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 :)

@CinderellaMum 's post was good.

I never disclose current salary.

You can search online for salary benchmarking for the new role, and then I tend to use a line like "industry average for this role is X, and I bring to the table XYZ skills and experience which are particularly suited to and relevant for this role, and I expect to be compensated in line with this..."

You can tweak the above if you can't find comparable benchmarks or if they're a bit lower than you'd like/location is more expensive etc, but that kind of idea.

For what it's worth I just got a big payrise (same company, same role, so they even know what I was paid and it wasn't low to start with) without any pushback from that approach and wish that I'd asked for more....