WIBU..to go to this job interview knowing I can’t accept the job?

[xSummerStarsx]

…If offered, obviously!

I FINALLY have an interview at my dream company. I have been applying for roles there for the last 2 or 3 years and have always been gutted as haven’t managed to get an interview.

Until now! I saw a job advertised a couple of weeks ago, it is a drop in ‘responsibility’ and I am slightly over-qualified so I knew it would probably be a pay decrease but applied anyway as you never know (salary wasn’t stated on advert, just said ‘dependant on experience.’)

I got a phone call last week to say I have an interview and that she would email me the details, great.

On the email it stated the salary and it is a 6k salary drop. I just cannot afford to take that sort of drop. However, I really would like to go to the interview so I can FINALLY get in front of these people and meet them. I’m hoping if they meet and like me, that they may keep me in mind if I apply for roles in future, or if a more ‘suitable’ role comes up?

WIBU to go, knowing that I can’t accept the position if offered to me? I know I’d be a ‘time waster’ but I don’t see how else I’m ever going to get an interview for this place!

OP I did exactly what you did quite a few years ago. I actually took a drop of 8k to carve out a new career path. I felt it at the time but I'm now earning 3x that original salary. If you can afford the drop short term take it but ask at the interview what the career prospects are within the company and also keep an eye on who else is in that industry.

Always go for the interview, it's good experience if nothing else and the last time I got offered a job with someone else my current company did increase my wages to keep me. I've been offered a lot of jobs I haven't taken, I've always been honest, either the salary I was offered wasn't enough (that was usually the fault of a naughty recruiter promising more) or the job actually wasn't going to be a good fit. One memorable time it was purely because I had felt their interview process had been shambolic and I told them I didn't want to work for a company that had that attitude towards prospective employees as how did they treat their current employees?

You won't know what could have been until you go, but if you don't go you will always look back and wonder.

I'm with the 'go for it' contingent on this thread.

I really don't think you should let the spectre of a random HR person being maybe pissed off for half a second. There are ways of doing it professionally which will avoid even the grumpiest HR personnel from holding a grudge :)

I'd use the interview to find out more about the company and whether it really is the most amazing place for you - things can feel very different from the outside looking in.

I'd also be aiming to impress, and being careful not to down grade your skills and experience to fit with the job - in my experience this can be tricky as the interviewer will be pitching questions at a lower threshold.

And definitely don't refuse the role on the basis of 'I can't afford the pay drop', say that although you were very impressed with the company, it's clear the job is not a great fit with the amount of experience/ skills you have. And then ask them about any other opportunities and what levels of experience/ skills are required/ you'd need to demonstrate - it may be that you're stuck between levels at the mo, and that's good to know and how you can close the gap. Then thank them and ask whether you can keep in touch / who would be good to keep in touch with.

If they're especially friendly it might be worth asking how they tend to recruit ie only for specific jobs / are certain departments expanding/ more likely to be recruiting at your level? Do they look at 'on spec' applications, should they be to HR or to specific departments/ managers etc...

As an aside it will vary greatly how important HR's role will be. For example at my place of work any mid level and beyond recruitment happens via the specific team, with HR only involved at the very beginning (advertising/ liaising with agencies) and end (contracts etc). So no amount of 'keeping me in mind' or 'on file' would matter of aimed at HR.

Good luck. Don't undersell yourself. Don't apologise!

Oh and don't write off the rest of your career, if late 20s is the park of your career then you're either planning to coast for the next 40 yrs(!) or you're undervaluing everyone over the age of 29! Experience breeds wisdom, even in this age of youth worship :)

Remember that an interview is just as much you finding out whether they're really the right company for you, as much as you are for them.

I say do it. They are being paid for their time in interviewing you, after all.

I wouldn't - as someone who has interviewed before extensively - take it at all amiss if I interviewed someone, offered them a job, and they on reflection didn't find it the right fit for whatever reason (salary included), this time.

After all, I interview enough people for each single role to be filled, knowing full well only one will get the role, this time. It goes both ways.

I say do it!!

I think I'll attend the interview.

Bit worried though as in previous interviews I've had, they always talk salary at the end, sometimes even at the beginning! How do people think I should respond/ handle that if they do talk salary?!

I think you should go too, make a great impression and if they forget then it doesn't matter because you can apply again for the right level next time.

It is also your opportunity to find out more about them and whether they really will be a dream employer. If they are you may be happy to negotiate a pay cut and see it as an investment in your future career. I'm in my early 30s and a SAHM hoping to start a new career, I'll be lucky to get £20k in central London. It's an investment and as long as you can cover your costs you could be reaping the rewards in a year or two. But that does depend on the industry and employer, lots of jobs can be dead end roles, even the well paid ones.

As for the salary being mentioned, try to hide your negativity. I had an interview and they disclosed the salary towards the end, it changed everything after a very positive conversation, they didn't even get in touch afterwards as I think they knew how I felt. You have the advantage of knowing already so get practicing your best smiling poker face. Hopefully negatotiations will happen after an offer is made.

Good luck.

