"What are your salary requirements?"

[glenn beck]

asking too low also shows a lack of confidence which could also hurt you

 

[JDub02]

OP, as a college grad, you should be getting at least $18-20/hour ... probably more like $25-30 in a city like Seattle, given the cost of living. You can pour coffee at Starbucks and get $10/hour.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
You told them you would take $10. Get ready for $10.

exactly my thought.

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: James Bond
I got in a huge argument with an ex-girlfriend over a similar situation.

NEVER sell yourself short. I don't care how good the job is, how excited you are, how bad you want to work there, fuck that.

Agree. You are there to make money (as much as possible) and they are out to pay you as little as possible. Don't let them stiff you. $10/hr is bullshit and 15/hr isn't much better.

 

[pnad]

Originally posted by: Farang
Her: What are you salary requirements?
Me: Well, I think I would like at least $13 per hour.
Her: Do you want at least $13 or are you hoping for $13?
Me: I guess I am just hoping for $13 an hour.
Her: What is your minimum?
Me: $10 per hour.
Her: So you're somewhere in the range 10 to 15 or 13, that seems doable.

Here is what you should have said:

Her: What are you salary requirements?
Me: Well, I think I would like at least $13 per hour.
Her: Do you want at least $13 or are you hoping for $13?
Me: I would like $13
Her: What is your minimum?
Me: I will consider any offer.
Her: Great! See you tomorrow!

 

[Pepsei]

wow, my minimum was $15 about 10 years ago.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: pnad

Originally posted by: Farang
Her: What are you salary requirements?
Me: Well, I think I would like at least $13 per hour.
Her: Do you want at least $13 or are you hoping for $13?
Me: I guess I am just hoping for $13 an hour.
Her: What is your minimum?
Me: $10 per hour.
Her: So you're somewhere in the range 10 to 15 or 13, that seems doable.

Here is what you should have said:

Her: What are you salary requirements?
Me: Well, I think I would like at least $13 per hour.
Her: Do you want at least $13 or are you hoping for $13?
Me: I would like $13
Her: What is your minimum?
Me: I will consider any offer.
Her: Great! See you tomorrow!

Good advice, along with others who said I should have asked for a range.

to everyone who made more in college/high school/their first job, I used to make more too and could find higher paying work but I want to see what the legal industry is like so experience is tops for me right now.

edit: also to update I had the interview today and am a bit disappointed. The job sounds perfect for me right now but the interview was short and being told they will let me know is a major red flag because with this type of position I would have expected to be offered a job on the spot. For how much time it took them to call me on the phone and bring me in the office for all I know 10 other people could be competing with me.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I'm waiting on an offer as well... the job description pays $75K to $80K, but when asked about salary I requested $82K and let the headhunter know that I wouldn't consider anything less than $80K.

I make a lot more than that now in a consulting job paid hourly, but the 55+ hour work weeks and 12 1/2 hour shifts are driving me crazy.

Update: I ended up getting an offer of $80K, but the retirement benefits look pretty bad and there are more on-call hours than I expected. I think that I'll counter-offer $84K, and see if I can still negotiate that offer of $82K I was looking for.

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: Farang
I am a recent grad with little experience. Today I did what seemed like a full interview over the phone, with a personal interview tomorrow that seems to be something just to see if I am or am not a freak in person (all relevant questions were covered over the phone). At the end there was this exchange:

Her: What are you salary requirements?
Me: Well, I think I would like at least $13 per hour.
Her: Do you want at least $13 or are you hoping for $13?
Me: I guess I am just hoping for $13 an hour.
Her: What is your minimum?
Me: $10 per hour.
Her: So you're somewhere in the range 10 to 15 or 13, that seems doable.

(I swear I heard that 15 mumbled in there)

Now the position she stressed required a lot of responsibility, basically if I mess up the entire firm is screwed. So I imagine they might not be trying to fill this position on the cheap. She also asked about my future plans in a way which suggested she wanted to know how long I wanted to work there (2 years seemed satisfactory).

My reasoning behind expecting more money is that if they offer me $10 they have to know I will continue looking for a job elsewhere because that is shit pay for downtown Seattle. On the other hand they know exactly what my minimum offer is so why won't they take it. Any predictions, no matter how unfounded, are appreciated. If they base their lowball offer on my lack of experience is there any way I can push for a temp-to-hire type deal where they review me after 3-6 months and I get bumped up? I understand I am not worth $13-$15 but I think for the work they are asking for I am entitled to a review in short time (3-6 months) that would determine if I can make that kind of money.

