I have been applying to jobs in my field (film/tv production/acting) since I graduated college last year and have been having no luck. A bit ago, after hundreds of “thank you for taking the time”s and “we regret to inform you”s, I finally had the opportunity to interview at a company. I went through all three rounds of the interview process and eventually, they gave me an offer for the position.
The job required me to move from Texas to West Hollywood, and they wanted me out there 2 weeks after they gave me the offer. I was stoked. I could finally move to a city that had more acting/producing opportunities for me!
But, once I started talking to family and friends about it, they were telling me to negotiate the offer. They wanted to pay me $24/hr with no relocation package or any other stipend to assist in the move. I have a good amount of family living in California, and they were all practically begging me to negotiate a better offer to avoid being broke as shit.
The company was clear about the pay range from the start, and at first I was fine with it. It wasn’t all that much, but I’ve been poor while working jobs I hate so I’d be fine being poor working a job I love. But after listening to what everyone in my life had to say, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try.
Well, I was wrong. The negotiation wasn’t aggressive or rude, it was truthful. Without a significant pay increase and/or help relocating, I wouldn’t be able to afford to live in or even near West Hollywood. They responded by saying something like “we were clear about pay from the start” and “we have made the difficult decision to rescind our offer.” ???? A simple no would’ve been fine. I didn’t think I would lose the job over negotiating. And yes, they had mentioned the pay to me prior to the offer, but I was taught not to negotiate during the interview process.
I obviously don’t want to work for a company that is so reluctant to assist future employees, but damn, I at least wanted to make the decision myself. I was bummed that the choice was taken away from me.
Is that something companies usually do??
I’m also bummed because it’s been a couple months and I haven’t received another interview for a job in my field since.🥲