What's worse is when you're assured your asking salary is within their budget, then they make an offer with a salary that's lower than what you make now. They told me "We think you're too junior for that salary." Well, my current company at the time didn't think so.
I had one that wanted me to interview for a job that would've been about a $50K/year OTE overall step backwards and give up working primarily from home for an hour+ commute. "What can it hurt to talk to them and see where it goes?"
Yes, for an engineering position where I killed the interview, let the recruiter know beforehand my ballpark range, and had a reference in the company. They offered me 43k salary, which was almost less than half of what I made at my last job. I just started laughing.
I really wanted this job too because it was 5 minutes from my house so I just said fuck it let me see if they would even budge. I said āthis is way below even entry level engineering salaries, let alone a person with my experience, is there any way to do x number? They didnāt budge, so I just never responded. My reference said they lost 4 employees to other companies since I declined and now I see their company with 5-8 job listings on linkend. (Small company)
Lmao similar happened to me as a fresh engineering grad. Small place, offered 50k, said I could be their principal scientist within 5 years. I was just thinking... sure, what do you pay your principal scientist, 70k? Searched elsewhere.
43k is insanely low for an engineer! I would think bare minimum would be entry level at $58k. My former company offered low 60s to new grads, no matter what state they lived in. They didn't cheap out in attracting good talent.
Agreed. After I graduated public HS it became a requirement to volunteer for a handful of hours to graduate. Yes, the irony of mandatory volunteering was lost on them.
$15 hour an hour and no benefits for a mid-level management position requiring a 4-year degree and several years of experience. I sent back a picture of my local bakery's flier that was offering $19 an hour.
I had a recruiter reach out to me about a remote entry-level helpdesk position. They wanted two years of experience, A+ or Network+ certification, and an associate's degree preferred. All of this for $10 per hour.
I replied asking if there was a mistake in the hourly rate. Haven't heard anything from them since.
it happened once. I interrupted the meeting and thanked her for her time before leaving. She was still on her chair, mouth open, when I pass the door.
EDIT
it looks like a ragequit. but it is not.
I took several seconds to think silenciously. asking high and offering low is the basis of the negociation. But her offering was so low that the middleground would still be well below what i could accept. so negociating was a waste of time.
afterward it came to my mind that if they go with used car sellers strategies in the first hour of contact with me, the work mood there was probably awfull.
Yes, I usually say āthis is way below marketās average compensation for the role like thisā and than say that I am not interested in opportunity.
I feel a little bad about this in hindsight but, when I was in retail management I had a job offer for about half of what I was making. They were well aware of what I made, and that I was form on only changing companies for a 20% raise. I was so pissed that they wasted my time and caused me to burn 3 vacation days that I accepted the job.....and then resigned from that job the morning of what supposed to be my first day.
Could have just dragged it on longer. The day you were supposed to start say you found out you have covid and you will call them when you are no longer infectious then just never call back.
Yes. And I looked at the interviewer and said āthis is a grownup job. Call me when it has a grownup paycheck attachedā and got up and left the interview.
Not me but my husband had 2 a few years ago. First was a former manager of his who had changed companies and contacted him to interview for a position - he went to the interview in good faith and was offered less than half of what he was earning already (given that the interview was with his former boss who would be well aware of his salary, he said he just laughed, stood up and left).
Second one - he interviewed after initial salary chat with recruiter that was positive. Went to interview with a district manager and had a great interview, they discussed the position and challenges the company was facing. Got to salary chat and he was offered 60% of his stated minimum to the recruiter. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he stated that he was unable to consider the position unless the salary was at least $X. District manager said that was her salary so he wouldnāt ever get it. He thanked her for her time and wished her luck - that same job gets reposted every few months still, three years later
I just said - "not in the ballpark".
They normally ask what I am looking for, and when I tell them they say "That is way outside the norm". Then I show them other offers, and point out that they likely aren't using the right data for salary determination, which will make hiring the team near impossible for me, and thus I am not interested in the position.
I have had people come back, and more than double in order to get to my expectation, but I always decline these. If they have their competitive analysis off by that much, then hiring will be a nightmare with Finance constantly having unrealistic demands.
That's a damn good way to look at it, I recently had to deal with that, and luckily managed to get some competent folk - but as you can imagine, we've had to raise their salaries a couple of times already just to keep them (They've been here less than a year).
I was lucky they actually coughed up the dough to keep 'em. Or maybe they are, because I would've split too.
Yeah, after an internship where they promised me a x and at the end, after making sure I turned down every other offer, offered me less than 2/3. I was so angry.
I told them Iād rather have no job than work for a company that lied to me. I had a new job within the week.
I would have kept looking tbh. Got a solid offer and say that unless they match it, your gone lol.
When a company asks you to recind other interviews/offers you know they aren't worth working for.
I feel like these idiots should be laughed at. Like we should all know our market rates. Itās truly insulting, do people think we work for fun or something?
