Salary expectations

[NeverHomeAlone]

I have an interview coming up and I'm wondering how to handle the "what are your salary expectations" question?

On the job advert it states "salary from £22 pr/hr".
In my current job role I am on £23.50 pr hr but have worked hard to expand my skillset and have a pay review in December which should bring me up to £26 pr/hr.

Reason for leaving current job is that it is a temporary position and this new job is permanent and closer to home. I would really like to be offered this new job, there are very few people that do my job and very few opportunities come up, but I don't want to under sell myself.

Sorry, just realised that I should have added that I have am very experienced.

I think people overthink this. Say the number you'd actually want.
What would actually make you consider leaving?
In your situation, I'd probably say £28 minimum to make the hassle of leaving worth it but my priority has always been pay.
The hard, quantitative measures are all you can be sure of when getting a new job.

£28 sounds good. I would move for 26 if there was guaranteed pay reviews/progression on the horizon, but I know some places are very reluctant to do this and you can end up stuck on your starting salary for a long time.

I'd say £30. They can always counter. Then if you settle at £28 all the better. But also ask about progression - it shows you are ambitious and will stay around.

Just say this, confidently. In my current job role I am on £23.50 pr hr but have worked hard to expand my skillset and have a pay review in December which should bring me up to £26 pr/hr.

To generalise enormously, women tend to be terrible at negotiating pay. None of us are charities - so just politely ask for what you want!

'I'm currently on £26 p/h and, as we've just discussed, I've invested in my skills and development quite heavily. Given the responsibilities of this role that I feel more than capable of delivering to a high standard, I am looking for a minimum £28 p/h."

An extra £2 an hour is £4k a year so you'd be getting a reasonable uplift without pushing it too far.

*I feel I am more than

What's the benchmark? I think that would be my first go to answer. The other thing to consider is give it as a range? I feel it looks like you're more "flexible" . It worked for me last time.

Generally I agree with the above. State that you expect a pay rise in December and given your skills, they would have to base their offer on £28/h.

But also consider if you are being realistic. In my industry temp work usually pays better than perm, because temp jobs are less popular due to the risk. Also you say you’d be closer to home. This might not make a difference but is the new job in a lower cost location?

Don’t undersell yourself but also make sure that you’re realistic in your expectations.

I wouldn’t give a range - surely that then gives them license to appoint at the bottom of that range?

I’d agree - say £30, if you don’t ask you don’t get and often the biggest pay progression happens when you change employers

But if they come in at the low end, then keep negotiating. There’s no need to accept the first offer. In my industry at least, by the time a company makes you an offer, they’re pretty invested in getting you onboard so you are in a reasonably strong position. If they don’t budge, then you can decide whether it’s worth taking.

Thanks for all the input. I will update.

Good luck! Be confident!

Yes, you should give them a range, i.e. "I was thinking that something in the range of £x to £y would be appropriate." You must make sure your lowest figure is what you would be happy to accept. They'll most likely offer something at the bottom end, you're still happy, they're happy because they think they've got a good deal.

For extra conviction be quite specific, so say £26.50, rather than £26. It suggests you've costed this up and thought about it.

I agree that this is the time to negotiate, and depending on industry it gets a lot harder (impossible in e.g. public sector) once you're in. In my field a promotion internally would get you a 10% increase in salary, so if you were looking to jump ship then you'd expect more than a 10% increase to go elsewhere. Also cost in any extra travel costs etc which could eat into the increase.

Exactly at what @mystery said, it's almost a psychological game that they got a "good deal", but the bottom of the range is what you'd be happy with so it's a win-win

Ok, so a little update.

At the interview the question wasn't "what are your salary expectations?" but "what is your current salary?"
I told them the truth (small world in our profession and he knows my current boss) and said I'm currently on £23.50 but have worked hard on my skillset and have a pay review in December which should put me on £26.

So I got the job offer today (yey!) but it is for £24 pr hr. He said I could take some time to think about it and let them know.

If I'm honest I would have gone for it at £26+. £24 is no significant difference. Yes, the new job is closer to home but I will have to pay for parking which i don't have to do in my current job.

Congratulations! When does your current contract expire? I would take that into consideration

Well done. I'd be considering it if it was me. In my experience and sector temporary positions like your current one are paid at slightly higher than market rate because they need to get people in quite quickly and it has to ne worth it for the individual who may have a bit of time without a new position once the contract ends. This may not be the case everywhere.
How does 24ph compare to market rate?

My current contract is a rolling contract. There is plenty of work for the foreseeable future.

24 is probably above average, but not particularly high.

It's around 4k a year gross, I think, between 24 and 26ph at 37.5 hours a week (obviously I dont know how many hours you actually work), personally if you aren't going to have your current position end any time soon and there's plenty of work I'd say thanks but no thanks, and that you want more than you'll be getting from your current role as of next month.

Go back and counter offer with £26. I have done this with a job offer before and it worked. They are trying to get you cheap, but they may have wiggle room.

Don’t forget to factor in any other benefits - pension, sick pay etc, which could be more generous for a permanent role compared to a temporary role. It’s the overall package you need to look at, not just salary.

Very sneaky to ask that question! Go back and counter. Say I wouldn't accept at that rate as my current job as I said is due to go up to £26. Therefore I was looking for more than that (£28 or whatever figure u want to insert) to leave my current employment.

If you don't ask u don't get uv already said ur not taking it at that price so no harm in asking the question. They might match £26.

Very sneaky to ask that question!

What’s sneaky about asking how much she’s on?

What the total package? Does the perm job offer paid holiday, sick leave and pension?

I think it’s reasonable to say that you’d like them to match £26/h but you may need to be prepared to walk away.

As a manager I often see temps turn down perm positions because of the pay differential but that’s an individual’s prerogative. We wouldn’t offer more as we factor in the additional costs of the benefits we offer perms.