Would you apply for a job that appears to be offering less than the going rate?

[GottaFeeling]

It's a job I'm very interested in, in a good location for me and it would be more money for me because I currently do very few hours.

However, it's a school finance job and based on the title and job description, they're asking someone to go it at a grade lower than all the other similar sized schools in the county. I know because I've been watching the pagings for a while.

Maybe that gives me a good chance of success but it would give the right hump to do it knowing I was being take for a mug.

So go for it and try and deal with the grading thing once in, try and negotiate if successful and before starting, or thanks but no thanks?

Whilst the extra money would be nice, the main reason to apply would be for the job itself. I don't "need" more money.

If it's a school they will have an awareness of equal pay, the job would have been job evaluated by the local government HR dept, unless it is an academy in which case they have more freedom to pay what they want. You could contact the HR sept and ask what the job should be graded at? Alternatively go for the job and worry about that later if it's the job you want and not the money!!

We all have different reasons for accepting a job - money is only ever one factor.
You have to weigh up all the pros and cons and decide from there.
You could always apply, test the water, and then start renegotiating the salary if you felt confident you were the best candidate.

I was in the position of going for a job and at the interview made it clear that they were not offering the going rate for the position. Luckily everyone else interviewed was of the same opinion and I was offered the job with an improved salary offer.

Looking back, I would now probably wait till offered the job to negotiate on salary as I was running the risk that someone was willing to take the job at the pay advertised.