The ball's in my court (I think). Now what?
June 20, 2013 9:04 PM Subscribe
I have been halfheartedly looking for a new job. My current position does not leave me much time or energy for searching, plus I have had a lot of illness in my family in the last year, which is time-consuming and emotionally draining.
When a supplier I work with mentioned that someone in her company had left recently, I asked her whether she plans to replace him, and she said she does.
I emailed her my résumé, and she sent me the job listing. In her email, she asked me whether I was interested, and if not, to let her know what my concerns are so they could address them because "your résumé is great!"
How do I respond in the most effective manner?
Specifically, the position's salary range goes from a bit less to a bit more than I make an hour--should I ask for a little more than the top of the listed range? There's no health insurance mentioned (and I currently have none). Should I request that? Right now, I work 6 days a week, and the job ad says Saturdays are required. I don't know whether that means 6 days a week or if there's a second day off--should I ask about the hours, or leave that until the in-person interview, if that happens?
Finally, under requirements, the ad lists "speaks Spanish." My résumé lists "some Spanish." I can communicate to some extent in that language, but I've never studied it--it's just what I've picked up living in 2 cities with large Spanish-speaking populations, and from working alongside Spanish speakers. I do have a really good facility for language, though, and I pick up more, pretty much on a daily basis. Should I ask about how much Spanish they require, or just not mention it?
I have been wanting to get out of my current job and into a new one for quite a while. On top of everything else, this would be a shorter commute, and the woman I have been in contact with about this, and who would, I believe, be my manager, is someone I get along with and respect, to the extent I can tell from a purely phone relationship. I talk to her at least several times a week, and I've always found her friendly and extremely competent.
Most importantly, my skill set (as long as they don't need a fluent Spanish speaker) is 100% a match.
So, what do I say in my reply email?
Thanks!
Specifically, the position's salary range goes from a bit less to a bit more than I make an hour--should I ask for a little more than the top of the listed range? There's no health insurance mentioned (and I currently have none). Should I request that? Right now, I work 6 days a week, and the job ad says Saturdays are required. I don't know whether that means 6 days a week or if there's a second day off--should I ask about the hours, or leave that until the in-person interview, if that happens?
Finally, under requirements, the ad lists "speaks Spanish." My résumé lists "some Spanish." I can communicate to some extent in that language, but I've never studied it--it's just what I've picked up living in 2 cities with large Spanish-speaking populations, and from working alongside Spanish speakers. I do have a really good facility for language, though, and I pick up more, pretty much on a daily basis. Should I ask about how much Spanish they require, or just not mention it?
I have been wanting to get out of my current job and into a new one for quite a while. On top of everything else, this would be a shorter commute, and the woman I have been in contact with about this, and who would, I believe, be my manager, is someone I get along with and respect, to the extent I can tell from a purely phone relationship. I talk to her at least several times a week, and I've always found her friendly and extremely competent.
Most importantly, my skill set (as long as they don't need a fluent Spanish speaker) is 100% a match.
So, what do I say in my reply email?
Thanks!
I'd start with:
"I am interested, but I'm not sure the compensation is adequate. What is a good time for me to come in and discuss this opportunity? I am available at your convenience"
I wouldn't mention the Spanish thing unless they ask.
NB: Getting health insurance through one's employer is foreign to me, and I am presuming that that normally gets negotiated along with pay.
posted by pompomtom at 9:21 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
"I am interested, but I'm not sure the compensation is adequate. What is a good time for me to come in and discuss this opportunity? I am available at your convenience"
I wouldn't mention the Spanish thing unless they ask.
NB: Getting health insurance through one's employer is foreign to me, and I am presuming that that normally gets negotiated along with pay.
posted by pompomtom at 9:21 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: NB: Getting health insurance through one's employer is foreign to me, and I am presuming that that normally gets negotiated along with pay.
Not really. In most cases your employer offers it, and you pay whatever the co-pay is, or they don't. Most people just find out what it is, and if it's fair, they accept it.
Now to answer the question at hand. Write this back, "I'm very interested in the position. I do have some questions about the hours in an average workweek, the pay schedule, benefits, etc. When would be a good time to discuss with you?"
Hopefully this will lead to a face-to-face interview and you can go from there.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:12 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not really. In most cases your employer offers it, and you pay whatever the co-pay is, or they don't. Most people just find out what it is, and if it's fair, they accept it.
Now to answer the question at hand. Write this back, "I'm very interested in the position. I do have some questions about the hours in an average workweek, the pay schedule, benefits, etc. When would be a good time to discuss with you?"
Hopefully this will lead to a face-to-face interview and you can go from there.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:12 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
NB: Getting health insurance through one's employer is foreign to me, and I am presuming that that normally gets negotiated along with pay.
Nope, either is exists or it doesn't. What you COULD negotiate is some sort of stipend for you to buy your own individual insurance. Do the research before hand so you know how much it is going to cost you.
posted by magnetsphere at 7:24 AM on June 21, 2013
Nope, either is exists or it doesn't. What you COULD negotiate is some sort of stipend for you to buy your own individual insurance. Do the research before hand so you know how much it is going to cost you.
posted by magnetsphere at 7:24 AM on June 21, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, folks! All good answers, but I went with Ruthless Bunny's wording. Crossing my fingers!
posted by zorseshoes at 7:41 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by zorseshoes at 7:41 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If it were me, I would want to meet to clarify the questions you have and only then can you know what to ask for. When you go in, have a bottom line in mind for the total package and negotiate from above it.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:17 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]