Job salary negotiations question

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Hello,
I am applying for a job. Had a second interview today.
In the first interview, I was asked what I needed in terms of salary. I told them what I was being currently paid (which is on the high side). The employer's response was something like- "That's high, we can't even come close to that."

Realizing this employer might not be able to match that, I also mentioned I realized that, and was somewhat flexible.

What the potential employer has not mentioned are their pay ranges. Today I even asked what their ranges were, but they did not answer, and I did not press them on it.

At the end of the interview, they asked me to submit a final offer in terms of my requirements. I really would like the job, however, I am trying to figure out a compromise to get a win win for both parties.

What should I do?

[stomachmonkey]

Personally, they refuse to negotiate in good faith then that's the end of our relationship.

You think this will get better if you get the job?

Unless you really need this gig.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Hello,
I am applying for a job. Had a second interview today.
In the first interview, I was asked what I needed in terms of salary. I told them what I was being currently paid (which is on the high side). The employer's response was something like- "That's high, we can't even come close to that."

....

Then you can't afford me....

[onewhippedpuppy]

I totally understand if you are making the change for quality of life. You just have to acknowledge that your pay might not be the primary reward from this job, because it sounds like they won’t/can’t even match your current pay. If that’s ok then I would throw out what you really need to make and see what happens.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Good question- sustainability and differences in treatment philosophy. Also something the other thread about "happiness" Current job situation stress is becoming unsustainable.

I am at the high end of where I can be. The next job is a focus change for me, and it lets me do some stuff that I cannot do now, but I realize is not as lucrative. The new job might have a better long term potential. I really want it to work, but I am having a hard time getting them to play.

I am under the impression- I show you mine, you show me yours, and then we find a compromise.

[onewhippedpuppy]

If that’s the vibe you get, I would offer up a number higher than your true bottom line. Because they will likely want to hire you for less than the number you provide.

[KFC911]

You are in the best bargaining position you will ever be in....but money isn't everything

[widebody911]

The employer's response was something like- "That's high, we can't even come close to that."

That's pretty much the end of the discussion right there, unless they have some other awesome perks upon which it's difficult to place a price tag.

I'm in a similar position right now. I'm doing a contract gig and they want to convert me to FTE; they asked me how much I wanted and I countered with "how much are you offering?" Going contract to FTE is almost always a loss in terms of pure dollars, but the benefits package is supposed to make up for it.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Hello,
I am applying for a job. Had a second interview today.
In the first interview, I was asked what I needed in terms of salary. I told them what I was being currently paid (which is on the high side). The employer's response was something like- "That's high, we can't even come close to that."

Realizing this employer might not be able to match that, I also mentioned I realized that and was somewhat flexible.

What the potential employer has not mentioned are their pay ranges. Today I even asked what their ranges where, but they did not answer, and I did not press them on it.

At the end of the interview, they asked me to submit a final offer in terms of my requirements. I really would like the job, however, I am trying to figure out a compromise to get a win win for both parties.

What should I do?

There are many forms of compensation.
When I started by current job I negotiated many things besides pay.
5 weeks vacation starting from day one, 401k vesting immediately, severance pay, pad the years of service towards pension etc.
Does the job justify a company car? Transportation allowance, relocation, flexible hours, the sky is the limit.
Be creative, they likely have hard fast rules on salary but the other things may be more flexible.

[Por_sha911]

It sounds like they want you and want to see how low you would go. The lower you go the less they have to pay you. Not a good way to start the relationship.

Unless you are in a "need the job" instead of "want" situation, I would say
"Since you know what you are able to pay, it's more your decision than mine. I am seriously interested in the position and hopefully your offer will be one I can commit to."

Put the pressure on them to come up and not you to go down.

[aigel]

They need to make you their best offer. NEVER go forward with a number you will "settle on". They are fishing, hoping to get you cheap. If they insist, you tell them, you strive to get your current salary, so if they insist on a number, that will be it. Then they can counter that. Once you have 2 numbers,theirs and yours, you will try to get the middle ground that's acceptable. Usually you counter, they counter couple times, done.

