How to negotiate salary?

Valmont

I have a telephone interview next week and the potential new employer asked me to email him my salary expectations beforehand. The job was advertised with a salary between a and b and I was just thinking of saying well I expect b and seeing what they say. Would this not seem greedy perhaps? The reality is a, the minimum, would be enough for me to take the job (if the interview went well) but surely I should try to get the best possible deal -- I just don't want to come across the wrong way. I've never done this sort of thing before, all the jobs I've had have had a take-it-or-leave-it salary. Oh it's in the tech industry if that makes a difference? Thanks.

_Brian

You would need to put some reasoning around your expectation.
Specific experiences and qualifications that would earn you that starting wage. They pitch a and b with b really only being available to the golden candidate, you need to convince them of that, the magic thing you have that makes you b rather than a.

OMM 0000

It's hard to give you advice without knowing what your education and experience are, what the job is, and what the upper salary is.

For example, I have a masters and 20 years experience, so I'd always be looking for the upper salary. But if I was a fresh grad? I'd take whatever I can get.

My feeling, based on what you've written, is to choose something between a and b...

Valmont

I don't have the five years of experience they want but I do tick all of the 'desirable' skills they're looking for in addition to the basic stuff. Obviously experience isn't a deal breaker if they want to interview me. Maybe I'll put together a short rationale as to why I deserve the mid-point between the two. The job title is data analyst and it's a tech company. The salary was listed between £40k and £45k and it's based in London (where I live). To be honest this would be a dream job so I want to get it just right!

Tiddlypeeps

Valmont wrote: »

I don't have the five years of experience they want but I do tick all of the 'desirable' skills they're looking for in addition to the basic stuff. Obviously experience isn't a deal breaker if they want to interview me. Maybe I'll put together a short rationale as to why I deserve the mid-point between the two. The job title is data analyst and it's a tech company. The salary was listed between £40k and £45k and it's based in London (where I live). To be honest this would be a dream job so I want to get it just right!

The difference between the two is so low I'd just chance it and open with the upper bound.

If the range was something like 40 to 70 and you asked for 70 but they knew they'd never be able to offer you more than 40 then they often wouldn't even make an offer, so in that type of scenario it's best to be realistic. But when the gap is only 5k there is no way that if they are only willing to hire you at 40 they won't just make the offer and see if you take it, so you might as well chance the higher rate and see how you get on.

OMM 0000

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

The difference between the two is so low I'd just chance it and open with the upper bound.

If the range was something like 40 to 70 and you asked for 70 but they knew they'd never be able to offer you more than 40 then they often wouldn't even make an offer, so in that type of scenario it's best to be realistic. But when the gap is only 5k there is no way that if they are only willing to hire you at 40 they won't just make the offer and see if you take it, so you might as well chance the higher rate and see how you get on.

I agree, the range is small. Go for 45k.

Tell me how

I'd tailor my approach slightly. I'd tell them why you feel deserving of the upper but acknowledge that you don't have the 5 years so you'd consider role at £43 but to go to £45 after 6 months once probation ends and without impacting on ordinary salary reviews after 1 year if they exist in company.

My reason for this is it shows motivation for the role which will be what they really want and will help you in asking for guidance, support, training etc as you'll have indicated a positive attitude.

Snotty

45k isn't much for London, I'd be gauging the job market rather than their scale.
I'd also say I would like to discuss it in person, as I think it puts the candidate in a stronger position when it's discussed in person, but maybe that's just me

Batgurl

OP - are you female? The reason I ask is that in my experience men tend to go for the upper end (and usually get it) whereas women will start on the mid-level and negotiate down. I know this is not every situation but sadly it’s not uncommon.

I would reply with “I understand the salary range for this role is £45k. This would be acceptable to me depending on the package offered”. This gives you scope to negotiate if they lowball you eg if they offer £40k, you can say it’s on the lower end of the salary range which is disappointing to you so what scope have they to increase this? Or add additional benefits like travel allowance or 5 days additional annual leave or health insurance etc

Valmont

Batgurl wrote: »

OP - are you female? The reason I ask is that in my experience men tend to go for the upper end (and usually get it) whereas women will start on the mid-level and negotiate down. I know this is not every situation but sadly it’s not uncommon.