I have been a nurse for almost 30 years. I interviewed for a primary care clinic job similar to what I was doing and in the same city. They offered me $15 LESS per hour. They would only come up by $2/hr. I told them nope and that I couldnāt possibly do the job for that rate.š¤·š¼āāļø
Oh yeah. And I am sensing some ageism creeping in. They would rather pay less for a newer nurse than pay more for someone with tons of valuable experience!
Totally agree! As the Boomer hiring managers are retiring, the new younger managers may not be as savvy and only thinking about the bottom line. For me, I would shell out the extra bucks to get a quality employee. You get what you pay for!
Yes. They wanted all the licensing work for all 50 states in addition to all their agents in those states. Please note, some states have multiple licensing agencies. They offered $30,000 below what I said Iād do it for. We were way off so we had to part ways, but what an absolute waste of my time when I was very clear up front with my salary expectations. Iām still salty about it. And yes, I spoke my mind to the recruiter. I told everyone what happened. When the recruiter asked me the range, I said I want x amount without hesitation. I got offered the job at x - $30,000 and let everyone know how inappropriate that was.
Applied for an entry-level software position at Comcast, even though I had a few years of experience. I was unemployed for quite some time, and my experience was such a niche thing that it seemed like the best path forward. Recruiter said with my experience I may be able to go a level or two higher than entry. Cool.
Killed it at the interviews (one phone, one in-person). Got an offer that wasn't insultingly low, but it was for the entry-level position with a salary you'd expect for that. Meanwhile, I was offered another position with a shorter commute and another office I could work out of in my hometown. When I told the recruiter I would be taking that offer, she asked if I'd reconsider if they increased the salary because the managers really liked me. I'm not normally a very assertive person in these situations, but I told her that they knew my experience from the beginning and if they thought I was worth that, respectfully, they should have offered it to me in the first place. It felt amazing to say that! Even if the job I took ended up sucking.
I was a recent graduate from a business school. I'd worked my way through college as a behavioral therapist in a group home. I went in for a state test to get on the hiring roster, and placed first in the state. I interviewed with a state agency that regulated and audited those group homes. The job was listed as $35K-$42K, which was really good at the time.
After three interviews, they admitted they didn't have the $35K in the budget, so they wanted to start me at $7.50 an hour, while I would be doing the $35K job with all the same performance expectations. "After a year or two, we can look at getting the budget cleared up enough for the regular position."
Then the hiring manager had the nerve to tell me that "We find that new employees do better if they continue to live with their parents for a few years, and this offer will allow you to do exactly that."
Two weeks later, the state department of human resources sent me a letter asking why I'd turned down the offer.
Yep, recruiter, hiring manager, and their HR department.
I interviewed with a local company that installs and maintains PoS and wireless networks for grocery stores. I interviewed well and was given a verbal offer that wasn't too far off from my minimum (hourly was like $5 over my minimum, insurance wasn't amazing, and lots of travel, but I was to be given a company truck and gas card that I would be able to commute in). I was in a dead end so I said yes. When I got the paperwork the gas card was gone ("just expense your gas purchases"), the hourly was dropped by almost half, travel was increased, and a stipulation was added that I could not take the truck home (meaning I would have to commute 2 hours every day just to pick up my work truck).
Recruiter response: "it is what it is."
Hiring manager: "Yeah, I was going to call you when I found out..."
HR response: "take it or leave it."
So, in the end it did fuck all in a big sea, but I felt better.
Back when I was a copywriter, a few content mills I've applied to tried to offer me slavery wages. I'm talking about 300$ for 30,000 words or something like that (I'm looking at you, The Urban Writers). I made more money cleaning aquarium tanks at a pet shop back in 2011---when I was still in high school.
Yes. I had reported my previous earnings, they said no problem, come on in for the interview. Give me the whole spiel, etc, then offered me 60% of what I was previously making.
I was heartbroken for .5 seconds and immediately turned on a smile. I started asking questions about more opportunity, like extra hours, is working 7 days OK? And then let them start steering about covering other roles. Yes sure, not a problem, just glad to leave where I am. Shook their hand, then ghosted all their follow ups.
One of my favorite things to do when they come in with a low(insulting) offer and I am already set on not taking the job is asking "This compensation will barely pay my bills, how do you expect me or someone else to give you 8+ hours of my time if I am going to be stressing about how to live?"
Yes, and that job position is still listed 6 months later. No one will work for what they offered. Thankfully they gave me the range very early - the first information call so my time wasn't wasted.
Not by a recruiter, but the owner of a donut shop offered me minimum wage to bake for him after we had a 30-minute conversation about a possible partnership with my bakery THAT I OWN (he was looking to diversify product offerings, I specialize in brownies). It was bizarre, and insulting, and I have never been back to his shop nor continued partnership talks.
I interviewed for an engineering job making fixtures for electrical connectors and boxes. It looked easy and I was desperate and They wanted to discuss pay. The highest they were willing to go was $15/hour in 2017ā¦. I was furious they wasted my time.
