Does this sound okay - asking for increase in offer (new job)?

annetheman

Hi all,

The pay offered for a new job I really like is is £10k above my current salary but at the lower end of my “expected salary” response. I gave the response after doing some research, so I think it is the right range for this role/company.

I have never negotiated salary before but I don’t want to feel like I "could have/should have" or be itching for my next pay rise within months.

How can I try to negotiate a small increase in the best way? Do I need to justify it? What are the possible implications, do you think?

Here is what I've drafted for the recruiter - appreciate any thoughts and there is no rush to get back to them, they're pretty chill (my notice period is 3 months!): 

Hi Recruitman,

It was great to speak with you as well and thank you very much for confirming the offer and sending across detailed information on the package proposed. I'm really excited about joining [company] and the XYZ team!

I was hoping we could discuss the base salary of £xx,000 a bit further. It is great the proposed base salary falls within the range I had given, based on my experience and the responsibilities of the role.

Reflecting on the timelines of the next steps we discussed however, I have considered that I will miss the annual bonus and pay review cycle in March at [current employer], should I be in my contractual notice period, and at [Company]. With this in mind, it would be fantastic if the base salary could be negotiated to £xx+3,000.

Please let me know if this sounds reasonable and [company] are able to accommodate? At this base, I would be very happy to confirm acceptance and start contracting and referencing ASAP.

I look forward to hearing from you. I am available to discuss by Teams or phone if it is easier, too.

Thanks so much again!

elsien

I have no experience in negotiating salaries, just putting that out there from the start. But you haven’t really given a reason why your skills and experience would justify any more? Missing out on this year’s bonus doesn’t really seem to cut it, Especially where you have said how great it is that the salary suggested already fits with your current experience et cetera.

annetheman

elsien said:

I have no experience in negotiating salaries, just putting that out there from the start. But you haven’t really given a reason why your skills and experience would justify any more? Missing out on this year’s bonus doesn’t really seem to cut it, Especially where you have said how great it is that the salary suggested already fits with your current experience et cetera.

Yes, I didn't revert to the 'based on my experience' argument because that ship sailed when I sent the range, I think! I'm grasping at straws lol. 

Is it better to just get to the point and ask for the increase, not giving a justification at all? Thereby avoiding it sounding weak or desperate?

Never done it myself, either; I usually just take what I'm offered!

JReacher1

Just go in with the figure you want. They’ve offered you the job so it’s just a negotiation now and they will expected that. The company will always try and get you for the lowest possible salary you’ll accept. 

Was there a salary band on the job? If there was then go for a higher number within that band. If it just said “competitive” then have a look on glassdoor to see if you can identify how much the company pays for that role and if it’s higher than offered ask for an increase.  

Congratulations on getting the job! 

comeandgo

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

annetheman

JReacher1 said:

Just go in with the figure you want. They’ve offered you the job so it’s just a negotiation now and they will expected that. The company will always try and get you for the lowest possible salary you’ll accept. 

Was there a salary band on the job? If there was then go for a higher number within that band. If it just said “competitive” then have a look on glassdoor to see if you can identify how much the company pays for that role and if it’s higher than offered ask for an increase.  

Congratulations on getting the job! 

Thank you! 

Yes, I did do a little research on Glassdoor and Fishbowl, as well as my own insider knowledge from within the industry (I know what people in similar roles at different companies' salaries are). The range I gave was between £0-15,000, and they offered at £5,000, with £0 being the lower end of the range from prior research.

They have said it's a Band 6 role, which gives me no clues as I don't know what 'band 6' ranges are! 

I will go ahead and send the email (any suggested wording tweaks welcome, though), if it is not unusual for candidates to try to negotiate... I'm 'only' asking for +£3,000 more, which would be bang in the middle of the range I gave, so I hope it's okay!

annetheman

comeandgo said:

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

If I send the email, I hope the recruiter reads it better than you have, since it doesn't say I won't accept the offer if I didn't get the raise.

