Discussion
Long time PH’er but wanted to do this anon
Current job going pear shaped due to COVID so I’m applying for other jobs. Have only ever worked in a small niche market so jobs don’t come up often, could diversify out of niche but then I’d be competing with hundreds for every vacancy and salary would be about half my current so really financially I need to stay in field I’m in. I’m also the only adult/wage earner in my household so salary is fairly important and like most all unnecessary expenditure has already been cut.
I’m likely to be offered two jobs, first one is exactly as I currently do, a 60 minute each way commute as I’m currently doing but salary about 10% less than current. Second is 50% of what I currently do and the remainder is some of a previous job and some I’ve never done before but this company is about as secure as companies can be although no one is ever safe from the dreaded restructuring that can happen but job security is as good as it gets. This job excites me, I have the opportunity to change and make it mine and the commute is about 30 minutes each way. I like the sound of this job very much but salary is 20% lower. I can’t balance bills on so little but this is the job I want. During initial discussions HR stated this salary but I’m really hoping I can get them to increase it, I didn’t say at the time as I wanted them to not dismiss me on salary expectations alone. I need ideas on how I can do that, I’ve never needed to negotiate a salary before as my skills have always paid well but this job isn’t as I said all I’ve done before so whilst my skills are relevant there would be an element of training required where previously I’ve hit the ground running when starting a new job.
TLDR. Help me negotiate a higher salary if I’m offered the job
Current job going pear shaped due to COVID so I’m applying for other jobs. Have only ever worked in a small niche market so jobs don’t come up often, could diversify out of niche but then I’d be competing with hundreds for every vacancy and salary would be about half my current so really financially I need to stay in field I’m in. I’m also the only adult/wage earner in my household so salary is fairly important and like most all unnecessary expenditure has already been cut.
I’m likely to be offered two jobs, first one is exactly as I currently do, a 60 minute each way commute as I’m currently doing but salary about 10% less than current. Second is 50% of what I currently do and the remainder is some of a previous job and some I’ve never done before but this company is about as secure as companies can be although no one is ever safe from the dreaded restructuring that can happen but job security is as good as it gets. This job excites me, I have the opportunity to change and make it mine and the commute is about 30 minutes each way. I like the sound of this job very much but salary is 20% lower. I can’t balance bills on so little but this is the job I want. During initial discussions HR stated this salary but I’m really hoping I can get them to increase it, I didn’t say at the time as I wanted them to not dismiss me on salary expectations alone. I need ideas on how I can do that, I’ve never needed to negotiate a salary before as my skills have always paid well but this job isn’t as I said all I’ve done before so whilst my skills are relevant there would be an element of training required where previously I’ve hit the ground running when starting a new job.
TLDR. Help me negotiate a higher salary if I’m offered the job
Firstly, weigh up any savings (e.g. commute costs) against your new salary - as I'm sure you have done.
If you get offered the second job, it is personally reasonable to say - 'The position really excites me an I would really like to accept the role but I need the package to be (10%?) more than you are offering as I couldn't make things work with the current offer. This would still be (10%) less than the salary I am leaving but I hope that demonstrates how much I would like to take the role if you can make it possible for me to do so'.
If you get offered the second job, it is personally reasonable to say - 'The position really excites me an I would really like to accept the role but I need the package to be (10%?) more than you are offering as I couldn't make things work with the current offer. This would still be (10%) less than the salary I am leaving but I hope that demonstrates how much I would like to take the role if you can make it possible for me to do so'.
Edited by CharlesElliott on Thursday 17th December 08:51
We are all different but for me, a 2 hour daily commute would instantly remove that option. I work from home now but when I did go into the office, it's only 10 minutes up the road. That's 2 hours of your day you can't get back and if you have kids and there are any issues at home/school, you're an hour away.
Secondly, 20% less is a fairly big chunk but having a job you enjoy and want to do means you will be less stressed and happier overall. You can always claw back some of the lost salary by doing well and getting back up the pay scale. If you can get by now on that wage, even if things are tight, I'd go for that job.
I can share the experience of my best mate. He got made redundant and ended up doing a contract for good money. This didn't last and he went permanent again. It was a job he loved in a great company that valued him with plenty of perks. It was a good £10k less than he was on before getting made redundant. This irked him despite the fact he managed to get by on that salary. He got offered another job (an interview he went for at the same time but they dragged their feet.) This was for the same salary as he was on earlier. He left the job he loved after only a couple of months.
Fast forward 2 years and he is doing silly hours, stressed to hell, visibly gaunt now and not sleeping. He's kicking himself that he left but then his Mrs lost her job due to COVID and like you, he is the main bread winner. He feels trapped as he needs the money but knows it's affecting his health and well being.
