https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 02:19:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-275432 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:19:15 +0000 MamaG 275432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ask about negotiating vacation (perhaps they are offering 2 weeks) ask for 3 or 4. Ask about a signing bonus. Ask about what the salary range is so that you know what your salary growth potential is within the position. Ask about annual performance bonuses. And it's okay to ask for a higher salary, but you might not get it. </p> <p>As a hiring manager, it's fairly common in today's market to offer current salary or just slightly more. Our positions all have ranges of salary and we try to make sure our employees are in the middle third of the range.</p> <p>Unfortunately, it's not a good market to be looking. I also work in insurance, btw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-275330 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:56:35 +0000 dc yoga bee 275330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I'm going with mamamoose on this one. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274679 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:45:25 +0000 MsLipGloss 274679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The pay/organizational structure may be different at the prospective employers (a similar position to your current position may be in a lower pay bracket), so I wouldn't automatically assume a salary match to be a lowball offer </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274660 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:38:49 +0000 SleepyMonkey 274660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Companies want to get away with paying you as little as possible, that is my general understanding. So from their perspective, they will offer you something as low as possible that you might take<br /> In your circumstances, they figure you need a job pretty badly so the offer is your current pay. I only say this because I don't think you should take it personally, its just the way businesses are run. So yes they are lowballing you. Anyway they probably expect you to negotiate, so do not feel uncomfortable for asking for what you think you are worth and bring data to support it like market comparables, ask around if you know people in the industry, a list of your achievements and what you can bring to the company. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274505 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:06:48 +0000 Nskillet 274505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: To clarify, I thought I was interviewing for a higher level position than I am currently working. This isn't a one to one job transfer aka doing the same job elsewhere. This is why I considered it low-balling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274503 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:05:55 +0000 JennyD 274503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet: I'm in Canada. You're technically not allowed to ask that. Here you just have to work so many hours before you're entitled to maternity leave. It's a crummy awkward position, for sure. I guess I didn't factor in the employment situation in the US either. Here, jobs are pretty easy to come by. We weren't hit as hard, and my industry, certainly, has rebounded very quickly. </p> <p>That's frustrating. Best of luck. Let us know how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274496 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:03:14 +0000 MamaMoose 274496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are fairly paid now I wouldn't say that an offer at your current salary is "lowballing". Especially since you went to them looking for a move, as opposed to a situation where they actively tried to recruit you. And they know that based on your current situation your position may be in jeopardy so while you aren't "desparate" a move would be a good option for you right now. As the others have said they probably have a number of well qualified candidates so they have no motivation to offer a salary above market value for the position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274480 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:56:35 +0000 Nskillet 274480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyD: I do plan on having another child and this is another factor a a lot of companies require X number of years to pay you 100% while out.</p> <p>Flextime is part of the position it's a Part of their business practices. I'm in such an awkward position! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274473 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:54:24 +0000 Nskillet 274473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's really unfortunate! I am very qualified and have loads of experience I'm just so bummed at not even being seen as enticing enough to want to give an offer I'd be interested in. This isn't even a lateral! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274471 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:54:01 +0000 Honeybee 274471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet: Ooooohhhh, yeah, that's tricky. You can always sit on the offer for a week or two, telling them you need to discuss it with your husband/make sure it's the right fit. That might buy you a little time... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274467 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:51:51 +0000 JennyD 274467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can certainly ask for more money. But you can also ask for "non-monetary" things that might take the place of your investments, etc. Like flex-time - working extra hours for 2 weeks to get every second friday off. Have you asked for those benefits? You could. And you could look at the long-term benefits - is there potential for an increase in salary? After a year could you become part of an investment group there? </p> <p>I used to only worry about wage/salary before, but now I'm all about these extras - pension, benefits, investments, flex-time. Your perspective totally changes when you start thinking about or having a family.</p> <p>Also, you could take the job, for security, and keep looking.</p> <p>And yes, I think they maybe gave you a lowball offer thinking you'd be desperate. At my job interview they totally asked in "casual small talk" if I was planning on having any more babies... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274465 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:51:45 +0000 Nskillet 274465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: Thanks for this. I guess im also worried because the offer came from a rumored buyer of the division I work for. I left this out of my previous post. I'm worried an announcement will be made and the offer is rescinded or worse I accept and then loose benefits I would have retained! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274464 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:51:35 +0000 Honeybee 274464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I've heard this again and again from friends and family in the last few years. Companies are swamped with applicants so they're lowballing everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274462 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:49:53 +0000 Mrsbells 274462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: I agree that with the way the economy is right now there are so many over qualified people applying to every position so employers have the bargaining power as they know most people will rather have a lower paying job versus no job at all and if you refuse their offer they can get someone else to do the same job for the same pay </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274458 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:46:58 +0000 Honeybee 274458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends... It's a tough market right now, so they might be lowballing, thinking even if you say no they have a number of other qaulified applicants they can make offers to; or they may just be a low-paying company and telling you the truth. </p> <p>If you want to counter-offer, I'd suggest researching what a competetive wage should be for your position in your industry in your area. Salary.com is a good place to start, or you can call around other companies and ask for salary comparisons. Also, you might consider asking for other benefits that will help make up the wage difference. For example, can you telecommute or work a flex schedule (which might save some childcare and commuting costs), maybe they'll up their retirement contributions, some companies offer commuting reimbursements, etc... Sometimes if you approach it from a different angle instead of demanding a specific salary, they'll be more willing to compromise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hr-people-or-recruiters-your-opinion-please#post-274453 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:40:10 +0000 Nskillet 274453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, the division of the insurance company I work for is being sold. As a result, I decided to be proactive about posting my resume to competitors in my market place. I have landed several interviews and yesterday received an offer, yay!</p> <p>Well, not so fast :(. The company offered my exact salary! I was deflated to say the least. I know for a fact I'm not over-paid and was pretty offended at their offer. They tried to present it like thu were going above their salary requirements to meet me where I am. The opportunity is exciting, but I'd be walking away from vested benefits like full vesting in my 401k, vacation times, 100% paid STD for maternity leave etc etc. Basically, I'd loose money if I took the offer. I pushed back asking if salary was negotiable because their offer is my current salary.</p> <p>Question is, do you think they are low balling me because my company is being sold and they assume I'm desperate?</p> <p>Trying not to be too bummed! </p>