I talked money at interview !!

pben

Hi

I asked about money at end of interview which was tough going. This was the first job I ever went for when the salary D.O.E, so I just said it maybe it was nerves on top of 2hr drive, I felt it was a grilling as I have experience.
The HR girl just sat and said noting with; the Ops manager giving out questions never had such pressure in an interview before then I’m told it’s 3 stage test

So do think I’ve blown it when I asked about salary ??

I think you've blown it too.

oB1

pben wrote: »

Hi

I asked about money at end of interview which was tough going. This was the first job I ever went for when the salary D.O.E, so I just said it maybe it was nerves on top of 2hr drive, I felt it was a grilling as I have experience.
The HR girl just sat and said noting with; the Ops manager giving out questions never had such pressure in an interview before then I’m told it’s 3 stage test

So do think I’ve blown it when I asked about salary ??

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but, i am a regular member of interview panels for the company i work for, and when we hear the words " Whats the Salary ? " or " How much am i getting ? " unless you've got an impressive list of experiences, are a right fit for the job, and you show a genuine interest in the job from the get-go you have pretty much diminished your chances.

id say giving advice too anyone, to NEVER mention the salary, UNLESS they bring it up - and id still be cautious and go with the flow not shout out something like.. oh i don't like that or whatever, when you get a job offer, that's the time to negotiate money

Best of luck all the same!

Jim2007

pben wrote: »

So do think I’ve blown it when I asked about salary ??

It really depends on how the rest of the interview went... I always bring up the salary at the start of the interview, no point in wasting time on employers that can't afford to pay!

Mr. Loverman

Yeah it's weird. The only reason you work is for the salary... but you can't talk about it！

plasmaguy

I don't think it mattars too much if you mentioned salary, so I wouldn't worry about it.

As a poster said, you get the job based on experience and also if you are enthusiastic for the role.

Just put it down as a learning experience. It usually takes most people at least 4 or 5 interviews before they get a job and they learn from each one what to say and what not to say.

discus

I have always asked for wage/salary information, and I've been offered jobs for 90% of final interviews I've passed.

Jim2007

discus wrote: »

I have always asked for wage/salary information, and I've been offered jobs for 90% of final interviews I've passed.

That has been my experience too... 7 out of 8 times I've been offered the job, so I do not think discussing money is such a big issue.

Condatis

I've conducted many interviews and salary is always mentioned at some stage.

It might not be agreed at early stages of negotiations but not to mention what might be on offer, at least in broad terms would be a nonsense.

Generally however salary would not be discussed early in the interview until other factors had been discussed.

Bandana boy

It depends .Asking about money so early (you mention 3 stage process) is a negative factor.
They are at a narrowing the candidates down stage and this could be the small factor that puts you behind another candidate.
If you feel the need to know if your wasting your time on the salary front ,I would ask the recruiter if going through an agency and your HR contact offline if going direct.

discus

I don't see how anyone would view money-talk as a bad thing. After all, you have been selling yourself to them, making yourself out to be someone they need in their company. I would argue that by asking money, you are letting the company know that you consider this job to be good enough for you, providing the reimbursment is sufficient.

pben

Thanks for your comments guys , I don't feel such a complete tool anymore.

I should of known better at my age have loads of interviews but this was my first with no up front salary, I will have to relocate at some point so was just thinking ahead. If i get called back for more interviews I will give my reasons for asking at this early stage

leeroybrown

The majority of people who sit on interview panels don't have direct decision making power over salaries. Even when the final decision maker is on the panel they may not want to discuss money in front of the other panel members. As other posters point out you can come across as too financially motivated also. It's best to leave it until afterwards.

Hopefully it doesn't count against you. If you do get called back for another interview I wouldn't even mention it. Just focus on the proving you're the right candidate then negotiate the money when a suitable opportunity arises.

MistyCheese

Asking about salary too early does sometimes put employers off. The fact that there are other stages of interview heavily suggests that you did ask way too early but it sounds like you didn't know there were going to be more stages of interview so don't beat yourself up about it.

One indication of whether or not you are still in with a chance is how they left things as if they're still considering you for the job they'll obviously want to arrange a further interview. If they said something non-commital like "We'll be in touch." then it doesn't look good. A little better would be if they gave you an end date, for example "We'll be in touch by the 15th."

Best of luck with it OP.

pben

Hi Misty

You are spot on, I asked at end of interview reply "was not open for discussion"
then was told it's a 3 stage type there parting words were

"will be back to you in 7/10 days if we don't all the best in your career" ????

