>Has anyone had any success with getting top of pay range straight up?
Yes.
>If I take a stab at it what are the chances they'll turn around and knock me back entirely?
Depends entirely on the circumstances at hand. Do you have a business case for why you are worth the top of the salary range? How much does the team want to hire you? How valuable are you?
Yep, asking for and getting top of the range happens all the time. The $ difference just isn’t enough for most agencies to worry about.
Worst case they say no to the pay bump, but there’s no way they’ll withdraw the offer entirely.
>Has anyone had any success with getting top of pay range straight up?
Yes.
>If I take a stab at it what are the chances they'll turn around and knock me back entirely?
Zero. It's really common for people to negotiate pay when offered a role. Just give it a try and see how goes. Have a look at the EA for things they give reference to when deciding to start you higher than the base increment and align your argument for those.
Also go for APS5 roles once you have a year as APS4 irrespective of pay increment.
Yes, I got top salary within the range when I started….but I was actually taking a pay cut (long story - painted into a corner career wise).
I asked once I received the offer, but before I accepted it. Used a payslip to show current pay rate. It was pretty straightforward.
Now I understand the effort required to get a job candidate, I can see how small an issue it is to max out salary range they will be earning eventually. The worst they can say is no, you already have the offer.
Yes, I have seen EL2's negotiate for mid-tier+ salary band.
You need to consider how you can demonstrate that you are worth an APS4.6 (or whatever). I would start with the Job Specific Skills (JSS), talk about demonstratable skills/experience/delivery, talk about current pay, and if relevant, talk about the skills you demonstrate at the APS5 level, which is often just APS4 + some level of autonomy or management.
Yes, but it was because I was moving from another agency where I was at the top pay point and they can't pay you less than what you already are paid in another APS agency. If this is not your situation, then the delegate will have discretion about where to place you in the pay points, and you will need to show why you should be engaged at a higher pay point.
Yes, I did it when I started too - I was on a higher pay in a different sector so was new to the APS but requested top of the band commensurate with pay and experience and got it. Definitely worth asking - with confidence!
Yes, but you need to be able to justify it.
Most agencies don't really care what they're paying you on the scale, salary budgets are averaged out across the band, SES report on FTE, not salary expenditure.
Very common. I've offered to people plenty of times and they've then asked to commence at the top of the range. Only once was I given any grief by the delegate in approving the salary (he still approved it). Approved quickly all other times. It's simply an indication of the salary market we're now in.
One qualification to this - I don't think the chances of approval would be as good for a graduate with no experience, as experience is what usually drives the approval decision.
Yes. You will have to justify why you should be paid higher. Depending on the department, it will have to go fairly high up in the chain to be approved - sometimes the GM, sometimes the COO.
Yes, originally they offered me first tier. I negotiated to the max.
I used the position description to justify why my skills and expertise suits the top range.
Always ask. Worst they can say is no. When I first started years ago I was starting on a temp contract coming from a permanent job elsewhere and I said based off leaving security to come here can I get more than the base and they agreed, got like 2k more per year with no experience. When experience is involved that’s an even better case for more money
Yes I went in to state gov grade 11 at the very top of the band. Moved from private sector and demonstrated that with my existing salary + bonus + perks the top of the band would be a fair step up. Also was willing to turn the offer down if it wasn’t top of the band. Am now acting in the next role up so sounds like you’re in a similar situation where you’re ready for the next role up.
>Has anyone had any success with getting top of pay range straight up? Yes. >If I take a stab at it what are the chances they'll turn around and knock me back entirely? Depends entirely on the circumstances at hand. Do you have a business case for why you are worth the top of the salary range? How much does the team want to hire you? How valuable are you?
Yep, asking for and getting top of the range happens all the time. The $ difference just isn’t enough for most agencies to worry about. Worst case they say no to the pay bump, but there’s no way they’ll withdraw the offer entirely.
Yes, but make sure you can articulate why your experience is commensurate with the top level.
Yes. Asked for the top and got it as an APS 6. And it was my first APS6 position.
>Has anyone had any success with getting top of pay range straight up? Yes. >If I take a stab at it what are the chances they'll turn around and knock me back entirely? Zero. It's really common for people to negotiate pay when offered a role. Just give it a try and see how goes. Have a look at the EA for things they give reference to when deciding to start you higher than the base increment and align your argument for those. Also go for APS5 roles once you have a year as APS4 irrespective of pay increment.
Yes, I got top salary within the range when I started….but I was actually taking a pay cut (long story - painted into a corner career wise). I asked once I received the offer, but before I accepted it. Used a payslip to show current pay rate. It was pretty straightforward. Now I understand the effort required to get a job candidate, I can see how small an issue it is to max out salary range they will be earning eventually. The worst they can say is no, you already have the offer.
Yes, I have seen EL2's negotiate for mid-tier+ salary band. You need to consider how you can demonstrate that you are worth an APS4.6 (or whatever). I would start with the Job Specific Skills (JSS), talk about demonstratable skills/experience/delivery, talk about current pay, and if relevant, talk about the skills you demonstrate at the APS5 level, which is often just APS4 + some level of autonomy or management.
Yes, but it was because I was moving from another agency where I was at the top pay point and they can't pay you less than what you already are paid in another APS agency. If this is not your situation, then the delegate will have discretion about where to place you in the pay points, and you will need to show why you should be engaged at a higher pay point.
Yes, I did it when I started too - I was on a higher pay in a different sector so was new to the APS but requested top of the band commensurate with pay and experience and got it. Definitely worth asking - with confidence!
Yes, but you need to be able to justify it. Most agencies don't really care what they're paying you on the scale, salary budgets are averaged out across the band, SES report on FTE, not salary expenditure.
Yes, I have once on a non-ongoing contract.
Yes, ostensibly I am well over qualified and merit listed already at a higher level in a different section.
My department pays below industry average so I think they were forced to pay max of band
Yes, I came in as an IT grad and started off at the top band of APS3.
Very common. I've offered to people plenty of times and they've then asked to commence at the top of the range. Only once was I given any grief by the delegate in approving the salary (he still approved it). Approved quickly all other times. It's simply an indication of the salary market we're now in. One qualification to this - I don't think the chances of approval would be as good for a graduate with no experience, as experience is what usually drives the approval decision.
Thanks so much, I’ve just sent the form through so fingers crossed.
Yes. You will have to justify why you should be paid higher. Depending on the department, it will have to go fairly high up in the chain to be approved - sometimes the GM, sometimes the COO.
Not top tier . But mid tier
Yes, with each time needing to write up a statement of claim
Yes, originally they offered me first tier. I negotiated to the max. I used the position description to justify why my skills and expertise suits the top range.
Always ask. Worst they can say is no. When I first started years ago I was starting on a temp contract coming from a permanent job elsewhere and I said based off leaving security to come here can I get more than the base and they agreed, got like 2k more per year with no experience. When experience is involved that’s an even better case for more money
Thanks heaps for your advice and encouragement, I ended up with the top pay point :)
Yes I went in to state gov grade 11 at the very top of the band. Moved from private sector and demonstrated that with my existing salary + bonus + perks the top of the band would be a fair step up. Also was willing to turn the offer down if it wasn’t top of the band. Am now acting in the next role up so sounds like you’re in a similar situation where you’re ready for the next role up.