Job Offer: How do I renegotiate salary?

[bleedinora]

As the title really! I've been asked if I'd take a job where they're offering me £5K less than the highest advertised salary. The job is in management and my role involves restructuring, rebuilding what is currently an underperforming business. I really need the extra money (recently divorced and had to move into rented because abusive STBXH refused to move out, DC at nursery, etc.) and while it might be much to others, it would make a big difference in my life. I'm not really confident in standing up for myself in these kind of situations though- I usually accept jobs with gratitude only to learn that someone in the same role as me is earning £10K more than I am!

Can someone please help
Me with how to word the request for higher salary in an email? My mind has gone blank and I'm suddenly scared that if I ask for more, they'll ask me to stuff it and withdraw their offer :/

Yay! Well done OP.
It clearly shows that if you don't ask, you don't get.
How many other women would have just accepted the initial offer without negotiating, further expanding the gender pay gap.

Someone asked unthread if you told them your current salary and that's something I've always wondered.
Should you tell a prospective employer your current salary? Do people lie and state a higher salary. If they lie, will the prospective employer have any way of finding out the truth further down the line?

Amazing!!! In my neck of the woods the saying is 'shy bairns get nowt', really pleased for you and we'll done for being so assertive! Celebrate this weekend 🎉

I refuse to disclose my current salary and send a reference to Iris Bohnet's book "what works" as explanation. Disclosing current salary means you're always anchored to that number, but I want to be paid the same as an equally qualified male candidate. The market rate is the market rate, and that's what I want to be paid.

Been following and want to say what excellent advice has been offered - and well done OP for womaning up and asking. Go you!

@bleedinora

UPDATE: THEY'VE AGREED!!!

Yay!!

Well done! What did you say in your email? Agog to know how to do this!

Yes yes! What did you say??

Well done!

They agreed really quickly, which to me suggests they were expecting it and didn't have a problem matching it.

People will always pay you what they can get away with paying you.

Particularly given the line of work you are in they probably see your tenacity as a good sign.

Congrats again! XxX

I am so happy for you! Well done.

I really hope other women will read this thread and start asking for what they want from employers. We can do it, and we deserve it!!

Thank you lovely people for giving me the courage to do this! @FoamyBanana- reading your post saying you were rooting for me made me feel like I needed to do it for you! @NoSquirrels I may (or may not have tweaked your wording and sent it off to manager 🙈)! Ultimately though, I thought what's the worse that can happen- they'll say no but at least I'd have asked.

Manager called soon after to say it wouldn't be a problem- which makes me thing why not offer more in the first place (I was asked what my salary expectations were at interview and I'd mentioned the higher figure)?!

I'm now absolutely beside myself with worry at whether or not I can deliver on what they want me to do...

Ps. To pp who asked; I never disclose current salary- it's none of their business.

Apologies for the typos- it's been a busy week and I'm exhausted!