Starting Salary Negotiation

[Sept2012]

Hi all,

I have recently been offered a job as an administrator in higher education in the public sector. The salary they have offered me is £300 less than my current salary which I know over the course of a year is about £30 less a month.
They have emailed me the offer and I am now writing an email back asking for the next point up the salary, roughly £700 more than they are currently offered.

I just don’t know how the hell to word the email??? Any advice??

[factor-fiction]

First you need to decide whether you will reject the offer if they say no to an increase and if so politely make it clear.
But you also need to think about why you applied- a small reduction may be worth it in the long run

[EDDIE51]

The saleries in the public sector are often fixed at a set rate according , with fixed staring points. If the job has good prospects I would not worry about £30 a month to start. I would get in to the position and ask after 6 months or so.
The £300 a year only works out to £20 a month after you allow for tax and NI
is it worth the hassle ?

[Romaz]

I work in the Public Sector and the only time you can individually negotiate your pay deal is before you start. I would suggest you find out if there is any room for negotiation, if yes request that they start you on the next level or at least match your current salary. As long as it's a permanent post you will probably be better off in the long term.

[DTCwordfan]

what value do you deliver over and above the job description, something that justifies the incremental - focus on that.

[boxtops]

I work in the public sector, and there can be mileage in asking to be placed on the next point up as a starting salary. Usually you will start a new job on the bottom point of the pay spine for your band, but if you can demonstrate that you already have some of the skills and experience which the job specification demands, you may ask for a spine increase as a starting salary to be considered. This will however be the exception rather than the norm - you should have asked about this at interview, since the pay bands will have been clear before you applied.