What's the job title and is it one of the large companies locally?

 

[imported_Imp]

Dude, what do you do that could explode the firm for $13 an hour? File clerk? Ya, that sounds reasonable. I'll be making $14 an hour for the next 2 weeks doing clerical shit with moody people. Damn I need to find a real job.

As for ruining the firm, ya maybe. I was paid $6.50 for a year as a receptionist and could have burned the building down. I pissed a big donor off once, and could have turned a lot more away when the company had parties there.

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: JDub02
OP, as a college grad, you should be getting at least $18-20/hour ... probably more like $25-30 in a city like Seattle, given the cost of living. You can pour coffee at Starbucks and get $10/hour.

$10 is low, agreed, but the competition for entry level jobs in Seattle right now is fierce. I had a friend I basically subsidized for a year while he looked hard for an entry level job and he ultimately had to move away because he couldn't find one. Going through the temp agencies has been a good way for my straight-out-of-college friends to get a ~$15/hr job but since the economy started sliding I'm not sure how well that's working right now.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I'm waiting on an offer as well... the job description pays $75K to $80K, but when asked about salary I requested $82K and let the headhunter know that I wouldn't consider anything less than $80K.

I make a lot more than that now in a consulting job paid hourly, but the 55+ hour work weeks and 12 1/2 hour shifts are driving me crazy.

Update: I ended up getting an offer of $80K, but the retirement benefits look pretty bad and there are more on-call hours than I expected. I think that I'll counter-offer $84K, and see if I can still negotiate that offer of $82K I was looking for.

There is more to compensation than just salary. You have to look at it as a total package

1) quality of life, growth opportunities
2) Health insurance, STD/LTD, retirement and vesting period
3) Vacation

All of this allows you to look at total compensation instead of just salary. For example you could have a job that pays 80K but be MUCH higher in total compensation than a salary of 95K.

Oh - and NEVER give a number first. "Compensation inline with my skills and expertise would be appropriate."

 

[thegimp03]

You should never give out your minimum. If pressed for a number, say a higher range number (but not too high) because they already have their salary range guideline set.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: thegimp03
You should never give out your minimum. If pressed for a number, say a higher range number (but not too high) because they already have their salary range guideline set.

That is simply not true, NEVER give a number. If you find a candidate you REALLY want you will make it happen. The difference in salary of 30-40K is not that big of a deal to get the person you really want.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Where do you live? 26k a year with a college degree?

 

[her209]

How the phone conversation should have gone:

Her: What are your salary requirements?
OP: What are YOUR salary requirements?
Her: *pause*
OP: Hello?
Her: What is your minimum?
OP: What is YOUR minimum?
Her: *pause*
OP: Can I has your digits?
Her: Absolutely! 555-7826. Call me tonight!

 

[slayer202]

I saw a good article on *I think yahoo* that talked about how to deal with that question, and how to negotiate

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: slayer202
I saw a good article on *I think yahoo* that talked about how to deal with that question, and how to negotiate

yea I just read a few articles and the more I think about it the more the idea of this upsets me. It pisses me off enough that employers don't give ranges in ads, but asking me for my requirements first? They know the position, they know the industry, and more importantly they know exactly what work that position is doing in their firm. Why am I the one that is supposed to come up with a number? I feel like I would be capable of doing this job if it were more difficult than is outlined and is extremely important to the firm, and if that is the case $18 or so is fair. However if I am just sorting papers and it is mindless, I think $10-$13 makes sense for someone without experience. I asked a lot about the job but the trouble is it is hard to gauge the reality from what the interviewer is telling me.

I'll take the job if it is offered but if it is high responsibility at $10-$11 then they have an employee on their hands who is continuing his job hunt. They can blame this dumb system of theirs.

 

[richardycc]

the only way to turn around this situation is when they offer you this job at 12-12/hr, you tell them that I have another offer from so and so for X/hr, and ask them if they can beat it or else you are going work for so and so. But you will have to be ready to walk away from this offer.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: richardycc
the only way to turn around this situation is when they offer you this job at 12-12/hr, you tell them that I have another offer from so and so for X/hr, and ask them if they can beat it or else you are going work for so and so. But you will have to be ready to walk away from this offer.

