[Help] How do negotiate a job offer salary?

[Birdie Boy]

I've reread the OP, it says £38k basic, so they have to offer at least that and point it out if they try going lower. To be honest, I doubt they will, if you haven't told them what you are currently earning.

 

[Commander]

I've reread the OP, it says £38k basic, so they have to offer at least that and point it out if they try going lower. To be honest, I doubt they will, if you haven't told them what you are currently earning.

Even if you have, it’s completely irrelevant. You cant advertise a job as ‘£38K (unless of course you’ve been earning a lot less in which case it will be much lower)’.

 

[NooBHA]

Ask for a Draft " Contact of Employment" to consider.

If it doesn't say £38K the query why it doesn't and continue negotiating from there.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Over the last 6 months I've become ever more pissed off at work and unhappy. Luckily in these stressful times I am reasonably secure (as can be working in engineering/manufacturing) so I've been casually looking at options and saw a job advert 6(ish) weeks ago that I could do in my sleep so applied.

I didnt hear anything back so moved on but out of the blue I had a call on Saturday morning from the MD of the company asking to have a chat and inviting me to interview which I did on Monday evening.

I'll be honest here and say that in my current job my basic wage is £25k a year, but working at a specialist engineering company I have always done overtime every day. So much overtime that taking my holiday days into account i worked 65 weeks last year doing an average of 54hrs a month OT bumping my gross wage to just under £36k. (Whilst being shafted by the taxman)

The job I applied for was advertised at £38k a year basic. Which would be fantastic as I'd have a good pay rise and actually have a normal work/life balance like normal people.

The PA to the MD phoned me yesterday for a "follow up" conversation asking how I felt it went and if I had any further questions and what my notice period is which I take as a MASSIVE positive seeing as I hadn't had a job interview for 10 years but there has been no conversation about salary/wage demands. And that someone would be in touch in a few days...

I've never been in this situation before. Every job I've ever applied for the wages are clearly stated so you know what you're going to get before the interview.

I could possibly be moving into the higher end of wages that I've never experienced but apparently "salary negotiable depending on experience" is a common thing.

Where do you even start? Do I say "the job was advertised at £38k so I'd like that please? Theres one aspect t of the job that I have very little experience in so do I say "you see something in me that you like so invited me in to talk, I realise that I'm lacking in some experience but as I'm reasonable and understand that I'll accept £32k? (which id be more than happy with as a basic wage to improve my work/life balance) but I don't want to undersell myself....

Does anyone on here have experience on negotiating a wage and the best strategy (if one exists?)

I realise that this post may come across as crass considering there's a lot of people out there and possibly on here that are struggling with work and money and its really not intended to be in any way leading or boasting but this could be my biggest ever opportunity to make good money and I don't want to **** it up.

This is all obviously based on the massive "IF" I get the call to offer me a job..... if I do I just want to be prepared.....

Maybe this is why there was no talk about salary? If what you've written is correct, then that IS the salary, so is there even anything to discuss?

Good luck with it all

 

[WilburySeagull]

Speaking as someone who used to sit on the employers side of the negotiating table my advice would be wait for them to give salary figure. Dont box yourself in by saying anything about numbers or that you're keen on the job, for now. Make sure you understand the whole package on offer not just the basic salary. I dont know your personal circumstances but you may have particular benefits you want over and above salary. Think about those while you wait for next contact.

 

[um bongo molongo]

Speaking as someone who used to sit on the employers side of the negotiating table my advice would be wait for them to give salary figure. Dont box yourself in by saying anything about numbers or that you're keen on the job, for now. Make sure you understand the whole package on offer not just the basic salary. I dont know your personal circumstances but you may have particular benefits you want over and above salary. Think about those while you wait for next contact.

This is the right answer in my opinion. And if they ask you your current salary, I would say £36k, assuming you could prove that (I would guess that’s what your P60 says?).

 

[spongy]

No call today

I had a very good chat with [MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] today after i "reached out" to him knowing what he does from reading on here... (yes I know thats a term from the bellcheese at work thread) and he gave plenty of very good advice.

If I havent heard from them by 3pm tomorrow then a casual phone call asking for feedback wouldn't go amiss....

