Advice on lowball offer

blackraspberry

I'm in negotiations about a new job currently. The work is entry level to begin with, but I'm educated to Masters' level. They asked me about salary and I proposed 28.5K to 32K after doing my research on comparable positions, thinking we'd compromise on 30K. They've said that their ceiling is pretty much 26K, but that it will increase with time as funding comes in (but it's likely to be 26K for a year or so). This is obviously way less than I'm worth at market rate, but there are a number of other factors involved.

1. This is the first offer I've had in 3 months and they know I'm in an extremely competitive field
2. The company is extremely difficult to get into and positions are coveted. A lot of my peers would kill to work there.
3. Working there will open many doors for me. I need to eventually complete a PhD, and I could continue working with this company in some capacity, potentially combining my research and my job resulting in less juggling and overall effort, and more money than the average PhD student would expect. I'd also make excellent contacts which will help me get onto a PhD program.
4. Benefits are great. Longer holidays than most places, excellent healthcare coverage and discounts at various places.

On the other hand, I know they advertised this positions previously and got no applicants. It's also unlikely that they'd get an applicant of my calibre if they re-advertised it at the current salary.

So I'm not sure how to proceed. I will take the job, but I don't want to look desperate by accepting it at the lower salary with no extra benefits. My fiancé has less holidays already than the basic amount I'll get, so I'm not sure if it's worth negotiating longer holidays. I was thinking of suggesting that I work a 4 or 4.5 day week.

Any thoughts on how best to manage this?

Blue Whale

Did you say "28.5-32."?

Maybe you should have just said 32.

Sounds like you think its a good job is it worth fighting over €1.5k to get your foot in the door?Unless you think you can get a better job elsewhere.

Sugar Free

There's generally not much negotiation for entry level roles. By the nature of it being entry level the barriers to entry can't be that high so I don't see them bartering with you over 2-6.5k.

Think of the overall compensation instead of just the base salary. If you have 25 days leave, are competitors only offering 23? If your employer contributes 10% to your pension, do competitors only offer 5%? All of these things matter and have a monetary value.

Additionally, if the company is so good to work for from a long term view of having them on your CV, opening other doors, networking etc. then ask yourself if the short term gain of a few K is worth more than the long term value of what the experience and network will do for your career (not to mention potential future earnings).

davo10

You know your worth but they are offering you what you are worth to them. If the job is so good, how can you be sure no one else applied for it?

OP there would seem to be only two options, take the salary offered or hold out for a higher offer, but you have to be prepared to walk away if they don't pay you what you want and accept that they are prepared to let you walk away if they don't want to pay you more than they believe you are worth.

Stheno

To be honest, if I were you, I'd be looking at all of the potential opportunities you posted and wondering why not to take the job.

I'm negotiating a role at the moment (I'm 15 years into my career) and the "perks" most beneficial to me, are the contacts, the education, the opportunity to expand my experience.

I have another offer on the table which will pay the same/slightly less, with no commitment as I'll be a contractor, but looking at the value add and how employers will view the first role on my c.v. have me leaning towards it.

blackraspberry

Thanks everyone. I obviously didn't make myself clear. I will accept the job at the offered salary.

I'm just wondering should I try to negotiate extra benefits, like a half day once a week, or an extra week's holidays. It's a grant funded position, so while they can't offer me more money, there are other ways to increase overall compensation. Or should I not bother negotiating at all, and just take what they offer?

ec18

lol a week extras holiday? or a half day a week? if the field is competitive as you said in the OP they might just go elsewhere......unless of course they are really sold on you.

But being an entry level position I don't think there's a huge amount of wiggle room, based on my experiences.

If it's a large company/organisation they probably have a pretty set in stone entry level gets x, y and z? or at least thats my experience

Stheno

ec18 wrote: »

lol a week extras holiday? or a half day a week? if the field is competitive as you said in the OP they might just go elsewhere......unless of course they are really sold on you.

But being an entry level position I don't think there's a huge amount of wiggle room, based on my experiences.

If it's a large company/organisation they probably have a pretty set in stone entry level gets x, y and z? or at least thats my experience

I'd agree tbh, @ OP I think your expectations are a little high.

Take those benefits you've listed and use them to move on in a year or two

davo10

ec18 wrote: »

lol a week extras holiday? or a half day a week? if the field is competitive as you said in the OP they might just go elsewhere......unless of course they are really sold on you.

But being an entry level position I don't think there's a huge amount of wiggle room, based on my experiences.

