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Original poster

How to negotiate a salary after job offer?

62 replies

Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 17:47

Hello,

I have (finally) been offered a job and the salary is on the lower end of 21k. I am actually a teacher so it is a huge drop in salary with the NQT wage being 28000 currently. I want to get out of teaching and get my foot in the door elsewhere. I just wanted to know if I should negotiate a little bit higher, or if I am really pushing my luck and just accept it. Especially as I have found it difficult to get a job that isn’t in teaching.

Just wanted some thoughts please, and if you think it is okay to negotiate then how much more? And how to ask? Confused, I’ve always worked in teaching so on Main pay scales!

ps. Im not expecting a 30k salary or anything :)

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Soccermumamir · 07/12/2022 17:49

I would wait. I'm assuming you have a probationary period. Maybe get through that first then negotiate later on.

AriettyHomily · 07/12/2022 17:50

Always negotiate. Women are shit at this. Theyre offering the lowest they can get away with.

CornishGem1975 · 07/12/2022 17:52

I negotiated, said it was a little lower than I wanted and given that previously I had worked from home and this was a hybrid role requiring a commute etc and they upped it. I also negotiated more holiday.

wenn · 07/12/2022 17:59

Soccermumamir · 07/12/2022 17:49

I would wait. I'm assuming you have a probationary period. Maybe get through that first then negotiate later on.

I actually wouldn't recommend doing this. The reason job hopping is so popular is because it's much harder to get a salary increase once you have started a role. The majority of staffing budgets are set aside for recruitment, rather than personnel raises.

OP- your previous salary is irrelevant if you have taken a career change. Have you looked into what is competitive for your new role?

If it is competitive, you will struggle to get an increase without solid justification as to why you are worth more, particularly if you are new to the industry/role.
If it isn't, you could tell a white lie and suggest that you have another similar job offer on the table that is more attractive in terms of salary and ask if there's any flexibility to match that salary (if you do this you will need to make it clear that you would prefer to work for company 1)

Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:00

AriettyHomily · 07/12/2022 17:50

Always negotiate. Women are shit at this. Theyre offering the lowest they can get away with.

Yep. We are. Being the doormat I am, I probably won’t say anything and as pp said, wait till probationary period is over. That’s what I would usually do! But I don’t know, I am just thinking of cost of everything going up etc, a child etc and although it wouldn’t be significant, it would still count.

It is a fixed term contract, if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:02

wenn · 07/12/2022 17:59

I actually wouldn't recommend doing this. The reason job hopping is so popular is because it's much harder to get a salary increase once you have started a role. The majority of staffing budgets are set aside for recruitment, rather than personnel raises.

OP- your previous salary is irrelevant if you have taken a career change. Have you looked into what is competitive for your new role?

If it is competitive, you will struggle to get an increase without solid justification as to why you are worth more, particularly if you are new to the industry/role.
If it isn't, you could tell a white lie and suggest that you have another similar job offer on the table that is more attractive in terms of salary and ask if there's any flexibility to match that salary (if you do this you will need to make it clear that you would prefer to work for company 1)

Show quote history

That’s useful advice. Thanks!

OP posts:
SocialLite · 07/12/2022 18:04

I wouldn't say your previous job was irrelevant, teaching has huge amounts of transferable skills. What's the new job?

AriettyHomily · 07/12/2022 18:06

There's data somewhere that extrapolates that men ask for it and when just accept what offered, same in pay reviews. If they think you're worth what you ask for they'll pay, it's a candidate market in pretty much every sector at the moment. Don't undersell yourself!

Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:15

SocialLite · 07/12/2022 18:04

I wouldn't say your previous job was irrelevant, teaching has huge amounts of transferable skills. What's the new job?

Its working in recruitment at a university..

OP posts:
JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 07/12/2022 18:15

Always negotiate.

90% of the time they will be able to increase. If they can't they will tell you and providing that you are polite and professional you can still accept the job.

Other than my first job out of uni I have always negotiated. The only job that ever said no is my current one, they offered me a job and the salary was less than the one I was on, they had offered me maximum budget for the job as they knew I was more experienced and they told me that I told them that I would love to work for them but literally couldn't afford to accept so to let me know if they had any other openings.

They contacted me a year or so later with a vacancy in a different team with a higher wage. By then I had increased my salary due to internal promotion at my existing job. I told them that, they told me they could match it but not beat it or they would be paying me more than others in the same role but that they would give me a pay review at six months rather than twelve.

