Big Pay Jump

[ThePlumVan]

I’ve applied for a new job and seemingly meet all the requirements on paper. However the pay scale is 3 pay scales more than what I’m currently on. In monetary terms, about 17% to the bottom of the new scale, increasing to 27% at top after 4 increases/years.

If you were the hiring Manager, would this put you off appointing me ? Should I be more realistic regarding my next move ?

If it makes any difference, it’s not the pay that attracts me to the job, I’d do it for less.

I don't see why it would put a hiring manager off if you match the skills and qualities on the job spec / advert. Good luck!

I jumped 10k when I moved employers last year for a very similar role. I went from private to public sector if that helps ❤️

Do you have to disclose your salary? I don’t think they can make you do so legally in any case.

I made a big pay jump but I was an internal candidate and there was no intermediate grade. That said, the challenge with a big pay jump is demonstrating competency at the higher grade from a role that is less likely to give you the right kinds of opportunities. I’m thinking leadership vs management (often confused as being the same thing but actually very different).

I recently hired and had a few people making a big salary jump. They were not demonstrating the independence and initiative I needed for the role. They may have had potential, but I made safer choices from people who all had already demonstrated the capabilities I was seeking.

You need to make the hiring manager believe that you have the necessary skills and experience to do the role. Or that you have the foundations for stepping up into the role.

I have never told a new job what my old job paid. Otherwise you never make any progress, and the employer pays minimum.

It shouldn't be an issue. I took a 16% pay rise for a job which wasn't all it should have been. So I found something else (applied for it just over a year later) then managed to get 9% on top of that. I work hard and feel I'm being paid fairly. You just need to be confident. Don't sell yourself short.

Thanks so much for replies,

There’s 2 grades for my current role - my grade, and the grade 2 higher with 1 extra responsibility. No intermediate JD between the 2. I was looking for a reevaluation for my role anyway as I don’t feel the 1 extra responsibility justifies up 17% increase (top matches bottom of new role)

Hope that makes some sense !

I had worked at my old place for over 20 years doing a number of jobs within the same grade. The structure of all departments meant there was a skipping of one grade to next level. Despite me covering and helping my team leader and her wanting me to replace her when she left, I wasn't shortlisted (not by her, this was other management). I was told they felt it was too big a jump in grades. I pointed out that I had been doing the higher graded job/duties but not paid them for experience, told this wasn't enough.

Funnily enough, both this person and I were at an internal management course weeks later and she asked the course leader how staff could progress when the structure meant there was a big jump... course leader said 'well they can if they wish gain experience by being allowed to do duties of higher grade' basically exactly what I had been doing with current team leader.

I left there for a promotion in another industry and never looked back. I love my job and paid better than I was back then.