Salary Expectations

[tiffanyctd]

I've applied for a job at the local university, and was asked if I'm still interested in the position. I asked about what range the department is looking to hire in, since the range listed is so broad. I'm aiming for a range that's quite a ways above the minimum, so I don't want to waste both my time and that of the hiring manager.

It's considered a state position, which tend to be lumped together by category, and the range is the same for all positions in that category. For example, all administrative positions for an agency from part time receptionist or office assistant to executive assistant or office manager could be lumped together, so the range would be something like $10,000 to $70,000. From my past experience, the hiring manager tends to have a more specific range in mind (i.e.-$33,000-$37,000).

Here's the response I got:

"Salary dollars are not controlled by the department, but by the Dean's office of Arts & Sciences.  Once an applicant is selected, based on experience, education, etc. the Dean's office authorizes a salary amount.  I know this may not be of much assistance, but  I can tell you that I've been able to hire folks above the minimum, but given the large salary ranges of the positions, it's difficult to advise you as to whether you should pursue this position.  I can tell  you that the salary range for the position is $20,780 to $62,342.  Hope this helps at least a little.  Please let me know if you are still interested."

What do you think? Should I go for it and see what they offer (of course, assuming that they do offer )?

Thanks,
Tif

[whitesatin]

Couldn't hurt to go for it. Nothing ventured is nothing gained.

WhiteSatin

[geminigirl]

Go for it!  I was in exactly the same position before I accepted this job (again, with a University) with a really wide salary range.  I was offered the position and the initial salary offer was £2000 below what I was then earning.  I told them that I had a basic minimum that I wanted for my next position, given travelling, cost of getting to work etc etc They came back immediately (during the initial phone call offering me the job) with a better offer and yet a better one two days later, when I finally accepted the position - £4000 more than the original offer.

Stick to your guns, know what you want to be paid for the job.  You've nothing to lose except a bit of your time.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[gee4]

Yes Tif, from experience you have to go for it and find out.  Some companies that are hiring do not disclose the salary (well in NI anyway) unless they are a public sector organisation, in which case the post will be on a scale of some kind.  Private sector is different.  You could have 3 people in the same team/dept but all earning different amounts depending on experience and qualifications.

Good luck!

G

[jesuschick]

Yes,
I would go for it.
Sale yourself based on your experience and skills
and I think your come oot on top.

[geminigirl]

Tif - did you ever go for this position and what was the outcome?

[tiffanyctd]

No, I ended up not going for the interview. I had agreed to interview at 9:00 AM on a Monday morning, but when I emailed (all contact was through email. No phone number was given or available-which, I've come to learn, is quite common for this place!) asking for directions to the building, how to get in (the building is locked down), etc., she didn't respond until 2 days after the interview was to take place.

As it turned out, I ended up with a position in a different department at the same university. When I interviewed, I was given a very narrow salary range that the position would be hired with.

This is a public university and the ranges are required to be disclosed. And as I said in the OP, the range can be very broad. But the budgets are so tight that the actual salary that is going to be paid for any one position is narrowed down considerably. Let's just say, a supervisor in this organization already knows the maximum they'll be able to pay long before they advertise for the position (and it's nowhere near the top of the range).

As for the first position, they ended up hiring someone at just barely above federal minimum wage.

Edited by tiffanyctd on 29/01/07 05:20 PM.