To not accept job offer

[Mammylamb]

An agency contacted me regarding a role. At the initial call I stated my salary expectations (a few k above my existing salary, but I will need to pay back exam fees to existing employer and also will lose out on bonus). At the call the agency said that the amount I was asking for was in the range they were offering. After a few interviews I was offered the post; at only 1k more than my existing salary (meaning that I would lose money). I reiterated my salary expectations and explained my rationale. Was advised the company's final offer (just 1k above the original offer) again, I would still make a loss, so I declined. Should I have asked for more in the first place or added a few k to my own salary? Thanks for advise!

Walk away calmly. They haven't listened to your point of view despite you being upfront. They've pitched an offer at you just in case you feel guilty and accept, or have a crisis of confidence and accept. Neither of these bode well for future prosperity.

My friend in HR says women accept flat offers way more often than men. Go figure..

You did the right thing.

The job is closer to home, but it just feels like they are trying to get me on the cheap, and it leaves a bad taste!

I don't think you've done anything wrong, you were honest in your dealings with them and that's important.

You set out how much you needed to be paid to join, stick to it.

If you accepted this, it wouldn't just be one job with this company (although it would make the company very comfortable refusing or limiting future promotions and raises, because they'd know you'd accepted a lower, disadvantageous offer before): it would be all dealings with the agency, because they'd be tempted to go for the quick win of selling a condidate who backs down in salary negotiations, so their clients (employers) could get a good employer cheaply.

Good for you, demanding not to be disadvantaged!

Remember the agency work for the employer not you. Be clear with the agency that you’re not accepting less than you asked for.

Reluctantly refuse the job politely and explain that if they will review their offer, you'd be delighted to speak with them again.

Be prepared to walk away. Men do it all the time and being clear about their worth gets them bigger pay packets.

Nope you've done everything right. You gave your salary expectations, it was apparently within range (this bit may have been a lie by the agency of course, so as not to lose you as a candidate), they've offered less than you want so it's a straightforward 'thanks but no thanks'.

It's their move now - they might come back with an offer that matches your expectations, although I would find that unlikely after they made their 'last and final' offer already, but that's okay - it's just a business transaction and this is how they go sometimes.

You didn't need to explain your rationale for wanting a salary higher than your current one, although the fact that you did and they still weren't willing to compensate you appropriately suggests their budget might not have allowed them to go high enough.

Not to worry - onwards and upwards.

You didn’t do anything wrong but many people will want to feel they’ve “negotiated” so if you want x+3k and can’t go below that maybe next tine start by asking for x+5k.
It’s daft but it allows the recruiter to tell the company they negotiated you down.

Museum, I think you are right. I really should have done this!

Does anyone know of any companies will pay off your exam fees for a previous company or pay you the bonus you would have gotten from the previous company?

I have heard of bonuses being guaranteed for new joiners who would have otherwise forfeited a bonus (at tye old company). Repaying exam fees would also come under the heading of a "golden hello." However, you'd still be giving up two years' worth of being able to claim for unfair dismissal, etc, so you'd still be taking a "conditions cut" if you joined the new company at the same salary.

Very true Riot!

Does anyone know of any companies will pay off your exam fees for a previous company or pay you the bonus you would have gotten from the previous company?

What they are prepared to give entirely depends on how rare your skills are and whether the company feels they can't find another 'you' elsewhere.

If you have something unique to offer, then you will find it is easier to persuade them because they will want to entice you away from your current job, and if the barrier is £ x because you have to reimburse course fees to your current employer, then you could 'plant the seed' that you need assistance to settle that obligation.

A bonus is a harder one to argue, unless you can show you are, say, only 1-2 months away from the time your current employer tends to award bonuses. If it's a matter of timing, then they could be willing to make up for that loss on a one off basis, for that current year if they don't ordinarily award staff bonuses, if it means you will definitely jump ship in their direction.

I’ve only ever moved companies where the new company has recommended me for loss of bonus and LTI.

Depends on your skills and how easy it is to recruit.

It's not a completely niche role. But in the local area there probably isn't that many folk who can do it. They could recruit from further afield but if they offer the same salary as they have offered me, I can't imagine anyone would move to the area