Job offer via company - Advice on salary negotiations

Charlotte_Ca

I'm on a dilemma about negotiating a salary for a job I applied on the company's website.

So, that's a job 100% in my industry where I have about 6 years of experience and a couple of years more, but sideways. So, I could get a better salary than other industries I was looking before. In the interview I just nailed it! At some point when I was answering the questions, the manager was having a smile on her face and her eyes were wide open like she was very impressed with what I was saying. 

On the initial phone call I had with the HR they asked me for the salary, but in a nice way instead of me saying what's my expected salary I asked her what they budgeted this position for and she told me £26-£28K. For my industry and where I live that's low. Companies are offering £30-£32K and I know because I've been on the market and had discussions with them. 

So, I had just asked her if I was to be offered the job whether we would be able to negotiate the salary and she told me that she would be able to know only after the interview. 

Anyhow, she called me to offer me the job for £27,500 and I said if we would be able to negotiate. She said how much would I be looking and I said £30K. She said that's not possible as £28K is the top end. I then said, ok could you please send an e-mail with all the details we discussed and I will be able to reply on the e-mail. She said she could do that if I could verbally accept the job offer and I said I could verbally accept it if that's the case.

My mind is going crazy. I'm unemployed and need a job, but honestly I'm in my almost mid-30s with years of experience and big interest for this industry. What they offered is not even the top end. Ok it's only £500 off, but still. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but still we are talking about a multibillion company and to them £2K more would be nothing! 

On the email she sent me I just asked what are some other company benefits and she advised about the company bonuses, annual leave etc which is fine but bonuses are not guaranteed. 

Anyhow... what shall I do I'm thinking now. Go back and negotiate for minimum £30K or £28K? The thing is that on the phone she told me they cannot do £30K... so I can still insist?

By the way, on glassdoor I found that this company for this kind of role is offering £25-£35K in the UK. Maybe the higher salaries could be on their London offices, but still they could give me a little bit more. Also, on the reviews I saw comments from other employees saying that the salaries are not as high as the competition and that pay rises are not really happening.

Brie

How much are the benefits worth to you?  Sometimes that's what swings it.  But it's not of value if you won't use it.  Free gym membership but you hate going to the gym or kid's health care included but you don't have kids?  Pension with the employer contributing a big percentage of your salary would be of value to anyone, likewise some healthcare, share schemes etc.  

And you need a job and the competition isn't hiring?  So maybe that's the answer??

tizerbelle

Do you have any other interviews lined up?
How long have you been job hunting?
Are you living off savings and can keep funding your unemployment or do you need to start bringing some money in?

All of these will determine whether its better to settle for £28k or risk having zero income.

Don't forget once you are in work you can keep looking for another job - you aren't forced to stay with them.

Hoenir

Charlotte_Ca said:

 Companies are offering £30-£32K and I know because I've been on the market and had discussions with


 I don't want to sound ungrateful, but still we are talking about a multibillion company and to them £2K more would be nothing! 

Have any of them offered you a position? 

With thousands of employees on the payroll an extra £2k of salary plus Employers National Insurance plus increased Employers Pension Contributions adds up. Without mentioning maternity leave, sickness leave, holiday leave , etc etc etc. 

This Company obviously believes that they are offering a competitive salary for the role. A job is better than no job and stops there being a long void period in the CV.  Get your foot in the door and prove your worth.  Then you've the power to negotiate. 

Charlotte_Ca

Brie said:

How much are the benefits worth to you?  Sometimes that's what swings it.  But it's not of value if you won't use it.  Free gym membership but you hate going to the gym or kid's health care included but you don't have kids?  Pension with the employer contributing a big percentage of your salary would be of value to anyone, likewise some healthcare, share schemes etc.  

And you need a job and the competition isn't hiring?  So maybe that's the answer??

I mean most of the benefits are decent like what the competition is offering. Probably the bonuses are the best part of the deal. I mean the company is good as well and the role is interesting as I've done similar things before and I know I could do well.

