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First of all, I can't give you an idea of what you should shoot for
because I don't know where in this vast world you are and what the
ranges there look like. Second, the economy stinks and employers are
learning that if one person won't jump at the low-ball, another
certainly will.
I say go with your gut. No one should blacklist you should you very
nicely ask for a reasonable amount above the offered rate ($10k higher,
in most cases, is unreasonable). Finally, if they can't/won't budge on
the salary, see if they'll throw you a bone with regard to increasing
your vacation time or give you other job-related perks (an office, a
laptop, telecommute opportunity, etc.).
B I L L S W A L L O W
Information Design & Development Professional
tel/fax: 518.371.1867 wswallow -at- nycap -dot- rr -dot- com
List Owner: HATT, WWP-Users, InFrame
Co-Moderator: SingleSourcing-Mgmt
WebWorks Wizard Editor of InFrame Magazine
::: -----Original Message-----
::: I've been doing a variety of writing and illustration
::: on a consulting basis for the past 4 1/2 years and
::: permanent for about 5 years before that.
:::
::: Local permanent position came open that they called
::: about interviewing me for. The HR representative
::: asked me openly about salary on the phone call before
::: we even set up the interview. It is paying in the
::: $39,000 to $49,000 range annually. Significantly
::: below what I have seen offered for my experience.
:::
::: When I asked if the department or manager involved
::: might consider a boost given my experience she
::: indicated that it was out of her jurisdiction as the
::: department set the pay grade for the position. It
::: sounded like a dodge to me.
:::
::: As we left it she set up a telephone screen in a
::: couple of days and asked me to read the full job
::: description and let her know if I was still interested
::: given the salary range. While we talked I discovered
::: I had not been given the full description...I got the
::: lead through a networking contact.
:::
::: My first instinct is to go ahead and interview for the
::: position and see if I can even get an offer and then
::: try and leverage them higher. Then again, the HR reps
::: open and honest approach makes me feel like this might
::: not be taken very kindly and close the door to future
::: employment with them.
:::
::: Do you think it might be possible to push them into
::: the low $60K range give my experience or should I just
::: let it go professionally and leave the door open as
::: the company is one I would love to work for in the
::: future if this didn't work out?
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