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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So I am getting an offer soon.  They asked today what I make (which is about 50% of what I know they intend to pay for the position because I know the hiring manager).  I used to amen around what they expect to pay but took a job paying less when I moved to join my spouse.  I explained all of this to them, but feel like the HR rep are struggling to understand.  I suspect they will low ball me.  But honestly, the new position is a lot more work and more responsibility (for which I am well qualified and prepared) and I would not accept it for an amount incrementally more than I am making now.  I am also interviewing for other positions in the range of what they are paying, so I'm worth it in theory.

Any advice?[/quote]

It's tough.  When I moved from a Fed position to the private sector (and this was during the sequester after a few years of pay freezes), I knew my salary was waaaay below market.  My DH actually steered me wrong in terms of what base salary to request, since he works for a company with much larger bonuses than the one I was applying to (like 3x lower than DH's).  The employer actually offered me above the base I requested (and an almost 70% raise), but I realized too late that it was still below market.  They wouldn't budge, but I took the job anyway.  Within about 1.5 years I was getting recruiting calls from all over, and I finally took a job that was another 50% raise.  So, less than 3 years after leaving Fed service, I make 3x my old Fed salary.

I know other people who've been in a similar situation, one of whom was able to get corrected to market after a year or so with her same employer.  I guess what I'm saying is that if the pay bump is substantial enough, it might still be worth taking the position and having a discussion about how future raises are determined.  If they are very strict about incremental raises, then taking a below market salary is not a good idea.  If they are more flexible, then you will likely have the option to get to where you "deserve" to be once you've proven yourself.[/quote]

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