Should I apply for job with listed pay range below mine?
July 2, 2010 10:15 AM Subscribe
Should I apply for jobs that list a lower salary range than I'm currently making, if the qualifications fit? And how?
I am seeking new employment. I have seen a few jobs recently that sounded like a good fit but the pay listed is less than what I'm making and what I'd be willing to take. In some cases, a LOT less. But my gut says that they won't find someone with the skills they want at those rates - as well as experience from friends who are in the same industry and their experience hiring people right now. Should I apply anyway?
If so, should I some how suggest in my cover letter that I fall outside their advertised range? Or do I just apply like i never saw the range and sort that out if there is an offer later? Not really interested in wasting my time or there's interviewing for jobs that won't happen; but on the other hand, the two jobs I've held most recently have been ones where later I found out they had budgeted less for the position, and decided I was well worth paying more for me.
I am seeking new employment. I have seen a few jobs recently that sounded like a good fit but the pay listed is less than what I'm making and what I'd be willing to take. In some cases, a LOT less. But my gut says that they won't find someone with the skills they want at those rates - as well as experience from friends who are in the same industry and their experience hiring people right now. Should I apply anyway?
If so, should I some how suggest in my cover letter that I fall outside their advertised range? Or do I just apply like i never saw the range and sort that out if there is an offer later? Not really interested in wasting my time or there's interviewing for jobs that won't happen; but on the other hand, the two jobs I've held most recently have been ones where later I found out they had budgeted less for the position, and decided I was well worth paying more for me.
Personally I recommend a direct approach. You do not have to "somehow suggest" that you fall outside an advertised salary range. Tell then quite clearly that you are applying even though you will require more money than they are offering, because you expect that they will not be able to hire anyone who has the necessary qualifications for the money they offer. They may turn you down, of course, but so what? It costs very little to send in an application. The general principle of applying for jobs is that if you apply for enough of them, someone will probably hire you. So never fear to apply.
posted by grizzled at 10:37 AM on July 2, 2010
posted by grizzled at 10:37 AM on July 2, 2010
Employers are openly saying things like "we realize that because of the market we can snap up talent at a bargain". Not privately, not internally, everywhere, every industry, everywhere.
You can tell them that, but you are liable to look like a jerk. On the other hand, you might make a good point. I would find a more tactful way to say that.
posted by micawber at 11:54 AM on July 2, 2010
You can tell them that, but you are liable to look like a jerk. On the other hand, you might make a good point. I would find a more tactful way to say that.
posted by micawber at 11:54 AM on July 2, 2010
Go ahead and apply, but clearly state your salary requirements sometime in advance of actually showing up for an interview. I'm involved in hiring for a position right now where we have extensive requirements for the job and a very low budget for the position. We know we won't be able to get someone for what we can pay with all of the requirements, but we want the best candidate we can for what we can pay.
If you were to come in, interview, and then try to negotiate for a salary far above what we listed once we offered you the position, I'd just be irritated that you wasted our time. If you mentioned it in the call offering you an interview though, I'd politely tell you that meeting your requirements would be impossible, so perhaps it would be better not to waste everyone's time.
posted by booknerd at 11:57 AM on July 2, 2010
If you were to come in, interview, and then try to negotiate for a salary far above what we listed once we offered you the position, I'd just be irritated that you wasted our time. If you mentioned it in the call offering you an interview though, I'd politely tell you that meeting your requirements would be impossible, so perhaps it would be better not to waste everyone's time.
posted by booknerd at 11:57 AM on July 2, 2010
micawber makes a good point though. If you don't find some way to reword this tactfully, you'll look like a gigantic ass. They're probably well aware that the salary is undervaluing someone's skills, but in this economy most places can't do much about that. If it turns out that the salary is flexible, they might not want to hire someone sounding so pompous anyway.
posted by booknerd at 12:00 PM on July 2, 2010
posted by booknerd at 12:00 PM on July 2, 2010
I used to be a professional recruiter. This happened frequently at my company, especially once the economy started faltering. (Interestingly, our industry was not really affected, and my company has been putting up record numbers for the past few years, so I'm not really sure why this happened, as the majority of applicants are in the industry. Puzzling.)
Anyway, the company has very rigid salary ranges that are non-negotiable. There is lots of wiggle room within the ranges, but it would be a very special candidate indeed that got override approval from the head of HR, the CFO, and the CEO.
As a result of this policy, we are very transparent about the ranges early in the process, so as not to waste anyone's time. Some candidates actually laughed at me when I told them the ranges-- not recommended. Others were surprised and withdrew their CVs from consideration. Others accepted this and concentrated on pushing for the higher end of the ranges, frequently maxing them out.
Everyone's salary information is available to everyone else, and so are salary histories by default (because we frequently submit salary histories to clients, and those documents are posted on the intranet). People regularly took cuts of 15-20K to join us, trading off salary for growth opportunities, a friendly corporate culture, and pretty decent benefits.
So, apply, see what happens if you get to negotiations, and then weight the less tangible benefits of the job vs. salary. It's hard to slide down the income ladder, but people do it all the time.
posted by charmcityblues at 12:00 PM on July 2, 2010
Anyway, the company has very rigid salary ranges that are non-negotiable. There is lots of wiggle room within the ranges, but it would be a very special candidate indeed that got override approval from the head of HR, the CFO, and the CEO.
As a result of this policy, we are very transparent about the ranges early in the process, so as not to waste anyone's time. Some candidates actually laughed at me when I told them the ranges-- not recommended. Others were surprised and withdrew their CVs from consideration. Others accepted this and concentrated on pushing for the higher end of the ranges, frequently maxing them out.
Everyone's salary information is available to everyone else, and so are salary histories by default (because we frequently submit salary histories to clients, and those documents are posted on the intranet). People regularly took cuts of 15-20K to join us, trading off salary for growth opportunities, a friendly corporate culture, and pretty decent benefits.
So, apply, see what happens if you get to negotiations, and then weight the less tangible benefits of the job vs. salary. It's hard to slide down the income ladder, but people do it all the time.
posted by charmcityblues at 12:00 PM on July 2, 2010
You can talk them higher, especially if you show that you're more valuable than what they're looking for. I had this exact issue with a job recently and talked them to $7k higher than the original quote and an extra $1500/year to take classes. Check out some of the great threads here on negotiating.
This was a smaller organization. I have a feeling that very large organizations would be less flexible.
posted by jander03 at 11:35 AM on July 3, 2010
This was a smaller organization. I have a feeling that very large organizations would be less flexible.
posted by jander03 at 11:35 AM on July 3, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
But my gut says that they won't find someone with the skills they want at those rates
Sorry, your gut is wrong. I have 19 years of experience in my field and recently cut my asking salary by 50%. It's amazing what longterm employment will do to a person, and many employers know that well and are doing serious lowballing.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 10:31 AM on July 2, 2010 [2 favorites]