What's your salary expectations?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668960/whats-your-salary-expectations

The only way to answer is the number you want and dont give it as a range but a single number.

Your range is a bit tight but a job advertised the other day was £60,000 to £90,000 so clearly they are happy to take either someone with a couple of years experience, maybe in a different industry at the bottom of the pay scale as a doer upper or willing to pay the higher end of normal for someone with a decade of experience, in the industry and will come in as the polished article.

Now the graduate applying for the role could ask for £90k and thats fine but they shouldn't be surprised if they dont get called for interview. Similarly the ideal candidate may be willing to do it for £70k because they are in the twilight of their career and so happy to have a job they are interested in doing without chasing the bottom line any more.

For me there are two considerations… where do I fit based on my skills/knowledge -v- what they are asking for and what do I need. I'm not going to apply for the above job at £70k because its in banking whereas my experience is in insurance even if I know Im not worth the top wack given I dont have the industry experience because that wouldnt pay mortgage but Im realistic of my prospects of being given the £85k I am asking for.

Andy_L

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82004818#Comment_82004818

AIUI all the CS has done away with pay bands - its a spot rate for each grade so no annual pay rise beyond cost of living

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82005973#Comment_82005973

I think you are referring to what I know as pay spines, which disappeared years ago for most departments, where there was a ladder of how your pay would progress and most people stayed at the bottom year after year.

The department I work in have pay bands, there's a min, max and threshold which are all used to determine just how your next pay increase is applied - but these increase each year, but these do work better and people do finally move up towards the max

Charlotte_Ca

Omg.... I think this company is cheeky!

I had a look at the ad again and they changed the salary from £37K-£40K to £35K-£40K

So, if I go for an interview and they ask for the salary can I still tell them the initial I saw?

Marcon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82007146#Comment_82007146

You can tell them anything you like, but it's unlikely to change the salary they are prepared to offer you if you get the job. If you applied before the new salary range appeared and they offer you under £37K, that would be the moment to murmur politely that you applied on the basis that the minimum salary would be… If they're really keen on you they might up the offer, but there are no guarantees when the current market is so heavily in favour of employers.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82007146#Comment_82007146

Did they ask as part of the application? If so maintain that answer. If not then my previous answer remains. Say what you want/need and negotiate from there and dont give a range, give a number.

Its not really cheeky though, assuming they've asked for salary at the point of application then they have probably not had the range of candidates they'd hoped for and think that by widening the range they may get some more junior applicants to give them more choice between paying low and the person not being so great on day one or paying at the top end and getting someone who's great from day one.

More than once I've applied saying I want more than the rate on offer, yes sometimes it gives a straight decline and thats fine but I've also secured roles at above the initial stated budget.

BikingBud

So no real thought about personal worth, attributes, benefits to the business or acknowledgement that opportunity for self improvement and additional benefits might be appropriate factors to consider.

Demonstration of that rational decision making and ability to offset and trade benefits would to my mind indicate a much better candidate than somebody that just pitches mid point because it appears to be a safe bet.

Marcon

Say what you want/need and negotiate from there and dont give a range, give a number.

It's rarely good advice to suggest an applicant (or anyone else in any sort of negotiation) makes the opening suggestion. If they pitch too high they'll be priced out before getting to interview. If they pitch too low, the employer is hardly going to offer a higher salary and they'll have done substantial damage to any possibility of negotiating upwards. That's why it makes far more sense not to give a number unless the application actually requires them to do so.

Rosa_Damascena

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668960/whats-your-salary-expectations

Secure the role first and then talk about money.

Seriously, say you'd rather have this discussion should an offer be on the table. At least that way if you are offered the job, you can be sure that it is based on merit and not because you save your prospective employer a few quid.

Marcon

Seriously, say you'd rather have this discussion should an offer be on the table.

But that's not how the sift process has been set up.

This isn't a particularly senior role, and the fact the advertised salary range has reduced the lower boundary but not increased the upper one tells its own story. The application form asks for an answer to a particular question, and it would be a rare employer who would respond well to your suggested approach, particularly if (as is likely) they have masses of potentially suitable applicants and will almost certainly be weeding them out taking into account the salary expectation.

There's no indication that OP is inundated with job offers, so probably not a risk worth taking if they're in need of a job. Looking at their posting history, they'd do well to follow the process required if they hope to get to interview stage.