Lowballing salary

[Jokershahah]

I have been offered a job but been lowballed on salary. My industry regularly offers a 50-80% bonus on base salary but the bonus for this role was advertised as 15-30%.

They have now told me they’ll pay me the lowest % bonus and the lowest base salary in the original range they quoted me. They said they were impressed by the technical task I did for them and enjoyed meeting me. I also know that they didn’t progress other candidates through to final rounds and were quite selective.

I am in other processes which have an uplift on base and significantly higher bonus potential so have asked them to at least give me the middle range. They have refused, saying that I don’t have experience in this particular role (true) and that I can’t start on more than what they offered the other employee who is doing the same role.

I am feeling really uncomfortable and deflated despite originally being excited. Perhaps worth noting that while I’m not desperate, I am on a career break currently which they know about so feel like they are using this to justify their low offer.

this is also a pay cut for me - I will be earning less in this role than I earnt a few years ago!

can anyone help me decide what to do?

Depends on if there are other options and now slow/fast the market for jobs is in your industry. They're obviously not valuing you that highly and I would look at other options, I think.

Do you think it’s an indication that they don’t think I’m good? It’s a small company fwiw and it is an objectively good salary but just not good for the industry.

I mean it’s not a pay cut if you are currently earning £0 on a career break, so on the basis that you’ve presumably been on this career break for awhile & they are aware of that, plus the fact you’ve never done this role before, I think it’s fair enough to start you on this salary/bonus set up. If I was you I would perhaps negotiate for a review at 6 months, if all is going well then at that point then you’ve proved your worth and so they will likely be willing to be more flexible then. Right now you’re a good candidate but you’re on a career break and so may well be out of the industry loop and on top of that you haven’t done the role before, so it’s safest for them to bring you in on the lowest and then assess your “value” going forward, I think that’s really common now

What is the start date for this lowball salary role? Personally I'd accept the job, because a job is better than no job. Maybe spend a few days "thinking about it" and also continue with interview processes for the other roles. If you are successful in and get a higher offer elsewhere then you can hand in your notice and move to the higher paid role.

Interesting they told you they can't offer more than another employee doing the role, that suggests even if you are doing amazingly well in 6 or 12 months time you won't be getting a big pay bump, they just pay low.

Easier to get a job when you have one. I'd take it and ensure you continue to look for your next role.

Then don't accept it then.

To be honest, if you think it's low now then you probably won't stay there long as you'll be disgruntled from day one...