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.

[bigbucks24]

Originally Posted by Brock

Hey, if you run your hiring like a used car dealership and it works for you, great. It's second rate bullshit and your rep will get around eventually. I prefer to state my terms, you state yours and we can either agree or tell each other to **** off without wasting time.

Did you even read the second paragraph? Do you think every employer has a final salary number in mind before the interview process even starts? If it was true that the job was going to pay $85K, come hell or high water, and Pete was asking $95K as a minimum, then it was bullshit that they wasted his time. But that might not have been what happened.

[bigbucks24]

I will say that it would have been better if they had stated at the beginning, "We may not be able to hit that number exactly, but we will be in the ballpark."

[Valiant]

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 might of missed it, but is this an internal posting?

From my experience when switching jobs or getting a new one with a new company that there are two types. Ones that try and get the best talent and honest, and cheap skates. It is especially bad if they are doing it to people with experience in the field. Straight out of college recruits, that is fine.

I would counter like the others have said with your minimum that you would have worked for. If they decline, thank them for their time and move on. Then report their strategies online to others if you really think they are being scandalous.



If their HR lied and did this during an interview, what makes you think they will not hit you with a salary decrease later on. IMO when HR is shady like this run away. Just red flags to me from the way you described it. Companies generally know what they are paying, then will overpay for talent to get them. If they tell you one thing then change it:
A, they either have a worse option that they can get for the 10% less and are seeing if they can get you for it.
B, strung you along to see if you would bite.
C, HR and hiring manager are not talking to each other.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by petegz28

1. I am taking a few days before I decide to keep the personal aspect out of it.

2. I know

3. Do you know anyone that has actually done this?

On 3. Get it in writing and approved by the CFO. If not it is go **** yourself when compensation is due. This is from personal experience.

[BigRedChief]

I always talk benefits/salary/perks all the way to the point when I accept the offer. I always get more stuff. It's the only time you have any leverage.

I've had a few companies where we agree on a parameter of money before the interview process starts. Then at the end they offer me something below that parameter. I tell them no thanks. They ALWAYS come back with more. But, at that point I no longer trust them.

I'm at the point in my career that I get to chose who I work for, just not going to work for people trying to save a nickle right at the start of our relationship. I'd move on Pete.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by petegz28

1. I am taking a few days before I decide to keep the personal aspect out of it.

2. I know

3. Do you know anyone that has actually done this?

A few years ago I was living and working in a different part of the country. The company I now work for contacted me through their recruiter and wanted me to interview. I told them my requirements and they said that it was out of the range they had posted the position for but they would still like to talk to me. Nothing is lost by interviewing so I interviewed with the director, the hiring manager, then they sent me an offer.

Basically, for this role there are three levels. They'd posted the position at the middle level, and it didn't meet my salary requirements. I told the recruiter I couldn't accept and so he went back to them and they offered it at the more senior level. It then met my requirements and so I accepted. I remember the recruiter saying that if the position had been open for a while they'd often do this because they don't want to lose the right candidate over a few thousand dollars.

It costs a lot of money for a position to sit vacant, and it costs a lot of money to start the process over with some new candidate at some point in the future. The salary bump is often going to be a bargain for them over what they'd be costing themselves otherwise.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Basically, for this role there are three levels. They'd posted the position at the middle level, and it didn't meet my salary requirements. I told the recruiter I couldn't accept and so he went back to them and they offered it at the more senior level. It then met my requirements and so I accepted. I remember the recruiter saying that if the position had been open for a while they'd often do this because they don't want to lose the right candidate over a few thousand dollars.

It costs a lot of money for a position to sit vacant, and it costs a lot of money to start the process over with some new candidate at some point in the future. The salary bump is often going to be a bargain for them over what they'd be costing themselves otherwise.

My current position had been open for a year before I was hired. They were motivated to finalize the deal.

I always listen to offers no matter if I'm happy where I'm at currently. You never know how stupid someone may be.

[ChiTown]

Good luck, Pete.

I don't think I will ever be able to go back to haggling with employers for comp and benefits. I used to be pretty damn good at doing that back in the day. But, at some point, I decided I didn't want to rely on some asshole who really didn't understand my value, and couldn't pay me what I knew I was worth. It was at that point I started my own business. Now, if I get pissed off at what I am making, there is only one asshole to blame.

[Bewbies]

I'd go back and remind them they asked you for a minimum, which you gave them. Then tell them that's still your minimum and don't talk. Let them fill the empty space.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm often the voice of the employer in these matters, but in this case the employer is being kind of skanky. They asked you your minimum acceptable amount and you told them. If that was above their range they should have eliminated you from consideration or told you that it was above their range immediately.

I think it's a red flag about the type of employer that they are.

That's what the voice in the back of my head keeps telling me.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by petegz28

1. I am taking a few days before I decide to keep the personal aspect out of it.

2. I know

3. Do you know anyone that has actually done this?

I've done this once. It was after a performance review though...not at hire time. I asked for a certain salary increase and was countered with a lower number plus stock options. I took their offer and, in the end, it worked out better for me (a few years down the road...but better nonetheless). Sometimes it works out. It just depends on your situation.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by bigbucks24

I will say that it would have been better if they had stated at the beginning, "We may not be able to hit that number exactly, but we will be in the ballpark."

Yeah, you know something like "well, you're a bit on the high end but...." right then and there I can either say thank you for your time and walk or I can say let's see what we can work out.

[BossChief]

1) If you accept their offer, you better be ok with that being your pay for the foreseeable future because if they are low balling right away, they will at every opportunity in the future.

2) I'd counter with 15% more than my original minimum, stating that you have offers elsewhere, but you prefer the position with them. Be willing to meet in the middle if you truly want the position.

3) as with any other negotiation, be willing to walk away.

4) keep the red flags in your mind and be ok with it before taking the job. Don't be surprised if it happens again. It will.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Brock

Hey, if you run your hiring like a used car dealership and it works for you, great. It's second rate bullshit and your rep will get around eventually. I prefer to state my terms, you state yours and we can either agree or tell each other to **** off without wasting time.

Unfortunately that's the type of tactics most employers use these days.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

sorry Pete. HR just called, they filled the position.