Due to their reputation, the type of work, prospects and location (my other job was a much longer commute) I accepted. They gave me a decent pay review at six months, and every year since. I haven't regretted it and salary negotiation did not affect me starting in a negative way.

ZenNudist · 07/12/2022 18:17

Don't ask don't get. Definitely negotiate but not on the basis that you were previously paid higher as an NQT. Just say its lower than you'd hoped and can they increase. If you accept the job then it will be very difficult to get a rise later.

girlmom21 · 07/12/2022 18:19

You need to tell them what you're willing to accept as a salary when you start.

If you start then try to negotiate they hold all the cards.

Detectorists · 07/12/2022 18:20

Don't wait until you're in to try and negotiate. Your strongest position is when they still want you, not when they have you. I learned this the hard way and negotiated on my last two roles. Increased both by £5k.

Cotswoldmama · 07/12/2022 18:22

Definitely negotiate before accepting by accepting you're accepting the salary. I applied for a job and it said something like salary depending on experience. When they offered me the job and told me the salary I told them straightaway I was expecting it to be a bit higher. Like you it was a change in role for me it was from retail management to a receptionist/admin role so it was hard to compare. I knew I would be paid less as I would no longer be management but a lot of my skills were transferable so we negotiated and I got what I asked for. I must admit though that the reason I felt confident asking is because I hadn't left my old job so if they said no I didn't have anything to lose.

legofrostqueen · 07/12/2022 18:22

You need to look at both packages side by side & if for eg the new job has less holiday/less flexibility/less pension contributions base your request for more pay on the other elements of the package (only works if they are worse of course). You've got nothing to lose by asking for more & explaining why you're worth it (a man would do this automatically without feeling the need to justify it...). Good luck Flowers

RewildingAmbridge · 07/12/2022 18:24

How was it advertised? Fixed salary, salary band or 'competitive rate'

UnclearNuclear · 07/12/2022 18:26

Well if it's a university professional services role it's on a national pay spine usually - you'll not get a raise once in post, best chance is to ask to start further up the pay spine. As others have suggested, now is the time to ask. Good luck!

chocolateasaltyballs22 · 07/12/2022 18:26

Soccermumamir · 07/12/2022 17:49

I would wait. I'm assuming you have a probationary period. Maybe get through that first then negotiate later on.

That's awful advice. Once you're in and you've given up your previous job they have you over a barrel. Negotiate before you take the job. I don't understand why so many women won't do this.

Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:29

Yes it said on the JD - Grade D (£21,197 - £23,144)

Salary wasn't mentioned on today’s call, it was just offering the job and we discussed annual leave, working hours, flexible working etc. I said I’d let her know tomorrow..

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 07/12/2022 18:31

Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:29

Yes it said on the JD - Grade D (£21,197 - £23,144)

Salary wasn't mentioned on today’s call, it was just offering the job and we discussed annual leave, working hours, flexible working etc. I said I’d let her know tomorrow..

They'll tell you that's a starting salary and you will work up to £23k with length of service.

thinkfast · 07/12/2022 18:34

Are you sure you are suited for this new role OP? You don't seem to be very knowledgeable about how recruitment works.

Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:38

thinkfast · 07/12/2022 18:34

Are you sure you are suited for this new role OP? You don't seem to be very knowledgeable about how recruitment works.

Well they seem to think so, and as I mentioned its a NEW area for me, we all start somewhere but thanks for your concern.

OP posts:
superdupernova · 07/12/2022 18:40

I work at a university and they start everyone off at the lowest end of the scale unless they're moving from another department at the same level.

Original poster
Bedtimeforever · 07/12/2022 18:40

superdupernova · 07/12/2022 18:40

I work at a university and they start everyone off at the lowest end of the scale unless they're moving from another department at the same level.

Okay that’s interesting thank you.

OP posts:
Ameadowwalk · 07/12/2022 18:42

girlmom21 · 07/12/2022 18:31

They'll tell you that's a starting salary and you will work up to £23k with length of service.

Show quote history

Yes, there are presumably annual increments - you should be able to find the salary scales on the hr pages of the university and find out what the next one is and when you would progress. you should also see the job criteria somewhere for the next grade up, so you can see if there are any additional skills in that which you bring. How long is the post for? I think that would have a bearing too.

I have had one person ask for a higher spinal point in the offered grade recently. They cited the additional experience they had within the job role to justify it. They send their request via email to HR and it was forwarded on to me for a decision.