JReacher1

annetheman said:

comeandgo said:

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

If I send the email, I hope the recruiter reads it better than you have, since it doesn't say I won't accept the offer if I didn't get the raise.

Ignore them. They won’t be used to this sort of negotiation. 

If you want £3k more than go in at £5k and see what they say.  I spend a lot of time recruiting people and you should never take the first offer. They will always have at least one higher offer and at the end of the day they’ll just tell you if you are being unreasonable. At this point they won’t be thinking about switching to another candidate. 

It’s very rare for a candidate to accept the first financial offer they are given. 

annetheman

JReacher1 said:

annetheman said:

comeandgo said:

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

If I send the email, I hope the recruiter reads it better than you have, since it doesn't say I won't accept the offer if I didn't get the raise.

Ignore them. They won’t be used to this sort of negotiation. 

If you want £3k more than go in at £5k and see what they say.  I spend a lot of time recruiting people and you should never take the first offer. They will always have at least one higher offer and at the end of the day they’ll just tell you if you are being unreasonable. At this point they won’t be thinking about switching to another candidate. 

It’s very rare for a candidate to accept the first financial offer they are given. 

Thank you, very good to hear a recruiter/hiring manager's perspective! I somehow figured they could say yes to £3k because it puts it in the middle of the range I gave - £5k might seem like I'm pushing it, as it is the higher end of my range. Honestly, I also just don't have the cojones to do it lol

I did wonder what was the worst that could happen; I agree they would be unlikely to rescind the offer, but I don't want to start on a sour foot, either. I do think I will regret not asking, though!

Marcon

annetheman said:

JReacher1 said:

annetheman said:

comeandgo said:

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

If I send the email, I hope the recruiter reads it better than you have, since it doesn't say I won't accept the offer if I didn't get the raise.

Ignore them. They won’t be used to this sort of negotiation. 

If you want £3k more than go in at £5k and see what they say.  I spend a lot of time recruiting people and you should never take the first offer. They will always have at least one higher offer and at the end of the day they’ll just tell you if you are being unreasonable. At this point they won’t be thinking about switching to another candidate. 

It’s very rare for a candidate to accept the first financial offer they are given. 

Thank you, very good to hear a recruiter/hiring manager's perspective! I somehow figured they could say yes to £3k because it puts it in the middle of the range I gave - £5k might seem like I'm pushing it, as it is the higher end of my range. Honestly, I also just don't have the cojones to do it lol

I did wonder what was the worst that could happen; I agree they would be unlikely to rescind the offer, but I don't want to start on a sour foot, either. I do think I will regret not asking, though!

Then you need to ask, otherwise you're starting a new job with a grievance the employer doesn't even know you have! You will only start on a sour footing  if you don't ask.

JReacher1

annetheman said:

JReacher1 said:

annetheman said:

comeandgo said:

So you are saying if you don’t get the raise you will not accept the position?   I would just accept your non acceptance and look at the next candidate.  

If I send the email, I hope the recruiter reads it better than you have, since it doesn't say I won't accept the offer if I didn't get the raise.

Ignore them. They won’t be used to this sort of negotiation. 

If you want £3k more than go in at £5k and see what they say.  I spend a lot of time recruiting people and you should never take the first offer. They will always have at least one higher offer and at the end of the day they’ll just tell you if you are being unreasonable. At this point they won’t be thinking about switching to another candidate. 

It’s very rare for a candidate to accept the first financial offer they are given. 

Thank you, very good to hear a recruiter/hiring manager's perspective! I somehow figured they could say yes to £3k because it puts it in the middle of the range I gave - £5k might seem like I'm pushing it, as it is the higher end of my range. Honestly, I also just don't have the cojones to do it lol

I did wonder what was the worst that could happen; I agree they would be unlikely to rescind the offer, but I don't want to start on a sour foot, either. I do think I will regret not asking, though!

Depending on the size of the organisation it will likely be a different team handling the negotiations as opposed to the team who actually hires you so doubt you’ll sour relations.  There will be a band for the role and it seems unlikely asking for £5k more than the offer would push you over the band so go for it.