Negotiating Pay after verbally accepting a job offer.

TinaTurtle · 06/08/2022 17:13

Congratulations on your offer!
I recruit as part of my role.
There is nothing inappropriate at all about querying the salary at this point in the process.
If you are keen on the role, I would be super positive and enthusiastic: " ... really pleased to receive the offer ... excited about the prospect of joining the company ... enjoyed my interview with X and everything I learned about the role and feel the role really suits my experience ... the salary quoted was not in line with my expectations. What scope of there to review the starting salary on offer?".
They may not revise their offer but if I were faced with such a query, I would not regard it as inappropriate or out of order.

lljkk · 06/08/2022 17:23

You can ask but they can say no. My 2 most recent employers were both firm that new employees all start at bottom of pay range. Not negotiable policy.

We had a guy ask assertively about getting a salary that was well above the published range (!!) Told no. He took the job, right at bottom, in line with policy.

houseofboy · 06/08/2022 18:27

Honestly think it depends on the job, for example I know IT has a big shortage at the moment so it's very common for pay negotiations to take place after verbal acceptance of pay wasn't discussed.

Original poster

duckme · 06/08/2022 19:38

@TinaTurtle thank you for your reply, that's really helpful. I am keen so will be sure to convey that in the email.
@lljkk I definitely wouldn't be asking for anything above the advertised salary, just something between the middle and top of the pay scale. @houseofboy that's a good point, the role is probably not subject to a shortage of potential candidates, but I get the impression they are, not desperate as such, but in a time sensitive situation whereby they need to appoint very soon.

OP posts:

thing47 · 08/08/2022 17:48

lljkk · 06/08/2022 17:23

You can ask but they can say no. My 2 most recent employers were both firm that new employees all start at bottom of pay range. Not negotiable policy.

We had a guy ask assertively about getting a salary that was well above the published range (!!) Told no. He took the job, right at bottom, in line with policy.

That's not really a pay range, then, is it? It's a set amount. It's obviously totally fine to set a specific figure for a job in an ad, but it's a little bit naughty to offer a pay range then insist that everyone starts at the very bottom regardless of their experience…

Aprilx · 10/08/2022 06:43

I think you can go back with a carefully worded email as the previous poster mentioned. But you ask if it is the done thing and no, I can’t agree that it is the done thing to negotiate salary after accepting an offer. For future reference, don’t accept a job until you know the salary and negotiate before you accept.

BakedBeeeen · 10/08/2022 06:46

I can’t understand why salary was not mentioned in the offer! They offer a job and the salary is part of that offer, surely? So yes you do need to go back to them and ask for more because if your experience.

Muststopeating · 10/08/2022 06:47

Absolutely negotiate. Your starting salary dictates everything and is exceptionally difficult to change once on seat.

It is most definitely not inappropriate. They might say no, but your best chance is when they could realistically lose you.

The wording from PP is excellent.

BakedBeeeen · 10/08/2022 06:47

You haven’t actually accepted an offer if pay wasn’t mentioned I mean.

Pepperama · 10/08/2022 07:11

I’ve had emails like that. Not a problem to be asked the question and for us it depends on budget and if experience and fit warrants a higher entry point. Current/most recent salary is usually taken into consideration

ZenNudist · 10/08/2022 07:19

Definitely negotiate. The salary is the offer. As you didn't ask then it's no surprise they have gone with the low end. Not even a big deal just say you note the salary offered it the lowest end of the advertised scale and you would ask that they please take into account your 8 years of experience and amend to the high end of the range advertised. Don't ask don't get. Hold your nerve!

Dancingintherain19 · 10/08/2022 07:21

Offered a job recently and candidate did exactly this. We had debated on salary scale point before making offer and HR advised me to offer lower of 2 I was considering. We went up one and made it clear no room for further negotiation. Candidate accepted. Definitely becoming more common for people to negotiate.

Fireleap · 10/08/2022 07:41

Is it increment based, so you go up a band each year till you are at the top of the range? If so they may say no, but your salary should increase fairly quickly.

Whitehorsegirl · 10/08/2022 07:44

Negotiate.

