Hi there - I was recently offered a new job that is a huge advancement opportunity. I received my offer letter today and was offered $5k less than I make now. While I recognize $5k per year is not overly significant, the new job as compared to my old job is much "bigger" as the new job requires more technical experience, I will manage a larger staff, be directly involved in reporting to a large governing body, waaaaaay more hours and tons of weekends. I think the new job should at least match what I am making now. I would prefer around $20k more than what I am making now but..I am not sure how to ask for more money. I really don't want to create a stink over $5k but I don't want to ask for a ton more money and the employer walk. I have a great job now but there is no advancement opportunity and this new job would be incredibly interesting and makes much better use of my skills.
For the record as far as other benefits - 401k is the same, health is better at new job, much less vacation at new job (I currently get 30 days a month at current position which is a ton).....
Thoughts?
Re: Lurker and $$ question about new job offer
In my opinion:
Managing more people, more hours, more weekends, and less vacation time would mean that I'd need WAY more than a break-even salary.
I'd tell them that you currently make X and would need at least a 10 percent increase. I think that is pretty reasonable honestly.
FET - transferred two embryos (boy and girl) - Nov 2014 - BFP!
Let me add this to the scenerio and tell me what you think:
He emailed me last week wanting to know if I was looking. I told him no but to send me the job description and I would help him find someone. ((I think he got my name/resume from someone else)) After reviewing the job description, I asked him the salary, he told me, and I said that I would interview.
So...does the information above eliminate my power to negotiate?
There is no way I'd take a job with longer hours and more responsibility unless it included an increase in pay. I get wanting to challenge yourself and advance, but your time is valuable and it's not really an advancement if you are doing more work for less pay or the same pay.
I would absolutely come back and say that the offer is less than you currently make, and you need to make X amount to accept the position. It's fine for there to be some back and forth in the negotiating, but don't sell yourself short. I think you would end up regretting taking on more responsibility (which ALWAYS means more stress, even if you love your job) for a nominal pay raise. I would walk and keep looking if they don't agree to a salary that will at least make some noticeable difference in your standard of living. Make your counter offer not so high it will freak them out, but still higher than where you want to end up so you leave some room for negotiating.
Alright, I finally asked if they could at least match what I am currently making. They responded by saying they had already increased the salary from the original amount they wanted to pay to match my experience (say what???) but that they would discuss and let me know today. At the same time, if I want to be honest with myself, I am probably waaaaay overpaid in my current position.
Hopefully they will agree to match my salary and then after six months when they find out hiring me was the best thing that ever happened to them I will ask for a raise.