Job Advice On Postion Offered

[petegz28]

So I applied for an open position with a company. As part of the application I gave my minimum accepted salary. When I received a phone call from them to set up an interview I asked what range they were looking to pay. Their answer: "I haven't looked yet but we are within range of what you put down for your minimum or we wouldn't have called"

Okay, fair enough. So I go to the interview. At the end of the interview I ask the HR person, "what range are you looking to pay?". I get the same answer of we have to pull numbers and this and that but what you are asking for is within our range. Again, fair enough.

Today I get an offer 10% below what I stated as my minimum accepted and told that is the highest they can go because the position is that and not that.

So I'm kinda like, WTF happened to "within range"? I asked twice on two separate occasions what they were looking to pay and both times I was lead to believe what I stated as a minimum was close to an acceptable level. I understand coming in initially below my stated minimum but this sounds kinda shitty, really.

Worth negotiating? I do want the position but I am not hurting nor in desperate need for it either.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by petegz28

So I applied for an open position with a company. As part of the application I gave my minimum accepted salary. When I received a phone call from them to set up an interview I asked what range they were looking to pay. Their answer: "I haven't looked yet but we are within range of what you put down for your minimum or we wouldn't have called"

Okay, fair enough. So I go to the interview. At the end of the interview I ask the HR person, "what range are you looking to pay?". I get the same answer of we have to pull numbers and this and that but what you are asking for is within our range. Again, fair enough.

Today I get an offer 10% below what I stated as my minimum accepted and told that is the highest they can go because the position is that and not that.

So I'm kinda like, WTF happened to "within range"? I asked twice on two separate occasions what they were looking to pay and both times I was lead to believe what I stated as a minimum was close to an acceptable level. I understand coming in initially below my stated minimum but this sounds kinda shitty, really.

Worth negotiating? I do want the position but I am not hurting nor in desperate need for it either.

You told them about your "9/11 was an inside job" theories during the interview didn't you? I told you not to do that.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by mdstu

Assuming the amount you put as a minimum is really your minimum:

Counter with 10% over your minimum. If they don't counter with atleast your minimum, thank them for their time and walk.

I've heard of that strategy before. It's like the "what part of minimum is it I need to explain to you?"

[TribalElder]

Minimum is the new medium

[TambaBerry]

Originally Posted by mdstu

Assuming the amount you put as a minimum is really your minimum:

Counter with 10% over your minimum. If they don't counter with atleast your minimum, thank them for their time and walk.

Go with this

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Minimum is the new medium

When your minimum starts with a number higher then the number their offer starts with then I think we have an issue.

[mdstu]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I've heard of that strategy before. It's like the "what part of minimum is it I need to explain to you?"

I feel you. They love money just as much as you do.

I've traveled my ass off. Worked 80 hour weeks. Been on call with no comp. And still been stiffed while they employed worthless new hires for for twice what they were paying me.

I'll never take a job again for less than what I need/want.
I ask myself: If I never get a raise again, is this enough compensation for me and my family? If the answer is no, I won't take the job.

Like previously said, you will never have as much bargaining power as you have right now.

[ChiliConCarnage]

It depends on where you are in life but Salary isn't your only compensation. It's possible they feel they are in range w/ benefits.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by mdstu

I feel you. They love money just as much as you do.

I've traveled my ass off. Worked 80 hour weeks. Been on call with no comp. And still been stiffed while they employed worthless new hires for for twice what they were paying me.

I'll never take a job again for less than what I need/want.
I ask myself: If I never get a raise again, is this enough compensation for me and my family? If the answer is no, I won't take the job.

Like previously said, you will never have as much bargaining power as you have right now.

I hear ya. This is both disappointing and disturbing. I was really looking forward to the position. But when HR called with their offer I was not very happy afterwards.

1. You told me twice that what I was asking for was "within range".
2. You tell me the low offer is because the position is for A and not B.

#2 is the part that pisses me off. As if they didn't know what the position was to begin with? It's like, how ****ing stupid do you think I am? The entire "within range" part is the disappointing part of it. I'm sitting here thinking "within range" means you can meet it or beat it. Not you can come in 10% below.

[TribalElder]

Counter them of tell them To kick rocks

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

It depends on where you are in life but Salary isn't your only compensation. It's possible they feel they are in range w/ benefits.

While I agree they probably do feel that way. Generally when someone asks you what you are wanting to pay and you respond with "well, I haven't nailed it down but what you are asking for is within my range that I am willing to pay", it means you are with range of the salary. That is why they ask for your "minimum accepted salary".

[TribalElder]

Ask them for a stand up desk, an inflatable ball chair, and an ashtray for you to set your cigar down in occasionally during the work day

Really confuse them

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Ask them for a stand up desk, an inflatable ball chair, and an ashtray for you to set your cigar down in occasionally during the work day

Really confuse them

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by petegz28

While I agree they probably do feel that way. Generally when someone asks you what you are wanting to pay and you respond with "well, I haven't nailed it down but what you are asking for is within my range that I am willing to pay", it means you are with range of the salary. That is why they ask for your "minimum accepted salary".

Fair enough. Sorry they wasted your time. I doubt they intended to waste your time intentionally as it wasted theirs as well. I suppose it's possible in a bad job market they've had luck with this strategy? Who knows..

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by ChiliConCarnage

Fair enough. Sorry they wasted your time. I doubt they intended to waste your time intentionally as it wasted theirs as well. I suppose it's possible in a bad job market they've had luck with this strategy? Who knows..

I have no doubts that they didn't intend to waste my time. But when a person asks twice what the pay range is and the response is "your minimum is within our range" then I expect an offer no less than the minimum you told me was within your range.

[oldman]

If you're an external hire, it's possible they moved an internal candidate into that slot and you are now applying for their job (PJM1 vs. PJM2) for example. If you really want to work for that company, by all means counter offer them.