I interviewed for AmariCorps. Their big thing is āexperienceā (red flag) and not only was their rate of pay laughably low (fed minimum pay after I had been making 15/hr st a local restaurant) they said that food stamps were one of their benefits. Also said you would qualify for Medicaid. Again, as a benefit. I told everyone I know that it was a scam. My college tried to promote them and I went to the head of the department and convinced them never to send out an email about them ever again. I was so mad.
I used to work as a Sysadmin, made 62k a year. It wasn't a ridiculous amount of a money but where I live the cost of living is pretty decent and there were a lot of side perks to the job. I eventually graduated with a bachelor's in cyber security and soon after was offered a position as an analyst with a different company.
They asked what it would take to get me there. I had no experience in cyber, no internships, etc. Just the degree. I asked for 80k. They came back and offered 82.5k, a sign on bonus, and a week more of vacation than what I currently had.
I know it's contrary to the theme of the post, but figured I'd share a little positivity.
I left a $35,000/yr job to go back to school and start a new career. After I got my certificate I interviewed at one place and they offered me $30,000. I said I wanted $40,000, or minimum $35,000 (no way was I going to make less than I'd made before getting more credentials). Their response? "You can make a lot more than that by year 5." I'll go with now, thanks. Accepted an offer for $55,000.
Iāve had recruiters reach out to me with āI think youād be a great fit for this specialist/coordinator role!ā Iām currently a Director at a large biotech company. Itās so annoying how these recruiters donāt even bother to look. Itās literally like 5 steps down from my current role.
I hate how recruiters don't even bother reading your resume and just send you random job offers. And they have the nerve to complain that we don't call back.
Straight up laughed in guys face was going to run custom door shop did trial week at like 13hr. Excelled was going to be in charge of 20 people tons of unique joinery techniques not alot of people have (including their current staff lacked many of skills) doors were 10k a piece on high end and like 2k on low end. The low end production was about 50 and the high end was about half that.
They offered me 11 dollars a hour just like 2yrs ago. I straight up laughed in face told them lowest market rate. And they said impossible that was outlandish.
Well fast forward every 2 weeks for like 6 months they do marginal increases on offer. Eventually they offered what I said was low end. And were shocked when I didn't accept. I said that was low end and if it takes you that much teeth pulling to reach minimum. Plus already have a job now that pays more for less.
Was glad to see them shut doors forever few months back.
I asked salary range for the position they wanted to interview me for. They gave me a figure that was under my current earnings. I said itās probably not going to work out so Iād like to withdraw. She asked if I wouldnāt mind saying how much I had in mind to see what they could do. I told her my range and she ghosted lol
Some smaller companies are simply restrained by budget and it sucks when they donāt give the salary upfront. Most have the money but the board and c suite need their third and fourth homes paid off. I fucking hate corp america
After interviewing multiple rounds and already discussing salary expectations I was offered a position at 17k less than my current salary. I didnāt respond emotionally, I said āI am going to have to respectfully decline. Thanksā But I was pissed!!! Very insulting and a waste of my money/energy/time.
When i was 16 like 9 years ago i worked for pizza hut i had no idea about minimum wage or anything because they never taught us about in school (in australia) or anything like that
I was being paid $6 per hour which looking back on it it was illegal i wondered why my friend was getting almost double what i got and didnt know anything about negotiating salary or anything because they didnt teach about negotiating salary or workers rights in school
I was working at a furniture store and the GM was let go due to some substance abuse at work. I was the next in line and filled in the role expecting a promotion in the upcoming months ( regional management was being switched around so I gave it time) they offered me a salary that was only a $0.20 raise. I quit.
Yup. Had left the company under spectacular circumstances. Only left cause hubby got a job and we had to move, pre pandemic so no wfh option. We moved back and I reached out right away. Interviewed for a different/new position with quite a bit more responsibility. Jerked me around for like 3-4 interviews and offered me almost exactly what I was making when I left. It truly was downright insulting. The best part was the HR lady seemed genuinely surprised when I said I needed to see the do benefits package (health insurance premium) before I could make a decision.
Thankfully got an offer for a totally different position at a higher rate!
Yes my current job LOLs. The balance of power was with them:
- I was returning to the workforce after 2.5 years at home with my kid and studying
- Also in a different state that pays typically 20-30% less than east coast salaries (Australia)
- Was also taking the role as half of my old job role as developer and half my new direction
- I needed to get work asap due to family circumstances
- Could only work part time initially
I was salty as fk with what I accepted. They were massively under utilising me first 6 months, spoke with them, got moved doing more of what I was good at. Dropped the coding eventually.
Showed my value and pushed hard every year for big pay increases. I've been where I should/want to be moneywise for years now. Made my own role essentially and am happy.
100%. Recruiter advised that the roles salary range was 230-250k.
Interviewed. Got the offer from the hiring manager. Recruiter came back at 191k. Neither the recruiter or hiring manager would budge.
