Falsely inflated salary in job advert?

persa

Do they know he's currently earning more than they're offering?

Less money, no employment rights and a question mark over his ability from day one... I can't believe they're expecting a positive response to that!

Lessbutbetter

a question mark over his ability from day one

It's like i said, they may not actually have a problem with his ability, but rather are trying their luck by offering considerably less.

There is no harm in trying to negotiate with them. They've offered him the position so if they're worth their salt they'll negotiate with him. I doubt after offering 27k they'll offer anything near the dizzying heights of 30K.

It's all a game at the end of the day. Whos got the most nerve. Think about it this way, the employer having already offered the job clearly wants your friend for the position, so will be concerned if he declines the offer for higher remuneration.

He's got nothing to lose, only a job offer paying less than he's already taking home.

persa

Lessbutbetter wrote: »

It's like i said, they may not actually have a problem with his ability, but rather are trying their luck by offering considerably less.

Whether or not they actually think there's a problem with his ability, they've as much said that there is - do you not think that would be demoralising? I take great pride in my work and would find it difficult to work for a boss who I thought didn't believe I was up to scratch.

An employer who initially talks of £35k pa and then drops that down to £24k pa is not one who is likely to offer good bonuses or pay rises. The initial offer is unappealing and so are the future prospects.

The OP's friend already has a job - it's not as if he needs this one. I would chalk this all up to experience and keep looking.

Lessbutbetter

I take great pride in my work and would find it difficult to work for a boss who I thought didn't believe I was up to scratch.

Surely not at interview stage?! All employers keep things low key at this stage. Im not sure where you work or your experience, but there are alot of different layers involved in a professional job than being either rubbish at your job or "up to scratch". This doesn't seem to be a job where he's working on a till at Asda where "he's got the hang of it by dinner time" kind of thing. Most jobs offering a salary in this region will probably require the new employee to go through a learning curve before they're fully competent, and having an attitude where you think you know it all is not a good one. Everyone will learn new things in a new position, and if a company director interviewing for a new position in his company, has got slight doubts about someones ability he's only just met 30 minutes ago, then that seems fair.

There are so many variables in this. We're taking the OP's word that their friend has got the perfect amount of experience and skill required for this job.

I wish him good luck.

Lessbutbetter

do you not think that would be demoralising?

If you went to interview for a 50k job and they offered you 45k because they thought you maybe still had to prove your worth, however there would be a salary review after 3 months. You'd feel demoralised by the lower offer and wouldn't accept the job?

Catch a grip of yourself!

an9i77

I once took a job for less money than I thought I was worth (I was out of work and let desperation get the better of me). I spent every day feeling bitter and resentful and left after four weeks! If your friend takes this job and does not think the new employer has been fair, he will not stay there long, it will eat away at him until he eventually seeks employment elsewhere.

persa

Lessbutbetter wrote: »

Most jobs offering a salary in this region will probably require the new employee to go through a learning curve before they're fully competent, and having an attitude where you think you know it all is not a good one.

Regardless of how good anyone is, there will always be a learning curve involved, as a new hire will always have to adapt to a new organisation's internal policies and procedures. 'Learning time' should be factored into the advertised salary.

Lessbutbetter wrote: »

If you went to interview for a 50k job and they offered you 45k because they thought you maybe still had to prove your worth, however there would be a salary review after 3 months. You'd feel demoralised by the lower offer and wouldn't accept the job?

I'm not sure what revising the salary figures upwards is meant to demonstrate. Being offered less money than you're currently on, regardless of whether you're on £15k or £50k to start with, because there are "concerns about [your] ability" is demoralising, IMHO. It's trading down, not trading up.

Catch a grip of yourself!

Thanks for your advice.

We're obviously not going to agree on this point, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Best of luck to the OP's friend.

LadyC

Hey guys, thanks all for your comments. Some very good points raised. He hasn't officially declined the role, merely left it that he would love to do it, but for the remuneration that the job is worth to him. I guess they'll get back to him with an answer either way. However I would feel exactly as Persa says, it was a real blow to his morale and he (sensibly in my opinion) feels this could affect his working relationship with the owner of the business - I guess if they come back with a higher offer, he'll know they were just trying their luck and he'll be able to get on with wowing them with all that he has to offer!

I think if a job is advertised at £30-35k, it implies that the 'perfect' candidate, with all the pre-requisite skills and experience could reasonably expect £35k and someone else perhaps with all the skills but only 80% of the experience the company was looking for say, might only expect £30k. To have ALL the skills and ALL the experience required (he is sure he does and I would agree with him, based on my knowledge of his sector) and be offered 30% less money seems a bit of a smack in the mouth. If the job was advertised for the amount offered, he certainly wouldn't have applied, given his current circumstances, so as I see it the company have deliberately wasted his time by putting misleading information in the advert. Why did they bother putting a lower amount? Why not put 'up to £35k'? If they had concerns, which led them to think they wanted to employ him but without whichever responsibilities it was they had concerns about, why not change the job description?

However, I totally concur it's an employer's market so of course they can do what they want, so long as it's within the law.

I was really looking to see if this was actually illegal, or just poor practice as ani977 says and it would seem this is probably widespread judging from some other comments. I was interested as one of my colleagues, who used to work in recruitment, felt this was illegal in some way (misrepresentaion etc.).

Anyway, thanks again, all of you, for taking the time to read and comment.

SHIPSHAPE

The terms of the job as advertised were for a salary in the region of £30-35k, yet an offer was made of £24-27k. A possible difference of a hefty £11k.

The OP appears to be asking for recompense for their friend being messed about, amongst other issues.

Yes, this could be pursued.

It would be a waste of time, for example, to go for a bus drivers job based in London only to then be told, at interview (at your own expense and time) that an offer will be made but you will be based in Aberdeen.

The employer should get their act together.

Sambucus_Nigra

Interesting one. As surely, if the job was paying 30-35k - and they have found a candidate that met the requirements then they should offer in the range. Would they really expect people who have applied for that role to give up a job and accept one at the range in the offer? No they probably wouldn't. So I'd suggest that if they are like this [liars or chancers] about the initial wage to attract good people to the role, then I'd suggest that they are probably liars or chancers to work for and hence, it would not be good business sense to join them.

Advertising higher wages to attract better people that they want to pay for regularly backfires - as they only end up getting those that were willing to accept the lower wage in the first place - and their current employees get annoyed as they think that the new people are on higher wages than they are. Just bad practice all round.