Interviews & Salary Expectations

[h0b0]

I had a new hire say on the first day "why did you only offer X amount?" I replied with " you gave me a range of X to Y for expectations why would I go Y?" in truth X was the absolute max I could go so it worked out well.

[New POD]

Simbu said:

New POD said:

I disagree. Value yourself on what you are worth, and not as a percentage of what you were on.

To a point, yes. I think it very much depends on the career. I'm finding in my career a close correlation between experience and salary expectations. Of course other fields will be much more fluid.

So Understand the Correlation as far as is possible, although it's easier said than done.

What am I worth ? No idea. But I knew what one company payed someone my age, with same qualifications, similar experience (a friend from uni), and priced myself out of a permanent job by asking for 20% more (On purpose)

Unless he was lying, and I might have been asking for 40% more LOL

[albatross]

Any decent employer will have a pretty good idea of what you are worth relative to both the market and their existing employees, that is what you are pitching against. You should have an idea of what you're worth too, pitch slightly higher than that and negotiate down. If the employers come back a much lower offer one of you is taking the urine.

Good luck

[Famous Graham]

Never, ever take a day off sick for an interview. It WILL come back and bite you in the arse.

If they're local, ask for a lunchhour interview and stress you can't be away for more than an hour, or, if they're not local, arrange a phone interview or one out of hours.

The latter will not only demonstrate their commitment to hiring you, but will reflect well on you for giving up your time.

ETA as for salary stuff, I'm rubbish - I've only been asked twice rather than the position having a fixed salary and both times I was out of work, so I would have taken them for 2.50 an hour and a sack of potatoes

[Steameh]

I got asked my salary expectations in a job interview recently, I fudged the answer and consequently they offered a package that financially I cannot afford to take. Shame as the company the job seemed really interesting.

Not trying to derail the thread, but is there any right way to turn down a job offer? Be polite and explain the reasons is what I planned to do.

[AJS-]

Steameh said:

I got asked my salary expectations in a job interview recently, I fudged the answer and consequently they offered a package that financially I cannot afford to take. Shame as the company the job seemed really interesting.

Not trying to derail the thread, but is there any right way to turn down a job offer? Be polite and explain the reasons is what I planned to do.

Probably better that the package offered isn't enough, but if they'd go to X then you would take it. Assuming you actually want the job and XX would make it financially worth your while.

[Tyrewrecker]

It can be done. Good friend recently went from 27k to 49k.

[W333]

Steameh said:

I got asked my salary expectations in a job interview recently, I fudged the answer and consequently they offered a package that financially I cannot afford to take. Shame as the company the job seemed really interesting.

Not trying to derail the thread, but is there any right way to turn down a job offer? Be polite and explain the reasons is what I planned to do.

Did you go via an agency? Get them to tell them, and then follow up with a personal letter (not email) to the person who interviewed you thanking them for the opportunity and saying it was unfortunate that you couldn't agree terms.

I turned a job down because they didn't meet my salary expectations, and then they contacted me a month later to invite me to interview for a more senior role with better money. It was all because I stayed in touch with the guy who interviewed me and I was open and clear at all stages.