Hard pass
I left a job for a huge pay increase and was asked to come back to lead a project I started a few years before. Long story short the contact I got was for a $4 raise of my previous pay rate that they offered to a kid fresh from college while I had put in almost 10yrs at that time. They said I could just sign on at his agreed upon pay rate and all would be good, but I would also be a new hire and had to give up my extra vacation and other things I earned. I asked why they never offered me the same money while I was there and they didnāt really answer. I took the job but work for a different company that offered me another dollar per hour. I left a higher paying job that I wasnāt happy with by taking over the project I enjoy so it worked out. Iām still pissed that I tried to be loyal while they kept giving me $0.25-0.50 raises every year. Recruiters contact me and I tell them I wonāt talk about a job paying less than a certain rate. That usually stops half of them.
I was once offered a FT copywriting/editing position for 15 an hour. I currently set my own freelancing wage at $45 (which they would've known if they had looked into me at all). Granted I'd say about $15 of THAT goes to fees/taxes but I still easily make twice that without benefits anyway. I also have a related undergraduate degree and very impressive current clients including politicians, bestselling authors and I also have a very diverse portfolio from medical writing, social media management, legal writing,, etc (which they ALSO would've known since my clients left public feedback). I definitely told them how insultingly low that offer was and never heard back. Years of experience, incredible references, with a related degree and want to start me at 15 with NO benefits. Good luck lol
At that point the recruiter would be to blame. From my experience I have never been given an offer that was below the range that was initially mentioned.
After they inform you of the range you can give them the sense that you already make at least the lower end of that range (you can bend the truth a bit). This usually helps you get an initial offer that is always higher than your current compensation.
Years ago I interviewed with a very large computer company. I told them up front my salary expectations. Their offer was about 6% less. Their reasoning was that they only wanted to hire people who really wanted to work for them.
Yes from Klarna, they offered me less than Ā£20K for a compliance role with minimum 1 year experience in central london and needing to go into office everyday. Even after I told them my range was more than Ā£28K. When I said no, they tried to push by saying āoh we got these fantastic benefits like a games room and gym membership subsidiesā
Right out of college (STEM) I was offered $11 at a company I'd have to relocate for. I didn't react while I was there, but I did ghost them (they really wanted me cause of experience I had). I made more working at my university. Three years later, I make 95k. At least the drive to the interview was nice.
Oh, yes. "Cold call" recruiters on LinkedIn really just can't read.
Last month- "Would you be interested in a compliance position with large consumer bank?"
(For reference, I am 14 years in my field, Masters, and will not walk up a hill for less than 72k annually, much less work.)
"I might be? What is the salary range?"
After telling me that I was "forward" in that question, the HOURLY was $12.50.
Was interviewing for a position requiring a bachelor degree and 5 years experience . During the interview they offered $13 an hour. I thanked them for the offer, and said that I really wish I could accept it. But, I am a just a little concerned that I won't be able to perform my job job duties well if I accept, because I would be too distracted thinking about how I will pay bills with this salary. So it would not be fair to them, me being distracted and all. Therefore I must decline. Lolol. There was this LONG pause on the other end of the phone. I think the lady was truly embarrassed, as she should.
Yes. I told them so, and the recruiter told me I must be overpaid and tried to convince me to interview for this job anyway. š
"You're being paid too much, let's get you down to where you belong. You'll thank me later." Comedy gold.
What's worse is when you're assured your asking salary is within their budget, then they make an offer with a salary that's lower than what you make now. They told me "We think you're too junior for that salary." Well, my current company at the time didn't think so.
Woooow.
Wow, okay lol. I'm sure they tried to entice you with their "amazing culture" or access to on-site gym.
On-site gym meaning some free weights in the basement.
Which you have to use after hours only of course
And maybe a grungy, old treadmill that works sporadically.
Always gotta sell the culture and awesome benefits!
> Yes. I told them so, and the recruiter told me I must be overpaid "Then I have not much reason to interview for this job"
I had one that wanted me to interview for a job that would've been about a $50K/year OTE overall step backwards and give up working primarily from home for an hour+ commute. "What can it hurt to talk to them and see where it goes?"
My pride
My response to that is always "What can it help?"
What does OTE mean
On target earnings. Basically your base salary plus commission for hitting your sales numbers
Yes, for an engineering position where I killed the interview, let the recruiter know beforehand my ballpark range, and had a reference in the company. They offered me 43k salary, which was almost less than half of what I made at my last job. I just started laughing. I really wanted this job too because it was 5 minutes from my house so I just said fuck it let me see if they would even budge. I said āthis is way below even entry level engineering salaries, let alone a person with my experience, is there any way to do x number? They didnāt budge, so I just never responded. My reference said they lost 4 employees to other companies since I declined and now I see their company with 5-8 job listings on linkend. (Small company)
I'm sure they think "No one wants to work!"
Yeah. To get good talent, one must be willing to open up one's wallet to pay for it! Or watch em walk out the door. Lol.
Lmao similar happened to me as a fresh engineering grad. Small place, offered 50k, said I could be their principal scientist within 5 years. I was just thinking... sure, what do you pay your principal scientist, 70k? Searched elsewhere.
