negotiating a salary and best way to give my notice

[Malin889]

So I currently have been interviewing for a new job. Unfortunately my current job is very stressful, my boss is very high maitenance and micro managing, and the commute is 3 hours a day and itÂ’s just taking a toll on me, and I come home way too late and miss things that are important to me- school stuff for my daughter, etc. I recently have been interviewing for a great job that is in the field IÂ’ve been wanting to get info forever. The interviews went well and they wanted to offer me the position! The only uneasy part is is that they are a contract to hire job, but they say most likely if things go well theyÂ’ll hire me permanently and it will be sooner rather than later assuming things go well after I start.

 

Anyway, I was speaking to the recruiter earlier and asked if they could negotiate the salary rate, and I kept getting push back from the recruiter saying that the rate they gave me was the highest they could go and if they go back to HR it could look bad on them, and that they told me the rate and was asking me when did things change and they thought I was ok with the rate. I had one conversation with the recruiter about the rate and didnÂ’t realize it was set in stone. It was an awkward conversation, IÂ’m not sure why they were pushing back so much. I donÂ’t think itÂ’s a red flag against the company IÂ’d be working for, I think itÂ’s just a weird thing with the recruiting company- what do people think?

 

Also, if this does work out and I accept- then I have to tell my current boss and give my two weeks. She has never had good luck with assistants and IÂ’ve been the longest assistant sheÂ’s had...I feel bad about having to quit but she knows I live far and have a little one at home and itÂ’s been hard commute-wise. WhatÂ’s the best way to approach this?

[BC1980]

As far as quitting a job, reasonable people will understand that you have to do what is best for you. As long as you give proper notice and fulfill any obligations, you should be fine. The conversation can be uncomfortable, but it's just something you have to do.

 

The pay rate sounds like an honest misunderstanding. If they are pushing back, you can't do much because you will look demanding. You tried once, and it didn't work out. I think that's all you can do without looking demanding even if it was an honest misunderstanding.

[Happy Lemming]

Anytime I used a recruiter/head hunter, I let her negotiate the salary. She knew in advance what I needed and always seem to squeeze out a bit more. I never negotiated salary directly with the employer if a recruiter was involved. If you don't think the salary is appropriate, don't take the job.

 

As far as giving two weeks notice to your boss, just be professional. You don't owe her a detailed explanation. If she becomes difficult, leave any company property (key, etc.) on her desk and walk out.

 

I had one job where the boss was being extremely difficult when I turned in my two weeks notice. He demanded to know where I was going and I told him it was none of his business. He told me he had to put something down on the form, so I told him I was going to Walmart to be a "Greeter". In actuality, I had secured a Controller position with a local Commercial Real Estate firm. He then started making accusations that were distasteful, so I gave my key to my assistant and walked out. I told my assistant to contact me by e-mail when a replacement was found and I would walk the new person through some of the intricacies of the job. I did learn a few months later my boss was fired, that made me smile!!

[Malin889]

It sounds like it could be a really great job (in the beverage industry) with a great group of people, and it’s only a 20 min commute from my house. It’s not the pay so much but that the recruiter was pushing back on it. The recruiter I was talking to today I had nothing to do with during the whole process. During the whole interview process I was dealing with another recruiter who was super supportive and nice. I just hope things don’t fall through the cracks because I was trying to be assertive and ask for what I deserve!

[Malin889]

Anytime I used a recruiter/head hunter, I let her negotiate the salary. She knew in advance what I needed and always seem to squeeze out a bit more. I never negotiated salary directly with the employer if a recruiter was involved. If you don't think the salary is appropriate, don't take the job.

 

As far as giving two weeks notice to your boss, just be professional. You don't owe her a detailed explanation. If she becomes difficult, leave any company property (key, etc.) on her desk and walk out.

 

I had one job where the boss was being extremely difficult when I turned in my two weeks notice. He demanded to know where I was going and I told him it was none of his business. He told me he had to put something down on the form, so I told him I was going to Walmart to be a "Greeter". In actuality, I had secured a Controller position with a local Commercial Real Estate firm. He then started making accusations that were distasteful, so I gave my key to my assistant and walked out. I told my assistant to contact me by e-mail when a replacement was found and I would walk the new person through some of the intricacies of the job. I did learn a few months later my boss was fired, that made me smile!!

