topic Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation? in Community Chat

Job interview - Salary negotiation?

beach-mom — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:24:46 GMT

DD is going to an interview with a major company and will be faced with this. DH and I can't help because we never had to worry about this in our career fields. When she went with her present company she was pretty naive, right out of school, and took what they offered. Once she got there, she found out her pay was considerably lower than almost everyone else - including people who came in after she was hired, were less qualified for the job, and are doing the same job.

This time she has a range (she did some research). IF they bring this up it will be easy for her to mention the range. But if they offer her a salary lower than she would like, should she ask for a little more, or should she accept what they offer? The pay might be a little lower, but if the working conditions are better. . .(?)

She's a sweet girl and she's good with people, but she's a tad introverted. She's really nervous about this!

Any advice for her from anyone in the corporate world? TIA!

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

hippityhop27 — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:34:29 GMT

I would recommend her to negotiate. Since she knows the market range for the position it sounds like she is prepared which is a good thing.

Assuming the initial offer they make her is lower than she wants, she should counter offer but at a higher number than she truly wants/expects with the intent that they will counter her offer and settle somewhere in between.

Best of luck to her!

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:45:35 GMT

@hippityhop27 wrote:
I would recommend her to negotiate. Since she knows the market range for the position it sounds like she is prepared which is a good thing.
Assuming the initial offer they make her is lower than she wants, she should counter offer but at a higher number than she truly wants/expects with the intent that they will counter her offer and settle somewhere in between.
Best of luck to her!

@beach-mom

Stop what you're doing right now and google "how to negotiate a job offer" .... really good stuff came up.

One thing that worked for me personally when the salary seemed a little low and was presumably not negotiable .... I asked for a Signing Bonus instead. It worked and I had a small lump sum coming into the job.

I'm sure you'll get even more ideas here ... Good Luck to your daughter!

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Kitlynn — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:45:20 GMT

Listen to the offered wage and all the benefits that the company says go with the position. Then ask about how often raises are given and what they are based on. She should wait to see if they offer her the job and then if they do and she feels like she needs more mone or benefits then that would be the time to negotiate. She also needs to make sure she gets what they agree upon in writing and not just go by what they say they will do. It can be done in a way that just comes across as showing intitiave and not rude or as having a false sense of entitilement.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Mz iMac — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:45:30 GMT

@beach-momRetired from the corporate rat race.

"it will be easy for her to mention the range."

Never mention to the party "the range." The person expects that an interviewee would have done some research.

Wait for the interviewer to mention an amount first. Then you go from there.

"if they offer her a salary lower than she would like, should she ask for a little more, or should she accept what they offer?"

Negotiate for more AND let them know WHY you are worth more.

NEVER accept the FIRST offer unless it's too good to be true! If your daughter has a top notch resume & same has been checked by the company, some companies will offer a better amount than what the interviewee had in mind.

If the offer is within your daughter TOP range, take the offer but ASK if she can have 24 hrs to think it over.

If the offer is lower than your daughter's projected amount, she should ask about "perks" to compensate.......better health plan, etc.

HTH

Is this a call back interview??

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

nomless — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:52:52 GMT

It depends on the job market in her geo location, IMO. Here, there are so many interviewees that trying to negotiate will end the process and the company will move on to its next choice. It's a take it or leave market here. Things might be different in her area.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

drizzellla — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:53:03 GMT

Yes, she should state what she thinks is appropriate. She comes to the job with experience and working knowledge. So she should be compensated accordingly.

No way should she settle for the low part of the range.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

nycgrl — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:02:44 GMT

Being in the corporate world I would first ask does she need the job and can she afford to be picky? How is the job market where she is interviewing - are there other options/companies vying for her? Never, ever talk money at a first interview unless the subject is brought up by the interviewer. Only then can that topic be addressed. Benefits, bonuses, etc. are counted as total salary and are added to the company's bottom line. Is she in a profession where there is overtime or is it a salaried position. Things these days are not like they used to be. There are a lot of people for 1 job. No one is indispensible. Going in confident, well-spoken, knowledgeable in her field and well-groomed will help her to stand out. Never accept the first offer and don't be afraid to walk away (as long as you can afford to).

