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.

Both offer holiday leave, and pension. Neither offer sick pay.

I'd be honest with them if there's a genuine chance of them verifying with your current employer. You wouldn't take it at 24 because you're due an uplift. If they were trying to lowball you, they'll up it without thinking and it would be perfectly reasonable to push it higher from there.

There isn't much sense it leaving one role to do the same thing, for the same pay at an unknown entity. There should be a cost associated with you switching (especially with an employer who has shown their hand in regards to trying to "exploit" you).

If they don't bump the salary up, you're no worse off.

I generally try to get a recruiter to disclose a budgeted range for the role before I discuss again. 95% of the time, they disclose it without issue.
When I'm straight-up asked for my current salary, I usually inflate it slightly because, in my experience, if you provide your genuine current salary they will come back with a miniscule uplift (like you've just experienced).

If you really want to job you could accept but with the condition of a pay rise to £26 in 3-6 months.

Sounds like you’re better off sticking with your current employer given that you think they’ll keep rolling the contract. Any chance that they would make you perm?

I would just say you wouldn't consider moving for less than £26 as long as you are comfortable staying in your current role.