent, and that’s easier than interviewing more people!

you can always try ‘woah! How do you justify such a low number?!? Are your people not valued?

pull up some stuff from glass door etc. comparable jobs.

you can ask, of course, and decide now whether if they say no you’ll accept the £50K or keep looking for higher paid roles.

if £50k is a step up from your current salary and after the increase your current employer has offered you and benefits are comparable
guess it depends on your other prospects.

.Just a word of warning on using Glassdoor figures, we have had them quoted to us in salary negotiations and they have been way off the mark, make sure you understand that you are comparing like with like...it can be rather embarrassing for us to have to explain (and provide evidence) to a talented candidate who has come in strong with glassdoor "evidence" that the roles are not the same - how would they know that different firms have different requirements for the same job title.

I’ve accepted it 🥳 £52k, thank you all for your support.

Congrats! It never hurts to ask. 😁

Great news, congrats!

Congratulations 🎊 👏

Congrats!

Congratulations 🎉👏