I was offered less money than advertised

[ChimneySweepLiverpool]

Hi everyone,

I work with children and I'm used to low pay. I am looking to move to charity sector. I knew this meant a possible pay drop. I am a manger in my job, educated to degree level and have 13 years experience.

I did an interview with a panel two weeks ago and it went very well. Yesterday they offered less salary than advertised - they claim I could work my way up with and pay will increase every year.

I'm disappointed as I'm overqualified for and was hoping to negotiate from the advertised amout offer so I'm surprised to be offered less. I'm very tempted to just reply saying 'I won't be taking this job due to being offered less than what was advertised'.

Any advice? 😞

Absolutely know your worth and do not accept a penny less than they advertised it as.

No, I want to do the same amount of hours but 8-4 due to a college course I'm starting in the evenings in September. They mention they allow flexi hours so I don't think that will be a problem

If the job was advertised at like £25-£30k say and they offered you £24k and you can work your way up then I'd say I wasn't interested. That's pure cheek.

If they offered you £25k and said you could work your way up then it could be that the salary scale they have for the job is set and everyone starts at the £25k.

You need to come back to them. Say this is substantially less than you are currently earning and you were hoping for an increase as this is not the advertised salary

Everything is up for negotiation at this point!

Remind yourself that they want you to take the job, and lock off the negotiations.

Right, so they advertised a set salary, and you're overqualified.

I'd tell them the salary that you'd like, and tell them why you think you're worth that amount. They might agree, or they might come back with a lower amount (but hopefully at least the advertised amount).

^kick off the negotiations 😄

"Thank you so much offering me the role, it's a great position and I really believe I can bring a lot to the company.

The initial salary offered is however lower than I'd be looking at for a role of this level of responsibility. Based on my experience and qualifications, and benchmarking similar roles in the industry, I would be looking for something closer to £x.

Please can you let me know if this a figure you can meet?

Also, as previously discussed, the working pattern I'm available is x days/hours. Hopefully these are still agreeable with you, it would be good to confirm those at the same time as the salary.

Many thanks"

That is really helpful @SunshineAndFizz 💛

OP I would see this as a red flag and continue looking for another job.

I have worked for charities for quite some time and this is the sign of an organisation that is not going to value you and has a poor work environment.

They basically lied in a job ad and are now trying to get away with paying you as little as they can get away with.

I found that bosses in the charity sector often offer poor pay, a lack of progression and exploit the good will of their staff and volunteers...

They didn't advertise a scale, which is unusual. They advertised a set salary for full time and then offered about 4000 left. It was a really low salary to begin with, not much more than minimum wage but I want to work my way in a new industry

Thank you @Startingagainandagain. I'm now a nursery manager which doesn't exactly treat staff well, hence wanting to leave so this is good information to have

I’d turn it down.

For what it’s worth I had an interview for a maternity cover job on Friday and it was a 3 person interview. The main person I would be working for, I don’t know what her issue was but she wasn’t at all friendly, in fact she was the opposite, with her questions and answers to me and I’m unsure if I’d take the role if offered.

This is good.

£4k less is poor. Plus is there anything in writing about progression? If it's not in your contract then this could be fiction.

They have just received a large amount of public funding over the next five years, hence creating this position but I suppose progression due to that could be all just talk @SquishyGloopyBum

I won't be taking this job due to being offered less than what was advertised'.

This is exactly what you should do.

You absolutely can and should tell them you applied for the role based on the advertised salary of £Xk and can’t accept the role unless that is offered.

It’s not even really negotiating, it’s what you expected- and I’d walk away if they don’t honour it, it’s a massive red flag.

The talk of progression is actually irrelevant, they advertised a salary and need to honour that or walk away.

Personally I'd not go in with hours. I'd just write back and say "thanks for the offer but I'm a bit confused because the ad was clearly advertised at £x but you've offered me £y. I'd be happy to accept the job at £x"

Leave at that.

Once you've got the offer to the acceptable then you can just confirm your work hours.

OP I meant to say where I interviewed on Friday was a charity. I’m not saying they’re all like this though.

Having worked in the charity sector, I’d say salary negotiation works a bit differently there.

Anyone I have seen negotiate over salary there and come out with a higher salary has also received ridiculously increased expectations on how they will fulfil that role. Really unachievable.

And as a result the pressure and toxicity coming their way has led to them leaving quickly or being pushed out or signed off sick (and eventually leaving).

There’s also the question of them basically lying to you about salary. It would be different if you were under qualified and they offered a lower salary to give you an opportunity. But that’s not the case.

So if I were you, I would politely decline and not enter into further negotiations.,

I agree, focus on the salary first, it’s awful to offer less than it’s been advertised as.

Having worked in the charity sector, I’d say salary negotiation works a bit differently there.

Expecting to be paid what the advertised salary was isn’t even negotiation though, it’s not asking for more it’s simply them honouring their original salary.

I’m not saying it should be like that , or that how it is is right. But it is what it is.

Any pushback on salary offered, however unfair or underhanded that offer is, will result in vastly increased expectations.

I don’t think you should say you need to negotiate; that’s for when you want more than advertised.

Just say you’re thrilled to have been offered the job but think there might have been a mistake as the role was advertised at £X and you would need that in order to accept.