Company waisted my time re: interview

[Anonymous]

I know this happens all the time, but it is annoying. This is the second company i interview with, I stated my salary history and expectations in the application process and both companies came back with an offer that is significantly lower than what I am currently making. The first company followed the fed's hiring process so I understand that I can only get a step or two higher than current salary, but the second one is a big name company and the fact that they are being so cheap with me is irritating. They know my salary expectations, made me go through the process, and then made me an offer $10,000 less than what I asked for and less what I am making, then came back with an offer slightly higher than what I am currently making.

I am so disappointed that I no longer want to work for this company, I am tired of being taken advantage. Is this a common HR tactic?

[Anonymous]

Don't take it personally.

[Anonymous]

First of all, no one is taking advantage of you. Maybe your current company pays you more because there are downsides to working there or they try to attract and keep top talent. No one has to meet your salary expectations. You can choose to not take the offers.

[Anonymous]

OP, that's what I am trying to tell myself, I really wanted to work at both places so getting a low ball like this after you hear how impressive they think you are is irritating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, no one is taking advantage of you. Maybe your current company pays you more because there are downsides to working there or they try to attract and keep top talent. No one has to meet your salary expectations. You can choose to not take the offers.

I am underpaid at my current position, and the reason they gave me was that I was promoted from within and that if I had come with experience I would have been offered more. Based on the research I have done, my salary expectations are in line with what the market pays for someone with my experience and title.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, if you have 3 companies all offering you a salary w/in the same range then it sounds as if the market has spoken. If you really think one of the companies you interviewed with is a good fit and theire is the potential for upward mobility then take it. Sometimes you have to take a step backward or sideways to get ahead in the long run.

[Anonymous]

What about the benefits package? Does the new company have a solid gold health plan at no cost to the employee? A 15 percent 401k match? Free parking? More PTO? Telecommuting?

Make sure you are comparing the total compensation of both employers.

[Anonymous]

It is wasted, not waisted.

[Anonymous]

My company offers 401(k) match plus a pension plan where contribute $15k a year into a lump sum you get when you retire. Most people don't think to consider things like that!

[Anonymous]

Just because you expect a certain salary doesn't mean that that's the going rate for the kind of position you're in. If you're consistency getting one kind of offer, then that's the going rate. Negotiate on benefits.

[Anonymous]

OP here, benefits are very similar to current company so can't negotiate that. I will be working extra hours at the new place, commute will be double and I'll end up paying before school child care, company reimburses mass transit expenses but I am not sure if this covers parking at metro station.

I know people in similar position who make 20K to 30K more with same benefits. They all went through a recruiter and overstated their salary history, so maybe that's the secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is wasted, not waisted.

-$10,000 for spelling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is wasted, not waisted.

OP here, I realized that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is wasted, not waisted.

-$10,000 for spelling

I was using a tablet.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they see salaries going down instead of up down the road, especially given the Administration's efforts to boost the amount of STEM workers coming in from overseas?