I am just about to email to turn down a job offer for a job I actually really want. Anyone else had this occur?

[ThatBliddyWoman]

I have had two interviews for the job, one just an informal meeting and the second a presentation. Both went well and I was offered the job. It was advertised as (for example) the pay starting at about 2K less than I am on now, and going up to 3 and a half thousand more.

They've offered me the very lowest end of the scale, because I don't have all of the experience they wanted.

They wanted a degree, experience in one particular field and experience in another field. I have two degrees (a Masters) and experience in one but not both of the areas so they'd start me on the lowest pay.

It's also more hours than I do now (albeit not many) some hours WFH some in the office. So I'd have to factor in petrol costs, and paying a dog walker.

I've looked at my finances over and over and I just can't do it :(

I keep re-wording the email. What I want them to do is to come back and say 'Great we'll give you more money then!' but It's not likely is it.

I have a gut feeling that they've not had many people apply. I breezed through both the interviews, I got the impression they really liked me :(

It's also in a field I really want to work in and really want to gain experience in. They'd offered to put me through a qualification I have always wanted too.

Gutted. Has anyone else had something such as this happen?

Definitely ask for top end, I had a similar situation they offered me the lowest end.

I told them I had been offered another job with higher pay but was leaning towards them and it would be an easy decision to make if they offered the higher end of the salary and they did!

Hope you've had a positive response back OP!

@daisychain01 I am jealous as I’d LOVE to work in a university setting (at least I think I would!) I’ve just no idea how I could get my ‘foot in the door’ so to speak. I dream!

‘Dutch Auction’ 😂 and I agree, it does seem madness doesn’t it that they’d offer the bare minimum and hope for negotiation. Sadly I don’t think that’s what’s happened with the job I applied for, she looked crestfallen when I didn’t accept the offer immediately in the (virtual) meeting and was very vague/begrudging when saying she’d ‘see what she could do’.

I am glad you’ve found somewhere where you feel appreciated.

@BuryingAcorns I am glad you and others (@billy1966 ) have brought that point up-I am shamed to admit I hadn’t thought of it really when jobhunting, I am not sure why. I’ve been lucky enough to always get a decent pension beforehand and the healthcare thing is a new one on me to be honest so I hadn’t thought it was so important to me.

@CanYouPickItUp - I am so glad this thread has taken off and been helpful for others, I started it thinking it would be a typical ‘bit of a whinge, a few empathic responses’ and then dies down, one if that makes sense –it probably doesn’t but— yes, it has been very useful for me and others it seems, and heartwarming to see so much mutual support.

@CrabbitBastard what a cautionary tale (glad you didn’t get caught up in it). and great that you’re doing something worth your while now too. Strangely enough, where I work now about 10 of us were recruited simultaneously and I am the only one left! But I do a slightly different role to them that’s clearly a bit more bearable.

@purplehair1 Don’t blame you for not coming clean on that one 🤓 glad to hear you’ve had success too!

@ECM85 thank you-I still feel it in my water that I am the only applicant, mind! But you and others have made good points about their having paid for this whole recruitment process. They’re not a very large company I feel.

@TooGood2BeFalse really!? I have seen a few threads where posters have done this recently-thinking about it though there weren’t anywhere near as many responses on those as on this one laugh and thank you-where do you work, would I be any good? 😝

@GeneParmesanPrivateEye thank you 😊

No response yet!

I think it's a good sign that there's no response yet; if they had a 'backup' candidate lined up they'd have just offered it to them instead IMO, and this means they're looking at the budget again/arguing with whoever holds the purse strings.

I also hate negotiating and can be a complete wuss. For context now in my 50s and am on good money though. My current company are fair though. However, feeling proud of myself at the moment as I have managed to secure double digit rises for my team following some increase in responsibilities. My mngr had some figures in mind but I went in higher and got what I asked for

One person has said that the new salary will make such a difference for them. It made me very happy

Well, I've had a reply. It's a no, sorry to put a dampener on a largely very positive thread.

They're not offering me any more.

Paraphrasing, they've said that;

-They're sad that it won't work out.

-They can't compete with my current salary (my salary is toward the bottom end of their offer range, eg (It's not this but) I am on £26,500 and they were advertising as between £25k and £30K, and they're offering me the very lowest-£25K. It's around that kind of offer range/comparison to my salary. I find this a bit confusing!

-They can't pay me more than their current staff, some of whom are on the lowest end of their pay range/bracket and have experience/qualifications in the one area they wanted that I do not have. (My qualifications is quite a bit higher up, than what they asked for, not that this makes me special of course but they're not taking this into account at all obviously).

They did not mention a qualification in this area in their desirables on the advertisement either, but experience in it- which I do not have but have it in something very similar, and I have demonstrated the skills too.

I hope that makes sense.

They also said to get in touch 'if my circumstances change'.

Ah well. Back to the drawing board as they say 🙂

At least you know Op. FWIW, from what you've said, I think you've had a lucky escape. What kind of organisation states a salary range and then only offers the lowest amount, even when they've got a fantastic candidate.

