When do I find out the salary?

united4ever

Had an interview at a local authority. Advert stated salary 26k to 33k

No mention of salary at interview. Offered the job by phone but still no mention of salary. The man said HR would be in contact me with contract.

Obviously I want to be at the top of the range but is that uncommon for a new starter? I have long experience in the field and skills. The manager who called me today stated this was the reason for the job offer.

So I expect to receive a contract in the post/email from HR with a salary. Then, can I push back , if it is not top end of range and point to my skills/experience etc to ask for it to be increased. Does anyone know how this would play out at a Local Authority? Any tips welcome. I do need a job also so I wouldn't want to get the offer retracted by being too strong but I can see there may be a need to be assertive otherwise it could take many years to climb up to the top of the salary range.

MorningcoffeeIV

You'll find out when they tell you. That would certainly be within the contract, but could be earlier if you were to ask them.

DullGreyGuy

Normally it'd be made with the offer as you cannot really respond to the offer until you know the monies on offer. There can be reasons why finalising the full offer is taking a bit longer than you'd like and so you may inform the candidate that they will be offered the role but the details/formal offer will follow shortly.

The_Unready

I work for an LA.

That range may not be a 'starting' range, but an indication of the scale within that pay grade.

So, you might start on £26k and it would go up incrementally each year until you reached £33k.

Have they confirmed it is a 'starting ' range?

Grumpy_chap

united4ever said:

Had an interview at a local authority. Advert stated salary 26k to 33k

As I understand it, most Local Authority jobs you start at the entry point for the role (£26k) and the top of the role after x number of annual increments is £33k - which will be a different number by the time you have worked the x number of annual increments because of movements in the upper and lower bounds.

Marcon

united4ever said:

Had an interview at a local authority. Advert stated salary 26k to 33k

No mention of salary at interview. Offered the job by phone but still no mention of salary. The man said HR would be in contact me with contract.

Obviously I want to be at the top of the range but is that uncommon for a new starter? I have long experience in the field and skills. The manager who called me today stated this was the reason for the job offer.

Yes. Very.

united4ever said:

So I expect to receive a contract in the post/email from HR with a salary. Then, can I push back , if it is not top end of range and point to my skills/experience etc to ask for it to be increased. Does anyone know how this would play out at a Local Authority? Any tips welcome. I do need a job also so I wouldn't want to get the offer retracted by being too strong but I can see there may be a need to be assertive otherwise it could take many years to climb up to the top of the salary range.

Depends how badly they want you. If there were plenty of other applicants with adequate skills, then you're not on strong negotiating territory - but equally starting a new job with a chip on your shoulder isn't going to be what they want, either. Muster your arguments and push back, but be prepared in advance to decide how far you're prepared to push.

TELLIT01

You can do nothing until you get the offer letter, but I would be extremely surprised if the salary offered was above the midpoint for the grade even for an applicant with extensive knowledge of the role.

BikingBud

Why do people not include this as a key part of the interview?

At that stage in the process where they ask if you have any questions?

You confirm the role responsibilities, your options for growth and personal development and the leave entitlement and how it works, and the pay scales and if they can explain how that works especially progressing up the scale as you settle into the job, demonstrate that that that you can work with autonomy and demonstrate value.

If you do not ask then, after you have convinced them of your worth, then you are like to be disappointed when they decide in your absence.

 

strawb_shortcake

@BikingBud if its anything like the CS the people interviewing will have no remit to discuss potential salary. They may be able to talk through the pay structure but the OP is unlikely to have any better idea of what their salary is going to look like 

BikingBud

annabanana82 said:

@BikingBud if its anything like the CS the people interviewing will have no remit to discuss potential salary. They may be able to talk through the pay structure but the OP is unlikely to have any better idea of what their salary is going to look like 

Why not?

Who makes the decision and based upon what?

So if there is no open discussion, either before or during the interview and with a likelihood that you can only start on the bottom rung, ie 26K irrespective of skill, knowledge and experience is it any wonder that people are not enticed?

strawb_shortcake

@BikingBud sorry mse isn't letting me quote. It comes down to HR decision. Typically if someone wants a higher starting pay it goes far higher than those interviewing (in my dept at least). 

And yes, pay (or lack of) is a massive factor in the public sector attracting and retaining staff.
With how the pay structure often works it's not unusual for someone to employed for 10 years plus and still manage to sit on the bottom of their pay band.