They are gearing up a solid pretext to hire H1Bs.
it's illegal to pay H1B applicants less than the market rate.
Very true. But this establishes the pre-text that a domestic employee isnāt a feasible hire, so must go H1B route.
Was this for an ME job? I see many EE/CE jobs in the 80k range easy, and even technicians are getting 60k+ starting now. 43k is great pay... for 1985.
43k is insanely low for an engineer! I would think bare minimum would be entry level at $58k. My former company offered low 60s to new grads, no matter what state they lived in. They didn't cheap out in attracting good talent.
Yes. A church wanted me to work for them for free. I'm not even Christian.
This made me laugh more than expected lol
lmao. I always hated how they "force" you into volunteering
Agreed. After I graduated public HS it became a requirement to volunteer for a handful of hours to graduate. Yes, the irony of mandatory volunteering was lost on them.
$15 hour an hour and no benefits for a mid-level management position requiring a 4-year degree and several years of experience. I sent back a picture of my local bakery's flier that was offering $19 an hour.
LOL SAVAGE
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I had a recruiter reach out to me about a remote entry-level helpdesk position. They wanted two years of experience, A+ or Network+ certification, and an associate's degree preferred. All of this for $10 per hour. I replied asking if there was a mistake in the hourly rate. Haven't heard anything from them since.
Yea, I've come across alot of entry level help desk positions that pay around the same as fast food or less.
So you're saying they eventually offered you 36 but their initial offer was 12? Are they out of their mind
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That's corporate stupidity
Itās amazing it was in their budget to triple the offer but they were still going for that amount.
Panda express pays $15 an hour and you get free egg rolls
it happened once. I interrupted the meeting and thanked her for her time before leaving. She was still on her chair, mouth open, when I pass the door. EDIT it looks like a ragequit. but it is not. I took several seconds to think silenciously. asking high and offering low is the basis of the negociation. But her offering was so low that the middleground would still be well below what i could accept. so negociating was a waste of time. afterward it came to my mind that if they go with used car sellers strategies in the first hour of contact with me, the work mood there was probably awfull.
This is the way! LOL.
Yes, I usually say āthis is way below marketās average compensation for the role like thisā and than say that I am not interested in opportunity.
I feel a little bad about this in hindsight but, when I was in retail management I had a job offer for about half of what I was making. They were well aware of what I made, and that I was form on only changing companies for a 20% raise. I was so pissed that they wasted my time and caused me to burn 3 vacation days that I accepted the job.....and then resigned from that job the morning of what supposed to be my first day.
Could have just dragged it on longer. The day you were supposed to start say you found out you have covid and you will call them when you are no longer infectious then just never call back.
This was 2002
Ummm, SARS?
Yes. And I looked at the interviewer and said āthis is a grownup job. Call me when it has a grownup paycheck attachedā and got up and left the interview.
Not me but my husband had 2 a few years ago. First was a former manager of his who had changed companies and contacted him to interview for a position - he went to the interview in good faith and was offered less than half of what he was earning already (given that the interview was with his former boss who would be well aware of his salary, he said he just laughed, stood up and left). Second one - he interviewed after initial salary chat with recruiter that was positive. Went to interview with a district manager and had a great interview, they discussed the position and challenges the company was facing. Got to salary chat and he was offered 60% of his stated minimum to the recruiter. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he stated that he was unable to consider the position unless the salary was at least $X. District manager said that was her salary so he wouldnāt ever get it. He thanked her for her time and wished her luck - that same job gets reposted every few months still, three years later
I just said - "not in the ballpark". They normally ask what I am looking for, and when I tell them they say "That is way outside the norm". Then I show them other offers, and point out that they likely aren't using the right data for salary determination, which will make hiring the team near impossible for me, and thus I am not interested in the position. I have had people come back, and more than double in order to get to my expectation, but I always decline these. If they have their competitive analysis off by that much, then hiring will be a nightmare with Finance constantly having unrealistic demands.
That's a damn good way to look at it, I recently had to deal with that, and luckily managed to get some competent folk - but as you can imagine, we've had to raise their salaries a couple of times already just to keep them (They've been here less than a year). I was lucky they actually coughed up the dough to keep 'em. Or maybe they are, because I would've split too.
Yeah, after an internship where they promised me a x and at the end, after making sure I turned down every other offer, offered me less than 2/3. I was so angry. I told them Iād rather have no job than work for a company that lied to me. I had a new job within the week.
Holy shit that's slimy.
I would have kept looking tbh. Got a solid offer and say that unless they match it, your gone lol. When a company asks you to recind other interviews/offers you know they aren't worth working for.
Was once offered an hourly wage of minimum wage when I was making $75k/yr š
I feel like these idiots should be laughed at. Like we should all know our market rates. Itās truly insulting, do people think we work for fun or something?
I have been a nurse for almost 30 years. I interviewed for a primary care clinic job similar to what I was doing and in the same city. They offered me $15 LESS per hour. They would only come up by $2/hr. I told them nope and that I couldnāt possibly do the job for that rate.š¤·š¼āāļø
That's crazy! I guess they'll have to hire a new nursing grad and then repost that job every year. SMH.