Secondly, 20% less is a fairly big chunk but having a job you enjoy and want to do means you will be less stressed and happier overall. You can always claw back some of the lost salary by doing well and getting back up the pay scale. If you can get by now on that wage, even if things are tight, I'd go for that job.
I can share the experience of my best mate. He got made redundant and ended up doing a contract for good money. This didn't last and he went permanent again. It was a job he loved in a great company that valued him with plenty of perks. It was a good £10k less than he was on before getting made redundant. This irked him despite the fact he managed to get by on that salary. He got offered another job (an interview he went for at the same time but they dragged their feet.) This was for the same salary as he was on earlier. He left the job he loved after only a couple of months.
Fast forward 2 years and he is doing silly hours, stressed to hell, visibly gaunt now and not sleeping. He's kicking himself that he left but then his Mrs lost her job due to COVID and like you, he is the main bread winner. He feels trapped as he needs the money but knows it's affecting his health and well being.
So lucky said:
Long time PH’er but wanted to do this anon
Current job going pear shaped due to COVID so I’m applying for other jobs. Have only ever worked in a small niche market so jobs don’t come up often, could diversify out of niche but then I’d be competing with hundreds for every vacancy and salary would be about half my current so really financially I need to stay in field I’m in. I’m also the only adult/wage earner in my household so salary is fairly important and like most all unnecessary expenditure has already been cut.
I’m likely to be offered two jobs, first one is exactly as I currently do, a 60 minute each way commute as I’m currently doing but salary about 10% less than current. Second is 50% of what I currently do and the remainder is some of a previous job and some I’ve never done before but this company is about as secure as companies can be although no one is ever safe from the dreaded restructuring that can happen but job security is as good as it gets. This job excites me, I have the opportunity to change and make it mine and the commute is about 30 minutes each way. I like the sound of this job very much but salary is 20% lower. I can’t balance bills on so little but this is the job I want. During initial discussions HR stated this salary but I’m really hoping I can get them to increase it, I didn’t say at the time as I wanted them to not dismiss me on salary expectations alone. I need ideas on how I can do that, I’ve never needed to negotiate a salary before as my skills have always paid well but this job isn’t as I said all I’ve done before so whilst my skills are relevant there would be an element of training required where previously I’ve hit the ground running when starting a new job.
TLDR. Help me negotiate a higher salary if I’m offered the job
What value are you adding to the business? Will your presence increase profit? How senior is the role? Can you lay out a proposal to them that gets you a raise after a probation period as long as certain things have been met by yourself? Current job going pear shaped due to COVID so I’m applying for other jobs. Have only ever worked in a small niche market so jobs don’t come up often, could diversify out of niche but then I’d be competing with hundreds for every vacancy and salary would be about half my current so really financially I need to stay in field I’m in. I’m also the only adult/wage earner in my household so salary is fairly important and like most all unnecessary expenditure has already been cut.
I’m likely to be offered two jobs, first one is exactly as I currently do, a 60 minute each way commute as I’m currently doing but salary about 10% less than current. Second is 50% of what I currently do and the remainder is some of a previous job and some I’ve never done before but this company is about as secure as companies can be although no one is ever safe from the dreaded restructuring that can happen but job security is as good as it gets. This job excites me, I have the opportunity to change and make it mine and the commute is about 30 minutes each way. I like the sound of this job very much but salary is 20% lower. I can’t balance bills on so little but this is the job I want. During initial discussions HR stated this salary but I’m really hoping I can get them to increase it, I didn’t say at the time as I wanted them to not dismiss me on salary expectations alone. I need ideas on how I can do that, I’ve never needed to negotiate a salary before as my skills have always paid well but this job isn’t as I said all I’ve done before so whilst my skills are relevant there would be an element of training required where previously I’ve hit the ground running when starting a new job.
TLDR. Help me negotiate a higher salary if I’m offered the job
I did a similar thing as I was ridiculously stressed in an old role and it was affecting me big time, so I jumped ship - it was a risk but it paid off. Any decent company will be willing to have the discussion about it if they want to hire you,
To bring this thread to a close I was only offered one of the jobs in the end, the other decided not to employ anyone.
Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
So lucky said:
To bring this thread to a close I was only offered one of the jobs in the end, the other decided not to employ anyone.
Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
Congratulations :-) Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
So lucky said:
To bring this thread to a close I was only offered one of the jobs in the end, the other decided not to employ anyone.
Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
Great result. Well done!Fortunately I was offered the one I wanted and when verbally told of the offer the salary they offered me was around only a 5% drop so I’m very pleased overall and have accepted their offer.
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