When a salary isn't advertised on a job

[Ger1atricMillennial]

I saw a role I liked and is around the same as my role just in a different organisation. I spoke to the manager on a TEAMS meeting for 30 mins, and it sounded great. The application process took me 2 hours as I had to provide them ID and answer STAR questions in the interview as well as provide a cover letter.

I have had a screening conversation with HR and top end of the salary range is 10K less than I am currently being paid.

I dithered about going to the interview. For the interview I have to prepare a "presentation" (not part of the JD) and they will give me the topic on Friday afternoon before my interview on the Tuesday, as well as filling in a police report.

What would you do in this situation?

And am I being unreasonable to think that if you have to spend a significant portion of time applying for a role they should put the salary range out at the beginning.

Another had managers earning an average of 35k (band was 30-40) but the market had changed and they knew that a new manager coming in would need to be paid at the top rate. They knew if they put 30-40 it might stop people applying and if they only put 40 then the current managers would be up in arms.

This is a poor excuse. If the market has changed they need to pay the existing managers the market rate too. I would not want to work somewhere who only pays the going rate when forced to to recruit new staff.

We advertised all of these without salary range. However, we only requested a CV as the initial application. This was followed up with a screening phone call where salary expectations were asked as the first question.

Asking salary expectations is really poor form. Women & ethnic minority candidates tend to be less aware of what they could/should be paid and will typically ask for less than men so it compounds salary gaps.

Plenty of jobs manage to give a range and simply state to candidates that the upper end will be available to exceptional candidates or those with most experience.

I wouldn’t even entertain applying unless the salary was included in the job advert. It takes a lot of time and effort to apply for a job. I’ve been involved in recruitment and I wouldn’t expect anyone to bother applying unless they were desperate if the salary wasn’t advertised.

This post has some great tips - LinkedIn so you might need an account

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7207276840170782720/

"No salary in the job listing?

It's a game. Let's outplay them...

Employers will skip advertising the salary when:

1. They don’t know what the going rate is
2. They don’t want to alert existing employees at the same level of what they’re willing to pay
3. They want room to negotiate
4. They don’t want to alert competition

It doesn’t help you when you apply.

Here is what you can do, ask politely....."

I was about to ask is it a CS job as the process sounds similar, but then I remembered their job ads always state salary range.

And yes I agree it's very annoying and sneaky of the employer not to state it on the ad

I used to be nervous about asking salary but In the last couple of years I email the company or message the recruiter to ask the rough salary range before even sending my cv over, it’s a waste of both our times to not know straight away and if they won’t tell me that’s a red flag and I won’t appply.

You are assessing them too, in a 2-way process.
Be blunt and ask. My salary expectation is x - is it worth completing this process?

If you're really interested, email HR and just ask for the salary range if they don't give it to you ask why; also you could staye your current salary is £75k but looking for over &80k to progress

I get approached frequently for new position and although the initial message does contain a salary range, if I actually do talk to the recruiter it quickly becomes apparent that the the top of the range is calculated by including all the bonusses that would only be paid to the top candidates under the best of circumstances (i.e. the company is performing exceptionally well that year). I usually find that they are not prepared to pay someone like me even what I currently make most of the time.

I get a little annoyed. They think that once they are talking to you they can talk you into accepting a lower wage. I no longer bother responding to recruiters. If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

totally normal in my sector - you can ask for salary range at interview as one of your questions, and you should ask also for wider benefits package.

My newest job did not advertise salary, I asked during interview - it was offered as the same salary that I had four years ago, I asked for an uplift and they explained why not possible. I weighed up the pros and cons and saw that the additional benefits in terms of pension and full medical insurance etc were better as were working conditions. So I accepted.

Also always check tax - if you are under the higher tax threshold, with a lower salary you might pay less tax and not be so bad off net.

Always consider the wider benefits and environment, not just the gross salary

It’s common in my industry for salary ranges not to be advertised (IT, customer facing). You know what you’re on and have a screening call with recruitment to tell them your expectations and alignment usually before you delve into a major interview process. I had 5 interviews for my current role. 7 for my last. Recruiter at first stage is where we spoke of what I wanted upfront.

