Great job offer but compensation too low - WWYD

[AnonymousBleep]

I've been offered a job I really want, working for a company with a great culture and people I think I'd really get on with. The problem is that it's offered me the same salary as I'm on now - I've pushed back with a counter offer (not much higher but enough to make a small difference) but the recruitment agent seems to think they'll say no as it's a membership organisation with a set budget. I'd consider taking the job anyway, only I currently work fully remotely, and this new job wants me to commute into London once a week, and that'll essentially mean I'd be taking a pay cut as I'd have those travel expenses (about £50 once parking and train are factored in) plus I'd need to get a dog sitter. I actually want to find a hybrid job and work in an office for some of the week, so don't want to suggest doing it fully remotely.

Would you take the job anyway? I don't hate my current job but it's going absolutely nowhere - I've tried to develop it and just hit brick walls. They just want me to keep my head down, do my job, and not ask for anything, which would be fine for a lot of people but isn't really me. It does pay OK though and I don't want to take a pay cut, as I'm a single mum with two kids (not that that means anything really, people with husbands or no kids have expenses too!).

I suppose on the plus side, I am getting interviews and doing well enough to get offers!

I think you should hold out. If the salary was fixed they should have said so when advertising, so I expect there is some flexibility.

Work out what you'd need to be paid to cover the travel costs, extra time, dog sitting etc. don't forget to include the tax etc. and then that could be the minimum you'll except. You should ask for that plus at least £2k or so unless you're sure there will be loads more opportunities at the new place.

Don’t take a pay cut unless there is room for growth, or you utterly hate your current job. You could negotiate a pay rise in the first 6 months if they don’t offer an increase now? But good on you for going back for more. I’d never move for the same, certainly not for less, unless I was miserable in current position or faced getting made redundant.

My thinking on that is that if they can't offer a couple of grand over the salary they've offered, there probably won't be much room for salary increases in the future.

It's a shame though, I was so excited to be offered this so feel a bit crushed that I won't be taking it (unless they do agree to more money).

The agent doesn't care, he just wants his commission. You're the one who will be taking a pay cut, going into London (tube strikes, train strikes, unreliable trains, rain, sleet, snow etc).

You need enough of a pay rise to cover your travel and to make it worth moving. Push him and don't back down. You're not desperate to move, they've already invested time and energy so to lose you for £x would be stupid.

I wouldn't take it.

Also, hardly anyone moves for the same salary, why would you? And you'd be taking a cut because of travel costs.

I’m a recruiter. Quite normal for employers to use your current salary as a first offer, infuriating though! I think you need to be clear that it would effectively be a pay cut with all the things you describe, and you would be looking forward to coming to London once a week. Suggest a figure you’d be happy wit) (but make it a bit higher than what you’d actually accept) to try and see if you can meet them in the middle

They will negotiate, don't lose heart. If you want £5k more then ask for £10, they will meet you in the middle or thereabout but I doubt they will flatly refuse. Play the game, don't back out or go silent.
Also, it's perfectly fine to change jobs with no/little hike if it gives you other things you want ie brand, experience, good working group, face to face if you want it and therefore improve the prospects for your next job. Go with what your gut says.

Pffft, I've taken a pay cut twice in a row when moving jobs. The question is, is there scope for career development from the off, so that you will be able to climb the ladder and earn more? It's not always about the money. If the job is better for your lifestyle in other ways then that is a huge positive.

First of all congratulations on your job offer! It’s a difficult market out there at the moment.

But it sounds like you’ll be leaving one brick wall job for another ☹️ Do they offer any other perks? Better hours or more annual leave?

I made this mistake in August 2023 and it’s been one huge regret! I chose the brand over the salary and deeply regretted it.

Are there any reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed that could help?

I could live with staying the same salary-wise for the right job but the problem is that I'd be taking a cut, because of the additional travel costs. I can't afford that.

I do think the company looks great but if they're really rigid on salary, I'm wondering if there's as much scope for growth as I thought.

Nothing that I can find!

When I was an employee I never told the truth about my current salary to recruiters, I always increased it a bit. That way you're always guaranteed that whatever job you're offered is a higher salary than what you're on, and if they add a bit more on themselves then even better.

Since it's too late to do that now, I would hold out. Either they want you or they don't, and it really sets the tone for how they treat their employees in general so I would see the offer in general as a red flag, even if they increase their offer later.

To be fair the fact they can’t budge on your salary doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t scope for growth and promotion.

For example my place of work has no flexibility at all really for salary for a specific job, but there is plenty of opportunity for promotion and moving up the ladder which then equals better pay. It’s banded/graded type thing but there’s crazy amounts of opportunity, you just need to move up the ladder to move up in pay.

Membership organisations aren’t renowned for being high payers. I would really investigate the scope of potential promotion opportunities or wait for a higher paying role.

I'd hold your nerve. Membership orgs are not great payers (I've worked in two) but I can tell you how the one I used to work in was run. Essentially they offered whatever they thought you'd accept, and across the place there was no parity of pay. You'd get junior executives who were paid more than heads of department, and it was entirely down to the currency of their director.
I went in as a mat cover and was offered £38K which was lower than my previous salary, but the offer overall was better as there was private healthcare and home working. I asked for £40k and they gave me that. I subsequently discovered that the person I was covering for was on £48k. We used to get an annual increment, and a Christmas bonus which helped a bit. What type of role is it?

Managing editor of a membership journal in the financial services sector.

I decided to turn it down as they came back and said they really couldn't raise the offer, and I did my sums and the cost of commuting into London one day a week was £69.10 which works out at over £3.5K before tax over a whole year. Being practical, I just can't afford to take that hit - and I do feel that if they'd really wanted me, they coud have found the money. I'm a bit gutted but onwards and upwards.

Good decision

Do you not check the salary range before you apply for jobs?

I do - it’s a perfectly acceptable question to ask