Applying for a job with a lower salary

[Anonymous]

Interesting sounding job at a nonprofit I really admire lists salary for a new position as "in the 60s with adjustments based on experience."

I really want to be make at least 100k. I'm almost at that level and have been paid below market rate where I am for a few years with salary freezes (important mission I believe in blah blah blah). In the corporate world I'd be much higher.

A couple questions:

1-is a $40,000 jump to crazy to hope for/ask for?

2-application asks for salary requirements to be listed in the cover letter. My instinct is to say it's negotiable. What do you think? Good to not disqualify myself immediately? Or is that just a frustrating non answer?

[Anonymous]

1. Yes, asking for/hoping for 40K more (pr to look at it another way, >66% higher than posted salary) is crazy.

2. Starting off saying salary requirements are negotiable almost always is the right way to go.

[Anonymous]

40K for non-profit is a lot, doubt their "based on experience" will go up more thank ~10K
I wouldn't apply - what's the point? You're not comfortable with being paid below market right now (blah - blah says it all), what makes you think you'll be OK with much lower compensation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:40K for non-profit is a lot, doubt their "based on experience" will go up more thank ~10K
I wouldn't apply - what's the point? You're not comfortable with being paid below market right now (blah - blah says it all), what makes you think you'll be OK with much lower compensation?

That's what I was thinking, but my spouse who knows I'm ready for a change was encouraging me to apply since I was so excited by the project and possibility before I saw the salary line. This org rarely has postings, so I was wondering if it's a way to at least meet their recruiters, but I certainly don't want to waste anyone's time.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the "meet the recruiters" thing will have much weight. If you really want to carve out more of an executive position for yourself, you need to reach out to someone there at a more senior level.

[Anonymous]

If you want to make more than $75k - you're barking up the wrong tree.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you want senior level pay for a mid level position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really want to be make at least 100k.

With all due respect what you want to be making does not really come into the equation. I'm really curious what you make now.

[Anonymous]

There is almost no chance a nonprofit will come up $40k. Pull their Form 990 (should be on their website or on Guidestar). It will list the compensation for every employee making $100k or more. Take a look at the job titles of those folks to see what type of position you need to hold at that organization in order to make your desired salary.

[Anonymous]

Last year I had a candidate come in for a position we advertised at $65k. She wanted $80k though we didn't know it at the first interview. We loved her and decided to give her the salary she wanted. She has been the best investment, and has more than made up for her higher salary in revenue generation and process improvement (and her great attitude).

But even with her, there was a limit. If she had wanted more than a $15k difference, we would have let her walk. We could not have known then how truly good she was, and our CEO NEVER would have let us offer her $40k more than the salary we stated.

It is too big of a gap. Sorry OP.