Good idea I might try this as opposed to knowingly screwing them over by going in at 10-11 an hour and bailing asap.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: slayer202
I saw a good article on *I think yahoo* that talked about how to deal with that question, and how to negotiate

yea I just read a few articles and the more I think about it the more the idea of this upsets me. It pisses me off enough that employers don't give ranges in ads, but asking me for my requirements first? They know the position, they know the industry, and more importantly they know exactly what work that position is doing in their firm. Why am I the one that is supposed to come up with a number? I feel like I would be capable of doing this job if it were more difficult than is outlined and is extremely important to the firm, and if that is the case $18 or so is fair. However if I am just sorting papers and it is mindless, I think $10-$13 makes sense for someone without experience. I asked a lot about the job but the trouble is it is hard to gauge the reality from what the interviewer is telling me.

I'll take the job if it is offered but if it is high responsibility at $10-$11 then they have an employee on their hands who is continuing his job hunt. They can blame this dumb system of theirs.

It's not a dumb system. It's called sales. You are selling a product and service - yourself.

The employer is the buyer and they want to get the lowest price they can. You on the other hand want to get the highest market price you can. You are in the power position, you are the car salesman and they are the mark.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Farang

Originally posted by: slayer202
I saw a good article on *I think yahoo* that talked about how to deal with that question, and how to negotiate

yea I just read a few articles and the more I think about it the more the idea of this upsets me. It pisses me off enough that employers don't give ranges in ads, but asking me for my requirements first? They know the position, they know the industry, and more importantly they know exactly what work that position is doing in their firm. Why am I the one that is supposed to come up with a number? I feel like I would be capable of doing this job if it were more difficult than is outlined and is extremely important to the firm, and if that is the case $18 or so is fair. However if I am just sorting papers and it is mindless, I think $10-$13 makes sense for someone without experience. I asked a lot about the job but the trouble is it is hard to gauge the reality from what the interviewer is telling me.

I'll take the job if it is offered but if it is high responsibility at $10-$11 then they have an employee on their hands who is continuing his job hunt. They can blame this dumb system of theirs.

It's not a dumb system. It's called sales. You are selling a product and service - yourself.

The employer is the buyer and they want to get the lowest price they can. You on the other hand want to get the highest market price you can. You are in the power position, you are the car salesman and they are the mark.

It is a dumb system because I do not know exactly what the service is, but they do, and I'm asked to set the price for that service. I am selling a car and I have no idea what is under the hood.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a dumb system because I do not know exactly what the service is, but they do, and I'm asked to set the price for that service. I am selling a car and I have no idea what is under the hood.

Then check out salary.com. It will help gauge where you need to be based on position, responsibility, etc. It's like the bluebook of professionals, it's a guide.

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Farang
It is a dumb system because I do not know exactly what the service is, but they do, and I'm asked to set the price for that service. I am selling a car and I have no idea what is under the hood.

Then check out salary.com. It will help gauge where you need to be based on position, responsibility, etc. It's like the bluebook of professionals, it's a guide.

That is how I got $13, it was the 75th percentile. Trouble is reading about this position some firms state different % time spent for different types of work, for example some are receptionist heavy and others are not. When I made the offer it sounded like I was sorting documents and handling the overflow from the receptionist on occassion, and then bringing coffee (she mentioned this) to attorneys and making copies for them. Today at the interview I'm told by another lady that I am given specific cases and I take all incoming documents for those cases and organize them, in effect I am responsible for making sure specific cases are properly documented. So depending on who I ask it seems the position is either valued at $13 or in the second description I would say at least $15. So this system of having me make the price is dumb.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I'm waiting on an offer as well... the job description pays $75K to $80K, but when asked about salary I requested $82K and let the headhunter know that I wouldn't consider anything less than $80K.

I make a lot more than that now in a consulting job paid hourly, but the 55+ hour work weeks and 12 1/2 hour shifts are driving me crazy.

Update: I ended up getting an offer of $80K, but the retirement benefits look pretty bad and there are more on-call hours than I expected. I think that I'll counter-offer $84K, and see if I can still negotiate that offer of $82K I was looking for.

There is more to compensation than just salary. You have to look at it as a total package

1) quality of life, growth opportunities
2) Health insurance, STD/LTD, retirement and vesting period
3) Vacation

All of this allows you to look at total compensation instead of just salary. For example you could have a job that pays 80K but be MUCH higher in total compensation than a salary of 95K.

Oh - and NEVER give a number first. "Compensation inline with my skills and expertise would be appropriate."

Yeah, that was a dumb mistake. Once the headhunter knew what my low number was, he probably made sure that I got that number and no higher. Remember folks... no matter what headhunters say, they usually don't work for you, they work for the employer!

At least I was smart enough to ask for three weeks vacation right away, so now I don't have to fight to get more than two!