Need advice on how to provide a salary expectation
So here is the back story. I was contacted by a recruiter who found my resume for a job that is in Location X. About 1 hour drive from my home. It was communicated that it would be a consultant position at X dollars an hour. The job description was very vague but was about providing IT Support as a help desk kind of role.
Had a phone interview found out that there would be travel to other locations on an as needed case. I would be working with another IT Tech the company had and assist with some projects. The ability to work weekends when needed.
Then had a face-to-face interview with the 2 manages that I would be under. Job changed to be more of, I would be the only IT person handling about 160 employees across multiple sites. Travel to these sites is expected on a rotation basis, where once every other week to be in another site for several hours. More work would be weekend base then during the week, but also being available 24x7 for support of the employees who are actually independent contractors of the company who need to be up and running at all times. In addition, the position is not a contract but rather a full time employee. The other IT person is actually a consultant who would be moving away from the day to day tech work and I would take over. So the description has changed.
Got into a heated exchange with the recruiter who is arguing that I was okay with the price of x/hr and not I'm requesting an "unrealistic" amount. Very hard to explain to the 2 recruiters I was dealing with that at the original price was a very limited job description, without travel involved. Now the job is full time, me the only IT person, being available 24x7x365, traveling throughout 6-7 different locations on a routine basis. Not sure if travel reimbursement is being authorized.
So hypothetically, lets assume the following the original pay was $10/hr contract and when the topic of salary expectations came up during the interview I mentioned that I was making at my previous job (2 years ago) around the $30/hr mark. Since my last full time role to the present, I've been running my own IT business. Now I'm just looking for a full time paycheck.
So the question is, how am I being unrealistic when the job description changed, more travel involved, don't know if gas/mileage is being reimbursed (recruiter is looking into this). What would one suggest as I am expecting a call today to provide a specific salary amount. Thank you all in advance.
Hi Paul,
You're not nuts at all. Seems straightforward: since this sounds like a different job, it should carry a different price tag.
Stick to your guns.
And the stuff Mark said is right - having a recruiter in the middle means they are motivated by things other than your best interests. (Be aware of the shift in allegiance.)
Good luck!
Marijoy
Hi Paul,
In my opinion the role has definitely changed from the original description. In your line of work, you are typically paid more for travel as well as 24x7x365 support. If you were not aware of both travel and the on-call expectations, that is a totally different position. I would be looking for more money as well. Obviously the reimbursement for travel will be big, but I still think you are owed for what the job entails. When you are working for 3rd party Recruiters, they are paid X amount of dollars and then they pay you X amount of dollars. They are obviously trying to make more money on their end, so that's why you are getting the push back. They may be fully aware that you should be making more, but that would mean they are making less. I would see how much money you can get from them and then make a decision if it will be right for you. If this will really help you build up your resume, you can take the role, while continuing to look for other work that will pay better. I hope this helps.
-Mark
Paul, you have in effect interviewed for two completely different positions in the same field. Yes you should expect a complete accounting of your responsibilities, expenses and reimbursement for services or you will be short changed and resent it. Your recruiters have ulterior motives (the $$$ variety) and you need to properly protect your assets or these recruiters will take advantage of you. Saying that you didn't mind the salary when the responsibilities were limited is the age old business method of forcing a quality employee to assume the jobs of three people without properly paying for it. I wouldn't be too confident in the ethics of this company or their recruiters if they deliberately withheld the vital information.