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!

The thing is, you haven’t got any /little experience of recruitment - so they see you as being ‘bottom’ of the scale so to speak. Also, you knew what the salary was when you applied - 28k to 21k is a big drop - there are other jobs out there that pay nearer to the 28k salary. Do you get commission on top of 21k - some pay a lower basic and then is topped up.

A lot of people seem to be missing that the OP mentioned it’s a fixed term contract, so no scope for incremental increase. If anything in my experience as a recruiter (albeit in a different industry) FTCs tend to pay at a premium in recognition of their short-term nature.

Fixed term can be two or three years, though, so there would be increments.

@Bedtimeforever

there is always 10%

My pay would be very different if I'd negotiated at the start. OP, any negotiation MUST happen right now. Do not wait for probationary periods to end. it might be that the negotiation ends up with there's an agreement that if you do well during the probationary period it's agreed that salary will be reviewed at that time, but get that agreed now.

I was hugely underpaid for years and it all stemmed from when I moved jobs I got offered the lowest end of the salary range because I was even MORE underpaid at my previous role. As a result, I never ever caught up even with significantly higher than normal pay increases almost every single year. Years later my boss from when I was hired told me she tried to get me a higher salary to start but because I was on so low before, HR refused - they knew I wouldn't push back. Don't be me.

@good96 The thing is, you haven’t got any /little experience of recruitment - so they see you as being ‘bottom’ of the scale so to speak.

I don’t understand this point - being experienced and competent at a teaching job doesn’t equate to being experienced and competent at handling a recruitment process?

That's exactly what I was trying to get at 👍

Oh I see - like they’re taking advantage of naivety

At my work (a uni) people on FTC's get incremental increases and the LGPS pension as they are employees. People who are temping through an agency don't.

Same here.

OP at my university, HR generally offer a starting salary based on previous experience relevant to the job they're offering

Thanks all. Took your advice and had a positive outcome!

Oh brilliant! Enjoy the new job!