How do I negotiate for more pay??

[Jessica]

I have a degree in Journalism but fell into an IT support role shortly after graduating college 5 years ago. Not many jobs in my field were hiring, I was freelance writing but it wasn't paying well enough and I needed to make money. I never thought I would end up being there for nearly 5 years. Money is good but it's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I started out making $35,000 and now make $45,000. I received a 10% bonus this past Christmas, so that brought me to almost $50,000. I know a lot of people would tell me I am crazy for wanting to leave. Good job, good benefits, growing company. But there is a lot beneath the surface of the company, such as horrible management and extreme micro-managing, that make the environment almost unbearable. The turnover rate is through the roof.

With that said, I decided to pursue other options in fields I had a passion for...over the last 3 months or so, I have been applying to marketing, event planning, PR, social media and writing jobs. Without work experience in any of those fields, it has been tough getting interviews. I finally had an events company call me a couple weeks ago, and after 4 interviews, they finally offered me the job as an event specialist. The only catch is that the salary offer was only $35,000. I want to negotiate for a higher salary, but the problem is that they did tell me during one of the interviews that they would not be able to match my current salary. They said "We definitely won't be able to offer as much as you're making now. We might not even be able to get up to $40,000." When they said this, I thought they might offer between $38,000 and $40,000. I was prepared to take a pay cut, and I even told them I knew I would have to work my way from the bottom up. I guess I just didn't expect such a drastic pay cut. I was just married in June, and my husband and I were planning to look for houses soon. If I accepted $35,000 that would definitely set us back. Part of me is afraid to ask them to increase their offer because they told me throughout the interview process that they were very hesitant to hire me due to my lack of experience, but in the end, they were willing to "take a chance" on me. Would it offend them if I asked for more?

One additional note: Another company offered me a position too, and even though it's not exactly what I want to do, I was thinking I could maybe use this to my advantage for leverage...? It's a job at a local advertisement e-magazine writing editorial-length articles and generating social media for advertisers. I decided I didn't want a job that was full-time writing and that the events industry seemed more exciting. Plus I will have the opportunity to do social media at the events company as well.

I need to let them know yes or no by this Friday morning. I'm supposed to call in with my answer. I'm not sure exactly how to approach this. And if I do ask for more, and if they respond saying they don't have it in the budget and I don't have the experience to warrant more, what do I say back to that? I don't want to offend them or start things off on the wrong foot if I do take the job! Just hoping someone with experience negotiating salary can offer some much needed help!

Thanks in advance!

Jessica
@Ann: I agree that it's possible they don't have it in the budget. On the other hand, I feel like a lot of companies anticipate applicants negotiating salary, so they may offer lower just to see if the applicant will bite. I almost feel like I will regret it if I don't at least try... I just don't know how to approach it so as not to put them off. If they absolutely cannot go higher, it would probably still be worth it to me, but $5k more (or even $3k more) would definitely be helpful!
@Meera: Thanks for the input, and I agree that there are probably other companies out there in my current field that do not have the bad management that mine does. Still, the software industry, as lucrative as it may be, is not where my heart is. I know a lot of people may stay in jobs or industries that they don't love just for the money. But to me, it's more important to have a job that's fulfilling - and I don't think I will get that if I don't follow my true passions...

[Ann]

They were pretty clear, it sounds like they don't have it in the budget, so I would decide if you want it enough (for future work reasons) to take it anyway, and wait on the house. It could be worth it, and better than what you have now at higher pay.

[Meera]

From what you mention, your problem seems to be bad company and bad management, not necessarily bad job. You have good experience in this field, you can apply to better companies with better work environment and better pay. How do you think that you will not get bad employers or bad managers in event industry? If you want some sane advice, keep this job, look for a better company and better job, and do event organizing/social media/PR on freelance during free days. Or if you are married and planning a baby, you will be taking a break anyway then so you can take a break of 1 year then and in that break try out these alternative careers. IN fact, you can ask this company if they would be interested to hire you on a part time basis, with low salary as long as you get to have experience. And another thing, try to learn and further your qualifications and knowledge in the IT field you are working for. Now you feel like a small worker doing something of no consequence, but once you advance to higher positions with more responsibility, you will feel like a part of the product you endorse. GOOD LUCK