Would you negotiate salary?

[loveawineloveacrisp]

I've accepted a role, haven't signed contract yet. When I applied I had to say how much I was looking for, without any indication from them as to salary band. I asked for £5k less than last job as I didn't want to rule myself out.

When offer has come through, some of the benefits are worse than in previous job (eg hols, pension contribution).

They offered me exactly what I asked for. Is it out of order to now try and negotiate?

I negotiated more holiday and a slight increase as they wanted me in the office and my previous job was work from home.

Depends if you knew the benefits package in advance when you pitched your expectation - wasn’t it in the job ad?

If you didn’t know in advance, I don’t think it would be unreasonable to renegotiate.

btw I wouldn’t have asked for £5k less in the first place - always ask for what you’re worth. They can always offer less, but it’s difficult to ask for more.

Live and learn!

I didn't know the total package in advance.

Oh, and it's WFH vs two days in office at my last place.

anything can be negotiated, and you will be respected for negotiating and winning concessions.

the thing is, what leverage do you have? Alternative (ideally higher) offers? How bad do you want this job. Going in £5k has already defined the space in which to negotiate.

no harm in asking, what will you say if the answer is no?

Well I really want the job so....I just don't want to undersell myself.

I’m been thinking about this and wondering what line you can take to negotiate. What lines are you considering?

saying I drop my salary requirements when applying because I really didn’t want to rule myself out. Now I’m in with a chance, I’d like a bit more money isn’t of itself a powerful aregument. I’m not sure how else it could be presented.

hoping someone else has some ideas.

@FinallyHere my main issue is the pension contribution is a lot lower than in my previous role. I also think it's unfair to ask for salary expectations in the application without giving a range.

Completely agree that it was not fairly framed. Heowever, they may have done that exactly to establish the minimal reward package applicants would accept. Ultimately, unless you are prepared to walk away if they refuse to now increase their offer, why would they increase it.

im sorry that you find yourself in this position. It might be an idea, if you are ever faced with this situation, to ask for a range of salary even if they don’t ask for it.

My point really is that saying it’s not fair isn’t a very strong argument so thinking of a different way to ask might help your case. But… unless you are prepared to walk away or at least they think you could walk way, it’s in their interest to keep your salary as low as they can get away with.

good luck.

Hmmm, maybe I just bite the bullet then. You lived n learn.

I've been out of work since the end of last year so maybe I lowered my expectations a bit which was probably a mistake.

OP no harm in saying thanks for paying what I asked for, but try to negotiate on holiday and pension. If they say no (perhaps because those benefits are standard for the organisation) then you could ask for more pay so you can make additional voluntary contributions to pension, for example. I think that's all reasonable and can be done respectfully without endangering the job.

I hate places that ask for your salary expectations or current salary without them giving any idea of what their range is.

I think you can go in with the pension point. I went from a job where the employer paid 12% into my pension and I definitely used that to negotiate up my salary at my next job, because nowhere else offered that!

I would totally try and negotiate!! Why not? Recruiting is a pain in the ass and so it's in their interests thar you accept, and how are they to know that you're not thinking of staying where you are instead? I'd just be honest and say "thanks for the offer, is there any room for increasing that? The figure i gave before is actually less than my current salary + xyz about benefits so i was hopong you could increase it so that I'm on similar to now"
Nows the time to do it pay increases may be small once you're in, then you've got less leverage.
Phrase it politely and the worst they can say is no!

Oh just seen you're not working at the moment, my point still stands though, you have slightly less leverage but they still want you to accept and don't know that you would accept at the lower rate.

Why did you ask for £5K less that your old job?

I think you go back and say, I pitched my salary low because I really wanted the job, but now I have reviewed the benefits, they are less than I was expecting. Please can the salary be increased so that overall the remuneration package is no less than £5k below my current package?

It would also be worth asking when yiur salary will next be reviewed.

Because I was out of work and the market is extremely tough right now.

I think I'm going to do exactly this. I suspect I've missed salary review as they usual happen in April in my industry.

I was just given a promotion…I was offered 48k…i instantly asked for 50k, they said yes. If you don’t ask you won’t get it. No harm in asking.