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Original poster

Unhappy with pay offered

23 replies

LizzieButton · 06/03/2021 21:41

Hi everyone,

Happy Saturday! I have been in my job for six years and am happy there but have no progression there so have undertaken a new degree course which I'm now two years into. In the past few weeks I have done a number of job interviews and have been offered a few positions but am really trying to find something I could be happy in long term.

Today I have been offered a job which I would really like but the pay being offered is lower than I would like, they asked what I am on now and increased it by two thousand but it's more hours and responsibility. Would it be cheeky to go back looking for more as I'm not sure I would see it being worthwhile taking it unfortunately even though they did say they would also offer me training.

Thanks ladies

OP posts:
justchecking1 · 06/03/2021 21:47

What would be the usual pay at your level in this industry?

You can but try!

Original poster
LizzieButton · 06/03/2021 21:51

It's lower than other positions I have been offered at that job level but I felt I would prefer this employer

OP posts:
BrimFullOfAsher · 06/03/2021 21:54

Does the level of growth and progression opportunity exceed the pay difference?

Especially with a more suited employer?

underneaththeash · 06/03/2021 21:56

Just tell them OP. Say you’d be delighted to work for them, but considering the increased hours and responsibilities you’d need a salary of at least xx

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 06/03/2021 21:59

The time to ask for more is now, when they want you. Something similar happened to me and I went back saying as I was due a pay review in my current role and the role I'd been offered was more responsibility, etc I was looking for £2k more than they'd offered. They came back within two hours with what I'd asked for.

Elouera · 06/03/2021 22:10

Surely nearly every job includes some level of training when you start, so I can't see that as out of the norm or a perk of any sort!?!

Yes, you certainly can ask, but clearly outline the reasons you think you should get more- mainly what YOU can bring to THEIR team.

I had the reverse when I hired someone. She asked for £6000pa more than the advertised role rate. That was at the very top of the scale for that role though, so we compromised at £3000 more, otherwise there would have been be no progression pay wise a year or so later. No harm in asking though.

PearsandPartridge · 06/03/2021 22:44

They will probably have a budget for this role, potentially offered it to you towards the lower end with room to manoeuvre, hence the 2k increase. You can ask for it to be increased even more if you feel it's justified, but you also run the risk of them (maybe!!) withdrawing the offer after that. Mind you, if they are reasonable enough, they'll just say either a yes or no and put the ball back in your corner.

Is there a way to increase the salary upon successful completion of your probation? Have they offered a progression path with confirmed, annual pay reviews? Any bonus payments or car allowance? Are they a large organisation or a smaller / independent company? Just a few things to think about :)

Palavah · 06/03/2021 22:47

Next time don't tell them what you're on, tell them what you expect.

Absolutely no reason why you can't counter-offer them now.

What's the gender balance like in the company/industry?

Original poster
LizzieButton · 06/03/2021 22:55

Its a Montessori so its 100 percent women. They asked what I was on rather than what I wanted and when they said 2000 more I didn't argue but now they've offered the position I've looked at the extra hours and it's a manager position whereas im currently a supervisor in my role now......I was offered more from other companies so I do feel I have leverage to say I want closer to what I was offered by them and risk losing the position

OP posts:
violetbunny · 07/03/2021 00:05

Definitely ask for more if you don't think they're offering the market rate, and do explain it in those terms. Any time I've asked for more I've always been given it, I think a lot of companies expect you to negotiate (unless they have a really rigid pay structure).

violetbunny · 07/03/2021 00:06

Also if they do say no, it's more likely they'll say "no, that's the salary, take it or leave it" rather than "no, so we are withdrawing the offer". So you probably don't have much to lose by asking...

violetbunny · 07/03/2021 00:10

Oh and one more suggestion... if they can't match your expected pay, think about whether there's anything else they might be able to offer which is of value. When DP got his current job, they couldn't match the salary he thought he should be getting. I knew he would love to have more annual leave so I suggested he ask for an extra week of paid leave per year. And they gave it to him!

Palavah · 07/03/2021 03:29

I agree you have nothing to lose by saying 'my expectation £xk'

DorisLessingsCat · 07/03/2021 07:01

Definitely ask for more and be prepared to walk away.

BrimFullOfAsher · 07/03/2021 07:42

How much more do you feel you should get?

flowery · 07/03/2021 07:45

”They asked what I was on rather than what I wanted and when they said 2000 more I didn't argue but now they've offered the position I've looked at the extra hours and it's a manager position whereas im currently a supervisor in my role now”

It’s not great that it might have seemed to them that you accepted the £2k more at the time. However if since then it has become clear that there are more hours and higher responsibility than you had been told, it’s perfectly fine to go back and renegotiate. If you get offered £x thinking it’s for 30 hours a week then get the paperwork and realise it’s for 40 hours a week, that’s perfectly reasonable to ask for more.

cravingthelook · 07/03/2021 08:02

Definitely ask. When I got my current role, I was being made redundant but luckily my skill set was being sought by another company who were struggling to find it. Their first offer was terrible, I negotiated and ended up getting an offer that was 13% more than they first offered. Now I know I was in a unique position but I was getting support from a successful woman - she said a man would never accept an offer they weren't happy with, so why should you!
I will never just accept an offer now.

Original poster
LizzieButton · 07/03/2021 14:15

Thanks ladies

Montesorri manager positions are at a lower level than average wage anyway so I really feel that maybe I have to stand up for myself now and try get more as I was offered a position for 5000 more than this which I didn't take. The money being offered is definitely lower than average for a manager but I know each business has their budget, I'm just not sure it's worth me taking on these extra hours for 2000 more if I'm brutally honest

OP posts:
flowery · 07/03/2021 14:57

Is the position you were offered for £5k more still available? Why did you turn it down?

Original poster
LizzieButton · 07/03/2021 15:30

I've been offered six positions in the past couple months but I was waiting for the right role, I don't want to take a position with a chain of Montessoris as I have found staff turnover to be higher so I know that might mean taking less money but I would like more than the 2000 being offered

OP posts:
FudgeSundae · 08/03/2021 09:08

In my industry the way to handle this is tell them about your higher paying job offers so they will compete to attract you. But if you’ve already turned the other offers down you’ve lost your leverage a bit... Confused

Original poster
LizzieButton · 09/03/2021 11:24

Hi guys,

Just to update, I went back and asked for more money based on other positions and they came back and offered me a more than fair amount more so I'm very happy and want to thank everyone for their help. It's not always easy to ask for more but hopefully others will have the confidence to do so

OP posts:
Elouera · 09/03/2021 13:26

Well done OP and thanks for the update!!!

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