Looks like I will get a job offer for a good job. The trick is they told me the max they can pay is slightly less than I make now. They said is that is OK and I said probably. I really don’t like my current job and have been looking for a better job for a while.
I guess the simple thing here is to say "I need to make X " even though they claim that’s 5% above what they are willing to pay. Any other advice on how to handle this?
One thing to consider: how much is it worth to you to get out of your current position? If it’s more than the difference in your new salary, then you’ve got a good starting point.
Also, remember that nothing is official until you’ve got a signed offer. Interviewing managers will throw out all kinds of numbers, but nothing actually matters until you’re talking to someone who is authorized to make a real offer. There will always be some wiggle room - if you’re willing to negotiate I’d bet money that they would be willing to at least match your current pay.
That said, if you’re desperate to move on, it may be reasonable to not negotiate and just take what you can get. You’re the only one who can judge that priority, though.
What’s the rest of the package? I’ve always found absurd those colleagues of mine who are always chasing another €/hr more when that may mean spending 16h/wk in transit, or having to pay more-expensive hotels.
Is “making at least as much as in my current job” an economic need or an emotional one?
And in any case, if you’re going to barter remember that you need to know how much you’ll be considering acceptable and begin by asking for more; remember that this may include other forms of remuneration (vacation time, better working hours…). Of course, it is always possible that the other party wasn’t really trying to barter.
There are pluses to the new job such as working at home. I agree there should be wiggle room , certainly 5%.
I wonder they might say “well to give you what you want for pay that’s a higher level job and you are not qualified for that level” So they would say take the offer or leave it, we are not budging.
Is there wiggle room on any of the other benefits? Bumping up something like a few vacation days might be a possibility even if they can’t match dollar for dollar.
It may depend on the job and the company. Big companies often don’t have a lot of leeway at the top of the scale - to get you a raise may involve regrading your position. And they don’t want to put you at the top of their scales when they hire, because then to get a raise you’ll need a promotion.
Do look at the whole package. My husband starts a new job on Monday that pays much less than what he was doing - which was working as an independent consultant. But he’ll get good health insurance for cheap, and five weeks of vacation, and someone picking up his cell phone and internet that isn’t our company, and his commute will be less (most of his clients were on the other end of town, this is a work from home job) - and by the time that all gets put into the calculation, he’ll actually make a little more.
Make them want you, and say “I know we said $x, but is there anyway you can match what I am making now, which is $Y” It may work, it may not. I’ve frequently seen offers come through at a little more than we were discussing during the interview process.
yes I will look at benefits too since my current benefits are not that good. I would certainly be happy with an extra week of vacation if I can get that .
I have paid above the “top end of (my/the) scale” more than once or twice for people I wanted. If they want you, 5% should not really be an obstacle, unless a credible argument can be made that your work is a commodity and they can find others that will work just as well. I would not ever switch for anything other than a step up, but you seem really eager to make the switch. Given this, in your shoes I might say -" I’m very excited with the offer. I’m currently making x, and your offer falls just a touch short of that. I’ve always been told to only switch for a better compensation package, but I’m so excited by your company/the job/the new team that I will disregard this advice. That said, I hope you can find a way to at least make it an even switch - and I’m ready to start whenever you want. Here’s some documentation on my present compensation ". Remember that your ability to get money is the greatest between them making the offer and you accepting. The moment you say yes it goes to near zero, and stays there. Forever.
Got the extra money I asked for. So that gives me a good feeling about the company.
Well done!
Congratulations!