I would reply with “I understand the salary range for this role is £45k. This would be acceptable to me depending on the package offered”. This gives you scope to negotiate if they lowball you eg if they offer £40k, you can say it’s on the lower end of the salary range which is disappointing to you so what scope have they to increase this? Or add additional benefits like travel allowance or 5 days additional annual leave or health insurance etc

I'm a man. I said I'd be willing to negotiate from 43k given that I had just three of five years experience requested but ticked all the other boxes. It would be a great job at that salary I think; there are lots of perks like unlimited holiday, yoga classes in the office, free coffee, gym membership, and stuff like that. I probably won't get it anyway but thanks for the advice everyone.

Tell me how

Valmont wrote:

I'm a man. I said I'd be willing to negotiate from 43k given that I had just three of five years experience requested but ticked all the other boxes. It would be a great job at that salary I think; there are lots of perks like unlimited holiday, yoga classes in the office, free coffee, gym membership, and stuff like that. I probably won't get it anyway but thanks for the advice everyone.

Well done OP.

Unlimited holiday you say?

One of these companies that allow the employee to determine whether or not they can "afford" to go on leave?

Be wary (if you get it) I've heard the peer pressure is off the charts in such places.

A company with a lot of perks like that is basically saying to employees, "Sure why would you even go home? Go to the gym, have a coffee, do some yoga and sure come back then and do an hour before you go home."

Tiddlypeeps

Tell me how wrote: »

A company with a lot of perks like that is basically saying to employees, "Sure why would you even go home? Go to the gym, have a coffee, do some yoga and sure come back then and do an hour before you go home."

That can be the case but those kind of perks are becoming more and more common place in the tech sector and plenty just offer them because the have to in order to get decent developers in the door. And thankfully the culture of perpetual overtime is becoming less and less common place.

Valmont

I passed the phone interview and I'm spending my weekend working with a test project they sent over. I think of unlimited holiday as more of a sign of trust between management and staff. They're basically saying, look, as long as you hold up your end of the deal we don't mind if you take 30 rather than the statutory 25 days holiday. Of course, you'd have to be naive to think it's anything close to 'unlimited' days off. I'm well aware that if I get this job I'll be worked to the bone and probably take less holiday than I would've elsewhere but it's a chance to learn from some serious developers and data scientists -- worth it in the long run. Though like Tiddlypeeps said, London is so chock full of opportunities that employers have to work to entice people in -- it's much too easy to just take the elevator down a few floors and work for someone else!

ted1

Teke b and add 10-15% that’s what you want

draycottgirlz

Valmont wrote: »

I don't have the five years of experience they want but I do tick all of the 'desirable' skills they're looking for in addition to the basic stuff. Obviously experience isn't a deal breaker if they want to interview me. Maybe I'll put together a short rationale as to why I deserve the mid-point between the two. The job title is data analyst and it's a tech company. The salary was listed between £40k and £45k and it's based in London (where I live). To be honest this would be a dream job so I want to get it just right!

Dream job...grab it with two hands!


Ask for the 45k, they should have budgeted for it

dragonfly!

How did you get on?

Pac1Man

dragonfly! wrote: »

How did you get on?

He's on his holidays.

Valmont

They are very thorough, I'll give them that. I've completed a phone interview and was given a 'business case' to work on to demonstrate my skills and having passed that I now have an actual interview at some point next week. They left me hanging for eight days after sending my work in so I figured they didn't like it but I guess they have other people to consider. I'll be gutted if I don't get it now but there's plenty of other jobs floating around.

Valmont

Pac1Man wrote: »

dragonfly! wrote: »

How did you get on?

He's on his holidays.

Not quite, but I have been in hospital for a couple of days! Holidays are next week.