I hate it when companies put a salary range in an ad and then once they offer you the job they state that it is company policy to appoint at the bottom of the scale. This should be made clear in the ad and job description documents.

I had that with a charity recently that offered me a job. The job ad had a salary range and the offer they made was at the bottom of that range. I went back and pointed out that I had a lot of experience in the role and expected more. The reply was that they ''had made a mistake'' in the wording of the ad and that they could not go much higher than offered. They already had had to advertise the role two months before but could not find a suitable candidate so I did not believe the ad had the wrong wording, I just assumed they put a salary range to artificially attract more people. I rejected the offer and turned down the role. Some employers never learn...It will cost them more to advertise and interview for the role for the 3rd time than it would have to give me a better offer.

CornishGem1975 · 10/08/2022 07:44

I negotiated on the offer, they had told me the salary previously. They gave me an extra £1000 and more annual leave as well as very flexible working. Doesn't hurt to ask.

0live · 10/08/2022 07:46

What @TinaTurtle said. I can assure you that a man wouldn’t think twice about negotiating.

Endlesslypatient82 · 10/08/2022 07:48

Be careful and thoughtful in your wording.

Do not make it a “if you don’t do this, I will flounce off”.

”Having given the salary some greater consideration since my verbal acceptance, particularly against the backdrop of the ever evolving current state of the economy, I would very much like to have a chat regarding the possibility of my starting salary being at the mid point of the salary advertised”.

Summerlols · 10/08/2022 07:49

This is your point of power. Don't mess it up by being a people pleaser. Assertively but politely ask for what you think you are worth plus a bit more. Plus any benefits (company car, start up costs, relocation expenses) or other working conditions (wfh part time) that you need.

0live · 10/08/2022 08:12

I’d just say that have now received their offer and while I’m excited about the role, there’s some things that you’d like to discuss etc. Just what @TinaTurtle said really.

Theres no need to act as if you have made some sort of mistake by saying on the phone that you wanted the job. That was just indicating that you wanted to go ahead and discuss terms and conditions with view to you taking the job. it wasn’t a life long legally binding commitment.

Jumanji89 · 10/08/2022 08:14

Definitely ok to negotiate at this point. I had this same situation albeit 5 years ago where I was offered the lowest salary in the band which had a £10k difference between top and bottom. I called and explained about my experience and how someone with zero experience would get the same salary they have offered me. I asked to be middle of the band and they were happy to increase their initial offer by £5k to accomodate.

If you don't ask you don't get. Good luck

Original poster

duckme · 10/08/2022 08:25

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your input. I have emailed but haven't had a reply yet. The sector I work in is currently closed to most staff, so I am in libo. I haven't handed my letter of resignation into my current employer yet either.
It isn't the best time of year to recruit for this type of role!

OP posts:

0live · 10/08/2022 08:27

duckme · 10/08/2022 08:25

Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your input. I have emailed but haven't had a reply yet. The sector I work in is currently closed to most staff, so I am in libo. I haven't handed my letter of resignation into my current employer yet either.
It isn't the best time of year to recruit for this type of role!

Don’t resign until you have the full details of the job offer in writing. Ever.

C8H10N4O2 · 10/08/2022 08:34

duckme · 06/08/2022 08:11

Yesterday, I went for an interview. The job advert showed the pay scale from - for example - £21000- £23000. I have over 8 years experience in the field so assumed this would be taken into consideration. Foolishly I didn't as about the pay scale at the interview (though I thought I had blown it, so really didn't think it would be an issue anyway) nor when I was offered the job over the phone. The person who offered me the job didn't discuss the salary at that time either.
I received the offer letter which gave the salary as the lowest end of the pay scale. I really believe the role and my experience is worth somewhere from the middle of the pay scale and upwards.
Is it not 'the done thing' or frowned upon to email back and try to negotiate at this point in proceedings?

So say that. Tell them that you are interested in the job and had hoped to start soon but now you have seen the financial offer, regrettably it doesn't meet your expectations. Don't get into an orgy of self justification. You are ready and available - that gets a premium.

Women commonly end up on lower end salaries because we are less likely than men to demand more. Don't be that woman!