So I graduated recently from a decent state university. Niche program in the university, but the average starting salary is on par with engineering degrees. I learned a lot and had a good time, got an internship last year and plenty of sponsored things and projects to put on my resume. Fresh graduate and I need more money than a part-time can provide.
I saw a job and I applied. It's at a manufacturing plant, but it's about 90-10 office-manufacturing floor ratio of work. The previous guy on the job got a promotion and he moved to the company HQ, so they needed to fill someone in. The company has close ties to my university, and especially with my program. So a few of the guys at the facility already knew me from some career fairs and information sessions and whatnot.
Interview with HR person goes great. HR person asks me what my pay expectations are, I give the answer. She notes it and records it; I hear her repeat the range I gave her followed by the clacking of keys. Then comes the interview with the plant services manager the next Thursday. I know my stuff and we're amicable. He asks me what a good salary would be me. I answer the same way; I guess the HR person didn't relay the info but whatever. Manager invites me to the facility to get a better feel for the position. This is totally understandable. It is two hours away by car. Okay, not a big issue. I've never been in that part of the state before. I tell him I can go on my day off and he sets up the appointment.
I meet two other people (they were at my university info sessions, so we hit it off), the interview with them is far from simple but I got an honest answer for each question (including “I don't know, but I'll find out”). The manufacturing lead takes me on a tour of the facility, it goes well. Seems nice, but not my thing. Whatever, I can handle coming here every few days while spending the rest of my time in the office wing.
The whole time, the duo mention what the previous guy did before his promotion and move to their company HQ. His responsibilities kept increasing. He was at this position for TEN YEARS, which is how long ago he graduated from my program. I'm in an industry where job hopping every 2-3 years is probably the slowest you can go to boost your career, one step at a time. Maybe he liked it here? It's a nice town and I really like the location. I ask about moving up and promotions and advancement opportunities. After some time in the position, about two doors open up (depending on the vacancies) — I could go further into working alongside the structural designers (but not as one of them, which is kind of my goal) to better support them OR I could go into their manufacturing division (not something I care to go for). And that's if there were any vacancies at any point. Career advancement opportunity for the last guy was… 10 years after graduating and taking on the position. A decade. Not ideal, but let's hear what the manager might have to say. Maybe the guy really liked his position and stuck around. Some glimmer of hope, right?
Plant manager comes in to finish the interview and at the very, very end…
“So, what are your salary expectations?” he asks. I thought I answered this before. I DID answer this before. On my application, to the HR person, to the manager and the two guys at the facility! Fine, I give the same answer.
I give him my answer, based on average starting salary from graduates in my program, related to the duties and responsibilities, as well as what I'm bringing to the table.
“Yeah, that's not gonna happen. That's way above the paygrade for this position. [17-27% lower than my given range] is the actual salary range.”
They had 3 interviews with me, one of which took 2 hours to get there, 3 hours for the actual interview, and 2 hours to return on my own time on my day off. Each interview had me answer the salary expectations question. And they lowballed me at the very end. And implied it was basically non-negotiable. I'm a fresh graduate, I do not have that much leverage here. I smile, thank them for their time, and chit-chat as they escort me out.
They liked me enough to call and ask for references the next day. I basically tell them I'll get them what they want because I'm away. Saturday morning, they email me. It is Saturday, my weekend and theirs too, I hope. So there's that new ick where they work weekends. Asked for references, back to the story.
Instead, they got a polite letter generated by ChatGPT thanking them for their time, naming and thanking the people involved, and wishing them good luck. I'm sorry but if you're gonna lead me on after hearing about my salary expectations 3 TIMES and telling me the real range at the last minute, you're not getting anything handwritten. In fact, I'm telling my groupchat and fellow graduates everything you just read here, but shorter.
Don't tell me that the position is a time-critical support function role while neglecting to tell me what really matters besides the other stuff: pay. Because responsibilities don't put food on the table, money does. Thanks for telling me the last guy spent 10 years without a pay raise while getting loaded with more to do. Chances are, this guy was the youngest person in the plant the whole time he was in this role. Even when he left, he was still the youngest.
So yeah, that's my story. If anyone has any comments, share them! I wanna know more about fighting for more pay here, not so much responsibilities and whatnot.