Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 8723527)

We had a job candidate a while back who seemed promising, but we had a few concerns, chief among them being that she had held a "recreational job" for several years instead of pursuing a career. We asked her if she was really planning to concentrate on her career because we didn't want to compete with the recreational job (ski instructor). She assured us that she was ready to get to work. We had also informed her of our salary range.

So we make her an offer, and all seems well. Then out of the blue she comes back and says that she wants a salary that's way out of our salary range, 50% or more higher than her job offer. It was completely unrealistic. And then she informs us that she plans to keep her ski instructor job in addition to working for us, which essentially told us that she just wanted a paycheck from us and that she wasn't committed to a career with us.

I wasn't on the hiring team for that one, but our hiring team huddled over it and told her, "Thanks but no thanks." She had been in a near dead heat with another candidate, so we were going to go with the other candidate. She came sputtering back and said, "I was just negotiating with you. I'm ready to accept your offer."

I don't know who gave her advice, but it was really, really bad advice. We hate job negotiations to start with and tell people that we make the best offer we can and don't negotiate. We're not bluffing. But then to have someone come back and make a completely unreasonable salary demand that was out of the range we'd told her, and then also inform us that we're going to be second on her list of job priorities was a fatal mistake, particularly since it wasn't what she'd promised us in the interview. Our team pulled the job offer and moved on.

I actually felt kind of bad for her, but geez, get a clue.

Originally Posted by wutamess (Post 8723976)

Dude... if you don't speak up now, you'll hate yourself for it?
The new company should always expect something like this if you're a great employee at your current employer.

Originally Posted by wutamess (Post 8723968)

That's what I was trying to explain... Their stance as anemployer is what have you done for me lately so yours as an employee should be also.

Hoover. If it was me... You can play all the pity party First 48 "be a man" type detective shit all you want. Bottom line is, I as the employee believes I'm worth a certain dollar amount and the negotiation is never closed until I get my fair market value (considering all things being equal). You operated in good faith, but it's all a chance since your grass may NOT be as green once I get over there.

So if we're talking a significant amount of coin here, you and your morals can KMA. Just saying. Find you another employee since it's so easy.

Originally Posted by Bugeater (Post 8724011)

I think most employers do think employees are a dime a dozen. And for many job fields, they are. And why should your superiors give a damn if you leave? They're not the ones that have to pick up the slack, your peers have to do that. It's unfortunate but as long as there's people out there looking for jobs your employer doesn't have to place much value on you.

Originally Posted by Marcellus (Post 8724089)

I couldn't possibly disagree more.

I always find it interesting that a lot of employees have this mentality but the fact is employees absolutely hate replacing people. You have to train them, you have to hope they end up being good employees.

The only time an employer could care less if you leave is if you suck ass at your job. That's it. Well or if you are asking for some unrealistic salary demands. Some things can't be done.

It does a company no good to continually have to replace people and train them etc....its just not good business and any half minded manager knows this. I don't care what job field it is.

I hate firing or replacing people, every time it happens the person has earned the firing though. The only thing worse than an open position is a worthless employee filling a slot a good person could be holding.

Originally Posted by DaFace (Post 8723987)

You forgot the part where she said she wanted double our normal starting PTO rate if we wouldn't give her a raise so that she could take lots of time off in the winter to keep up the ski gig. :shake:

(In retrospect, I'm glad she mucked it all up. Our second choice has been great.)

Originally Posted by jspchief (Post 8792353)

Don't you install cable for a living?

Originally Posted by Phobia (Post 8721475)

Here's another option. Go to your new job. Work your ass off. Exceed all expectations. Make The Man a lot of money. Accept promotions, bonuses, and salary increases. That's even better leverage than your former employer is offering. There are companies who have been known to counter-offer to get you to stay and then dump you after the fact because employers like loyal employees. It's below-the-belt but not unheard of...