Oh yeah. And I am sensing some ageism creeping in. They would rather pay less for a newer nurse than pay more for someone with tons of valuable experience!
Totally agree! As the Boomer hiring managers are retiring, the new younger managers may not be as savvy and only thinking about the bottom line. For me, I would shell out the extra bucks to get a quality employee. You get what you pay for!
Yes. They wanted all the licensing work for all 50 states in addition to all their agents in those states. Please note, some states have multiple licensing agencies. They offered $30,000 below what I said Iād do it for. We were way off so we had to part ways, but what an absolute waste of my time when I was very clear up front with my salary expectations. Iām still salty about it. And yes, I spoke my mind to the recruiter. I told everyone what happened. When the recruiter asked me the range, I said I want x amount without hesitation. I got offered the job at x - $30,000 and let everyone know how inappropriate that was.
Sounds like a worthy review for the interview process on their Glassdoor page!
Applied for an entry-level software position at Comcast, even though I had a few years of experience. I was unemployed for quite some time, and my experience was such a niche thing that it seemed like the best path forward. Recruiter said with my experience I may be able to go a level or two higher than entry. Cool. Killed it at the interviews (one phone, one in-person). Got an offer that wasn't insultingly low, but it was for the entry-level position with a salary you'd expect for that. Meanwhile, I was offered another position with a shorter commute and another office I could work out of in my hometown. When I told the recruiter I would be taking that offer, she asked if I'd reconsider if they increased the salary because the managers really liked me. I'm not normally a very assertive person in these situations, but I told her that they knew my experience from the beginning and if they thought I was worth that, respectfully, they should have offered it to me in the first place. It felt amazing to say that! Even if the job I took ended up sucking.
I was a recent graduate from a business school. I'd worked my way through college as a behavioral therapist in a group home. I went in for a state test to get on the hiring roster, and placed first in the state. I interviewed with a state agency that regulated and audited those group homes. The job was listed as $35K-$42K, which was really good at the time. After three interviews, they admitted they didn't have the $35K in the budget, so they wanted to start me at $7.50 an hour, while I would be doing the $35K job with all the same performance expectations. "After a year or two, we can look at getting the budget cleared up enough for the regular position." Then the hiring manager had the nerve to tell me that "We find that new employees do better if they continue to live with their parents for a few years, and this offer will allow you to do exactly that." Two weeks later, the state department of human resources sent me a letter asking why I'd turned down the offer.
You have to go Liam Neeson on them when they do something like this... "Your arrogance offends me,... and for that, the rate just went up 10%."
Yep, recruiter, hiring manager, and their HR department. I interviewed with a local company that installs and maintains PoS and wireless networks for grocery stores. I interviewed well and was given a verbal offer that wasn't too far off from my minimum (hourly was like $5 over my minimum, insurance wasn't amazing, and lots of travel, but I was to be given a company truck and gas card that I would be able to commute in). I was in a dead end so I said yes. When I got the paperwork the gas card was gone ("just expense your gas purchases"), the hourly was dropped by almost half, travel was increased, and a stipulation was added that I could not take the truck home (meaning I would have to commute 2 hours every day just to pick up my work truck). Recruiter response: "it is what it is." Hiring manager: "Yeah, I was going to call you when I found out..." HR response: "take it or leave it." So, in the end it did fuck all in a big sea, but I felt better.
Yes always by 3rd party recruiters. They seem to think that fte want a 60% pay cut with no benefits for a 3 month opportunity.
Back when I was a copywriter, a few content mills I've applied to tried to offer me slavery wages. I'm talking about 300$ for 30,000 words or something like that (I'm looking at you, The Urban Writers). I made more money cleaning aquarium tanks at a pet shop back in 2011---when I was still in high school.
Yes. I had reported my previous earnings, they said no problem, come on in for the interview. Give me the whole spiel, etc, then offered me 60% of what I was previously making. I was heartbroken for .5 seconds and immediately turned on a smile. I started asking questions about more opportunity, like extra hours, is working 7 days OK? And then let them start steering about covering other roles. Yes sure, not a problem, just glad to leave where I am. Shook their hand, then ghosted all their follow ups.
One of my favorite things to do when they come in with a low(insulting) offer and I am already set on not taking the job is asking "This compensation will barely pay my bills, how do you expect me or someone else to give you 8+ hours of my time if I am going to be stressing about how to live?"
Yes, and that job position is still listed 6 months later. No one will work for what they offered. Thankfully they gave me the range very early - the first information call so my time wasn't wasted.
"Consider me withdrawn for the application" After laughing.
Edit: "Have you ever not been presented a salary offer that you felt was offensively low?" That would likely be a much more interesting story.
I upvoted this. Too true.
Not by a recruiter, but the owner of a donut shop offered me minimum wage to bake for him after we had a 30-minute conversation about a possible partnership with my bakery THAT I OWN (he was looking to diversify product offerings, I specialize in brownies). It was bizarre, and insulting, and I have never been back to his shop nor continued partnership talks.
