I applied for a job in the field I have over a decade of experience in, located in a state that I’m moving to soon. I had the exact experience and skills for the role. My required salary amount fell within the range posted on the job ad on Indeed. Even though the salary range was posted with the job listing, I also included a very clear statement in my well-written cover letter the specific starting salary that I would require. Remember this part for later.
I received a call back the same day. Had a great conversation with the owner/person who would be my direct supervisor. It is common in this industry for candidates for this position to perform a paid “working interview” for a few hours during the hiring process. I was invited to a FaceTime interview to have a skills test in lieu of a regular working interview, since I am out of state. I accepted.
The interviewer (owner) was almost 20 minutes late to the FaceTime call. The call then lasted about 90 minutes. I breezed through the tests and questions and even taught them a few things about easier ways to complete what we were discussing.
At the end of that same call, to my surprise, I was told they were very impressed and thought I’d be a great fit, and they would like to offer me the job. Then the BS begins.
>”Everyone in this department makes the same amount because they’re basically doing the same things each day”
This is not true, and the one other person who would be in the department was brand new to the industry and would require extensive training, according to what they had told me earlier.
> “We start this position at [$16k less than the salary I stated, and $4k less than the bottom of the range posted in the ad itself]. After 6 months you’re eligible for a bonus program and after a few years it’s possible you would be able to earn your desired salary. Then you’d be the “highest paid [position] in the state!”
First of all, that is bullshit and my required salary is well within the standard for someone with my experience and the type of role, and it was UNDER the range that was posted in the ad.
I was then asked with a straight face how I felt about that, and when I thought I’d be able to start. The interviewer/owner seemed taken aback when I (politely) declined immediately and said it sounds like we are very far off on our vision for my place with the company. There was a few roundabout statements implying that in [state] this is the norm (it’s not).
I said I appreciate the opportunity to participate In the interview, and that I would not have used so much of their valuable time today had I known that the salary range they posted and that I had clearly stated in my application was not close to what they were willing to offer.
What a waste of fuckin time.
Employers – don’t post a salary range you’re not actually willing to pay for someone who is highly qualified. If the person states their requirements and they don’t work for you, don’t waste their time they could be interviewing with other interested employers and think they’ll just smile and accept your insultingly low offer.
Idk if this is the right sub, but I’m annoyed.
ETA: two days later I accepted a job at a better (more organized and slightly larger, but similar) company, and a base salary only $1k less than I stated for the other job, but with easily and immediately achievable commission that would double my base monthly pay the majority of months of the year, and significantly increase it the others. I guess that’s against the spirit of anti work, but my bills ain’t paying themselves.