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Original poster

Job adverts that don't state salary

49 replies

bonfireheart · 26/02/2021 21:48

I usually avoid even applying. Then I saw a job at a place I really really want to work at and opportunities rarely come. Generic JD and with hindsight maybe I should have asked them about salary before applying but thought that might look grabby. Sent it CV and cover letter on which my level of responsibility was quite clear. Had a lovely interview. They asked my current salary and I told them honestly, said I was happy with them matching it (not fussed if it wasn't more).

I didn't get the job and the said it's solely cos they can't match my salary and they see this as a more "junior" role than I am currently in.

I've learnt my lesson. But what a waste of everyone's time. Why do places do this?

OP posts:
Pranct · 26/02/2021 22:09

I can only think they hope to get someone desperate for a job or change of workplace. I do not understand it myself and feel it must stop a lot of people applying for such posts. Maybe someone can enlighten us though!

ChickyNuggies · 26/02/2021 22:10

I think sometimes, it's because the company don't want current employees knowing the salaries for other positions

ragged · 26/02/2021 22:11

I thought of these jobs were minimum wage supplemented by sales commissions.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2021 22:13

Could you not have said on the application "I am looking for a minimum package of x"?

GingerBiscuit21 · 26/02/2021 22:15

@ragged

I thought of these jobs were minimum wage supplemented by sales commissions.

I've worked in in-house recruitment for more than 15 years. Rarely if ever been allowed to put a salary, but never paid minimum wage.

BitOfFun · 26/02/2021 22:17

I wouldn't assume that, ragged, unless it was advertised as a sales job.

cheeseismydownfall · 26/02/2021 22:19

I am recruiting for a role right now and have deliberately chosen not to include salary. For our (small) company, this is because we are open to considering candidates of different levels of expertise - we are more concerned about getting the right fit. I'm checking salary expectations in the initial (short, informal) interview to ensure there isn't a significant mismatch.

wellthatsunusual · 26/02/2021 22:20

In my experience only public sector jobs with specific payscales ever seem to advertise the salary. And even then, not always.

All I ever see is 'salary commensurate with experience' or 'competitive salary'.

It's very frustrating.

WitchWife · 26/02/2021 22:22

I find this completely maddening. Surely a major reason for moving job is trying to get a higher salary.

makingmiracles · 26/02/2021 22:24

@ragged Ive always assumed the same as you.

I always think its a bit of a waste of everyone’s time when company’s don’t state the salary, taking the time to look at cvs and the interviewee taking the time too prepared and attend interview, only to find the salary is lower than their current role/unviable.
I personally steer away from ads that don’t state the salary.

Chunkymenrock · 26/02/2021 22:26

It's very irritating. We go to work to earn money FGS! It shouldn't be some big secret.

StanfordPines · 26/02/2021 22:27

@cheeseismydownfall

I am recruiting for a role right now and have deliberately chosen not to include salary. For our (small) company, this is because we are open to considering candidates of different levels of expertise - we are more concerned about getting the right fit. I'm checking salary expectations in the initial (short, informal) interview to ensure there isn't a significant mismatch.
I wouldn’t even bother applying for a job that didn’t state the salary. Why waste time applying for something only to find out after all that effort that it won’t cover the mortgage. People don’t go to work for the fun of it.
StanfordPines · 26/02/2021 22:29

@Chunkymenrock

It's very irritating. We go to work to earn money FGS! It shouldn't be some big secret.
I agree. It’s like you shouldn’t be asking about the money you should just be doing the job because it’s what you want to do with your life, not a way to pay the bills.
Soontobeseller · 26/02/2021 22:32

I had a first stage interview and was really annoyed that even then they wouldn’t discuss salary.

Why would I spend time preparing for a second stage interview for them to turn round and say it’s way less than my current!

quarentini · 26/02/2021 22:32

I assume it's because they are not wanting to pay a decent amount for the role advertised and are looking for a cheap fit .