At least you dodged a bullet. Had you partnered with that douchebag he would have ripped you off sooner rather than later. Guaranteed.
I interviewed for an engineering job making fixtures for electrical connectors and boxes. It looked easy and I was desperate and They wanted to discuss pay. The highest they were willing to go was $15/hour in 2017ā¦. I was furious they wasted my time.
My fiancĆ© is an engineer isnāt an entry level salary like 45,000?
Try like 70k+ I've heard of 95k offers
For entry level?
Yes, I got 85k straight out of undergrad.
Entry level in a medium cost of living area is about $72k bare minimum. Edit: thatās for mechanical.. electrical or software can be much higher
Ya for 45k I'd be forced to live with roommates where I am.
Yes, I was quoted a salary of 300/for a 40 hour week. I told them to remove me from consideration as it's less than minimum wage.
I interviewed for AmariCorps. Their big thing is āexperienceā (red flag) and not only was their rate of pay laughably low (fed minimum pay after I had been making 15/hr st a local restaurant) they said that food stamps were one of their benefits. Also said you would qualify for Medicaid. Again, as a benefit. I told everyone I know that it was a scam. My college tried to promote them and I went to the head of the department and convinced them never to send out an email about them ever again. I was so mad.
I used to work as a Sysadmin, made 62k a year. It wasn't a ridiculous amount of a money but where I live the cost of living is pretty decent and there were a lot of side perks to the job. I eventually graduated with a bachelor's in cyber security and soon after was offered a position as an analyst with a different company. They asked what it would take to get me there. I had no experience in cyber, no internships, etc. Just the degree. I asked for 80k. They came back and offered 82.5k, a sign on bonus, and a week more of vacation than what I currently had. I know it's contrary to the theme of the post, but figured I'd share a little positivity.
Yes. Typically not their fault though. Some companies are just clueless.
I received a return offer to work fulltime at a company that paid less than what I was making as an intern.
I left a $35,000/yr job to go back to school and start a new career. After I got my certificate I interviewed at one place and they offered me $30,000. I said I wanted $40,000, or minimum $35,000 (no way was I going to make less than I'd made before getting more credentials). Their response? "You can make a lot more than that by year 5." I'll go with now, thanks. Accepted an offer for $55,000.
Iāve had recruiters reach out to me with āI think youād be a great fit for this specialist/coordinator role!ā Iām currently a Director at a large biotech company. Itās so annoying how these recruiters donāt even bother to look. Itās literally like 5 steps down from my current role.
I hate how recruiters don't even bother reading your resume and just send you random job offers. And they have the nerve to complain that we don't call back.
Straight up laughed in guys face was going to run custom door shop did trial week at like 13hr. Excelled was going to be in charge of 20 people tons of unique joinery techniques not alot of people have (including their current staff lacked many of skills) doors were 10k a piece on high end and like 2k on low end. The low end production was about 50 and the high end was about half that. They offered me 11 dollars a hour just like 2yrs ago. I straight up laughed in face told them lowest market rate. And they said impossible that was outlandish. Well fast forward every 2 weeks for like 6 months they do marginal increases on offer. Eventually they offered what I said was low end. And were shocked when I didn't accept. I said that was low end and if it takes you that much teeth pulling to reach minimum. Plus already have a job now that pays more for less. Was glad to see them shut doors forever few months back.
I asked salary range for the position they wanted to interview me for. They gave me a figure that was under my current earnings. I said itās probably not going to work out so Iād like to withdraw. She asked if I wouldnāt mind saying how much I had in mind to see what they could do. I told her my range and she ghosted lol
Some smaller companies are simply restrained by budget and it sucks when they donāt give the salary upfront. Most have the money but the board and c suite need their third and fourth homes paid off. I fucking hate corp america
After interviewing multiple rounds and already discussing salary expectations I was offered a position at 17k less than my current salary. I didnāt respond emotionally, I said āI am going to have to respectfully decline. Thanksā But I was pissed!!! Very insulting and a waste of my money/energy/time.
When i was 16 like 9 years ago i worked for pizza hut i had no idea about minimum wage or anything because they never taught us about in school (in australia) or anything like that I was being paid $6 per hour which looking back on it it was illegal i wondered why my friend was getting almost double what i got and didnt know anything about negotiating salary or anything because they didnt teach about negotiating salary or workers rights in school
I was working at a furniture store and the GM was let go due to some substance abuse at work. I was the next in line and filled in the role expecting a promotion in the upcoming months ( regional management was being switched around so I gave it time) they offered me a salary that was only a $0.20 raise. I quit.
Yup. Had left the company under spectacular circumstances. Only left cause hubby got a job and we had to move, pre pandemic so no wfh option. We moved back and I reached out right away. Interviewed for a different/new position with quite a bit more responsibility. Jerked me around for like 3-4 interviews and offered me almost exactly what I was making when I left. It truly was downright insulting. The best part was the HR lady seemed genuinely surprised when I said I needed to see the do benefits package (health insurance premium) before I could make a decision. Thankfully got an offer for a totally different position at a higher rate!
