Flexible salary expectations, sort of? How not to self-lowball

Post date: 2021-06-18 21:05:34
Views: 79
How do I handle salary requirement requests and screening if I'm potentially open to a much lower than desired salary? This all depends on the opportunity and how anxious I get in the coming months being unemployed. I'm talking about a $20-30,000 difference. I'm currently asking for close to six figures. One job is with a Nobel laureate. I'll take that pay cut. I don't want to short myself otherwise if a company's salary budget is in my ideal range.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't.......I suppose this is a variation on the common, "Help! I can't get hired because I'm overqualified" problem. I have heard the overqualified term once or twice recently with lower-paying jobs.

Based on a salary survey in my industry, my own research, and experience in prior interviews, my nearly six-figure salary range is spot-on. However, some opportunities have come my way that I would consider a pay cut for. I'm fine financially at the moment. It's not ideal by any means, but in a few months, I might start getting a little anxious. I should also add that I haven't worked much in over two years. Of course, I have the COVID excuse for that but I don't think that is going to work so well as we get into the back half of the year. I'm doing well with plenty of interviews at the moment. I'm getting farther along in the process and have even turned down final interviews for two roles that just were not right. I made it to the final round of another job I really wanted only to lose out to somebody with a little more experience. No job yet, but I think I'm doing ok.

Last week I had an interview for an interesting job and in the screening call, I was screened out by the third question which was salary expectations. That was no big deal. This week I was contacted by a recruiter for a company that I follow and consider an ideal employer. The same thing happened. I was above their budget by $25,000, but on this one, I'd consider taking the job. The job isn't great, but It's better than being on unemployment and I'd work my butt off to get promoted. I wouldn't just take advantage until something better came along. I'd commit, but, it doesn't matter. I was disqualified from the role almost immediately over salary. On this one. I had a feeling going in that I'd price myself out based on the job requirements. I was overqualified, but I decided to stay firm.

This evening an even better job came up that was a pretty unique match to some unusual skills and experience I have. Barring extremely poor compensation, I want this job. More than anything, I wanted the application in on the top of the pile Friday morning before going into the weekend. This application allowed me to enter a salary range and I put in a range with a difference of $20,000. I'm not sure a range that wide will look great, but I made a decision and stand by it.

Otherwise, I have been leaning in hard to the higher salary expectation. I've validated it is a reasonable expectation and haven't received much pushback on it in interviews. In fact, for the job I was a final contender, in the first interview, it was hinted at, that the department manager might be able to get me a little more than my initial expectation. After stating my salary expectation, I'm always sure to ask if I'm within their budget and if not, are they at liberty to let me know the range within their budget. I have never had anybody keep that information to themselves. In asking this question, I also haven't run into anything budget I've overshot within that $20-30,000 gap, which I find a little odd.

Another thing, on two occasions, during the interview, the HR rep actually recommended me for a better position. I didn't get those jobs, but it felt good and I would have never had that opportunity without first being interviewed for a lesser role. I got my foot in the door.

How do I thread this needle between my ideal salary and what I may need to take in the ever-nearing future or when something truly good comes up? I don't want to lowball myself obviously. Before COVID when I was getting no action from my resume (I had a year to work on it and got it right.) I started to lower my salary expectations on applications and still received almost no interest from employers. For example, I had one interview for a solid job and when the salary question came up, I gave my expectation and she said, "Oh, this role pays $30,000 more than that" and what followed in very polite words was that I was not qualified.

How do I keep myself from shooting myself in the foot by going too low for a job willing to pay more, but not get myself completely disqualified for wanting too much?

Good news to share below:

I mentioned there is an opportunity to work with a Nobel prize winner in a very cool job. I have the salary range. It's a little lower than I would like, but it would be working with a very well-respected scientist. The lower salary is fine. This is a no-brainer. Super cool stuff.

I also have had two other really nice opportunities sent my way today by another pretty well-known scientist. This time though the roles were an associate consultant and regular consultant. I may get into tricky salary waters here too, but even the associate opportunity would be great, I'd commit and try to work my way up the ladder fast.
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