Can you ask to be reconsidered for a role?

[Amazonmulu]

I really need some advice but it's a sensitive matter :(

Sorry it's a bit long winded.

I was told I was being made redundant while on maternity. I'm not disputing this and have dealt with it - but the stakes are high as a month before being told we bought our forever home and now have a large mortgage. I was until redundancy the main bread winner.

So I've been applying for jobs. A million jobs. There's a big firm near me that is hiring lots of people in my line of work. Recently I applied online for a senior role and was rejected instantly. I did my best to find out why I was rejected but to no avail. I then found a friend of a friend at that firm that put my cv forward for a similar but junior role. I was interviewed and offered the job. I was also told by the internal recruiter that I was rejected for the senior one as i asked for more money than was advertised (I'd asked for 5k over what I was on - wrongly assuming we'd negotiate and I'd maybe end up on what I was on now)
I accepted the junior job offer despite it being 10k under what I am on now (on the grounds that beggars can't be choosers). And last night I saw that the more senior role is STILL being advertised on a job site.

Mumsnetters please give me some advice - can I ask why I'm not being put up for that role? Can I ask if I still can be put for it on the understanding that I'll take whatever money was available? Can I reapply for it? I'm worried that if I rock the boat I'd lose it all. I've not yet signed a contract so there is everything to play for.

I'm not greedy I just want to protect my home and my baby's future.

I think you should ask to be reconsidered. Firms like to hire people who are (seemingly) interested in them, they don't like to hear that you're applying for jobs (any old job) elsewhere.

IME, asking for more money than advertised is an absolute no no. If the money was the same as the role you've just left why didn't you go with that? If they'd come in lower you could say that you wanted the same salary.

If it's a range (i.e. £30k to £35k) they seem to want to offer £32k. If you want £35k, you need to be looking at jobs being advertised at £32k to £38k).

I would definitely ask about the other job. You've nothing to lose. Bit odd that they didn't come back and say, no, the salary we are offering is the one that was advertised. Take it or leave it. Perhaps, it pissed them off or perhaps you really weren't right for the role.

It is all a big game though. You need the employer to think they are winning during a salary negotiation. Advertising jobs with a salary they aren't actually prepared to pay does my head in to be honest.

There's no harm in asking. What's your relationship with the internal recruiter like? If it's good you could ask a hypothetical question?

It seems a very odd way of recruiting though to just reject people out of hand because they have asked for more money than advertised. Unless you are over run with candidates (and if the job is still advertised that doesn't seem to be the case) or you have other reasons to decline but don't want to say (possible, people lie all the time rather than cause offence) it doesn't make sense.

Yes. I once had a bad interview and felt I'd undersold myself so wrote in and said 'i often undersell myself at interview, here's what i should have told you about my experience'. I got a phone me all from the senior manager to ask me in for second interview later that day.

But what a stupid reason to reject somebody.
It's like going to shop them saying 'how much would you like to pay for a Mars bar, saying''about 60p?' and them screaming 'get out' because they wanted to charge 80p..Instead of just saying 'actually they are 80p'.

Say that you have the capability to do the senior role and would like to interview for it if they are still advertising, apply again..

"IME, asking for more money than advertised is an absolute no no."

At my former job they hired someone who had done exactly that, but redesigned the role to get a better fit (that is, they formed a more senior role out of the original role description).

Absolutely ask to be reconsidered - pitch it that it's the job you wanted in the first instance but took the more junior role as you really want to work for that organisation in particular (whether true or not). If they still reject you from the senior role, at least you can ask for proper feedback & it will give you something to work towards. Good luck.

Thank you all for replying and letting me know your experiences.

Defo think they have been tricksy. I'm scared to ask about it in case they withdraw the offer I have accepted. They even wanted me to give notice before I had the contract!!??! I said I couldn't do that. I have also been applying for other things too.

I think I will try ask they internal recruiter why I was not suggested for the senior job and will say that a friend said they had seen it was still open. Will they see straight through that?