If it's a large company/organisation they probably have a pretty set in stone entry level gets x, y and z? or at least thats my experience

Have to agree, if you get that extra time off then everyone working there will feel entitled to it. Don't over estimate your worth, if you feel under appreciated, test the market and see if you can do better elsewhere.

blackraspberry

Maybe it would help if I clarified that I am 100% sure that I am the only applicant for the position, and they want me to take the job as much as I want to take it. If I walk away, it will set them back months and they won't get someone else willing to take the role at such a low wage. So while I'm not in a particularly strong position (new emigrant to the country), nor are they. They won't get a local graduate unless they increase the pay by at least 10-15%.

It's currently an entry level role, but the whole point of the current position is that it will rapidly grow. It's basically a new division within a much larger organisation and they're starting from scratch. The idea is that within a year or so, I will be overseeing a small team and I'll be responsible for getting us to that point.

But it's still interesting to hear all your feedback. I have been told that HR departments in this country expect you to drive a hard bargain, which is why I'm asking. Perhaps the difference in cultures is why my post sounds a bit odd.

smcgiff

I don't know you or the Job OP, but I'm confident you're far too good for that job offer.

A 4 day 30k entrant job will surely materialise soon. You've a masters, and they are like gold dust.

Stheno

blackraspberry wrote: »

Maybe it would help if I clarified that I am 100% sure that I am the only applicant for the position, and they want me to take the job as much as I want to take it. If I walk away, it will set them back months and they won't get someone else willing to take the role at such a low wage. So while I'm not in a particularly strong position (new emigrant to the country), nor are they. They won't get a local graduate unless they increase the pay by at least 10-15%.

It's currently an entry level role, but the whole point of the current position is that it will rapidly grow. It's basically a new division within a much larger organisation and they're starting from scratch. The idea is that within a year or so, I will be overseeing a small team and I'll be responsible for getting us to that point.

But it's still interesting to hear all your feedback. I have been told that HR departments in this country expect you to drive a hard bargain, which is why I'm asking. Perhaps the difference in cultures is why my post sounds a bit odd.

You do realise there is a scheme here that if the employer can prove they cannot attract anyone from the Eu they can bring in someone from outside the Eu for probably lower wages and benefits?

That will then open the floodgates, and they'll fill the next position the same way.

You in the meantime will be on the dole/working for min. wage, having chosen to give up an opportunity for the sake of about 80 quid a month after tax?

blackraspberry

I'm not in the EU, and I am the foreign worker they're bringing in .

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Most of you have been very helpful, but I realise that unless I post information that I'm not comfortable sharing, you won't have the full picture and your advice will affected by that.

Stheno

blackraspberry wrote: »

I'm not in the EU, and I am the foreign worker they're bringing in .

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Most of you have been very helpful, but I realise that unless I post information that I'm not comfortable sharing, you won't have the full picture and your advice will affected by that.

Ah well if that's the case, you're opening the floodgates, make perfect sense now why the offer is low, especially if it's in the lights of AI/Analytics.

Mongfinder General

Stheno wrote: »

Ah well if that's the case, you're opening the floodgates, make perfect sense now why the offer is low, especially if it's in the lights of AI/Analytics.

26k for a masters. **** me, education isn't worth a **** these days.

Stheno

Mongfinder General wrote: »

26k for a masters. **** me, education isn't worth a **** these days.

Look at the benefits to the OP

1. Numerous network contacts
2. Opportunity to do a Phd
3. Coveted role
4. Healthcare, long holidays, and company related discounts in other businesses.

I'd value that package at close to 40k for an entry level role, that's not bad imo

Mongfinder General

Stheno wrote: »

Look at the benefits to the OP

1. Numerous network contacts
2. Opportunity to do a Phd
3. Coveted role
4. Healthcare, long holidays, and company related discounts in other businesses.

I'd value that package at close to 40k for an entry level role, that's not bad imo

I guess I'd rather have my cake in monetary terms.

Sugar Free

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I guess I'd rather have my cake in monetary terms.

That's fair enough but why should a masters guarantee that? Particularly if it's done straight after a bachelors with no significant experience to supplement it (not necessarily the OP's case obviously).

Stheno

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I guess I'd rather have my cake in monetary terms.

Sugar Free wrote: »

That's fair enough but why should a masters guarantee that? Particularly if it's done straight after a bachelors with no significant experience to supplement it (not necessarily the OP's case obviously).

I'd question monetary terms over what it will "add to my c.v." every time.

I'm considering a role where I won't earn anymore than I do now, but may earn up to 20% more, will have more benefits, but I'll add immensely to my c.v. in terms of working in areas I've touched on but not actually demonstrated in the past.

That's after a solid 15 years in the same area.

Anything that will add to my c.v. is worth it monetarily to me, if there is little or nothing in the difference monetarily and at 1.5k that's not much, after tax it's 1.2k which is less than a months net salary, so 100 per month per year, for what appear to be significant long term gains

Nody

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Locked on request of OP.

//MOD