What do you answer if someone asks for salary expectations?

I do a job that less than 100 people in England probably do so i cant really find out what others are on. I would be moving to the premier venue in the UK (assistant manager) and it involves moving home too.

Too high and presumably i price myself clean out of an interview i know i am a perfect fit for. Similar or too low and its not worth moving. For the sake of arguement im on about £18k now.

Suggestions....

You've slightly answered the question yourself. If the same or lower is not worth moving then what would be worth it? Then add a small amount to give you a negotiating position.

If 20k would be ok then suggest 22. Apply the same principles as you would if selling a house. You're selling you and you should price yourself accordingly.

Try to work out what your new cost of living would be (mortgage, lunches, travel etc) compared to now. At least this will allow you to decide what your minimum wage would need to be and then use that as a guide.

As Mystery says, add a little more so you can always negotiate down a little if you have to.

Decide what is right for you as a minimum, add on at least £2-3K for negotiating. Don't be scared to turn down an offer if it's not enough, they may come back to you with an improved offer & if they don't you were screwing yourself anyway.

If it's an internal promotion an alternative would be for you to ask for any relocation packages available.

Work out the maths before you go in e.g housing differential, sky istallation, childcare additions, rental costs to scout the area, travelling expenses until the family move etc - if these total 5k plus then your negotiation point for 3 or 4 k a year more is much stronger as it shows you're moving at a loss initially and put you in a positive light due to the committment you're showing?

If you are that much in demand (less than 100 people do your job) then make sure you get the right area for youe pitch.

£18k now but you may be worth £30K to them. Always work out the best scenario.

I once went into a negotiation(not salary) and the very first offer was £3K the final agreement was £96K and I still think there was another £10K in the pot - so what I am saying is know your value to them and pitch at the top end but let them know you are prepared to work your way to that target over the next few years.

Good luck.

What do you do? Where are you having to move to?

Few things to consider:

You've not even had the interview yet and then arguably you've not had all your questions answered about the role. I would always tell a recruiter, manager etc something along the lines of "Money isn't the main driver as to why I take on a new role. I'm always looking for positions that will either challenge me further; teach me new disciplines and allow me to progress up the career ladder. I would like to know more about the role (travel, hours etc) and then I'll be able to know my expected compensation."

My rule of thumb is I always try and ask for a 20% increase on what I already am on. Therefore I have room to negotiate.

I don't know if this is an internal interview but if it is not, then it is important for an employer to feel like they don't definitely have you, even if they offer you the role. I always mention in interviews that I have other interviews on the go (even mentioning some companies). This has enabled me a very strong position when it has come to negotating in the past. I've been able to tell future employers, on receiving their initial offer and me wanting to push back on it and get some more money "If you're able to offer me just a little more (give a final number) my commitment to you will be that I'll cancel all of my other interviews today and sign your contract" - this has always allowed me to get more than I went in expecting.

Don't just accept a relocation package with no increase on salary (or a marginal increase on salary). One-off payments for companies is easier than paying you every month!

Really work out how much the move will cost you - from extra petrol, less family time etc. This should certainly be accepted when negotiating salary

Finally - I've seen loads of people make this mistake, so please don't be one of them: when negotiating your salary, don't end up negotiating so you are now in a new tax bracket. I've seen people get a £3k increase but seen their tax rate go up and they've ended up £5k worse off over the year. Definitely make sure that is in your calculations.

great post Stuboy, and good luck CY!

Its not internal. I do a job technically anyone could really but i am very good at it. I work at a karting track, i give safety briefings and then oversee race events from a control tower. There are others who do the same thing as me but nothing like as well and i always get the big jobs (microsoft, west ham fc, the big charity days for example) The job in question is at the premier kart track in the UK and would involve moving home about an hour and a half away.

As i said anyone could do the job but the fact i already do it has to be a massive advantage. The deadline for the job passed on Monday but i wrote to them anyway as i only saw it in Autosport yesterday and they have allowed me to submit a late application. In truth i am quite happy where i am but if i could do the same job for more money at a more prestigious venue then i would be daft not to. Nothing ventured nothing gained so the CV and covering letter was fired off last night.

Bit worried what the reaction might be with current employers if they get asked for references as i dont want to seem disloyal (only a small business, 30 odd employees with only 6 of us full time) but i imagine this is a dilemma many have faced in the past.

Many thanks for the excellent advice offered thus far.

I wouldn't be worried about the reaction of the current employees. They might be concerned that they aren't paying enough to retain you, giving you a chance to negotiate an increase! Good luck!

I had a similar negotiation trying to but a tee shirt in Tunisia for my nephew a few years ago.

That isn't how tax works!

If you go up into another tax bracket you are only paying the higher rate on that extra amount.

e.g. if you were 1p below the 40% tax bracket and get a rise of £3k then you get taxed 40% on the £3k only - i.e. you lose £1.2k in tax and take home £1.8k extra (less NI etc). All your 'existing' earnings below that are unchaged.
If you start getting 'perks' as part of your package like a pension, health care, company car etc then you can get wolloped for tax and take home less but you are only paying (e.g.) 40% of their value and can opt out (I know people here who do and get paid a little extra instead).


CY - Do you want to change your life? If the answer is 'yes' then a rise isn't that important. If the answer is 'not really' then you need a reasonable rise to make it worth it. Best of luck

cy ... no potential employer will take up references until they have offered you the job (subject to references) and asked permission. that way if you are not getting it or decide you don't want it your employers will never be contcated.

unless you have kids and then you will lose your child benefit (20.30 pw 1st child, 13.40 all others, thanks Cameron )
=1055.60 + 696.80 per kid per year
for the old woman who lived in a shoe (100 kids) that's 70k a year lost for a measly rise

Plus I should have added that this person worked 10 minutes from home and then took a new job in the big smoke of London, an hour and a half train ride away. The extra travel costs, loss of benefits and the additional time away from home due to commuting made them worse off financially and mentally.

Salary is a key factor when accepting a job, of course, but look also to the future. Some people might start at a good wage but then go without a reasonable increase for months and years.

At an appropriate point during the interview (or when invited for questions) check job progression options. Ask what you need to do (a schedule of mutually agreed milestones) to see increases in responsibility and commensurate salary. This gets management thinking beyond the initial recruitment so they are better prepared to consider a pay hike after the probationary period. This is inifinitely preferable to your having to start the ball rolling six or 12 months after the hire.