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

libbyannE — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:07:11 GMT

I am not sure why you are asking because if she is a professional out in the world, she needs to be on top of this on her own! And she probably is. She has probably asked colleagues about this and googled the topic if she is self-motivated. You sound like a loving mom to be asking, though. The thing is, every company operates differently in terms of how much flexibility there is in offering money and benefits, not that one shouldn't ask in an interview. If the interview(s) go well and she is offered a job and she knows the salary offer is at the bottom of an industry range, she should negotiate, say how much she wants to work for THIS and why and say she expected such-and-such an amount and cite specifics of why SHE is worth that and what she can contribute to the organization.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Mz iMac — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:07:58 GMT

@beach-mom

Please keep us updated. Best of luck to your daughter.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

tansy — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:40:54 GMT

The tricky part is figuring out how to avoid stating your present salary if asked.

Good of luck to your daughter.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

JaneMarple — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:16:09 GMT

@tansy wrote:
The tricky part is figuring out how to avoid stating your present salary if asked.

Good of luck to your daughter.
*************************************

Here in Massachusetts a law was passed that prior salary can't be discussed during a interview. But it won't go into effect until 2018. I believe NY is also trying to do this.

Best of luck to your daughter @beach-mom.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

nycgrl — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:06:53 GMT

@tansy wrote:
The tricky part is figuring out how to avoid stating your present salary if asked.

Good of luck to your daughter.

Once they ask that - to me that says they are interested and want to see if they can low ball you or see if the $$$ falls within their budget for that particular job so no one's time is wasted. I'd respond with an amount that would be satisfactory for them to at least match. Unless they have an insider to verify the salary, HR can't give out that information. Also, a lot depends on whether the position is a cost to them or if the position is as a money maker.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

software — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:01:02 GMT

Tell her not to fall for the line they give you about getting a raise in 90 days or whatever. Lots can change in 90 days, get the most you can get up front, no promises!

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

itiswhatitis — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:01:01 GMT

@beach-mom wrote:
DD is going to an interview with a major company and will be faced with this. DH and I can't help because we never had to worry about this in our career fields. When she went with her present company she was pretty naive, right out of school, and took what they offered. Once she got there, she found out her pay was considerably lower than almost everyone else - including people who came in after she was hired, were less qualified for the job, and are doing the same job.

This time she has a range (she did some research). IF they bring this up it will be easy for her to mention the range. But if they offer her a salary lower than she would like, should she ask for a little more, or should she accept what they offer? The pay might be a little lower, but if the working conditions are better. . .(?)

She's a sweet girl and she's good with people, but she's a tad introverted. She's really nervous about this!

Any advice for her from anyone in the corporate world? TIA!

How badly does she need the job? If she really needs the job and interviews are far and few in between, tell her to accept the salary. She can look for better pay later.

This is best resolved by being realistic and not so much on what others say on a forum though.

Good luck.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Ruthie-Roo — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 20:01:32 GMT

Lots of GREAT tips and valuable input from everyone. By the way, @beach-mom, good luck and best wishes to your daughter. :-)

