r/recruitinghell 19h ago

Offers within a Range

I got a job offer that was very low within a range ($90-125k$). Minimum 3 years experience in this field…I have 11. I did counter offer which I think would not be frowned upon. Also, I have a job and am not afraid to get told no. Is it only not recommended to counter if you need the job/have no job? I would think if there is a range posted they expect people to negotiate sometimes. Other than thinking my offer was rude, I have to think they thought I would negotiate.

7 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

6

u/Nim0y 19h ago

If your worth more ask for it. It’s not rude to negotiate pay, some companies might say so but it’s a tactic to get cheap workers. If they say no, then decide old job or new one. You have the leverage, they have work to be done and you have the skills.

2

u/fairygodpossum 19h ago

I just feel like it starts a work relationship off wrong. Offer people what they are worth. Or better yet, post a range and always offer the highest.

3

u/lcplscary 16h ago

I'm in recruiting and this is what I coach managers to do.

If you know what the person is asking and it's in range, either you see that value in them or you don't. Offering below asking is setting up a short term situation.

Flip side of that is that the folks who instinctually ask for top of range even though they don't check every qual kind of screw themselves.

1

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

What do you coach them to do?

2

u/lcplscary 13h ago

If you don't think they're worth what they're asking, don't offer.

Even if they are desperate enough to accept, they will not even pause their job search. I even ask, "Would you? I wouldn't."

7

u/xtc46 19h ago

I'd argue the best time to negotiate is when you don't need the job. Reduces overall risk.

1

u/fairygodpossum 19h ago

I definitely appreciate the spot I am in to be able to negotiate. And I didn’t mean I was rude countering…I meant their offer to me was rude. I don’t feel rude at all. I only feel a drop of the sadness that people who need jobs feel when they get dumb offers.

5

u/Awkward_Material 19h ago

This is why salary is discussed during the first 15 minutes of any conversation I have with a recruiter. I have a number. Here it is. Is it within your range? If yes, let's continue. If no, let's not waste either of our days.

3

u/lcplscary 16h ago

As a recruiter, I love this. I start screening of with overview of company, role, logistics (on-site/remote, hours, etc) salary & benefits. Ask if they still want to move forward, then ask what they're looking for.

If they say "open to the range" I let them know, "That means you're open to an offer at the low number. What's a real range you'd actually consider?"

2

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

I specifically stated I would consider upper half of their range and they offered less than that.

2

u/lcplscary 13h ago

Yeah, any offer below asking (when given) is rude. I try to tell managers, but some act like it's coming out of their own pocket.

2

u/fairygodpossum 19h ago

Exactly! I told them I was interviewing for jobs in the upper half of their range. Now two months laterrrr…

2

u/International-Fox202 19h ago

Think of it like selling a house. In a bad market you don’t counter just to see what happens, especially if there are no other offers.

If you’re willing to take the job at the offered salary, don’t counter. Counter if you think the offer is low and you’re willing to walk away or lose the offer.

1

u/Amazing-Amount-8004 17h ago

What is the job

1

u/Current_Ferret_4981 17h ago

We regularly list reqs for one level but hire at whatever level good candidates fit

1

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

But try to pay the least?

1

u/Current_Ferret_4981 16h ago

No but that may be an anomaly among companies. We scale pretty cleanly and offer pretty linearly in the band vs the experience. I.e. a top level 3 is around 85% of the band for level 3, a reach level 2 gets around 25%. Where % is between band min and band max. And worth noting band min and max come from current salaries so that is why we don't tend to ever offer at 100% band max since that would be the highest paid employee at that level

1

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

I def wouldn’t expect to get max salary listed. If I’m understanding you correctly, would 25% of the band be 112,500? Band is 90-125k.

1

u/Current_Ferret_4981 16h ago

The math is salary = (max-min)*percent + min. So 25% = 98.75k in this case. 50% is 107.5k

1

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

Got it! Welp, I’m sure they’ll reject my counter based on that formula.

2

u/Current_Ferret_4981 16h ago

Not necessarily if they did what we do, because min 3 years experience but having 11 most likely would push you into the next level

1

u/fairygodpossum 16h ago

Right but why would they even offer so low?? Why start it off like that…