so recently I was encouraged/asked by an employer to apply for a job with them. I’m not looking, but it was interesting work, so I thought “why not?”. Had an interview, great chats etc.
they just contacted me to ask if I would take the role at a level several below what they had said it would be, which was already below what I currently earn, in the order of tens of thousands of dollars, and significantly more junior.
I try not to be rude in these situations, but I was so shocked I actually laughed in the zoom call and just said “absolutely not”, wished them well and concluded the call immediately.
they approached me, not the other way around, and I am comfortably and successfully employed. why on earth would they waste my time, and their own!? my job comes with a very clear title, and my salary band is very public information (10 second google).
Don’t get me wrong - I’m grateful to be in the position to have options, it’s just that the whole thing was very, very weird (and I’m trying not to be so arrogant as to be mildly insulted).
Are you by any chance in government and it was a private sector agency offering, like, a really cool, family vibe, like, you know, we work hard, but we play hard? We also have a ping pong table and free muffins?
I experienced similar in the past. They seemed to think their ‘trying really hard to be like Google’ schtick would make me ignore the worse benefits and salary.
Had this happen quite a few times, I just tell them it would be a pay cut, so not interested. Recruiters are needy af and try to pigeonhole me into any role that they see fit. (Tech).
interestingly, it wasn’t recruiters but the company directly. Anybody remotely familiar with my industry would be able to guess my salary fairly easily based on my employer and my position title (or google the info in a few seconds), so it was just a very strange incident all round.
TBH, I’d try be more diplomatic. “You understand this is far below the market rate, right?” and if they say yes “Whilst I appreciate the offer I don’t appreciate my time being wasted”. Not worth burning bridges, right?
oh, I don’t know…it shows either a complete lack of preparation on their part or (more likely given that their original pitch was more reasonable) an underhanded attempt to get particular expertise/kudos on the cheap As I said, my pay rate is pretty common knowledge: I have a specific position, and you can google that position, my employer, and see what I’m paid within a narrow bracket. My position title also makes my level of seniority very clear. Either way, not a group I want to work with, so if I burnt any bridges I’m not too bothered
I wasn’t at all rude to them, I was genuinely just shocked and politely terminated the discussion (albeit after a slight chuckle). I can think of many individuals in my equivalent position/approximate field who will be a lot more blunt with them than I was, should they attempt the same thing!
so recently I was encouraged/asked by an employer to apply for a job with them. I’m not looking, but it was interesting work, so I thought “why not?”. Had an interview, great chats etc.
they just contacted me to ask if I would take the role at a level several below what they had said it would be, which was already below what I currently earn, in the order of tens of thousands of dollars, and significantly more junior.
I try not to be rude in these situations, but I was so shocked I actually laughed in the zoom call and just said “absolutely not”, wished them well and concluded the call immediately.
they approached me, not the other way around, and I am comfortably and successfully employed. why on earth would they waste my time, and their own!? my job comes with a very clear title, and my salary band is very public information (10 second google).
Don’t get me wrong - I’m grateful to be in the position to have options, it’s just that the whole thing was very, very weird (and I’m trying not to be so arrogant as to be mildly insulted).
Are you by any chance in government and it was a private sector agency offering, like, a really cool, family vibe, like, you know, we work hard, but we play hard? We also have a ping pong table and free muffins?
I experienced similar in the past. They seemed to think their ‘trying really hard to be like Google’ schtick would make me ignore the worse benefits and salary.
Haha that’s fantastic. What kind of shitty offer was that-it’s genuinely laughable.
Had this happen quite a few times, I just tell them it would be a pay cut, so not interested. Recruiters are needy af and try to pigeonhole me into any role that they see fit. (Tech).
interestingly, it wasn’t recruiters but the company directly. Anybody remotely familiar with my industry would be able to guess my salary fairly easily based on my employer and my position title (or google the info in a few seconds), so it was just a very strange incident all round.
That’s not being mildly insulted, that’s knowing your worth.
TBH, I’d try be more diplomatic. “You understand this is far below the market rate, right?” and if they say yes “Whilst I appreciate the offer I don’t appreciate my time being wasted”. Not worth burning bridges, right?
oh, I don’t know…it shows either a complete lack of preparation on their part or (more likely given that their original pitch was more reasonable) an underhanded attempt to get particular expertise/kudos on the cheap As I said, my pay rate is pretty common knowledge: I have a specific position, and you can google that position, my employer, and see what I’m paid within a narrow bracket. My position title also makes my level of seniority very clear. Either way, not a group I want to work with, so if I burnt any bridges I’m not too bothered
I wasn’t at all rude to them, I was genuinely just shocked and politely terminated the discussion (albeit after a slight chuckle). I can think of many individuals in my equivalent position/approximate field who will be a lot more blunt with them than I was, should they attempt the same thing!