Negotiating a better salary offer

bobzi

Hi guys,

I could be offered a graduate position fairly soon but the salary mentioned at my interviews was a little less than I was hoping for. Has anybody got any advice as to how/when I should ask for a better salary?

cronos

bobzi wrote: »

Hi guys,

I could be offered a graduate position fairly soon but the salary mentioned at my interviews was a little less than I was hoping for. Has anybody got any advice as to how/when I should ask for a better salary?

Hard to do as a graduate. You may have a case if its outside the average grad salary for the position. What is the average grad salary for your position?

bobzi

I was told to expect a salary of 32-36k but Im a mature student with a couple of years experience in another unrelated field so Id like to think Im worth more than other graduates

cronos

bobzi wrote: »

I was told to expect a salary of 32-36k but Im a mature student with a couple of years experience in another unrelated field so Id like to think Im worth more than other graduates

Let me put it this way, if your experience is in an unrelated field what makes you "worth more" than other graduates. If you have skills they do not then you should not be going for grad positions. Aim higher up for the jobs that a grad might get after a year working. Lots of jobs say a minimum of 1 year experience and are thus not looking for grads.

If you dont want to work on the money they offered their are only 2 options

1. Just straight out ask them and explain its because of your extra experience no need to say your worth more let them decide that for them selves

2. Find another job higher up the food chain.

bobzi

thanks for the advice cronos, I do realise that these are my two options. I probably shouldnt be going for grad positions but this one suits me perfectly except for the salary.

What I was looking for was advice on how I should approach option 1. As in should I accept the job now and wait until I have a better offer elsewhere before asking them if they can match it?

cronos

bobzi wrote: »

thanks for the advice cronos, I do realise that these are my two options. I probably shouldnt be going for grad positions but this one suits me perfectly except for the salary.

What I was looking for was advice on how I should approach option 1. As in should I accept the job now and wait until I have a better offer elsewhere before asking them if they can match it?

I dont think once you have accepted and have a contract that the company will want to renegotiate. So if I were going to negotiate then I would do it up front. Keep in mind though that they may just say no.

I suppose it depends how bad the pay is.

Pythia

Generally grad positions won't budge on salaries. You could ask if they would consider you for a different position, given your experience.
I'd make the situation clear to them and see what they say.

AARRRGH

Normally employers offer slightly lower than they can afford to offer.

For graduates though? I'd be happy just to have the job

chris85

bobzi wrote: »

thanks for the advice cronos, I do realise that these are my two options. I probably shouldnt be going for grad positions but this one suits me perfectly except for the salary.

What I was looking for was advice on how I should approach option 1. As in should I accept the job now and wait until I have a better offer elsewhere before asking them if they can match it?

Your experience in an unrelated field will not matter for a graduate position. Graduate position tend not to budge on salary, if they offer you a job you accept it with whatever the salary is. Put it this way they are taking a chance on you as you have no experience in the field.

If the salary is not good enough i would hold out for something you can live on.

cronos

chris85 wrote: »

Your experience in an unrelated field will not matter for a graduate position. Graduate position tend not to budge on salary, if they offer you a job you accept it with whatever the salary is. Put it this way they are taking a chance on you as you have no experience in the field.

If the salary is not good enough i would hold out for something you can live on.

Well if he is going to hold out or reject he may as well at least attempt to get a better offer from them. I doubt they will give it though.

Clseeper

Dont know what field you are working in but that's a good starting salary. I graduated last May and the average in my class (Science) was 28k. I was lucky enough to get a good bit over this but I would love to be in the region your talking about. You have to remember that a graduate position is just getting your foot in the door. It's up to you to prove your worth once you get in. Most employers have a probation period and yearly reviews after that. These are the places where you can bring this up once you've proved your good enough.

bobzi

thanks for the advice guys,

Clseeper I also graduated from Science a few years ago and would have been absolutely delighted to start on €28k. I'll complete a masters in electronic engineering soon and my college careers department tell me €34k is the average wage for people who did my course last year.

Id normally be happy enough with the starting wage they are offering but I have a mountain of student debt hanging over me

dudara

I've a PhD but I joined my current employer on a graduate scheme 18 months ago. I was offered a reasonable starting salary on which there was no negotiation, but I do expect my extra maturity and experience to show themselves once I start to climb the promotions ladder.

cronos

dudara wrote: »

I've a PhD but I joined my current employer on a graduate scheme 18 months ago. I was offered a reasonable starting salary on which there was no negotiation, but I do expect my extra maturity and experience to show themselves once I start to climb the promotions ladder.

What do you define as reasonable starting salary when you do a PHD.