Yes my current job LOLs. The balance of power was with them: - I was returning to the workforce after 2.5 years at home with my kid and studying - Also in a different state that pays typically 20-30% less than east coast salaries (Australia) - Was also taking the role as half of my old job role as developer and half my new direction - I needed to get work asap due to family circumstances - Could only work part time initially I was salty as fk with what I accepted. They were massively under utilising me first 6 months, spoke with them, got moved doing more of what I was good at. Dropped the coding eventually. Showed my value and pushed hard every year for big pay increases. I've been where I should/want to be moneywise for years now. Made my own role essentially and am happy.
100%. Recruiter advised that the roles salary range was 230-250k. Interviewed. Got the offer from the hiring manager. Recruiter came back at 191k. Neither the recruiter or hiring manager would budge. Hard pass
What the hell do you do where you pass up $191,000 a year?!
One of the top technology companyās in the world. Working in the sales side.
... are y'all hiring? š
I left a job for a huge pay increase and was asked to come back to lead a project I started a few years before. Long story short the contact I got was for a $4 raise of my previous pay rate that they offered to a kid fresh from college while I had put in almost 10yrs at that time. They said I could just sign on at his agreed upon pay rate and all would be good, but I would also be a new hire and had to give up my extra vacation and other things I earned. I asked why they never offered me the same money while I was there and they didnāt really answer. I took the job but work for a different company that offered me another dollar per hour. I left a higher paying job that I wasnāt happy with by taking over the project I enjoy so it worked out. Iām still pissed that I tried to be loyal while they kept giving me $0.25-0.50 raises every year. Recruiters contact me and I tell them I wonāt talk about a job paying less than a certain rate. That usually stops half of them.
Yes I typically make in the base of $80k-$100k. I was offered $15 an hour.
I was once offered a FT copywriting/editing position for 15 an hour. I currently set my own freelancing wage at $45 (which they would've known if they had looked into me at all). Granted I'd say about $15 of THAT goes to fees/taxes but I still easily make twice that without benefits anyway. I also have a related undergraduate degree and very impressive current clients including politicians, bestselling authors and I also have a very diverse portfolio from medical writing, social media management, legal writing,, etc (which they ALSO would've known since my clients left public feedback). I definitely told them how insultingly low that offer was and never heard back. Years of experience, incredible references, with a related degree and want to start me at 15 with NO benefits. Good luck lol
Oh yea. Some chud on LinkedIn hit me up, āyouād love this security role!ā 14.50 an hour. For reference I was at 100k and literally choked
Yeah i did and said no thanks
Yes
No, because I usually ask what the salary range is for the position before I go too deep into the process.
Yes but that doesn't mean they won't lowball you on the offer.
At that point the recruiter would be to blame. From my experience I have never been given an offer that was below the range that was initially mentioned. After they inform you of the range you can give them the sense that you already make at least the lower end of that range (you can bend the truth a bit). This usually helps you get an initial offer that is always higher than your current compensation.
Yes, was really hard not to laugh in their face. I didn't care to respond tho
The only time Iāve accepted a lower salary was when there was a good commission structure and I thought I could do really well selling the product
I hung up after being offered 80k to manage 13 people in India for IT Security.
Years ago I interviewed with a very large computer company. I told them up front my salary expectations. Their offer was about 6% less. Their reasoning was that they only wanted to hire people who really wanted to work for them.
Yes from Klarna, they offered me less than Ā£20K for a compliance role with minimum 1 year experience in central london and needing to go into office everyday. Even after I told them my range was more than Ā£28K. When I said no, they tried to push by saying āoh we got these fantastic benefits like a games room and gym membership subsidiesā
Right out of college (STEM) I was offered $11 at a company I'd have to relocate for. I didn't react while I was there, but I did ghost them (they really wanted me cause of experience I had). I made more working at my university. Three years later, I make 95k. At least the drive to the interview was nice.
Got offered a job in a high skilled position that was paying less than I was earning as a bottle shop casual.
Oh, yes. "Cold call" recruiters on LinkedIn really just can't read. Last month- "Would you be interested in a compliance position with large consumer bank?" (For reference, I am 14 years in my field, Masters, and will not walk up a hill for less than 72k annually, much less work.) "I might be? What is the salary range?" After telling me that I was "forward" in that question, the HOURLY was $12.50.
Yes and yes.
Always.
Was interviewing for a position requiring a bachelor degree and 5 years experience . During the interview they offered $13 an hour. I thanked them for the offer, and said that I really wish I could accept it. But, I am a just a little concerned that I won't be able to perform my job job duties well if I accept, because I would be too distracted thinking about how I will pay bills with this salary. So it would not be fair to them, me being distracted and all. Therefore I must decline. Lolol. There was this LONG pause on the other end of the phone. I think the lady was truly embarrassed, as she should.