Good luck in your continuing search & well done for knowing your worth.

Sorry to hear that @ThatBliddyWoman , but at least now you know. They don't value you, you can't take a pay cut especially in this environment!
Another, better, job will come your way! 💐

I think you dodged a bullet. DS went for an interview once he ticked every box. When he told them his present salary his would be boss said that was a lot more than he was on. The company went bump a few years later.

Pay peanuts get monkeys holds true

@XanaduKira It makes me feel that, they never had any intention of offering any more? I mean they say It's because I don't have specific experience (even though I have very similar and the interview was solely to demonstrate skills in that area) but then say those who DO have that experience (and a qualification, not mentioned in the advertisement) are on the lowest end? It makes little sense!

@RonSwansonsChair thank you-I am trying to stay positive. I will keep looking.

Something like what this job was would be perfect for me but not for that little money :(

@justasking111 that makes me feel a bit better!

What did your DS say to that?!
I may be being presumptuous but, surely they'd know what his job was (and therefore what sort of salary he'd be on) before interviewing him?

Maybe I have dodged a bullet as you've said. I have a really easy job for quite a bit more money really once you take into account what I save on commuting and dog walkers/sitters and being able to do freelance work as I'm not frazzled with a workload and commutes.

I will keep looking :)

It has been a really interesting thread and I am glad I posted about this issue. I've loved how we've all uplifted one another :)

I agree with this.

You have actually learned a huge amount from this thread and you are much further a long.

You have calculated a figure that is your bottom line.

You have a good package.
Up your freelance work.
Start working on your assertiveness which will benefit you in every area of your life.

I think you most definitely are not back at the drawing board.
I think you are a lot more focused than you were before.

Chin up.

I think it's good you asked because it shows you know your self worth and it's given them the opportunity to show their position on pay. This wasn't the right one for you OP, something else will turn up and you've learned how not to sell yourself short so not all is lost!

I echo this.
Onwards and upwards.
Their loss.

Have you put the salary into a salary calculator and looked at it.
can you cut down on things. I’ve just taken a long hard look at my finances and cancelling sky, subscriptions, not having the odd Costa while out and it soon adds up.

if the opportunity for progresssion is there and they will get you more qualifications it may be worth a temporary dip

They can't pay me more than their current staff, some of whom are on the lowest end of their pay range/bracket and have experience/qualifications in the one area they wanted that I do not have

This is basically telling you that they hold staff wages down to the lowest level and even if you took the job you would never see much pay progression.

I fundamentally disagree with the mindset that "can't pay more because the lowest don't earn much", however its common in some sectors and provides and excuse for low pay.

Out of interest - is this a staff shortage area in general? One of the industries regularly appearing and saying they can't recruit staff?

I reckon you're right @C8H10N4O2 - when those industries appear in the media to say they' re struggling to recruit, I always get angry that the interviewers don't push them on their low rates of pay & challenge them to offer more. They simply accept what they say and then seem to blame the government (usually I'm ok with blaming the government but not in all circumstances!)

Definitely dodged a bullet. The reason others in the team are at the lowest end of the band is clearly because they do not give pay rises. They do not value their employees.

you said yourself that at the outset they are expecting a lot for the salary they are offering. They would have worked you to the bone whilst paying you as little as possible. That doesn’t take long to wear you down into wanting to look for another job. Have you checked out employee reviews on the likes of Glassdoor?

I agree with this. You're better off out of it. Onwards and upwards!

Dodged a bullet there. Sounds like they are cheap employers and also not promoting if everyone else is on the bottom end.

reply

Thank you for your offer but due to the fact it is at the lowest end of the scale you advertised I will have to turn it down.

I wish you every success in appointing the right person for your team.

kind regards

me

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Especially in this market. And even the monkeys want cashew nuts now as peanuts don't go very far.

I wish you every success in appointing the right person for your team

I'd change that to "I wish you the best of luck in appointing someone for your team." They will need it.

This is so true! Such a good analogy!

@billy1966 @CornishGem1975 very true. I am trying to up my freelance work too-I advertise but don’t get much interest despite my prices being competitive. Might have a rethink about how to improve that. I was with an agency but they took so much of a deduction from my rate it was almost not worth it!

@C8H10N4O2 apparently there’s a surge of people wanting to train in it following the pandemic (just a quick google search I’ve just done that tells me that).

And yes, it is true that-I’d be still on the lowest end if I stayed there years by the sounds of it. I am going to look for something similar with a better company.
–probably like looking for a snowball in a blizzard—

If I was to be churlish I’d reply to them saying ‘You’d not be paying me too much, It’s more so that you pay your current staff too little!’

@Cordeliathecat Only one review on Indeed (and from 2 years ago in a different location) so not very valid. I will look on glassdoor however! I do tend to agree with you (in general, not just because it makes me feel better about this whole thing)!