Negotiating starting salary tips?

[festivehumptydumpty]

I've applied for, and am about to be offered, a job where the recruitment ad stated £25k to £30k range, dependant upon experience. I'll try and be brief as to my dilemma.

1. I don't have any formal experience in the role, but I have done many of the duties being asked for as essential experience in my current and previous jobs (I've just never held the job title "Chief Widget Buyer", sort of thing).

1. I really, really, really want this job (could be used as a spring board onto something else in a few months time - it'll look good as it's a national employer, very well respected in the industry... think like the British Gas of utilities, or the Lloyds TSB of banks.. that sort of prestige).

1. I'm currently on £25k/year. But my current role is at a location where I can walk to walk. The new job would add 45mins commute onto my journey each way, and I'd have to buy a car or purchase an annual train pass/bus pass combo to get there. Meaning if I accept at 25k, I'm going to end up with quite a few thousand £££s less each year in my pocket - which I literally cannot afford to do (no matter how much I want the job).

Elements feeding into this are that:

• It's being dealt with by a recruitment agency, and
• This company have a reputation for being fairly well paying (my brother used to work in the same company, just not in the same dept)

My recruitment agency contact has stated that they plan to send full details of a contract out, with salary offer, subject to satisfactory references, this week - I'm waiting on it in the post.

However, my dilemma is... how do I go about negotiating a few grand extra (towards the £27k - £28k mark) since I can't argue that it's my formal experience that can justify it?

Should I put my situation on the table to the recruiter i.e. "I'm on £25k, I'd really love the job, but with the extra commuting costs/time I'd need 2 or 3k more to justify the move.. or am I best being a little bit more guarded about this? ... should I try and aim nearer the £30k mark and hope they'd meet me half way?

Is it even within my agency recruiter's remit to be negotiating salary... I'd have thought so, since I assume their commission is based on me getting hired/possibly my level of remuneration?

I suppose what I'm worried about is: either I accept their offer (VERY likely to be £25k), and seem a bit of a mug and end up unhappy in 12 months time because I'm actually taking home less money... or I ask for more and they say "oh well, never mind then!"

Argh - can you tell I've never really done this before? I've been with the same employer (in different roles) for the last 11 years, and this job I got because I'd done some work experience with them during uni! So hardly a bastion of negotiating experience

If they want you at 25k, they'll want you at 27k.

You don't need to apologize for wanting a decent salary. Tell them firmly and politely that you are very interested in the job, given that it utilizes all your previous experience whilst also offering you an opportunity to build in that, but that you couldn't possibly consider the move unless they were to offer the top or very close to the top of the salary scale.

You don't ask, you don't get!

I get this all the time, it's very common to have candidates come back for more based on additional travel costs. I would explain it just as you have and get the agency to negotiate for you. Remember that your salary is taxed, so you need to know what you need net to cover your costs. I would be surprised if a big company would let someone go for the sake of a few thousand when it is within the range.

Good luck!

I've just been in a similar situation- I was offered a new job with a 10% payrise but after the costs associated with actually getting there, slightly less holiday and a poorer pension scheme I would have ended up with about the same money, and it didn't seem worth it. I was totally honest with the recruitment consultant and he negotiated a much better package for me.

That's his job and totally within his interests to do so- he gets more commission, and if you walk away, he gets none at all!

Speaking as a manager who does interviewing and recruiting as part of my job, if the employer really wants you, they won't want to lose a great candidate and have to go through all the hassle of interviewing again, just for the sake of a few £k. And even if they say no, that won't automatically mean the offer will be withdrawn, they will just confirm to you that they have made the best offer that they can.

Bottom line, ask for what you want. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Oh, and congratulations! :)

Ask the recruitment agency if they know what the salary offer is going to be (I'd be surprised if they don't know as their fee is likely to be a percentage of it) and tell them what your looking for. It's not uncommon for employers and agencies to discuss this.

Just work out what you want to do the job and ask for that. If they come back lower stick to your guns and say no I want that do to x, y, z.

There is no dark art to negotiating, you've just got to be prepared to talk like normal people.

yes speak to the recruitment consultant - say you are looking for the top end of range due to increased travel costs. Its normal to negoitiate that this stage and the best time to do so

Why not ask for a salary increase on your current salary because that's a reflection of your experience and skills? Nothing to do with travel costs in my opinion (though it's obviously important to you personally). I wouldn't be interested in hearing about a candidate's travel time but I WOULD be happy to give more money to reflect skills. It sounds like your skills match the 28k mark. Recruiters always have some of their margin they can shave as well. Got to ask! Just be pushy, esp with the recruiter.

Good luck!

I wouldn't mention travel costs as the reason for the salary you want. The company wants you - and there is a salary range which means there is some room for maneouvre.

I tend to be quite cheeky and push for as much as possible (I do avoid conversations at interview regarding money - I want them to want me - then we can discuss at what price). I tend to be honest with the agency - I want £xx else I will have to decline. What I have maneouvered on is how the take home amount is composed - e.g. one role had a lower salary but they made it up in a higher car allowance, so although my pension value was lower I did have the take home pay packet I wanted. Maybe there is room for maneouvre on holiday or the pension package?

In your scenario though, seeing this as a step to other roles, plus our general economic climate I would maybe be more cautious and less gung ho. Ask for a better offer but if you don't get it - maybe this isn't the time to play hardball and think of the long term...

Thanks for all your advice, folks.

It has made up my mind to at least not just accept the first offer they give (if they do offer 25k , i will just have to say no, as upsetting as it may be, due to the fact that I can't work with a few grand take home paycut - the sums won't add up).

I'll let you know how I get on.

Many thanks, again!!

i'd say that you're currently on 25 but you see this job as a progression in responsibility from your previous one and also it involves more travel for you so you'd be looking for an offer which reflects that.

Small update.

They offered £30k without batting an eyelid.

Hooray! Let this be a lesson to you not to undervalue yourself

Congratulations, what a good Xmas present. Now start planning how you're going to negotiate your first pay rise

Congratulations, well done