How to negotiate a salary after job offer?

[Bedtimeforever]

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!

I also work in a university and we don’t do that.

Watching with interest! I’ve just applied for a job and gone in with a high salary expectation on the basis of advice I’ve read online.

Theres been lots about the gender pay gap on Linked In recently so have a look at that - the awareness day is around this time of year because women are basically working for free from now til the end of the year compared to men.

A few men I’ve spoken to at work recently have all negotiated hard for pay and have walked from job offers because of it, so that really opened my eyes. I’ve always been a meekly accept what I’m offered as starting salary kind of person but I don’t want to be that person anymore!

You can use sites like Glass Door and Total jobs to research average pay bands based on your location, experience and job title, so do your research so you can pitch yourself well and say why you think you’re worth what you want.

I read to go in at the higher end of your research. Don’t ask, don’t get. It’s the employer’s job to look out for their budget and interests and you need to look out for your best interests.

And I read don’t bat it back and forth too much - take the offer as soon as you’re happy with it, don’t irritate them by hoping to squeeze out even more.

The articles I read were on the Harvard Business Review website and if you search ‘salary negotiation’ on Instagram there’s lots of coaches offering various advice - some are obviously a bit pushy so look for a wide range of advice!

This is terrible advice. Don't wait and hope you might get one down the line. I always negotiate, always, and do it at the point of job offer. It is the absolutely the best time to ask for more money. They have a budget now for the job, but nothing to indicate they'll have money for pay rises later on.

Know your worth. Know the market average and ask for what's fair.

"Thanks for the job offer, I'm delighted and can't wait to start. In terms of salary, based on my experience, qualifications and the market average, I'd be looking for nearer £x amount for the role. Is that within your range?"

Always negotiate before you join an organisation / take the job. Much harder once in the door

I also work at a uni and I can appoint people on a higher scale point. I have to get approval from HR. It's usually straightforward. A valid reason is that the candidate was previously higher salary.

It's a lot harder to negotiate a pay rise mid year IME.

OP you have nothing to lose by asking, worst case is they will say no and hold firm on the salary, they won't withdraw an offer because someone tries to negotiate (unless they are unprofessional in their approach of course)

Could you be any more of a bitch? Totally unnecessary post. Hope you feel better about yourself.

That isn’t a great rationale though is it? It perpetuates the gender pay gap.

Theres been a lot online recently encouraging women to not disclose previous salary and keep it more about what you think you’re worth for the new role based on your experience.

@Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink agree 100% and I have made the point repeatedly to our HR team 🙂

I have literally never taken a job without asking for more money than originally offered. It has usually worked as well

I also work at a university and say negotiate. The head of department should have the autonomy to be able to agree to the next spine point up without it needing more senior agreement.

As a graduate with decent employment experience you should be aiming at a job two grades higher though - so don't stagnate - get applying for other posts at the higher grade once you're a year into post!

I work at a uni in a similar team to the one you are joining - we generally start at the bottom of the pay scale but I know a couple of people who joined at a higher spinal point - so worth asking.

Need to take my own advice as just accepted a job in a different sector without negotiating - partly as the job ad stated that all new starters join at that first spinal point.

Negotiate. I did and got 6k more. I sent an email outline why I should be paid more, current wage, experience etc. I was kind but clear I was expecting more. It worked. Happy days : )

I did it be ause I know men do. My husband and brother did. So why not us too? Nothing to loose. Don't wait until after probation. After job offer is the right time imo

Definitely ask OP.

And be clear about why if they ask - the skills you bring to the role that are at a higher level than the post usually warrants, etc, I'm sure you can come up with a solid reason that will make it hard for them to say no. They want you in post, so a couple of K on the salary or more holiday or hybrid working or whatever it is you're asking for isn't as hard a sell as you think it might be.

My job is a fixed pay scale but I started at the top of the band - I asked for what I wanted and they went away and spoke to HR and it was accepted.

It was the first time I've ever done that (aged 40!) - I decided to behave more like a mediocre man would for once 😂

Go for it OP - the worst they can say is no and they won't think badly of you for asking, men do it all the time.

I always negotiated a higher salary in teaching. But I would imagine if you have a job that you know is highly sought then you might struggle.

Ask for a meeting. Just say on reflection you don't think you can manage on that salary , I'd there any negotiation? Tell them your current salary and explain it's a big drop. ...see what they say. Having said that you will be paying less tax and NI so the difference may not be as dramatic as you think,?

I've always done this and never not got a salary increase.

I've always done this and it's always worked for me. Don't see the point in applying for a job at their salary if you want more. Look for a better paid job in the first place

Worked for me!

Yay! Good work 😊

Sorry OP. I didn't mean to make quite such a harsh comment. Good luck with your negotiations.

I recruit for a private company and I'd estimate over 90% of everyone employed by us came back to negotiate a higher salary, men and women.

I also work in a university in a similar role and would have authority to offer salary within the spinal points advertised. I will always offer lower than I'm willing to pay expecting people to negotiate. You are coming from a school with lots of 'insider' information on prospective UG student and ideas of how the university might engage with schools - maybe even a network of teacher contacts - don't underestimate your worth in that respect.

Absolutely always negotiate! They would never pull an offer. Worst case they will say no and you can decide if what they offer is enough. I would suggest that you go in higher than you want and explain that this will still be a pay cut which you are willing to take for the job.

That's a very narrow band, OP, and I don't think it's on the single pay spine, but still the advice up thread stands, ask now politely if you can start higher up the pay band, citing why you are worth it. They love you more now than they ever will once you've started, I was told by a career management company... also echoing that men tend do and women don't. They won't remove the offer.

Negotiating is very easy. You don't need to be all hard nosed or anything. All you need to say is one sentence - "the job is great and everything you are looking for but salary is a bit lower than expected. Is there anything they can do? "

That opens the discussion up.