When companies don't advertise the salary for a vacancy

[onthejobhunt101]

I'm currently job-hunting and applying for roles across a couple of sectors to keep my options open as far as possible. I've noticed that many companies are really coy about potential/starting salary to the point of refusing to talk about it. It's starting to drive me mad!

I've even spoken to the 'contact person' named in the advert itself to no avail - I've been told that salary is to be discussed at interview and not before, even though there are lengthy pre-interview tests and application forms. I've also been asked what I expect the salary to be - isn't it more about what the work and additional responsibilities etc are worth?

Surely it's in everyone's interests to advertise at least a salary range? Then the applicant knows if it's worth applying for and the company knows that they'll attract applicants whose qualifications and experience are befitting of that kind of salary. It seems potentially a waste of time and energy to fill out a five-page application form and go through all the screening tests to find out then that the salary was nowhere near what you expected.

Sorry for the rant, it's just been getting me down. Does anyone else have experience of this?

The whole of MN: this needs to change, there's no good reason for adverts with no salary range and plenty of good reasons to include it.

Recruiters: YABU

🤦🏼‍♀️

@Annasgirl

Well I am currently recruiting and salary is dependent on experience - so if we end up hiring a new grad they will be paid less than someone with 5 years experience. We are flexible with whether we go with new grad and train them up or experienced person and pay the full salary straight off. But actually salary will be presented to each person at interview - and is based on grades of pay in the public sector for this type of work, with additional bonus payable on meeting our key operational work processes.

Do you put that in the ad? Salary range X to Y, dependent on experience?

Given that a decent job application can take a day to complete, I won't waste my time if there is no indication of salary range at least. It really annoys me.

Yep, I hate it and avoid job adverts without a salary range featured.

This has always been a default for jobs in the regional press/some regional PR firms, which is where I’ve done most of my work. I’ve always assumed that it’s because if they advertised how shite the pay was in this sector to the general public, it would cause huge embarrassment to the company.

It is rotten though I agree. But these firms know if you’re “lucky” enough to get offered a plum job as a local reporter or etc, you’ll probably accept any old crap salary they make up on the spot.

@PurplePansy05

The whole of MN: this needs to change, there's no good reason for adverts with no salary range and plenty of good reasons to include it.

Recruiters: YABU

🤦🏼‍♀️

In my industry, you tend to expect a minimum 10% pay increase on your current salary for an external move, assuming all other benefits like pension, holidays etc are equal. You can then expect to flex that 10% up higher to account for any lost benefits. Other factors - like going from a large corporate to a smaller player - would generally require a bigger increase as in our industry you're generally taking on more personal risk by working for a smaller player.

I can work our from the type of company in my industry, plus job title and clues in the description, what they're likely to be looking to pay for a particular role. Not foolproof but you do get a good feel for it.

What should happen when there is no salary on the spec is that during the initial HR interview they ask your current salary. Then they at least know what to aim above.

I agree it’s not always best for the people in a hint to see home much another person could get paid doing the same job.

Naively I once went through three, yes three, interviews, psychometric tests X2, a presentation that it took me a day to prepare and an hour-long Q&A only to be offered almost 10K less than I was currently earning. A complete waste of my and everyone else's time. Never again.

@WetdreamBeliever oh no! Did they ask for applicant feedback on the process at all?

In the sector I work in it is very rare for salaries to be published. It is annoying, but if I didn't apply for jobs without a salary there'd be little to nothing to apply for!

I went for a job years ago when I was trying to relocate. It didn't have the salary on the advert but it was pretty much the same job I was doing at the time, just at a different company who offered the same service.

I took a day's annual leave, paid to travel through and spent the day interviewing/doing tests. The application had asked for my current salary but when they offered me the job, the salary was £7k less than I was already on for the same position. I said I couldn't do it and they came back with an extra £500 a year

I've never applied for another job that doesn't advertise the salary. Total waste of time.

I’m a recruiter
Because they want to keep an open mind on this and pay the successful person as little as possible.

I agree. They really put me off

I refuse to apply for jobs that don't advertise a salary as there isn't a reason not to other than to pay as little as possible.

We are willing to offer the role to someone who would like it and has worked somewhere else since graduation. But they have to work our way so we are not giving them a bonus for experience gained somewhere else.

So you're only willing to hire someone that has gained experience somewhere else but you're not willing to pay them more for having experience? What a strange attitude.

I once had two interviews for a job where they wouldn't tell me the salary and eventually said salary is not discussed until the day the employee starts work there!

This happened to me once. I applied for an admin job years back "salary depending on experience" I had nearly 10 years experience and went with it, got offered the job and a salary of £13k. I politely declined.

@UnacceptableOrNot

I once had two interviews for a job where they wouldn't tell me the salary and eventually said salary is not discussed until the day the employee starts work there!

This makes no sense no one would be expected to accept a job without knowing all the details

I posted here recently that it took 6 emails back and forth to get an answer with regard to the salary of a position I'd seen.

I still don't know what it was, but apparently £30k was too much for the management position.

I'm currently on more so it would have been a massive waste of everyone's time if I'd applied.

It's REALLY annoying as an applicant but I see the other side, too. I'll shortly be recruiting for my team and, depending on experience, the salary could be anywhere from £40k-70k.

If I put £40k-70k on the ad then a candidate is going to be pissed to be offered £40k. If I put "starting at £40k" then applicants currently on £65k aren't going to bother applying.

This role doesn't have a standard definition. Duties and experince vary widely between companies, so it isn't a case of the role being worth £X and that's that. I will need to put much more time in to train and mentor a £40k-ish candidate than a £70k one. And the £70k one might even be able to take some duties off my shoulders. This is why the salary is so variable.

This seems to be happening more and more. I am looking for a new job and most I have looked at don't disclose the salary.

@bilbodog

Back in the 80s i applied for a job in london advertised at a specific rate and the manager offered me the job but at a lower salary than was advertised! Luckily i was brave enough to say no thanks and walk away and get a job with a higher salary - what a CF!

I had this happen a few years ago.

I was working 40 hours a week on about £21/22k. I applied a job that was advertised as £25-30k.

I was offered the job and they said the pay was £21k for 42.5 hours a week. I was so stunned I didn't say anything for a few seconds. I then queried why they were offering me less than I was currently earning, I was told that they were willing to pay any overtime so I'd actually earn more. I said I was looking to work fewer hours; not more, and promptly withdrew my application.

Arseholes.

My last job and the one I'm in now didn't have a quoted salary range.

The recruitment team of the business I work for now contacted me about the original job. I knew the market rate, so at the F2F interview when they asked me salary expectations, I quoted what I felt was fair for the role, considering the benefits that came with it (market rate + £8k) and left them with it.

@monkeyonthetable nailed it.

The people who 'just don't apply' are potentially doing themselves out of a brilliant job.

But then, negotiating skills are an important element of many roles

The people who 'just don't apply' are potentially doing themselves out of a brilliant job

More likely employers are potentially doing themselves out of a brilliant employee as we are in the majority. I have no regrets at only ever applying for brilliant jobs that are upfront about the salary. A job that sounds great is all very well and good but I do have a mortgage to pay and a limited amount of annual leave. I won't be wasting it on employers that can't assure me that mortgage is getting paid.