G

[masraum]

Take this FWIW because I've never been good at this sort of thing, but I have read a bunch on it. From what I understand, you should never accept the first offer because they are always prepared to offer more (this in the normal thing where folks apply then get an offer from the place that they are applying to, your situation is slightly different). I would assume, that your somewhat backwards negotiation would be a little different, but just because they probably usually give a close but not actually top number to folks, doesn't mean that they aren't expecting you to give them an actually bottom line number.

Good luck.

[aschen]

seems wierd to me that you should have to tell you what you need. Its called a job offer because they are supposed to make the offer right?

Otherwise there are too many details for us to decide what would work for you. Cant come close sounds foreboding though.

[craigster59]

Is there room for other perks to offset salary reduction? Tele commute, more vacation time, vehicle allowance, etc?

[LWJ]

You know the cliche "First one to name a number loses?"

There is a lot of truth to that. You told them your current salary and should let them know that you would like to come together and find some common ground. As said above, lots of other things go into the pie other than just dollars.

You want to fish them for an offer. If you say X, then they counter. Just like buying a car.

Good luck.
Larry

[motion]

Is the position in high demand? Are there a lot of applicants?

This particular company might say "That's high, we can't even come close to that." to everyone they talk to, hoping to fulfill the position as cheaply as possible. It may mean nothing, or it may mean everything. Seems kind of strange in this environment, though, with 4% unemployment.

[mepstein]

Always easier to negotiate when you are currently employed but I would probably ask to talk to the person who makes the salary desision.

I want to work here, it seems like you want me to work here, let’s talk about a number that works for both of us.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Based on the responses here, I can conclude that the correct choice was to post this thread THIS MORNING before talking to them a second time!

Bunch of good ideas!

Note to self... Post to PPOT braintrust BEFORE the interview!!!!!

[sammyg2]

Good luck.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by motion

Is the position in high demand? Are there a lot of applicants?

This particular company might say "That's high, we can't even come close to that." to everyone they talk to, hoping to fulfill the position as cheaply as possible. It may mean nothing, or it may mean everything. Seems kind of strange in this environment, though, with 4% unemployment.

This is a position where I don't think a lot of experienced applicants are applying. They are trying to fill a 3 day a week position, and as a part time position, they do not want to extend benefits to it, however, they are finding it hard to fill, as 3 days a week is too much of a commitment for an employee to fill in as a moonlighter/ hobby , yet, not enough for an employer to grant full time benefits.

It is certainly not something someone would relocate for (bonus point for KC911!).

So, in a nutshell, it is a unique position, a "build your own field" which I think if properly managed, could easily become 4-5 days a week, however, at this time it is not at that place.

I think the other applicant is a relatively less experienced individual. They want my skills and vision, yet they want the other applicant's price.

I think for my own sanity, and based on the conversation I had with my employer tonight, I think need the job more than I do, but perhaps this is a good test of the prospective employer to see if they can formulate solutions.

For example- health care. At three days a week, I could put the family on individual market health care, yet, as individual area codes collapse, premiums will begin to skyrocket. Our neighboring community had the largest insurance rate hike in the country. A coworker of mine in that community saw his premiums jump from $1000- $3500 a month. Our community didn't jump that high, but isn't far behind. I told the employers that I while I could spring the premiums for the short term, in a year or two, that will probably not be feasible. The job would need to be constructed to pick up the health care in the next year as the demand increased.

They agreed, and decided they were struggling with the outline of the current job- in the sense they want the 3 day a week job to be a "home", but are trying to figure out how to make it get there.

I gave them some ideas on how to get from point A to point B. They seemed interested, yet still wanted my "final" offers without them showing any of their cards whatsoever.

I think I will call them tomorrow to discuss more using a lot of the advice given here tonight. It really is a "work in progress" job, and I think a lot of the uncertainty stems from the fact it is not an established cookie cutter position with known parallel positions to draw data points from.