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Original poster

Currently unemployed, offered new job but salary is 2K lower than previous

74 replies

NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 16:49

Hello everyone. This is my very first post after lurking and gaining loads of advice for years! I hope you can help with this issue. I think in my heart of hearts I know the answer but would just like some extra words of wisdom.

I am currently unemployed after leaving my previous role due to toxic culture and gaslighting. It’s taken 4 months but I’ve secured another job at a firm with a lovely reputation and in an area I’ve long wanted to work. Prior to interview, the company contacted me and said much as they liked my CV, they wouldn’t interview me as my salary expectations exceeded their budget but if I were willing to manage my expectations then they’d like to see me. I thought this was wonderfully transparent so I managed my expectations, had the interviews and received a job offer with a salary at the top of their range which is 2K less than the role that I left. I was delighted to accept (nothing signed as yet). I’m wondering, after reading loads about the importance of negotiating salaries, if I should even seek a bit of an uplift as they made it clear what their budget is and I agreed to lower my expectations? Plus, it’s not really negotiating is it if I’m currently unemployed?! I read, here, I think, that it would be more of a polite ask in these circumstances!

I am actually in-line for a second interview, elsewhere, that would potentially pay £3K more than the role I’ve been offered (which would be £1K more than I was earning in the role I left), however, as good a role as it is, it doesn’t excite me as much as the role I’ve been offered and there’s no guarantee I would get that job even if I were to achieve a second interview. All other aspects are pretty much equal apart from the salary and level of excitement I feel.

So the question is, be grateful that I’ve found a new role in an area I’ve hankered after for years (I was only a few weeks ago lamenting that I’ll never work again) and hope the pay will increase once I’m settled and after probation or decline and hope to get the other role that doesn’t excite me as much but pays better or keep looking for another great role but with a great salary to match? I think in my heart I know the right thing but just looking for other voices.

Thank you all for taking the time to read.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 09/03/2023 16:51

Well presumably it’s more money than you are on right now.
If the job ticks all the other boxes take it - I assume you have tried to negotiate?

OttilieKnackered · 09/03/2023 16:52

How much is £2k of the salary? More important if it’s £15k to £17k than £50k to £52k…

mynewusername2023 · 09/03/2023 16:52

Are you talking 2k a year less? If so then I'd take the job especially if I was currently unemployed. Still go to the other interview and see what happens but don't turn it down in the hope of a couple k more.

Gazelda · 09/03/2023 16:54

I'd be inclined to take the job. Its something you want to do, with an employer that excites you. That is incredibly valuable, particularly as you're most recent role was so unhappy.

Can you afford to live on the £2k drop?

Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 16:58

Oh yes 100% more that at present! I haven’t tried to negotiate because, whilst I direct applied, I have seen the role advertised by recruitment agencies after I applied so I knew what the scale was so they were being honest, my expectations just didn’t work. Plus, I managed my expectations and have got the role so I feel perhaps a bit cheeky to now go back and see if more is available. I’m horribly naive with this sort of thing as, despite my age, I’ve not really moved around much.

OP posts:
Its2amimustbelonely · 09/03/2023 17:00

Maybe ask for a salary review to be agreed after six months in post?

SausageRoll2020 · 09/03/2023 17:03

Depends on the overall salary.
£22k down to £20k might be a pinch.
£87k down to £85k barely noticeable.

Ask yourself if the salary is fair for the role and your skills & experience.

If you decline this role how many more £2k's will lose from waiting another month or months to find a role.

lobeliasb · 09/03/2023 17:08

Will there be room to increase your salary with time at this company? If the current offer is the absolute maximum you can expect to make working there, is that somewhere you'd even stay for very long? I don't see why you can't ask if there is any room to increase the salary by 2k, I doubt they will retract the offer just for asking! This is why women's salaries lag behind male coworkers.

fivetriangulartrees · 09/03/2023 17:09

I would go for the job you will enjoy more. I'd say that you know they can't match your previous salary, but there might be something else they can do to make it more attractive as a package. Think about what that would mean to you. Are you hankering over sponsorship or time off to attend a particular training course? Can they stick the word "senior" on your job title? Would you like to work more flexibly than they advertise? Is there another role/department/project you want to be involved with? You can only ask.

Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:09

OttilieKnackered · 09/03/2023 16:52

How much is £2k of the salary? More important if it’s £15k to £17k than £50k to £52k…

It’s £27k down to £25k. I went and calculated putting in pension contributions on Martin Lewis’ site and I’d be losing £103 per month. Not massive but not to be sneezed at either.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:15

mynewusername2023 · 09/03/2023 16:52

Are you talking 2k a year less? If so then I'd take the job especially if I was currently unemployed. Still go to the other interview and see what happens but don't turn it down in the hope of a couple k more.

This is what I’m thinking. I, possibly foolishly, let the other firm know that I have an offer so they want me to let them know if I’m willing to go forward further. The feedback I’ve received from my recruitment consultant is that they really like me but that’s still no guarantee of success in the end. Plus, would I enjoy the role. I cannot believe I’m in this position! I’ve literally been tearing my hair out that nobody wants me and now look!

OP posts:
Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:22

Gazelda · 09/03/2023 16:54

I'd be inclined to take the job. Its something you want to do, with an employer that excites you. That is incredibly valuable, particularly as you're most recent role was so unhappy.

Can you afford to live on the £2k drop?

Yes, these are my thoughts too. The role really does fill me with joy at the thought of it and the employer too. My previous role was unbelievable. I’d never have thought anything like that could happen, however, I’m seeing in these threads that many places are just heinous hotbeds of toxicity. So sad.

