Help = I lied….

[Headspinner]

Help….

So I applied for a new role in a new company. Overegged my base as the firm I currently work for has a pretty top end bonus structure.. Now offered the job but the base isn’t where I expected it to be, it’s within about 2% of what I said I was on.

Going crazy, I know I messed up but I really want the job… I get it, shouldn’t have done it but my head is just spinning, can’t stop thinking about what I’ve done. HELP!

I don't understand the language and terminology but come clean you 2ull feel better for it

, from what you've said it sounds like you've given them your total reward figure (base plus bonus) as opposed to just base?

What are the actual figures?

Yes I gave them base plus bonus… And I work in a high end role (not finance / legal)

Current world base = 110k, bonus. Last year P60 £188k
Proposed base £130k, bonus would be £39k

So they’ve offered you the job, on a much higher base than you are currently on - what’s the problem?

That I lied to get the higher base, and that they’ll find out when I send through P45 (which wont have my bonus in for this year)

Why are you worried? If they're willing to pay at that level and you haven't lied about your experience then well done!

But they think you’re worth it?

Haven’t lied about my experience… I’m qualified, but I keep freaking out about the base thing… Honestly I don’t know what came over me and I’ve confirmed it to them so I’ve not a leg to stand on

Yes - but it’s an ethical issue. Honestly I’m normally really very good but the guilt I’m going through atm is horrible…

I wouldn’t worry, your P45 will go to payroll I’d have thought it’s unlikely to ever be seen by your hiring manager. They obviously think you’re worth the money!

I’m thinking the best thing to do is go back to them and just use last year’s P60 as the number to bench against….

…take the focus away from the base…

My friend did this… added about 30% onto her salary when going for a new role (they offered more than that as a result)

Nothing happened.

Payroll won’t care and if anyone did they would probably think you got bonus either at the end of the financial year or at xmas or at an annual review (which could be anytime) 🤷‍♀️.

Blimey.

Yup. HR will see your P45, hiring manager won’t.

HR won’t be looking at ex salary vs. new salary and calling hiring manager to say ‘are you sure?’

Do mumsnet give awards for humble brags?

even if it’s HR / recruitment I talked salary with?

P60 etc should not be shared beyond HR/payroll anyway. You could raise it as s GDPR issue

No humble brag - it’s freaking me out….

I'd be more concerned if you didn't lie, to be honest.

To be honest, they didn’t give a specific salary for the role, so that means it was negotiable. You negotiated a decent salary, and they agreed it…..if you’d lied about experience or having a qualification you didn’t, I’d think you were maybe on dodgy ground. In this instance you did nothing wrong in my opinion.

Recruiting companies do not expect absolute transparency re salaries, current or expected.

You were within their budget. End of.

Would a man in your position be freaking out? Unlikely. Channel the confidence of a mediocre, middle aged white man and go with it.

Say you haven't had a p45 yet and fill in a p46. Available online on gov website. It doesn't ask for salary.