If they didn’t advertise the salary range it’s very off you don’t have a recruiter where this conversation is had.

if you’re in touch with a recruiter now is the time to have the conversation about your expectations and their feasibility to increase the offer so not to waste either parties time.

This is really helpful thank you.

I was so frustrated with the length of the application, and the 4 (!) interview style questions AND the expectation of the cover letter. At least they didnt do that that thing where they make you list your jobs.

I understand that companies want to manage expectations, but I also have to know if the salary will cover my costs (even at the lower end).

Thank you for the words to ask this properly.

I never know the right time to bring it up, and I hate saying what I want because they should know what the job is worth to them.

If a job advert doesn't have the salary on I don't waste my time applying. If they can't be bothered, neither can I.

Some questions for you too - I worked with someone who was asked by the manager to also get involved in sales (it wasn't part of his job). His reply was "that would be something I would consider, for a different package". It's always stayed with me. Every job is different so assess each role based on what an appropriate remuneration is for your skills, time and knowledge. Best of luck!

To me, nine times out of ten, it's a sign of a shady company offering minimum wage.

I’ve had a couple of headhunters approach me in the past couple of years. Each time when it’s come to salary their budget is apparently for less than I earn already. One tried to haggle me down and persuade me I’d be better off earning less! The second time I was less patient and asked about salary early on and just said it wasn’t paying me enough. It’s infuriating though! I suppose once it’s a contest my competitive side wants to get the job offer. But common sense makes me withdraw. Also just feels a bit like I’m stagnating as a result.

Are there any other benefits that might offset the salary drop? Eg less travel costs, higher pension, more flexibility etc? Would you take a role of the overall package was the same?

if none of the above then reply back to them saying you already earn 10k more and don’t want to waste any more of their or your time.

they might have underestimated what the market rate is for the position. If you provide this feedback it may help them realise.

I find failure to state salary offputting, but not a total deal breaker in itself. What I do is send one email, only, asking what it is. If the reply doesn't include figures, I stop bothering at that point. They get one chance.

Same (or I call - sometimes they won't put it in an email but someone will give a range). I won't waste any more time than that without knowing how much.

You have a job, so I wouldn’t bother with the presentation.

its super frustrating, as without the salary range it’s hard to tell where a ‘job title’ puts you in an organization.

i went from a Sr position, same as just ‘position’ but better paid. Applied for a Sr position with another company, but it was a totally different role! No problem. But every company is structured differently. This sr position would be a coordinator or manager in the old company. And coordinator can be an admin position or a management position!

anyway. Send them feedback. Say sorry, due to salary range provided I am significantly overqualified for the role you are offering. Should you be interested in me and have a position open up in the range of (your salary +20% to dream salary) please contact me. I’m very impressed with your companies…(blah blah blah and safety). I also enjoyed (managers) communication style and office blah blah.

in the future I encourage posting salary ranges to attract quality and appropriate candidates, and demonstrate your companies commitment to (diversity, equity, inclusion).

so I don’t apply unless there is a range posted. Especially employed! I ain’t desperate, I’m looking for career advancement!

This is shocking. Usually head hunters have an inflated salary for a year contract or something with no benefits or security. Like the last one was 30$/hour more than I make now. But then they just keep you as a contract and keep bumping it down. Must be different industries! Or you’re getting the classy ones with real jobs lol. But good for you, clearly top of your field. I hope you enjoyed the one trying to talk you into less!

I wouldn’t apply for any role without being confident the salary is worth the effort.

Internal recruiter here!
we know that not putting the salary on the advert is terrible practice and puts people off but it is usually decided at board level and as a result of not having pay transparency internally, rather than believing the salary is unattractive.

You can, and should ask the salary before making a full application or at least at the telephone screening stage. If the max is £10k less than your current then you should withdraw your application then no? I certainly would not waste my own time going through the interview process if they can’t meet my expectations.

it is frustrating yes, but you don’t have to go for every job and you don’t have to go for those that don’t advertise salary.