One more sleep then hopefully I'll know.... a lot riding on this for me.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

No call today

I had a very good chat with [MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] today after i "reached out" to him knowing what he does from reading on here... (yes I know thats a term from the bellcheese at work thread) and he gave plenty of very good advice.

If I havent heard from them by 3pm tomorrow then a casual phone call asking for feedback wouldn't go amiss....

One more sleep then hopefully I'll know.... a lot riding on this for me.

I'd leave it. They are not going to appoint someone else and simply not tell you. In the unlikely event this turns out be be exactly how they do behave, you'll not be wanting to work for them anyway.

Many years ago I applied for a PhD place and the bloke who interviewed me said he'd let me know in a few days. I never did hear from him. Life moved on. Ten years later I was now a lecturer, and he became my head of department. Yes, he was a gold plated cockwomble, shagging his own PhD student and anyone with a pulse. If I'd done my PhD in his lab I'd have ended up without a career of any sort.

Enjoy some football tonight

 

[Whoislloydy]

Demand 45k for the cheek of low balling

 

[Doonhamer7]

You don’t need to tell them your current salar, that’s your private information. Instead just give them a range your looking for so say £36-45k, and say something like “obviously it will have to be attractive to encourage me to leave my current employer and you’ve advertised this at £38k so it’s in the range I’m looking for”. Other tip is ask for a 6month review for an extra £1-2k but definitely get defined criteria and in writing of what this means

There are two fields of negotiation and one is to ‘own the field’ by putting your marker down and say what you want, the other is to let them ‘own the field’ - which is much harder to negotiate up from. Make sure you take secondary benefits in mind - pension, leave, sickness, insurances. Your in a great position as your BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) is you have your current job so don’t sell your self short. As stated above don’t be embarrassed and don’t feel you have to fill any embarrassing silence - best negotiators don’t ever fill the silence.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Well done for making good progress. Sounds like an amazing opportunity.

I also hate talking about salary expectation, but only when it's for me. I love negotiating salaries with job candidates. You'd be amazed how many people under sell themselves and don't get what they are due. My top tips are:

1. Be confident that if you're having this conversation they have decided they want you but need to know if they can afford you.
2. Sell yourself. Tell them you want the job, and you know you are worth the advertised salary. Let them know that whatever they offer to pay you, if you accept then they'll be getting value for money, they will get a very good return on their investment in you.
3. If they are hesitant, tell them you will start for less (£35k) but only with a promise of a 6 month review based on performance and effort. This will incentivise you to work to a high standard and demonstrate your worth. Make sure they commit to this in the offer letter and set some clear performance expectations.
4. Don't just roll over and take a crap offer. Say no. If they want you they'll be back on your phone within the week. Then you can tell them the price went up

I've recruited many staff on the offer outlined in point 3. It works for all parties as a, the recruit is inspired to be the best they can be; b, the employer sees this and is compelled to reward you if you meet expectation; c, you've demonstrated that you are happy to compromise without being a pushover, employers like that strength.

Whether you take this advice or not I wish you all the best.

Exactly this.

I once had a franchise, and a more prominent company bought the franchisor out. I had a gut instinct that this was happening as we had the new franchisor at a meeting before the sale, pretending to demonstrate a new product. Basically, he was running his eye over all the franchisees. So I had cottoned on to this and gave my best interview!

When he bought the company, he called me in and said he only wanted me and binned off the rest eventually. Of course, when he asked me to go on the books, I had a strong bargaining hand and got what I wanted.
Unfortunately, he had several companies and bought in a new guy to run it. Unfortunately, this guy was all corporate and no substance. He was way out of his league, and the big boss could not see it.
So I walked after a few months as this bloke made my skin crawl. On giving my notice, I told the big boss that the man running the business was out of his league.
The company ceased to trade within 18 months, but I got a fair crack out of the year I spent with them and then went solo with 99% of my original customers as the guy wound me up enough to take them all.
Sounds a bit cocky but the big boss should have listened to my feedback.

Go for it Spongy.