Saviouronthreelegs · 26/02/2021 22:32

I absolutely hate this and don't apply for roles if they don't have a salary. I need a certain salary so why waste my time and theirs if it doesn't fit. So frustrating.

islockdownoveryet · 26/02/2021 22:41

I’d never apply for a job without knowing the salary again .
A few years ago I applied for a job salary said competitive .
I went for interview was then offered job a lot less than my current salary , I said I was prepared to negotiate they said non negotiable.
I mean why not state the salary if non negotiable? I turned the job down and lesson learned negotiable salary means shit I’ll never apply without knowing salary again .

Elbels · 26/02/2021 22:44

It drives me insane. I'm not looking at the mo but keep an eye out. Roles with my job title could have a £30,000 salary range and I'd hate to apply for one £20,000 lower than I'm on only to find that out at interview.

Asking when or before you apply is absolutely not grabby.

Original poster
bonfireheart · 26/02/2021 22:50

Maybe I should start being more confident in interviews
"So why do you want this job?"
"Because I hope it'll pay more."
"What salary are you hoping for?"
"As much as you can give. Thank you."

OP posts:
Original poster
bonfireheart · 26/02/2021 22:54

"I think sometimes, it's because the company don't want current employees knowing the salaries for other positions"

When I see jobs without salary I do often think hmmm wonder if your female staff get paid the same as male staff (as apparently men will always ask for higher salary)...

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 26/02/2021 23:01

Nah wouldn’t bother applying for a job without the job. I would discuss it with a recruiter (they tend not to put it) but would say x is minimum amount id accept if they can’t do it I’d not waste my holidays in this company

I’ve got 11 years experience and still keep getting job offers for junior roles or salaries.

DuzzyFuck · 26/02/2021 23:13

It's infuriating, and yes agree with a PP often it's a way to stop existing employees finding out what each other earn. In my company it would be considered about the worst form of offence to be found to share details of your salary with a colleague. I'm certain they'd rather me do lines of coke off my desk than tell anyone else what I earn.

I also think when they say 'negotiable' it's often far from it. More like 'we know what the range is, and we're going to try and get away with giving you as little as possible of it'.

Employees never win from the secrecy around salaries, only ever the employers.

Trisolaris · 26/02/2021 23:29

About 2/3 of the jobs that I apply for at the moment do not have salaries attached. I do a specialist role that companies will only hire for rarely so it’s often the case that they don’t know what they will need to pay and want a variety of CVs. They might ask for expectations as a pre-screening question.

I don’t mind applying with no salary advertised but unless I really like the company they will get no more than my CV (ie no cover letter) and I won’t bother with a complicated application process (more than 5 mins to complete).

If they don’t talk salaries as part of screening I wouldn’t attend an interview. I don’t like wasting my time.

Downthisroad · 26/02/2021 23:32

The worst is "£competitive". Ugggh.

It's a lot of admin applying for a job, getting the CV up to date, checking the company sounds like somewhere you'd actually like to work etc, the least applicants could get it some way to filter out the the jobs they'd otherwise not apply for/switch to.

kittenpeak · 26/02/2021 23:33

I don’t think salary should be put on JD:

  1. Current employees will know how much their colleagues earn. A lot of companies have a “mouths shut” policy, so putting salary publicly goes against that.
  1. The JD should be written well enough so you know roughly what the salary is, eg based on industry, role, requirements you should know if it’s more a £20k role over a £70k role. If you can’t work out if it’s a £40k or £50k role, which is in line with your expectations, then just apply anyway. You should know from reading it if it’s way above or way below your capabilities.
  1. Do you put your salary expectations on your CV? If you don’t, it’s probably for the same reason employers don’t put salary on the JD.
  1. Salary isn’t everything. The entire package matters, eg pension, insurance etc. The salary could be really low because of all the benefits
Which are included. If you see a low salary you might be put off applying, and you’ll never know it comes with a fantastic pension.

Remember that recruiters / firms reach out and speak to you without knowing your expectations, so you can’t expect not to do the same in return