[Jackass]

Discussing or asking about salary should have zero impact on your prospects, and if it does, then maybe you're better off working somewhere where you can discuss things like that without being frowned upon, like they're doing you a favour in the first place!

BostonB

RobertHopkins wrote: »

... unless you've got an impressive list of experiences, are a right fit for the job, and you show a genuine interest in the job from the get-go you have pretty much diminished your chances...

I don't get this. I assume you look for that regardless?

BostonB

[Jackass] wrote: »

Discussing or asking about salary should have zero impact on your prospects, and if it does, then maybe you're better off working somewhere where you can discuss things like that without being frowned upon, like they're doing you a favour in the first place!

+1

I don't get why you'd want to waste your own time (and money) and someone else's for 3 interviews without knowing if you're in the same ball park on salary.

Eoin

This is one of the positives of going through an agency. You can be quite blunt with them about the money question in advance, and you've more time to figure out what the non-direct benefits are worth rather than being put on the spot in case the employer brings it up in the interview.

I interviewed a few people last year but wasn't asked about the money once. I knew the range, but I think I'd just have said that our HR manager could answer that if we decided to go to a next interview. I'm not HR so wouldn't be able to go through the pension, healthcare benefits too well. Unless they made a face or were pushy about it, I don't think that I'd have minded it that much.

Personally I think a company should try to sell themselves to a candidate as well as the other way around. There are sometimes good reasons for not being very upfront, but I'd expect to know the salary after either a phone interview, or before a second face to face interview.

I don't really understand not knowing the ball park figure after the first interview. A friend of mine just got a management position in a shop. There was interviews over a couple of weeks, (maybe 3 rounds?) When they offered him the job. The money then offered after all that was appalling (little more than min wage). He's taken the job to tide him over as it slightly more than the dole, but he passed up other opportunities during the interviewing process as he thought this job would be better.

All would have been simpler if he had asked for a ballpark figure after the first interview, and knew where he stood.

Eoin

@Irish rambo, can you save the memes for another forum please

Paul Tergat

Just to add on a question here..

when salary is defined as negotiable and you are asked what your expectations are whats the best way to go about it?

username123

[Jackass] wrote: »

Discussing or asking about salary should have zero impact on your prospects, and if it does, then maybe you're better off working somewhere where you can discuss things like that without being frowned upon, like they're doing you a favour in the first place!

+1, I quite simply wouldnt waste my or their time further if the salary was not what I wanted.

oB1

BostonB wrote: »

I don't get this. I assume you look for that regardless?

I suppose this would be where "opinions"come in to play.

Its my own personal opinion , when on interview panels, that if/when i hear that mentioned, it turns me off, not saying that its a deciding factor, but its just something that aids me in making my decision.

Alot of you have made very valid points, to which makes alot of sense.

+1 on the agency factor aswell, as having them, can mean you play hard ball etc etc.

R

CatFromHue

Paul Tergat wrote: »

Just to add on a question here..

when salary is defined as negotiable and you are asked what your expectations are whats the best way to go about it?

Be honest about what you expect would be my advice. If you go in too low they could just accept that value and give it to you. Your potential employer will more than likely be looking to get someone in to do the job at a low as possible cost. So if you're not honest with your valuation you could end up regretting it for years!

the culture of deference

You should have a ballpark figure before going to any interview. You should also know what the interview process will be in advance.

FullBeard

This is a good question.

Last year, before I was employed, I travelled to Germany to be interviewed for the type of work that I'm qualified to do. I did not ask at all about the money; only after I had travelled to Germany, done the interview, and done a test, did the employer ask me what I would consider to be a fair salary. I named a figure that I knew was reasonable, and was aghast to learn that the interviewer was offering 10k less than I was expecting. What a monumental waste of time for all concerned!

This year, having learned that lesson, and now comfortably employed by a great company, I was contacted on LinkedIn by an internal recruiter about a position with a very good company in another geography. In the very first conversation, before speaking to the actual hiring manager, I emphasized that the money would need to be very attractive so that no-one's time would be wasted. I start the new job in four weeks and can't wait

I also agree with Eoin that going through an agency is good, because you can be very blunt about your expectations.

Of course, it's so much easier when you already have a job that you love and you are being head-hunted. Then I think it's entirely legitimate to be up-front and say that you wouldn't countenance a move without a good increase, but if you are going to say this, then it should be at the outset of the process.