 

[Blue3]

Storm into the office smash both hands on the table looking him or her in the eyes and calmly demand the amount you want

 

[Weststander]

You don’t need to tell them your current salar, that’s your private information. Instead just give them a range your looking for so say £36-45k, and say something like “obviously it will have to be attractive to encourage me to leave my current employer and you’ve advertised this at £38k so it’s in the range I’m looking for”. Other tip is ask for a 6month review for an extra £1-2k but definitely get defined criteria and in writing of what this means

There are two fields of negotiation and one is to ‘own the field’ by putting your marker down and say what you want, the other is to let them ‘own the field’ - which is much harder to negotiate up from. Make sure you take secondary benefits in mind - pension, leave, sickness, insurances. Your in a great position as your BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) is you have your current job so don’t sell your self short. As stated above don’t be embarrassed and don’t feel you have to fill any embarrassing silence - best negotiators don’t ever fill the silence.

Is there an argument to temper the emphasis in discussions on money and benefits? Otherwise coming across as overly money minded and less on the role.

 

[Justice]

We all get out of bed for money at the end of the day, it’s a subject not to be embarrassed about. I soon get bored of all the chit chat put your money on the table and then we can talk.

 

[Pretty Plnk Fairy]

I got more because i oferred to bring my own broom

Regards

DF

 

[zefarelly]

Exactly this.

I once had a franchise, and a more prominent company bought the franchisor out. I had a gut instinct that this was happening as we had the new franchisor at a meeting before the sale, pretending to demonstrate a new product. Basically, he was running his eye over all the franchisees. So I had cottoned on to this and gave my best interview!

When he bought the company, he called me in and said he only wanted me and binned off the rest eventually. Of course, when he asked me to go on the books, I had a strong bargaining hand and got what I wanted.
Unfortunately, he had several companies and bought in a new guy to run it. Unfortunately, this guy was all corporate and no substance. He was way out of his league, and the big boss could not see it.
So I walked after a few months as this bloke made my skin crawl. On giving my notice, I told the big boss that the man running the business was out of his league.
The company ceased to trade within 18 months, but I got a fair crack out of the year I spent with them and then went solo with 99% of my original customers as the guy wound me up enough to take them all.
Sounds a bit cocky but the big boss should have listened to my feedback.

Go for it Spongy.

I have absolutely no idea what line of business you're in.

In engineering, most salaries are reasonably well defined, margins within the industry are usually uniform and fairly tight, as most things are pretty transparent, material and quantifiable. The better salaries are usually either very specialised or in unpleasant industries like defence.

The upside is most engineers share common ground in getting stuff done logically practically and efficiently. So Its generally a pleasant working environment to be in.

As a young man it was always crap as there were rarely any girls/women in the office/factory, but you daren't go there these days anyway, even if there were.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I have absolutely no idea what line of business you're in.

In engineering, most salaries are reasonably well defined, margins within the industry are usually uniform and fairly tight, as most things are pretty transparent, material and quantifiable. The better salaries are usually either very specialised or in unpleasant industries like defence.

The upside is most engineers share common ground in getting stuff done logically practically and efficiently. So Its generally a pleasant working environment to be in.

As a young man it was always crap as there were rarely any girls/women in the office/factory, but you daren't go there these days anyway, even if there were.

I was within the motor industry, so closely aligned with yourself, I actually started on the spanners and on my fathers side were both engineers/mechanics.

When I was on the spanners we did have a young lady in the parts department, and let me tell you she was no lady. WE also had a guy that did part time porn work! At the Christmas work do, you could guarantee to see her Christmas puds and she would like to taste chocolate log. She had only been married a year or so but she loved a man covered in EP90!

 

[zefarelly]

My forays into the automotive industry have been from a relatively safe distance and these days are thankfully minimal. I once worked for a signage company and project managed the corporate Identity programs for a few Japanese manufacturers, having to deal with DP's to get them to open their wallets for their share of signage costs was interesting. I don't recall any of them being anywhere near nice people.

 

[schmunk]

At the Christmas work do, you could guarantee to see her Christmas puds and she would like to taste chocolate log.

Niche.

 

[spongy]

I got the job.

I'm literally shaking and properly beaming from ear to ear.

I had a sneaky feeling they would offer me something but at a reduced rate hence why I posted this thread but they have offered £35k for 3 months rising to the full £38k thereafter.....

Thankyou all ever so much for contributing and helping. I'm completely made up and bouncing round the room.

I owe you all a pint now I can afford to when we are all back at The Amex.

Thankyou all and especially to [MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] for helping directly over PM.

I'm off to get drunk