How much should I ask for?

[Babiesandboardgames]

Hello
I hope you all you lovely people can help please
I work for a large, public sector company.
Dead end job, no opportunity for progression, great boss, nice colleagues, 55k a year.
Have done this job for three years and have applied for next level up at another firm.
So currently I am something like " Inventory Portfolio Manager" and next position is "Head of Inventory"
How much should I be asking for .?
Was thinking of asking for 80k. Is that too high?
I lose my final salary pension and other benefits. Want to get as much as I can from the new employer without them binning my cv... also aware as a woman we tend to get underpaid compared to men...
Thanks

What's the market rate for a Head of Inventory? And what salary is in the job ad?

The rate massively varies depending on size of organisation and number of employees
It doesn't tell you the salary in the ad. It just says "competitive "

You talk about a public sector ‘company’ and ‘firm’.

Are you sure that that is what you mean? Very few public sector organisations are limited companies or ‘firms’.

Most likely, if you work in the public sector, the role will be banded, so there will be a range. You need to find out what band the role is in. Isn’t that mentioned in the job description? Usually they will offer at the bottom of the band, and the candidate attempts to negotiate upwards.

Hi @Iamthewombat you've hit the nail on the head.
The band I'm in is band 3 and it varies between 48 to 62k for my role. Looking at this company's website is the same kind of pay for my role over there .
This next Head of position doesn't list a band in the job description at all. I was simply judging my salary based on what the level below is paid, but i don't want to get it wrong:)

@Iamthewombat it's not a firm, more like civil service

Ooh no advice but I thought I'd share what happened when I asked for a raise, just for fun, I didn't get a raise but my boss sent me a blog on how to manage my finances 😂

Hmm that would be about right internet sector. Possibly a bit pinch but possibly not. I also believe it can’t hurt to ask for what you want.

I think the trick is to start with base salary and once that’s locked in, negotiate from there.
So the higher ups in our place had additional benefits (car allowance, parking spaces, enhanced pensions, guaranteed/enhanced bonuses, guaranteed pay rises linked to preagreed KPIs, enhanced travel per diems etc)

@Jayaywhynot my first boss told me how lucky I was to work for the firm, instead of a bonus
Hi @Totalwasteofpaper, the benefits do look good , it doesn't mention a bonus . I thought if I started at 80k I'd get 75k which I'd be really happy with. I just wasn't sure if I've undersold it as men especially at my level tend to get paid more. This position in my firm is around the 100k mark but has loads more responsibility.

Heads of Service where I am earn £80-£90k.

I'd give a range, rather than an absolute figure.

@Jayaywhynot what a CF boss. Did you burst out laughing or did you want to shout "Wanker" at him?

Ask for a number that makes you feel a bit queasy was the best advice I ever got. Also say things like “my minimum to move is £X”

However, if you can I would get them to tell YOU what the range is first. It’s unfair that the employer holds all the info. Really push for a range from them and if they don’t give it, tell them the minimum for you to move would be £80-90k. If you know that at your firm that role pays £100k + but more responsibility.

Then if they negotiate down you land on £80k. It’s an employees market right now so now is the time to push for that increase.

Have you calculated what your current final salary benefit is worth over the rest of your working life? You need to factor that in as you’ll be going from certainty to uncertainty for that part of your package. Depending on your current age, planned retirement age, etc it can make a huge difference

It is ok to ask for the salary range when you are enquiring about a job. They should give that to you.
Also look at equivalent roles at other companies and see if you can find salary ranges for them. Look at Glassdoor (can sometimes be inaccurate so caution). You could even ask recruiters about a salary range for a typical role you are looking at to get an idea. Then I would go in at the highest of that range and negotiate from there. Be bold. It’ll make me feel uncomfortable but that is a good thing. Harvard business review had an excellent article about pay negotiation- have a Google.

Thank you for all your advice:) I asked for 80k and the recruiter said that was fine:)

Wow £80,000!!! Gosh I wish I was clever!

A dead end job on £55k fuck me how the other half live 🤣

I did a maths degree, I was just lucky trust me @tillyandmilly

I would rather be on minimum wage and be 60, that way I could have afforded an actual house where I live. Instead I'm a millennial where we earn twice as much and have a house half the size