And about the last part I believe you are right... the competition is offering more, but they are not willing to hire me

GrumpyDil

As above, if you are current out of work I'd suggest taking the job and keep looking.

If you find another role after 6 months you may be able to use that as a means of negotiating with them at that point if you have impressed them in the meantime. 

Charlotte_Ca

tizerbelle said:

Do you have any other interviews lined up?
How long have you been job hunting?
Are you living off savings and can keep funding your unemployment or do you need to start bringing some money in?

All of these will determine whether its better to settle for £28k or risk having zero income.

Don't forget once you are in work you can keep looking for another job - you aren't forced to stay with them.

I might have a couple of more interviews next week. I've been job hunting since the beginning of the year really, but at that time I was more picky with jobs and wasn't settling for things I wouldn't really like or lower salaries because I thought I could find something better and I was still employed.

I'm living off savings and benefits at the moment, but yes I need to start bringing money in because I'm not enjoying spending my savings. I wasn't even able to go on holidays this year so far.

True I can keep looking for other jobs, but I don't want to do that again. I'm tired from all of this. I think the very least I would only apply internally for other jobs.

Charlotte_Ca

Hoenir said:

Charlotte_Ca said:

 Companies are offering £30-£32K and I know because I've been on the market and had discussions with


 I don't want to sound ungrateful, but still we are talking about a multibillion company and to them £2K more would be nothing! 

Have any of them offered you a position? 

With thousands of employees on the payroll an extra £2k of salary plus Employers National Insurance plus increased Employers Pension Contributions adds up. Without mentioning maternity leave, sickness leave, holiday leave , etc etc etc. 

This Company obviously believes that they are offering a competitive salary for the role. A job is better than no job and stops there being a long void period in the CV.  Get your foot in the door and prove your worth.  Then you've the power to negotiate. 

No they haven't

I guess it makes sense what you are saying. And actually in fact two times in my work experience I got offered jobs in lower salary, but on the next salary review they raised it a lot because I was really good. So, maybe if I prove that I'm good at my job then I can then get a pay rise in a few months.

Brie

Go for the interviews next week.  Why not?  Nothing to lose!!

And take this job as you say you find it interesting.  There's a lot to be said for an interesting job even if the pay is down a bit.  

Marcon

Charlotte_Ca said:

Anyhow, she called me to offer me the job for £27,500 and I said if we would be able to negotiate. 

Anyhow... what shall I do I'm thinking now. Go back and negotiate for minimum £30K or £28K? The thing is that on the phone she told me they cannot do £30K... so I can still insist?

Last month you were looking for £27K https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6529950/job-via-recruiter-when-to-negotiate-salary#latest, so what's wrong with taking at job offering £500 more than that?

You can try insisting on anything, but you almost certainly won't get the job.

kempiejon

@Charlotte_Ca well"the competition is offering more, but they are not willing to hire me"

A gap on a CV isn't necessarily a bad thing but be conscious of it. Being out of the industry/trade doesn't necessarily degrade your skills but I know after a long gap I'd have to put in a bit of time to get as fluent as I was when doing it everyday. If the received wisdom is that the market could handle £30k but no one is offering it you can't get £30k. Many jobs are advertised with a pay scale. I have negotiated salaries and if the role is graded there will be a top limit for that pay scale. You could only get more by re-grading a role which you obviously can't do if you haven't got it. 
If it is graded and there is more to go above £28k get the job and negotiate upwards.

Playing hardball, pushing for a bit more could cost you the job. Perhaps that's a better outcome, keep searching for £30k if that;'s your worth. Don't take a job at a reduced salary and put the time in to demonstrate you're worth more then getting £30k by this time next year. Tell them it's £30k for you with potential for pay rises in the future or they can offer the role to the next best candidate. That candidate might be prepared to take £26k perhaps.