University Admin pay

[FitAt50]

I've got an interview next week for a resourcing role at a university. Salary range is £24k-£28k. I currently do a more senior role in recruitment and am on £34k. I know most of these roles you are expected to start at the bottom of the pay scale but was hoping to argue that I should come in at the top. Does anyone have any experience of doing this or knowledge of rules around this. Been in my current role for 6 months, doing amazing (bosses word's) but I just dont like it.

Given budgets are really stretched, I seriously doubt it, at that grade level we wouldn't be allowed to appoint above the bottom of the scale, sorry. At more senior roles maybe the second point if we really pushed it, but at the moment HE is really pushed for finances and there are lots of applicants for posts. But good luck.

I work in uni admin and was in a similar position to you.
When I was offered the job, I asked for the top pay scale and was given it. Just had to provide proof of my current (at the time) salary.
Don't be shy to ask - especially if your experience will mean you will bring a lot to the role :)

There is a salary band for a reason - it's not one size fits all!

At my university they are really struggling to recruit into roles in that salary band, so you'd be able to call the shots, I imagine.

Agreed, I've got one out at the moment and I'm expecting to have to appoint at the top. Generally we have to evidence it using existing salary.

My old place of work were really difficult about salary scales, they liked you starting at the bottom so that you had an incentive to stay as once you were at the top that was it. I hit the top and stayed there for years.

I hear from friends they are struggling to recruit for vacant roles but in general I found university pay really bad so it never (in my experience on interview panels) attracted the right, qualified candidates.

Each university is different though.

@SideshowAuntSallly does your skill set in recruitment match that of the post? If so, I'd ask to go in at the top. I did this moving from one Uni to another and they agreed

Thanks all. I am more optomistic now and can always decline the role if they wont move on salary. I have worked in HE before and am doing an advanced role now which is about 2 roles about the one I am being interviewed for. Interview is on Thursday, so shall see how I get on.

We are struggling to recruit at my university for admin roles that pay from 28k to 40k and people who we have accepted on to roles have often negotiated their salary. We have said no each time.

@heidbuttsupper I actually left education a couple of months ago after doing 16 years in university admin. Best decision I've made, the new company matched what I asked for without me even having to negotiate (it was meant to be a lot less).

I've sat on interview panels where we have told people there is no budging from starting at the bottom of the grade. Doesn't matter about skill set, that's why we had shortlisting to weed out those that don't. Everyone interviewed had to match the shortlisting criteria.

Same as @lolstevelol we struggle to recruit good, experienced staff (specialist professional services) When anyone tries to negotiate pay its always a no as I'm never given budget agreement to increase the salary from bottom of the scale. I feel that we ask a lot of our staff for this level of pay so I truly wish it was more flexible.

Good luck OP and hope it will work out for you 😊

Same as @shoots and @lolstevelol. Struggling to recruit but can’t push people up pay wise unless they’re already on the correct grade for an internal promotion where it’s easy to show funding necessity. Anyone external not on our banding system would be expected to start at the bottom.