4 ms·

While the article correctly describes the basic situation, not all of the advice presented at the end is good (unless you are a really strong candidate). Espec

While the article correctly describes the basic situation, not all of the advice presented at the end is good (unless you are a really strong candidate). Especially the "Don’t give a hard number when asked what you want." is a red flag for many hiring managers and they usually interpret such reaction against the candidate, for example: "He's indecisive, doesn't know what he wants, doesn't know his value" and similar over-interpretations. I'd say it's much better for the candidate to anchor the number a bit above his expectations and lead the real negotiations from there.

joezydeco 12y ago
We were discussing something similar on Metafilter when a hiring manager chimed in: "Whenever I hear a candidate dither about specifying pay, I know they are either extremely flexible about pay, don't know the market very well, or don't value themselves very well. I know they will be willing to accept a lower amount than I would otherwise be able to offer. In other words, if you don't specify a number, I'll specify one for you - and it'll be at the low end of what I can offer, not the high end. The highest paid candidates are the ones that know their value and refuse to work for less than their value. Most of those highest paid candidates are the ones that don't even bother giving a range of pay and simply say, 'I will work for $x'."
- mhb 12y ago
  Why would anyone give a range? There's no such thing.
  - chrisbennet 12y ago
    In the past I have given a range (for what I was asking) when it was at the very beginning of the process and I had no knowledge of the benefits package. The last time it did this, I was told that the bottom of my range was above the top of their range for the position. I told them: "That's not my problem." They responded: "You're right." and I continued the interview process with the rest of the team.
    - mhb 12y ago
      This is what you said: "I'd like between $x and $y." This is what they heard: "He'll take $x." And, I think it's obvious, but $x includes the whole package you're asking for, converted to $. If you're describing the tactic of trading off various components of x, then that begs the question.
      - chrisbennet 12y ago
        Yes, that's true. However, by doing so I have anchored the minimum salary at the top of their range [in their case, a little above the top]. At that point they could terminate the interview or go forward - a clear indication that salary was negotiable. In reality, that isn't how I think. I'm very frank and open. I tell them what I want, because that's what I want. On the topic of frankness: I also tell them anything that could possibly discourage them from hiring me. I'm not trying to talk them out of hiring me, I just want them to have all the data they need to make a good hiring decision. I was once hired for a contract that I was unqualified for and let go a week later. When I asked the guy who hired me why they hired me for a position that required expertise in "X" technology when I told them in the interview that I only had a week of experience with "X" he told me: "We just liked you so much." Getting hired for a position you aren't qualified for is worse than not getting hired.

joezydeco 12y ago

We were discussing something similar on Metafilter when a hiring manager chimed in: "Whenever I hear a candidate dither about specifying pay, I know they are either extremely flexible about pay, don't know the market very well, or don't value themselves very well. I know they will be willing to accept a lower amount than I would otherwise be able to offer. In other words, if you don't specify a number, I'll specify one for you - and it'll be at the low end of what I can offer, not the high end. The highest paid candidates are the ones that know their value and refuse to work for less than their value. Most of those highest paid candidates are the ones that don't even bother giving a range of pay and simply say, 'I will work for $x'."

mhb 12y ago
Why would anyone give a range? There's no such thing.
- chrisbennet 12y ago
  In the past I have given a range (for what I was asking) when it was at the very beginning of the process and I had no knowledge of the benefits package. The last time it did this, I was told that the bottom of my range was above the top of their range for the position. I told them: "That's not my problem." They responded: "You're right." and I continued the interview process with the rest of the team.
  - mhb 12y ago
    This is what you said: "I'd like between $x and $y." This is what they heard: "He'll take $x." And, I think it's obvious, but $x includes the whole package you're asking for, converted to $. If you're describing the tactic of trading off various components of x, then that begs the question.
    - chrisbennet 12y ago
      Yes, that's true. However, by doing so I have anchored the minimum salary at the top of their range [in their case, a little above the top]. At that point they could terminate the interview or go forward - a clear indication that salary was negotiable. In reality, that isn't how I think. I'm very frank and open. I tell them what I want, because that's what I want. On the topic of frankness: I also tell them anything that could possibly discourage them from hiring me. I'm not trying to talk them out of hiring me, I just want them to have all the data they need to make a good hiring decision. I was once hired for a contract that I was unqualified for and let go a week later. When I asked the guy who hired me why they hired me for a position that required expertise in "X" technology when I told them in the interview that I only had a week of experience with "X" he told me: "We just liked you so much." Getting hired for a position you aren't qualified for is worse than not getting hired.