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

nycgrl — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 21:28:38 GMT

Let us know how it goes. Good luck to her. Everything works out in the end. Sometimes you have to settle but a job in this day and age for any young person is a good thing. It's always easier to find a job when you already have one. For some reason that makes them more apt to negotiate because you don't need them.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

chrystaltree — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 04:18:12 GMT

First, she should not bring up salary until she has been offered the position. I don't know how it was done 20 or 30 years ago but in the workplace today, when we are filling a position, we already know how high or low we will go. And, while someone might know in general what the industry pays for a certain positions.....applicants do NOT know what the position they are interviewing for will pay. I cannot even count (I've been a manager for 10 years) the number of people who actually short changed themselves because they did "research" and only succeeded in neotioating DOWN from the figure I would have offered. It just happened a month a go. I offered a woman a position and before I could even tell her what the position paid ($51,000); she piped in with "I'd love to accept but I have to tell you, I cannot accept less than $46,000". So.....we agreed on $46,000 and she started two weeks later. Since professionals don't discuss salaries, she will never know that she short changed herself by $5000 a year. It has happened before with applicants, it will happen again. Salary negotiation happens after the employer offers the job and she should let them start with a figure. If she wants more and is willing to risk losing out on the job, she can ask for 3-5% more. 3% is safer. They will take it or leave but that's it. Employers don't engage in protracted salary negotiations. Some don't negotiate at all. They know what they are willing to pay and if a prospective employee doesn't want it, they move on to the next candidate. She should think carefully about all the other things that she likes about the job. Is it worth risking a position she really wants for a few percentage points in salary? Because if she's the strongest candidate and they really want her, they are going to offer her the highest salary they can offer so they won't lose her.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

chrystaltree — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 04:25:11 GMT

@tansy wrote:
The tricky part is figuring out how to avoid stating your present salary if asked.

Good of luck to your daughter.

We don't ask about prior salaries and haven't for many years. Some states, like mine, prohibit it. But even before that, we stopped asking because applicants "embellished" their salary history in an attempt to get a higher starting salary. Now there are industry standards in every field. Salary history is irrelevant. We base salaries on industry standards and our own budgets.

Re: Job interview - Salary negotiation?

Stray — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:32:37 GMT

I worked 28 years in NYC at a Fortune 100 and worked in HR; I hired plenty of people. You don't talk salary initially and a Company has a range for each job title that It is willing to pay. Sometimes, when you read a candidate resume, something will stand out and the person may be interviewing for one job position but seems perfect for another opening after an interview which sometimes is more lucrative or challenging. I interviewed many attorneys who were applying or the legal department but were offered positions on the corporate intranet and loved it. There are so many new and interesting positions today that are not "mainstream" jobs. First point, don't lock yourself into a box and think of yourself as an attorney, an accountant etc. I was a nurse when I entered my firm in 1985 and came out with advanced degrees in Psycholgy and a law degree....and held a position much more diverse than my initial one but I still used my nursing degree, often...

Salary is not the only benefit...you should look at educational opportunities, benefits including sick time, maternity leave, a gym, a healthy cafeteria, on site child care, promotion opportunities and employee incentives including employee development programs and bonus policy as well as "dress down policies" ( yes, that is a valued benefit).

What you may have made before in one Company doesn't mean you will make the same amount at a new company. The job description might vary at a new company.

Sadly, the reality today with the economy...candidates are a dime a dozen and employers do not have to give a candidate top dollar and they don't. I worked in a Company that was excellent but it's business and you try to get the best bang for the buck...that's reality. If you don't accept or don't work out, there are 10 candidates behind you waiting in line for that same job.

My advice is to have a professional resume done with very strong emphasis on your particular strong characteristics that would make you successful wherever you choose to work or in varied positions. That opens you up to different opportunities, you've never thought about. HR consultants look at community service very closely; it is important to list everything you have done re to altruism as it goes to character. College GPA no matter how long ago is looked at very seriously so be sure to note it along with educational background.

Obtain, the annual report of the Company conducting your interview. Ask questions about what you learned from it. Understand the Company's goals, policies and business plans and how you may fit in.

Go in with an open mind and not set on salary or even a particular position. Of course, one needs $ to live and if an offer is made and the salary quote so low, it's the point of ridiculous, well, you wouldn't want to work there so move on....

most HR consultants are looking for qualities and how a person may be developed and fit in at the organization. Yes, experience counts but today, not the sole deciding factor.