Job interview - no salary discussion before...

[M511]

Has anyone ever been to a job interview where the salary isn't discussed beforehand? I've been offered an interview for a London based management consultancy, but when I asked what the banding was, I was told this would be discussed after the first interview.

Is this the new norm now?

[tankplanker]

They may be wanting to work out what day rate they can charge for you once they have met you and that'll dictate which band they would stick you on?

[M511]

tankplanker said:

They may be wanting to work out what day rate they can charge for you once they have met you and that'll dictate which band they would stick you on?

How do ensure I get the best deal possible?!

[John Laverick]

Unless I was absolutely desperate for a role I personally wouldn't agree to attending an interview unless I had an idea of salary / day-rate figures beforehand.

Otherwise you risk completely wasting your time / money and effort.

[tankplanker]

M511 said:

How do ensure I get the best deal possible?!

Give the best interview possible, when salary comes up be clear about what you are on now, what your billing was over last couple of years, what your expectations are.

This assuming they are playing fair and not trying to low ball you and that they have a good interview process to work out what to charge you at.

I'm assuming they have asked what you are currently on? Personally I wouldn't waste my time interviewing somebody I couldn't afford. Even if they were desperate and would take less cash now, they'd most likely move on to the first better paying job.

If they waste your time with this and do low ball you wouldn't want to work there anyway.

John Laverick said:

Unless I was absolutely desperate for a role I personally wouldn't agree to attending an interview unless I had an idea of salary / day-rate figures beforehand.

Otherwise you risk completely wasting your time / money and effort.

I've had companies break any planned banding they had for a role to try and make me jump, but that normally happens after the interview not before. My current role neither of us knew what I'd be doing let alone what the pay would be until it was thrashing out over several interviews.

However I would want to be sure that the company I'm moving to knows how much I'm already on, they should have more sense that to waste both our time if they don't want to pay anywhere near what I'm on already.

[ukwill]

John Laverick said:

Unless I was absolutely desperate for a role I personally wouldn't agree to attending an interview unless I had an idea of salary / day-rate figures beforehand.

Otherwise you risk completely wasting your time / money and effort.

This. Why on earth would you bother unless you were desperate for a job?

[petjam]

I have interviewed for my past 5 consulting roles without knowing salary details.

The flip side also works, where you can then dictate what salary you want. Let them fall in love with you and then price yourself accordingly.

[Steviesam]

ukwill said:

John Laverick said:

Unless I was absolutely desperate for a role I personally wouldn't agree to attending an interview unless I had an idea of salary / day-rate figures beforehand.

Otherwise you risk completely wasting your time / money and effort.

This. Why on earth would you bother unless you were desperate for a job?

I agree.

I was asked for an interview (that's tomorrow), but declined as it didn't state salary, so I said no point in coming as I want £xx. (this figure was £10k more than I really wanted).

They replied, we can meet that expectation, plus car etc etc.

Off to London tomorrow!!!!

[Nano2nd]

first question i ask any recruiter that contacts, me whats the package and whats the company... sometimes neither of which they want to disclose! some recruiters won't think twice about putting you into an interview for a position on less money "just in case"... pisses me off! and don't talk to me about recruiters sending you candidates that are woefully under-qualified!

[John Laverick]

On a slightly separate subject:

I went for an interview at a large British motorcycle manufacturer a few years ago whose names is synonymous with ‘Success’

First interview:
2 x lead engineers grilling me for an hour plus a competency test.
Invited back for 2nd interview with Head of engineering.

Second interview:
Same 2 x lead engineers as the head of engineering wasn’t available (last minute).
Asked to come back a third time.

Third interview
Same 2x lead engineers, head of engineering just didn’t turn up.
Asked to come back a fourth time.

My response was to stop wasting my time, I don’t want to work for a company that can’t decide on a candidates suitability in two interviews, never mind four!!

It wasn’t even a well paid role at the time, would have meant a £10k pay cut.

[petjam]

I got to 6 interviews at a well known IB for a role, I gave up when they called me back for a seventh and went to somewhere else which only gave me 1.

I have a friend who works at Bloomberg and he had 12 interviews over a six month period!

[silent ninja]

tankplanker said:

However I would want to be sure that the company I'm moving to knows how much I'm already on, they should have more sense that to waste both our time if they don't want to pay anywhere near what I'm on already.

I don't agree with this. I would never reveal what I am on now. It's their job to figure out what I am worth in the market - what value I will bring, and cost up a salary accordingly. What I get paid now is not relevant.

Also, when I am moving roles, I'm doing it because I have matured and am over-performing in my role. I want to develop more, I want to be paid more. If you are always working off your last job, your ambitions will be limited to 5% increases each year, not the 50% increase you are probably capable of.

Sell your skills, sell what you can deliver, sell your value. They need to work out the rest themselves. If pushed, go for an ambitious but realistic figure (you usually know how much are you worth).

[edc]

M511 said:

Has anyone ever been to a job interview where the salary isn't discussed beforehand? I've been offered an interview for a London based management consultancy, but when I asked what the banding was, I was told this would be discussed after the first interview.

Is this the new norm now?

Most of my interviews have been like this. I wouldn't worry about it unless you know the business has a reputation for paying extremely low.

[anonymous-user]

I had a set of interviews at amanagement consultancy like tis, in the end they offered much more than I was expecting.

the downside was it was the worst job Ive ever had, more back stabbing than in ancient Rome and getteing screwed by people desparate to make partner and not caring who they trample on the way up.

I left after a year of this following a performance review where I had great reviews, my boss didnt like me so went and found some other people to ride alternate negative ones.

Easy escape once I got HR involved, 3 months tax free cash to go quietly, even though I had no rights to anything.

Walked into a consulting role on the same money.

TL:DR; Management Consultancies do that, however theyre horrific to work for

[4x4Tyke]

Set your salary expectation out in the covering letter. This should avoid wasting each others time.

Like any negotiation make that the high figure, not your minimum.

[M511]

Thank you all for your replies. Decided against it and when they asked why I made it clear I want to know what's on offer before I spend hours interviewing.

[The Selfish Gene]

good for you.

I've never heard of such a thing.

[AyBee]

M511 said:

Thank you all for your replies. Decided against it and when they asked why I made it clear I want to know what's on offer before I spend hours interviewing.

Right response - not entirely sure why they wanted to interview you without letting you at least know a range, it's not in their interest to waste their own time either.

[The Selfish Gene]

surely its the first thing anyone looks at

with houses it's location

cars it's RWD

Jobs it's money!

[bga]

AyBee said:

M511 said:

Thank you all for your replies. Decided against it and when they asked why I made it clear I want to know what's on offer before I spend hours interviewing.

Right response - not entirely sure why they wanted to interview you without letting you at least know a range, it's not in their interest to waste their own time either.

It's common across consultancy for reasons given previously. Often there will be a requirement that could be fulfilled in a number of ways and across a number of grades. That realistically could be between £50k and £100k basic. Obviously everyone assumes they are the £100k candidate.

That doesn't make it right but to refuse an interview is going to limit opportunities in that particular industry.