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Negotiating pay for internal promotion - please help!

11 replies

Bluehasnoclue · 29/11/2021 20:03

Hi all!

I was hoping for some advice if possible.

Last week I interviewed for a promotion with my current company, within the same (small) team. I am currently paid £23,500 which is quite a lot under the going rate for my role in other companies however I have been stuck due to covid. I have asked for more money previously but been put off until ‘time is right’.

The promotion would be a big step but I feel that I am well qualified to do it. I previously have done a slightly less senior role but had to downstep from that into my current role in order to get experience in a different sector.

After the interview I was asked what my salary expectations are. I am aware that the role is budgeted for 37-42000. I went in the middle at 39500 (prepared that they will negotiate), as I would accept 37 due to the huge increase in responsibility & seniority. This is still 10-20k+ under market rate for the role in other companies but this is the case in many roles across the business.

Also to add there are 2 other people doing the same role (same grade too) but with 1 direct report, whereas I wouldn’t have one, so I went in a few thousand below what they are paid.

I believe that they are going to come back & offer me possibly 30-32k which whilst would be an increase, I don’t believe matches the level of responsibility & seniority that the role would entail.

Please could you offer any advice on how to confidently negotiate to ensure that I am offered an acceptable amount? I find conversations about money difficult & awkward so trying to prepare as much as I can!

I don’t want to frustrate them but equally took a large pay cut to get this role on the understanding my pay would be increased 6 months later & due to covid & cuts this never happened. I know if I was an external they wouldn’t low-ball me and trying to work out how to say that in a polite way.

Please help! Thank you in advance Smile

OP posts:
Palavah · 29/11/2021 20:09

Gather your data on market rates for similar roles. Focus on the right pay for the job.

You are the preferred candidate, so back yourself.

I'm no expert and someone else will hopefully be along soon with better word patterns, but stick to your guns and good luck

MirrorMirrorApplePie · 29/11/2021 20:21

Absolutely have your data to evidence the market rate for the job. Know your worth, and remember they want you (plus they’d have to pay market rates if they went external!).

Bluehasnoclue · 30/11/2021 07:33

@Palavah

Gather your data on market rates for similar roles. Focus on the right pay for the job.

You are the preferred candidate, so back yourself.

I'm no expert and someone else will hopefully be along soon with better word patterns, but stick to your guns and good luck

Thank you! I have gathered the data necessary!

It’s frustrating because they obviously don’t care about the market rate at all so I’m not sure if it will affect their decision making but it’s all I can do.

Thank you very much!

OP posts:
Bluehasnoclue · 30/11/2021 07:34

@MirrorMirrorApplePie

Absolutely have your data to evidence the market rate for the job. Know your worth, and remember they want you (plus they’d have to pay market rates if they went external!).
Thank you! I am going to do my best with the market rates and hope for the best!
OP posts:
ThelastRolo20 · 30/11/2021 07:37

If they start being stubborn maybe negotiate a review after 6 months and another increase to the amount you've originally asked for? So it's like you're stepping up to the market rate over a period of time. I agree they should just pay you what you're due based on market, but wouldn't want you to miss out if they start being awkward about giving such an increase (I don't know why places feel like this, but they can for some reason!)

Bluehasnoclue · 30/11/2021 07:42

@ThelastRolo20

If they start being stubborn maybe negotiate a review after 6 months and another increase to the amount you've originally asked for? So it's like you're stepping up to the market rate over a period of time. I agree they should just pay you what you're due based on market, but wouldn't want you to miss out if they start being awkward about giving such an increase (I don't know why places feel like this, but they can for some reason!)
Thank you, this is something I had considered definitely and then had forgotten!

I forgot to mention it is a fixed term secondment only for 10 months so it makes timelines for that kind of arrangement harder! May go with 3 months though possibly!

OP posts:
MavisMonkey · 30/11/2021 08:07

It really annoys me when companies do this. They are basing the offer on a % uplift from your current salary as opposed to the proper salary required for the new role. The two should not impact each other.

Put it back on them and ask them how they have calculated this level to offer vs the other two colleagues currently in role and the budget they have eg is a difference in responsibility, a difference in experience etc. Then you can address each of their reasons and use your external market data.

Then I would politely remind them if you decline they will have to pay significantly more to get an external candidate, plus spend a lot more time doing it.

Finally I would also politely ask them how paying you so much below market rate would impact their gender pay gap statistics (assuming you are female)- this works particularly well if either of the other two you are benchmarked against are male.

Asiama · 30/11/2021 08:15

It sounds like what you are asking for is justified, but what you are expecting is so far off what you think they will offer. Realistically I don't think they will up the offer to what you want.

I would negotiate on getting that level of salary if your secondment becomes perm, or try to negotiate what your salary will be after your secondment ends, so you don't go back to 23.5k.

Ultimately if you are paid that much below market, I think you will be better off looking for another job.

Xanorra · 30/11/2021 21:09

Have they already told you they’re likely to offer £30-32k? I would ask them to justify why they’re offering lower than the advertised rate and would they do that to an external candidate. If it’s based on your current role, remind them you have experience in a more senior role, and experience with the company so they won’t need to train you from scratch. This makes you the ideal candidate. Good luck!

NightReader · 01/12/2021 11:49

I think I'd be looking for another job - this should not be that hard, they are revealing to you how much you are valued - if money is important to you and you are sure about the salary find something better.

MavisMonkey · 02/12/2021 17:52

@Bluehasnoclue how did you get on? Hope the offer came within your requested range 🤞🏻 and you didn't even need to negotiate

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