if the pay isn't advertised, is it wrong to ask prior to the interview?

[skim milk]

don't wanna waste time interviewing if the pay isn't even right

In the past, I asked for the hourly wage before I even interviewed, and the interviewer cut off contact with me.

 

[KLin]

Maybe that experience should be a clue?

 

[skim milk]

Originally posted by: KLin
Maybe that experience should be a clue?

happened only once

 

[DAGTA]

I don't think it's wrong. Why waste your time AND their time if you know you won't accept the pay before interviewing? I screen my interviews by who is willing to talk about pay and who isn't.

 

[maximus maximus]

Originally posted by: fritolays
don't wanna waste time interviewing if the pay isn't even right

In the past, I asked for the hourly wage before I even interviewed, and the interviewer cut off contact with me.

ask them if the least that they are willing to pay is at least 10-15% lesser tahn what you are expecting. This way you know that they are near your expected range.

Then based on the interview, you can negotiate further and ask to increase it by 10-15%.

But this is an intersting scenraio... I would like to know how to handle this as well.

 

[brtspears2]

I find that if the pay isn't advertised, they are looking to lowball, especially with smaller companies.

 

[sswingle]

I think its a valid question, but in my experience they tell you during, not before.

 

[pontifex]

i asked this question before and was told not to do it. i did email one place and ask and they told me they can't give out that info.

i agree with you though, OP. why waste my time and their time if they aren't going to pay what you need?

 

[KillyKillall]

I would ask during the interview - what is the salary range on this position. If I'm not immediately ok with it, then I would thank them for their time and leave to prevent wasting anymore.

 

[d3n]

Asking for a salary range ahead of time is pretty common. It prevents wasted time.

Just to clarify though I should say this relates to experienced positions that normally hire in the 80-120k a year range.

 

[randay]

because you need a job, or do you?

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: d3n
Asking for a salary range ahead of time is pretty common. It prevents wasted time.

Just to clarify though I should say this relates to experienced positions that normally hire in the 80-120k a year range.

asking might be common but getting an answer is rare

 

[spidey07]

You should be able to tell what the position pays by the description. Or at least get a general idea. Then you can hook them in the interview and then negotiate.

Asking for pay before hand just seems really tacky to me. At worst it weakens your position in negotiations because you haven't had a chance to really show them how good you are.

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: d3n
Asking for a salary range ahead of time is pretty common. It prevents wasted time.

Just to clarify though I should say this relates to experienced positions that normally hire in the 80-120k a year range.

asking might be common but getting an answer is rare

If the company is unwilling to answer, then it's a safe bet they are intending to be lower than typical pay rate for that area. Pass unless you NEED a job or would love the job and are willing to work for less pay.

 

[Lola]

why waste YOUR time and THEIR time by going through the whole process without knowing? (that is unless you realllly want the job)
I say it is ok to politely ask first.

 

[d3n]

To play it safe perhaps it would be best to only use this approach with companies that are acting in a head hunting role for other positions. Interviewing directly with a company would require someone to be a bit more discrete. I clearly realize that most companies are looking for 'value add' type of employees. So get in and demonstrate your value before you give them a chance to wedge you into a pay slot.

 

[bucwylde23]

Well, every single time I have talked to someone over the phone about a job, we have ALWAYS discussed a salary range. Either they ask me what my salary range is or I ask them.
However, I only ask if it sounds like a job I may not be that interested in. 95% of the time the employer is the one to ask me first, at which point we discuss whether my range is somewhat comparable to theirs. Most of the time they don't want to waste their time on me, just like I don't want to waste my time on them.

So I guess you run the risk of either being told that that information cannot be given out, or they may cut off contact with you like your previous experience. I would only do it if you were not sure you wanted the job,therefore not much to lose.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You should be able to tell what the position pays by the description. Or at least get a general idea. Then you can hook them in the interview and then negotiate.

Asking for pay before hand just seems really tacky to me. At worst it weakens your position in negotiations because you haven't had a chance to really show them how good you are.

I really REALLY wish that were true. So many places super low-ball today its not even funny.

The best one I can think of was one of my accounting professors had a call from a company that wanted some new people. She asked for the job listing. It had a quite a bit they wanted but then she got to the pay... $7-8.00 a hour. She told her class at the time and they thought she was joking. But she said she called them back and they said there was no mistake in the listing. And no this was not a internship, but a offer for a person with a full accounting degree.

I had one place offer me a job that required a 4 year degree but their pay was lesss then what I was making working part time at a reatil store at the time. I still can;t believe I wore a suit for that BS. Heck I saw job listings for security guard jobs that paid better and all they wanted was a GED or better.

 

[Patt]

It may be a waste of time in the end if you decide they're not paying enough, but no interview experience is bad experience in my opinion. It'll help you be more comfortable in the next one.

 

[jdini76]

They will never divulge that information before interviewing you.

Edit: scratch that. I guess that is not neccesarily true. But if you ask before the interview I doubt they would come out any say it. they would probably beat around the bush, or come back with the question "what are your salary requirements?"

 

[DougK62]

You and your skills had better be in really high demand to pull this off. Do not ask until later.

 

[MrMaster]

Originally posted by: jdini76
They will never divulge that information before interviewing you.

That isn't always true and neither is the poster who stated it is for upper paying jobs.

Most likely it boils down to your inustry and what is common practice for that industry.

For example: I am in banking. I've worked and interviewed for probably dozens of positions over the years in the financial industry.

Being in the interviewer I've actually brought someone in that was looking for 2 times what we were paying. It could have saved us both time if the person would have just listed their salary requirements on their resume.

In other words you should always list your salary requirements. If the pay range is a concern with the company then they will certainly approach you over the phone at the very least.

Granted I had it both ways. Last interview I had said the pay range was 10,000 less than my asking price. I went anyways. Turns out I will be getting more than my asking price with bonuses. Also, had an interview that pay didn't come up until the very end. Loved the job, THEN they told me the pay scale.....I was shocked at how low it was. One of us should have brought it up over the phone!

 

[Vic]

IMO it is never wrong to ask about the pay at any time during the process.

 

[AreaCode707]

I'm in HR and I've been in Recruiting as well. A good recruiter should always discuss pay range with you on the phone prior to arranging interviews with the hiring manager and team, to avoid wasting your time and theirs.

If this is a small company or you're dealing directly with the hiring manager, they may not know their stuff. I would definitely ask about the range (since you're not negotiating yet, you just want to make sure they're in the ballpark). There is the off chance that the person you're talking to doesn't do lots of hiring and will consider this a sign that you're not the right person, but that's fairly unreasonable and should be a tip off that you don't really want to work there anyway.

 

[Gibson486]

They will not tell you....Why? Bceause they are gonna expect you to counteroffer.