Should I apply for this job?

[calidadsuprema]

I have been in my current position for 4 years. Its a mid management professional role. No pay rises or promotions in that time (pay freeze).

I have been contacted today by a recruitment consultant who has placed me in the past (not in current role). She is looking to fill a position in a very similar organisation to the one I work for - she sent me the job spec and it is very similar to my current role. The salary for the job she has been appointed to find candidates for is 15% more than my salary. Other terms and conditions are identical wrt hours/annual leave/pension etc.

I'd like to apply for the other job but I have a problem. Our sector is quite small and my line manager and the line manager in the new role are friends. The line manager in the new role knows me too - he was involved in the interview process for my current role although did not then and does not now work for my current organisation.

So if I apply, my current line manager will get to know about it. And if I am unsuccessful, well.....

If I decide not to apply for the new role, should I mention to my own line manager (appraisal coming up) that I know organisation X is recruiting for a post with v similar responsibilities to mine at 15% higher salary?

Seems clear that if you do intend to apply for the new role, you are going to have to tell your own manager that you are going to do so, and be open about it.

Is the salary increase the only reason, or are there other problems with your current role?

Assuming it's just the money, there's no reason for your manager to take it personally or for it to cause a major problem. In your appraisal just say whatever you would normally say, but also say that although you appreciate the reasons for the pay freeze (assuming you've previously asked for and been given them), you have to do the best for your family (assuming you have kids), and when an opportunity comes up like this with a significant increase you owe it to them and to yourself to apply, and you just wanted to let him/her know as a courtesy that you will be doing so.

If you decide not to apply there is no need to mention the other role. Otherwise you will come across as threatening to leave if you don't get a pay rise, which never goes down well.

Many thanks for your thoughts. Yes, more money is the reason I am considering this application. I am lone parent to a DD and exH pays minimum maintenance.
I will follow your wise advice and raise the issue as a courtesy to my line manager.

Karren Brady would say that now is the best time to ask for a pay rise in your current job, as you'll be at your more assertive :D and if you don't get it, mention that you're looking around.

I have an interview for a job which is a fixed term contract may-oct. The hourly rate is very attractive. Does anyone know how holidays work in a FTC? What I mean is can they include the holiday pay in the hourly rate so you cant take any holidays during the employment but don't get paid any extra either? Cant seem to pin it down on gov website.

Sorry meant to start new topic