WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I have a question for people who do hiring.....or for anyone who wants to answer

I am POSITIVE that I just lost a job because my salary requirements were too high, and frankly, they weren't outrageous.

This was a smaller company but they didn't seem to be doing too shabby. I would have been totally perfect for this job, but refuse to take a 10K paycut and start traveling into the city!!!!

What is reasonable?

Message edited 2/28/2007 11:00:13 AM.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I always try and round up when I give my salary req. for a new job... not sure if that's the right thing to do, but it's whay I typically do....

Example... Last job, $60,000.... Salary req. for new job $65,000.

To me, that seems reasonable.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

My requirement for going from a job on LI to NYC was at minimum the difference in cost of commuting + 10%. Heck, if you're going to have to do more commuting - you might as well make sure it is worth your while.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Message edited 2/28/2007 11:07:59 AM.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

My salary requirements go way up for my commute. In LI maybe I would expect $60K. In NYC...a whole lot more. Much more than 10%.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I know this is really difficult right now. I lost many opportunities bc of salary requirements. I learned from Jim the rule of "not speaking first"

They should be able to provide you with a salary range of what they are willing to pay. This is created even before the ad for employment goes out. That way you know what you are getting into. Now, when I go on interviews and am asked "what is your current salary" I answer that salary is not an issue for me as i am making a life change (it's bs, but it DOES avoid the question) then I ask what are they looking to invest for this position.

If asked "what is/are your salary requirement" I usually say I am pretty open and and thn throw back at them " What have you/HR determined is the range for this position"
It's ball playing really and it sucks when you dont get a job not bc of qualifications but $.

HTH

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Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I usually provide a range of what I am looking for, but "am flexible for the right opportunity".

You want them to offer you the job, then be in the drivers seat when it comes to negotiating.

I will tell you though-- for small, cheap companies, $10K is a lot, even $5K is a lot. And you may be better off because that may be indicative of their raise policy and how they handle other business matters.

In one place that I worked-- I negotiated more vacation days to make up for the fact that they couldn't pay me what my salary requirements were.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I have always gone up $10k for requirements. I haven't always gotten it, nor expected it, but have ended up with a decent increase. In my field, I have a good idea of what competitors make, so I don't think 10k is outrageoous.

A 10K cut for a new position where you have to commute to NYC is ridiculous.

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Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

i'm about to be in the same boat (well...almost.)

I currently work for a mid-sized company. I'm happy with my salary, but I want to leave the company. I'm having a second interview tomorrow and a much smaller company and I'm still trying to figure out what to say if/when salary comes up. When I interviewed here, yes, I up'd my salary so then they'd essentially have to beat that (which they did.) But a small company is different...I think I'm going to be honest if it comes up and NOT up my salary a penny. Truth is, I'd be happy so long as they'll match it (though I'm not going to say that.)

To that end, I think you need to decide what you're worth vs. what you have and what you want. But no matter what, you shouldn't settle for less than you're making now! If you really want to go to that company, maybe ask if they'll match your salary, or beat it slightly since you'll have commuting expenses.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Posted by melijane

Posted by curliegirl

Posted by CoopersMom01

I always try and round up when I give my salary req. for a new job... not sure if that's the right thing to do, but it's whay I typically do....

Example... Last job, $60,000.... Salary req. for new job $65,000.

To me, that seems reasonable.

And that's what I did, she asked me what I expected and I gaev her a range that was 3-8K more than what I make now. As soon as I said that, she bolted and the interview was over.....

Just wondering what she was expecting to pay someone........
I want to get a new job, but I am not willing to make 35K to get one!!!!

This is part of what annorys me about the "etiquette" of job conversations. I'd rather have that be the first question because to me-even if it was the best fricking job in the world I have my requirements. Also it makes me when you read all the requirements that a co. has and the salary is like 35,000. They all think they are going to get something for nothing!

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Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I do the hiring here, and ask that potential candidates put their salary requirements in their resume or cover letter.

Now, if i get a resume that has high salary requirements, I may still interview them to see if they are worth 80k a year

Now I know we will only pay maybe 55k for the position, but if the 80k candidate is very qualified and seems like a good fit, I think there is always room to negotiate

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Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

It's a tough question to answer.

When I was on the hunt, I was very clear about my salary requirements from the get-go. I was already working and couldn't afford to take too much time off for interviews.

So, I wouldn't book an onsite interview until I knew my range was feasible for the company.

I factored in my additional commuting costs, plus I used a few online tools to assess what I was worth in the marketplace.

Not a single one of my onsite interviews had an issue with my salary.

The job I'm at now made their offer to me at the highest number in my range.

Be careful with ranges. Think of it this way, if you went shopping and asked how much an item was, if the sales person said "$100-150", you'd be deadset on paying $100, right?

I always said "I wouldn't be able to make a move for less than $x dollars"

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I am an HR director for a 100 person software company. When I do a phone interview, I always ask the candidate what their salary is now and what their expectations are. I do this so not to waste either of our time if it isn't in the range. There is always a range for a position and they do know what it is. If they give me the "I am flexible, looking for an opportunity speech" I push harder for some type of information. I won't bring someone in unless I have some idea of what their expectations are upfront.

Every HR person is different, I prefer to be upfront with salary from the initial conversation. I don't lowball candidates which is unfortunately what alot of companies do. I would be leary about hiring someone who wasn't looking for some type of increase in base pay, for fear that they may be ok with it now but then start looking again.

Personally I would not recommend accepting a position for anything less than a $5k increase because alot of time when you factor in the difference in cost of benefits, commuting, etc... you could be breaking even or close to it.


Also as a side note....be careful about misrepresenting your current salary. I always ask for a most recent pay stub in order to verify salary.

Good Luck!!!

Message edited 2/28/2007 1:49:51 PM.

Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

Be careful with ranges. Think of it this way, if you went shopping and asked how much an item was, if the sales person said "$100-150", you'd be deadset on paying $100, right?
QUOTE]

You're absolutely right, however, you can determine if you should even take a day off work to go to the interview. And asking a range is easier than asking the exact salary.

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Re: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO PAY!!!!!!

I think alot of companies offer too little as well. My job included. That is why I most likely won't be coming back here after the baby unless I can't find anything else. It amazes me that I spent big $$$$ on a college education and get paid pretty crappy and there are people at my job with less experience with no college education making the same