SevenOfNineTrue - the company has revealed the salary after the application process. Not good practice either. And to not consider a candidate again for something like that is very shortsighted and a reason why most people think HR are rubbish

I think it depends on whether you just want more money, or whether you are actually overqualified for the role.

If you are at the level they are looking for, but you want more money, then of course they'll hire someone else.

If you can do more than the advertised role, then if you impress them they may be able to expand the role (and expand the pay) to take advantage of your skills.

Good luck, OP! Just take any talk about salary as it comes. You know what you want, so keep your language professional (no talking about being 'desperate' or how you 'can't afford' the drop etc) and listen to what they say.

Save any talk about salary negotiation until they offer you the job. That's when you have maximum bargaining power. Don't dvdn mention it in the interview.

PrimalLass but at least they have told the candidates before interview so they have the chance to withdraw. I would never apply for a role that did not state a salary or at the very least, a salary range.

Sometimes a company will only set the salary once they have seen all the applicants. It is an underhand tactic and I don't personally agree with that tactic but that is the practice of some companies. No need to have a go at me, that is not how I operated when in HR nor my company.

If a company only has a certain budget, they would be stupid to interview candidates who would only accept a far higher salary if that is truly all they could afford.

I can tell you if the OP came into the interview was running and said they'd only accept £6k more and hadn't checked in advance that the salary would be negotiable, I'd write them off as a time waster. There are plenty of other ways to get your face known in companies you want to work for.

Save any talk about salary negotiation until they offer you the job. That's when you have maximum bargaining power. Don't dvdn mention it in the interview.

I'd be pissed off I I interviewed someone for a job which I'd told them the salary for, offered them the job and then they said they couldn't live on that salary!

I'd be pissed off I I interviewed someone for a job which I'd told them the salary for, offered them the job and then they said they couldn't live on that salary!

It is very annoying, we have had it at work, but that is why all interviewers should have at least one Reserve Candidate.

I think you should state that if you were offered the job then you would like to talk about both the salary and career progression then.

Please let us know what you decide, and how you get on if you do go.

But your late 20s can't possibly be the "pinnacle" of your career unless you are a professional sportswoman, actor or musician.

My DH did this once- went for an interview knowing he wouldn't accept the salary. He spoke about the salary at the end of the interview, the interviewers were a little shocked but as he was the person they wanted, they agreed to put up to the salary to what he was asking after a 6 months 'probation'.

Just go for the interview. If they like you they will want you and may be very willing to up the salary.

I applied for a job which was 3/5 of my salary at the time. I did tell the agent that it was too low and the job description much more junior than my experience but I would do the job PT (which is what i was looking for). Got an interview and the job (actually they really needed someone more senior but no recruitment budget/sign off for it) on 3 days a week for the advertised salary but higher grade. They desperately want me ft now with money to increase proportionally. Sometimes the budget for recruiting is fixed but money can be found at a later date.......

Sorry, meant to say, go for it and good luck!

And don't undersell yourself.....

Do you know what the going rate is for your job?

Would other people doing your job in that company get paid your current higher salary, do you think? Or the lower one that's been advertised?

That sounds garbled but what I mean is...if Sally and Kevin who work in this new company and do your role, get paid £20k but you want £26k--there may not be the scope for such an increase (is it public sector with pay bands etc?) but if Sally gets £26k and Kevin gets £23k but you've only been offered £20k then there's scope to move.

Don't get hung up on salary now, in your late 20s!

You can probably - with some budgeting - afford to take a cut in salary at this point if it's just you to support. The idea is that you get in the company and you WORK YOUR ARSE OFF until you rise through the ranks and start earning 10x what you'd ever earn by pootling along with zero enthusiasm in a different company.

Is it just you, no kids, no dependent relatives? Then you can afford it. This would be a starting salary, a beginners role. It's just an "in". Plus there might be overtime..?

And don't listen to HR. In my experience, HR aren't in charge of hiring. They're there to do contracts and admin. Your interview will put you in front of decision makers. The HR PP might say she "files and forgets" unsuccessful candidates, but the people you actually talk to at the interview - the people you'd be working with - might not be like that at all.

Apologies for my rather damning comments about HR.

But the OP has said

I just cannot afford to take that sort of drop

She may be young, but she still has overheads to cover!

There's always a way. This is her Dream Company.

So, interview tomorrow. Slightly bricking it if I'm honest and wondering whether I've made the right decision in attending.

I feel like a fraud!

I still have no idea What I'll say if they want to discuss salary, I.e what I'm on now or what they're paying and whether it's a drop etc as, IME, they normally do this at the end of the interview. I don't want to talk salary but I can hardly sit there staring at them mutely if they bring it up can I!!

If they ask you about salary, tell them the truth! But they might not talk money in the interview. Sometimes it's not mentioned until the offer stage. Try not to worry about it and just focus on impressing them in the interview. Focus on what you'll bring to the company/organisation. Then if money comes up you'll be feeling more confident. You don't have anything to hide or apologise for though.

Oh and you're doing the interview (which is totally the right decision btw) so OWN that decision and don't feel guilty about being there! You made the application and you were invited to interview, so you have every right to go.