I asked about salary too soon. How do I recover?

May 8, 2008 8:09 AM

Help me recover from my faux pas! I am applying for a new job (within the agency I currently work for) and I asked about the salary before the interview, which the supervisor did not like. How can I handle this so I don't completely blow my chance at this job?

I applied for an internal position at my agency and I have an interview next week. I e-mailed the supervisor of that position to clarify the salary because I'd been told two different things. The salary is a make or break issue for me. She e-mailed me back with the information and a note stating that, for future reference, I should not ask about salary before the interview. (I read this question and it appears people are mixed about when to ask salary questions.) Should I explain that the salary was make or break for me and I did not want to waste her time if I wasn't going to be able to take the position? Or do I just say "Thank you for the information. I won't make that mistake again"?

posted by whatideserve to work & money (17 comments total)

Supervisor is an IDIOT. The reason people work is for the pay. Jobs aren't (supposed to be) given a random salary, and the reason people apply for certain jobs is BECAUSE of the pay.

I'm a certified HR professional, and sure, at times I do NOT advertise certain positions' salaries...but I am ALWAYS prepared for the question, and never consider it a mistake when people ask.

Its a job, not a volunteer opportunity. The reason for the job is the pay; if you don't know the pay, you may be overshooting or undershooting your abilities.

Good luck, and learn how to handler asshole supervisors so they don't make you feel bad. This is a life lesson you can DEFINITELY benefit from.
posted by hal_c_on at 8:18 AM on May 8, 2008 [10 favorites]

["Thank you for the information. I won't make that mistake again"?]

Just what you said. I'd wait till the interview; this way you'll also get more practice at interview/getting grilled.
posted by uncballzer at 8:18 AM on May 8, 2008

You either have or have not blown your chance already, and if she sent you the salary information along with her note I would think you're still fine. If she were really offended or didn't like you she wouldn't have sent it, she would have just said "we'll talk about that after the interview" or something harsher.

I would respond however you would respond if your boss gave you a friendly correction - the "I won't make that mistake again" part can be read as a little harsh depending on where you put the emphasis, so perhaps work on softening it a little. Work under the assumption that she didn't read it as a dealbreaker, since if she did nothing you can do now would change that.
posted by true at 8:20 AM on May 8, 2008

"Thanks so much for the clarification. I appreciate your time and feedback and look forward to meeting with you on [day] to further discuss the position."

Leave out the "I won't make that mistake again part".
posted by anastasiav at 8:27 AM on May 8, 2008 [3 favorites]

What anastasiav said.

The fact she answered the question probably makes it all right, and she's definitely the one being weird here, as hal_c_on mentioned. Try to forget/ignore it.
posted by rokusan at 8:31 AM on May 8, 2008

The supervisor is being a jerk. Which is unfortunate because it sets a bad precedent. You may have already poisoned the water with this one. But you know what, if asking about the salary is enough to put you someone's shit list, you don't' want that job!

Wanna be ballsy in your response? It's not like you have anything to loose.

Don't reply to the email and bring the matter up in the interview. Say something like, "You should know that I'm serious about this job. I'm serious about making money. You know, Bob, you got a little upset with me in email when I asked about the salary. Sorry bub, but I'm a straight shooter. I don't beat around the bush, I cut the fucker down and step over it."

Of course you want to reel it in a little from the above. But you get the gist.

I would totally feel comfortable bringing it up. It's your boss who has made it an issue, not you. Further, it seems like your potential boss is trying to bully you from the start by making you think that you did something wrong. Call his/her bluff. Show that you're not a push over.

Eye of the tiger!
posted by wfrgms at 8:32 AM on May 8, 2008 [3 favorites]

Maybe I'm just feeling feisty today, but I like wfrgms's idea. Life's too damn short to deal with such stupid mind games.
posted by mpls2 at 8:39 AM on May 8, 2008

Ditto leaving out the "mistake" part. I wouldn't mention it again at all unless she brings it up. If she does, you can say what you said in your post - "I just didn't want to waste your time if I wasn't going to be able to take the position."

Also if you do get an interview, watch this person carefully for bad-supervisor warning signs, as I would consider her admonishment to be a bad sign (e.g. does she correct everything? micro-manage? put people down? assume they're dumb? etc.).

Or since this is within your company, does anyone you currently work with (and trust) know her? You could always ask them what she's like, if you think you can do it vaguely enough.
posted by boomchicka at 8:43 AM on May 8, 2008

Thank you all for the quick feedback. It really helped me this morning. I'm definitely not feeling feisty (I'm actually feeling desperate to get out my current position) so I took anastasiav suggestion.

Boomchicka, my former boss is one of this woman's good friends and, when I talked to my former boss about the position, she stated that she thought the woman and I would actually get along really well. I've casually known this woman the entire time I've worked here (three years) and have always gotten along with her. However, this woman is also fairly new (less than a year) to being in a supervisory role, so she may still be doing some learning. Thanks for the suggestions and I will definitely look for those things.
posted by whatideserve at 8:51 AM on May 8, 2008

A ha, yeah, being new, she's probably just being very by-the-book and the part about it potentiall being a waste of time hadn't occurred to her. Good luck!
posted by boomchicka at 8:53 AM on May 8, 2008

Yeah, I would be pretty weary of taking that job. Life's too short to work for dick supervisors.
posted by delmoi at 8:59 AM on May 8, 2008

WTF? Most classified ads require that you submit your salary requirements along with your resume. I always assumed that was to weed out the dreamers and the under-achievers. HR people have, or should have, researched the demographics and should know what the job is worth in the city where you live/work. Asking about the salary beforehand is a two way street. Say you interview and you get the offer, but below what the job is worth, or even below what you are making now. Obviously you do not want to be in that position, and neither should the hiring manager or HR people.
posted by Gungho at 9:16 AM on May 8, 2008

You didn't make a mistake. Your potential new supervisor made the mistake, and I agree that it may be a sign that she's uncomfortable as a new supervisor. I agree that you should watch for similar signs of discomfort in the interview, because even if you get along now, becoming her subordinate could change things a lot.
posted by PatoPata at 9:19 AM on May 8, 2008

Seconding what anastasiav said
posted by WizKid at 9:33 AM on May 8, 2008

Seconding/thirding what everyone said above... the interview is not just you getting the interview, but the company getting scrutinized, too. That said, I have some serious concerns about this company's culture and as far as I'm concerned, they have failed the interview for most people. If you really want to work there, though, I respect your wishes.
posted by crapmatic at 9:41 AM on May 8, 2008

As a manager, I will point out the likely scenario.

HR is probably telling the hiring manager not to discuss salary directly with the candidates, specifically with internal candidates. Many organizations have a lot of secrecy around salary grades and pay scales. They want to avoid people applying for positions just to find out what people make.

As juvenile as it sounds, it happens.

If you have salary concerns, always go to the HR/Compensation people with your questions first.

As for getting feisty in the interview, it sounds good on the interweb, but in real life it's a stupid thing to do, especially when you already work for the company. Be respectful during the interview and let the whole thing drop.
posted by Argyle at 9:59 AM on May 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

That's interesting feedback, Argyle. I'd never heard/thought of that before. I appreciate the HR suggestion.

Based on everything you all have said, I'm definitely going to go into the interview with both eyes open and think long and hard before I make any decisions.
posted by whatideserve at 10:18 AM on May 8, 2008