I can afford to live on the £2K drop at present, however, I’m not young, won’t see 50 again, and I worry about pensions, savings, etc. I was silly and stayed in my previous (not the one I’ve just left) job being criminally underpaid for far too long so I feel like I’m very much behind the curve. Toxic job is the most I’ve ever been paid so I was hoping to keep climbing up but it’s not working that way right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:22

Its2amimustbelonely · 09/03/2023 17:00

Maybe ask for a salary review to be agreed after six months in post?

Thank you! That’s a great idea 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:28

SausageRoll2020 · 09/03/2023 17:03

Depends on the overall salary.
£22k down to £20k might be a pinch.
£87k down to £85k barely noticeable.

Ask yourself if the salary is fair for the role and your skills & experience.

If you decline this role how many more £2k's will lose from waiting another month or months to find a role.

Oooh I wish it was in the £80k bracket! Very much more the first range.

It’s the top end of what the industry pays a certain job title. Chanfe the title and it’s an instant £1k upward movement. I don’t really think it is fair for the role and certainly not for my skills and experience.

Well, that’s the big question. I wasn’t expecting it to be as hard as it has been tbh. It’s souk destroying when the phone isn’t ringing and recruiters seem to have forgotten you exist. The effect on my mental health hasn’t been good. Plus, I don’t want to blow through my meagre savings in the hopes another role will materialise in short order.

OP posts:
HowcanIhelp123 · 09/03/2023 17:29

Just because you accept the job doesn't mean you can't continue looking for a higher paid role. Accept the job, keep up with the interview for the other job (if new job is £25K, £28K is over 10% more). Even if that's a no you can continue applying elsewhere. If somewhere else offers you what you want at more pay, hand your notice in at new job and tell them it's because they offered more money, they knew you were after more to begin with!

redspottedmug · 09/03/2023 17:34

Take the job you love and see what happens.

I took a salary drop on my last move for various reasons and with annual increments and cost of living rises exceed what I was on before within 10 months.

ootb · 09/03/2023 17:35

Depends on timeline (whether close enough) but try and secure a job offer from the other company so you can then negotiate for pay rise with your favoured company by mentioning other job offer w/ higher salary

Comefromaway · 09/03/2023 17:38

I’ve seen this from the other side. My company recently took someone on who had been laid off. He’s come for less than he previously was on but we simply could not offer more. For one it would risk peeing off loyal, long standing employees on the same level as him and for another it would mean he would not generate as much profit for the company which is what has kept us afloat whilst other similar companies have made redundancies or gone bankrupt

Comefromaway · 09/03/2023 17:39

But the advantages are that we are a great company to work for. Managment look after us and it’s a great atmosphere.

TiredandLate · 09/03/2023 17:39

Take it, any job is better than no job. As pp said you may be able to ask for a salary review after 6 months, and keep an eye on indeed.

Sassyfox · 09/03/2023 17:39

You’ll be on £100 less a month, that’s £25 a week.

Could you find a way to save £25 a week so you can feel better?
E.g don’t buy lunch or coffees out, cycle instead of drive, try and save on your weekly shop etc

I completely see where you are coming from but this sounds like your ideal job so I would jump at it!

You can always look for a new job if you’ve been there for a few months and decide that the extra money is more important.

Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:50

lobeliasb · 09/03/2023 17:08

Will there be room to increase your salary with time at this company? If the current offer is the absolute maximum you can expect to make working there, is that somewhere you'd even stay for very long? I don't see why you can't ask if there is any room to increase the salary by 2k, I doubt they will retract the offer just for asking! This is why women's salaries lag behind male coworkers.

That’s the thing, I’m not sure. Many years ago I was earning X as a temp but missed having a permanent role so I took a role at £2k less thinking it’ll go up in time. It did but definitely not market rate and by the time I left one recruiter was struck dumb by my age and experience and the salary I was on. I took it and stayed thinking it would improve and it never did. I’m terrified of the same thing again, however, I certainly wouldn’t be spending decades hoping for improvement!

OP posts:
Starflecked · 09/03/2023 17:53

It sounds like you sort of have negotiated already, you laid your cards on the table and they offered you top of their range. If you hadn't had that conversation no doubt you'd be on the lowest! I'd take it, it's doubtful they'll offer more but you can try and negotiate once in post at your appraisal.

Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:53

fivetriangulartrees · 09/03/2023 17:09

I would go for the job you will enjoy more. I'd say that you know they can't match your previous salary, but there might be something else they can do to make it more attractive as a package. Think about what that would mean to you. Are you hankering over sponsorship or time off to attend a particular training course? Can they stick the word "senior" on your job title? Would you like to work more flexibly than they advertise? Is there another role/department/project you want to be involved with? You can only ask.

This is a good way to go about getting a more attractive deal, thank you. I’d not really thought about those other things you mentioned so I will have a think about what else is important to me and put it to them and see if there is any movement that way.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewbiePoster · 09/03/2023 17:59

HowcanIhelp123 · 09/03/2023 17:29

Just because you accept the job doesn't mean you can't continue looking for a higher paid role. Accept the job, keep up with the interview for the other job (if new job is £25K, £28K is over 10% more). Even if that's a no you can continue applying elsewhere. If somewhere else offers you what you want at more pay, hand your notice in at new job and tell them it's because they offered more money, they knew you were after more to begin with!

This is true and I’ve thought that too, however, I don’t want to p anyone off. My industry is small and people talk. However, if I accepted the role and failed probation they’d have no qualms getting rid of me so perhaps I really should be looking out for number one here. Than you for that.

OP posts:
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