dent       06-08-2006, 12:55 am

I'm assuming most, if not all employers have an answer for that question, and are probably prepared to answer it. I've never had an interview without bringing up salary.

You could always break into his office in the middle of the night and search through his files. Or, have your wife call him during your interview and ask. Fuck, give me the number and I'll call for you.

azron123       06-08-2006, 01:28 am

I'm the same way you are Ragoo. I used to be afraid that If I asked how much a job paid the interviewer would ask me how much I thought I was worth. Then no matter what I said I'd be fucked.

I thought you lived down in Philly. WB is only about an hour or so from here. I'm about 12 miles from Port Jervis, NY

shitbox       06-08-2006, 03:28 am

Don't bring it up. If it comes up fine.
If they offer you a job that is when its time to discuss pay. Because them offering you a job is just that, an offer you decide to take or leave.

(this from the handbook of fagabeefe)

vasudeva       06-08-2006, 06:17 am

Yeah, talking money seems uncouth.

Consider this little nugget of hate, though. You're devoting your time preparing for, travelling to and sitting through a little buy-me roadshow in order to establish a relationship with an employer. This relationship boils down to "Worker, as long as you do X for us on a reliable basis, we will pay you Y." It's a financial agreement with both parties agreeing on terms. When you show up, you necessarily have a fairly good idea of X. The interview is all about your skills at X, your experience with X, your willingness to carry a pager to be a resource for X during off-hours, and your commitment to possibly performing 60 hours of X a week during crunch periods.

But it's bad form to talk about Y -- which is your side of the bargain, and the sole reason you personally are there at all.

There's a kind of vestigial feudal holdover from some remote and possibly agricultural employment paradigm (enjoy it, it's rare) of the deep past where employers have the upper hand and you're a supplicant, willing to put your needs on hold for the good of the employer. It's a little fucked up.

So I'd say discussing salary is only sensible. How to navigate the conversation, I don't really know very well myself, except for the obvious wisdom everyone else has (aim high for negotation's sake, have a bottom limit).

But you should do it.

freakmachine       06-08-2006, 08:26 am

In my experience either the interviewer asks how much I think I should get during the interview or, if they don't, I ask them when about it when I get a job offer. Whatever you do, don't accept the job without ironing out the numbers first.

mundhra       06-08-2006, 09:24 am

vas speaketh the truth. you can bring it up anytime discussion goes to holidays/vacation days/sick days/benefits.

there may be wisdom in holding out until an offer though. say you bring it up and state 40-45 and they were thinking more 38 and don't give you the offer when 38 was completely acceptible to you.

keep in mind that i've only had one professional job interview and really don't know what the fuck i'm talking about.

wheeee!

mundhra       06-08-2006, 09:24 am

p.s. good luck, man

ragoo       06-08-2006, 01:22 pm

I feel a bit better about bringing it up now, but I won't focus too much attention on the subject. I won't say: "Alright, moving on I would now like to discuss my salary..." More likely I'll ask them what their starting range is. By that point, I will have filled out an application that shows how much I currently make, so they should have an idea of what my minimum requirements are.

I will have to haggle a bit about the job title--if I get an offer. It's a "manager" position, and my last two jobs have been "director" and "executive director." It's not out of vanity that I would quibble about such things, it's about showing a generally upward track on my career path. Employers look at that shit, I know.

yazirian       06-08-2006, 11:42 pm

i'm just glad azron isnt dead yet

Infectionconnection       06-10-2006, 04:42 pm

whatever number you pick, when asked, write it down on a slip of paper and slide it across the desk. They like that. it always in the movies

jwalker       06-10-2006, 05:44 pm

The employer and the job seeker both know that $ will be discussed before anything is signed. The interview is to find out whether the position will suit you, and vise versa. Get that out of the way first, and if everything looks good to both parties, it is then time to discuss salary. If they don't bring it up then you should.

tantrum       06-13-2006, 10:02 pm

So how did it go, lover?

ragoo       06-13-2006, 10:44 pm

I pussied out didn't ask.

The whole thing wen't well, but given the dynamics of the interview it would have been awkward to raise the pay question. I was one of four interviewees they chose from a field of 22 applicants, and I think I made a good case for myself. The company is much larger than I had first thought, with branches in several states. That's positive from my perspective since it would offer more of a challenge in terms of cohering their brand identity and message.

If they liked me, there will be at least one more interview, with the CEO. I'll definitely tuck tail and let the question pass ask about salary then.

vasudeva       06-14-2006, 06:01 am

If you can keep using cohere as a verb, it should be a lock!

ragoo       06-21-2006, 09:52 pm

Woohoo, second interview on June 30.

mundhra       06-21-2006, 10:25 pm

ragoo: let's cut the chit chat. i know you want me.

shitbox       06-22-2006, 02:06 am

Or you could perform the aristocrats for 'em.

mundhra       06-22-2006, 08:56 am

err, that should read:

ragoo> let's cut the chit chat. i know you want me.

as in, that's what you're saying to them. not what i'm saying to you.

christ.

ragoo       06-22-2006, 09:23 am

DON'T DENY WHAT WE BOTH KNOW IS TRUE

vasudeva       06-22-2006, 09:56 am

All's well that got terrifying for a minute there.

Heather       06-30-2006, 11:40 am

Just when you thought it was safe to go tiptoeing through the jounals.