salary amt before interview

I have been contacted through email and phone for an interview next Friday. The interview is a 6 hr drive and I am not sure of reimbursement. Before I waste my time or the company's time what is the best method in asking about salary prior to interviewing.

On my company profile/application for the job I did list my salary requirements, but I doubt the managers and assistants that setup the interview candidates reviewed salary requirements.

How would you approach this subject? The email is from a manager's assistant and not an HR representative.

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Comments

TheFORCE

realPSI wrote: »

I have been contacted through email and phone for an interview next Friday. The interview is a 6 hr drive and I am not sure of reimbursement. Before I waste my time or the company's time what is the best method in asking about salary prior to interviewing.

On my company profile/application for the job I did list my salary requirements, but I doubt the managers and assistants that setup the interview candidates reviewed salary requirements.

How would you approach this subject? The email is from a manager's assistant and not an HR representative.

Is this a full time position or a contract role? Usually HR or a recruiter gets involved in the hiring process and you can ask them the salary requirements. In this case though since it's a 6 hour drive for you I would go ahead and ask the assistant if they know what the salary range is, if they say they do not, then you tell them that you would like to speak with someone who knows what the salary range is. It's that simple. You might go there and they could really like you and offer you the job only to find out that the salary is not what you were looking for. Total waste of time for both sides, especially yours.

realPSI

This is a full time position. I work in the utility industry working with ICS.

BlackBeret

The other side to this is that a lot of companies have some serious wiggle room in their salaries. I know many that will label individuals by skill level and the skill levels will correlate to a salary range. ie. The company needs to hire network security analysts. You go in and interview for the job, depending on how skilled you are, what qualifications you meet, etc. they can label you anywhere from Network Security Analyst 1 - 5. Each label will have it's own pay range and they can't really qualify you before the technical interview.

buhusky

Call them up, explain that you want to make sure that it's worth the drive, tell them what you're looking for (you're going to have to tell them eventually, anyway), ask if its in their range, and if it is then go ahead with it. While they may not be able to tell you specifically what they're looking to pay, they can confirm whether what you're asking is in their range. Worked for me & others I know many times in the past.

bpenn

I cannot stress this enough. Definitely find out the salary before hand. There is nothing worse than getting excited about a job interview only to have them **** a lower salary on you half way through the interview. I ALWAYS ask before hand now.

markulous

Agreed, I'd ask too. Any time I even talk to a recruiter, I don't let us finish our initial talk without knowing what the salary is. If the salary absolutely does not work for one party, then everyone is just wasting their time so it needs to be agreed upon up front. Or at the very least, a range needs to be agreed upon.

cyberguypr

One of my first rules of interviewing is never engaging anyone (other than the internal recruiter) until at least a salary range is discussed. As these guys said, call them up and inquire about the salary range. Since you told them when you applied the compensation you are looking for I would bring it up and make sure it is in line with what they could offer. Mine and their time is extremely valuable and makes no sense wasting it.

networker050184

Just ask. I really don't get the whole no salary discussion thing some people are all about. Both sides should be upfront right away.

SteveLord

Ultimately, time is precious for both parties right? So lets get salary on the table.

NetworkNewb

Yep, just ask them. I could not imagine driving 6 hours for just an interview without knowing the salary.

Kinda surprised they just wouldn't use skype or something for an initial interview.

olaHalo

I exchanged a bunch of emails with a manager who didnt really want to tell me a price range before the interview. I can post them if someone is interested.
In the end he told me the salary range and I declined to be interviewed and saved us both plenty of time and he actually thanked me for being upfront so early.

xD Lucas

bpenn wrote: »

I cannot stress this enough. Definitely find out the salary before hand. There is nothing worse than getting excited about a job interview only to have them **** a lower salary on you half way through the interview. I ALWAYS ask before hand now.

That's the problem I recently had. I made the mistake of using Glass Door, and thought the salary was much higher than what was offered. I wouldn't even have wasted my time if I had known. Then again, I'm just trying to get into the field, but still felt the range was much too low.

srabiee

olaHalo wrote: »

I exchanged a bunch of emails with a manager who didnt really want to tell me a price range before the interview. I can post them if someone is interested.
In the end he told me the salary range and I declined to be interviewed and saved us both plenty of time and he actually thanked me for being upfront so early.

lol, it's funny that he was initially holding out and being difficult about it, and then ultimately thanked you after you pried it out of him. I swear, some of these companies and hiring managers are just downright ridiculous sometimes.

bpenn

xD Lucas wrote: »

That's the problem I recently had. I made the mistake of using Glass Door, and thought the salary was much higher than what was offered. I wouldn't even have wasted my time if I had known. Then again, I'm just trying to get into the field, but still felt the range was much too low.

I looked up a job on Indeed I had an interview for and it was listed an average of 65,000. Im like, Sweet!T

Then halfway through the interview he tells its 43,000.

networker050184

That's why I don't even look at things like Glass Door. There is no way to know if it's accurate. Pretty useless info salary wise in my opinion.

BradleyHU

networker050184 wrote: »

Just ask. I really don't get the whole no salary discussion thing some people are all about. Both sides should be upfront right away.

basically!

i'd be damned if i were to drive 6hrs one way, just for an interview, and i don't know what their salary range is...

realPSI

I sent an email wtih my questions and a message I would follow up later today through a phone call. Later I received a reply that my request had been forwarded to HR and that HR would answer all of my questions. Essentially, I found out it would be a lateral move and I will cancel my interview tomorrow.

joelsfood

Heh, I flew from Chicago to DC last week for a job without knowing the salary (though I did know it would be higher than current pay, since it was for my old boss' job).

RoyalRaven

Be direct. Best to not waste all of the effort without knowing. It's a complete waste of effort if you aren't on par.

olaHalo

realPSI wrote: »

I sent an email wtih my questions and a message I would follow up later today through a phone call. Later I received a reply that my request had been forwarded to HR and that HR would answer all of my questions. Essentially, I found out it would be a lateral move and I will cancel my interview tomorrow.

Looks like you saved yourself a boring 6 hr drive

greg9891

srabiee wrote: »

lol, it's funny that he was initially holding out and being difficult about it, and then ultimately thanked you after you pried it out of him. I swear, some of these companies and hiring managers are just downright ridiculous sometimes.

i would like to view them srabiee