 

Gosh, it’s no ones business where you are going to next. Good for you for just leaving.

[Malin889]

As far as quitting a job, reasonable people will understand that you have to do what is best for you. As long as you give proper notice and fulfill any obligations, you should be fine. The conversation can be uncomfortable, but it's just something you have to do.

 

The pay rate sounds like an honest misunderstanding. If they are pushing back, you can't do much because you will look demanding. You tried once, and it didn't work out. I think that's all you can do without looking demanding even if it was an honest misunderstanding.

 

I always give proper notice. I guess I always am nervous giving notice, but it’s been so long since I’ve have to do that, I guess that’s why I’m nervous.

[Happy Lemming]

I just hope things don’t fall through the cracks...

 

If you don't get the job, because you pushed back, then it wasn't meant to be and you learned a valuable lesson.

 

Personally, I think the recruiter bares some blame in this. This individual should have explained all details about the pay scale, what salary you needed, what benefits were available and your cost of those benefits. All of that should have been all spelled out before sending you on any interviews.

 

My head hunter had all of that information in my file. She knew what styles of companies I liked to work for, she knew I liked to work alone at smaller companies and she knew my salary requirements.

 

Just my two cents...

[Malin889]

If you don't get the job, because you pushed back, then it wasn't meant to be and you learned a valuable lesson.

 

Personally, I think the recruiter bares some blame in this. This individual should have explained all details about the pay scale, what salary you needed, what benefits were available and your cost of those benefits. All of that should have been all spelled out before sending you on any interviews.

 

My head hunter had all of that information in my file. She knew what styles of companies I liked to work for, she knew I liked to work alone at smaller companies and she knew my salary requirements.

 

Just my two cents...

 

The recruiter casually mentioned what hourly rate they were looking at, but didn’t say “that is the final decision and it’s non-negotiable,” it was just a casual mention during a bunch of other stuff we were talking about, and then I didn’t hear about it again during the whole process, and then in the conversation today the other recruiter who I never heard from kept asking me if it was a “dealbreaker” if I didn’t get more. She seemed very defensive when I asked her to ask the employer if they would go up a little bit, as if it was my fault.

 

The company and everyone I interviewed with were great, I got a note back from one of the people who said everyone really liked me and he really hopes I can join the team. Everyone knows you negotiate salary a bit once an offer gets on the table, so I don’t know why the recruiters made it be such a big deal. I will be sad if it doesn’t work out, but like you said, lesson learned. I just don’t want to give my notice in case it doesn’t work out.

[Happy Lemming]

Everyone knows you negotiate salary a bit once an offer gets on the table...

 

I never did that... What the recruiter/head hunter and I discussed was the number.

 

If this your first time utilizing a recruiter/head hunter??

[Malin889]

I never did that... What the recruiter/head hunter and I discussed was the number.

 

If this your first time utilizing a recruiter/head hunter??

 

I’ve worked with a recruiter here and there but never to the point where I am being offered a job and I’m in the last stages of everything. A couple times when I did work with recruiters I would then usually find a job myself and wouldn’t need them anymore. But usually when you were doing the work yourself without a recruiter and someone offers you a job, most people usually negotiate a little bit, I think anyway. I know I do. Whether it works out or not I think it’s always good to negotiate. But I’m guessing not in this situation?

[Happy Lemming]

But usually when you were doing the work yourself without a recruiter and someone offers you a job, most people usually negotiate a little bit, I think anyway.

 

Correct... if there is no recruiter involved, then there is some room for negotiation and you can do as you please.

 

Again, based on my experience, once you are utilizing a recruiter/head hunter then you pre-discuss salary, benefits, etc. and leave it in their hands.

 

In my situation, the placement fee (paid by the company) was a percentage of the salary my head hunter secured for me. So the more I made, the more she made.

[preraph]

Give at least two weeks written notice. If you're kind of indespensible, three. The new company should respect you for doing so. They will mark down people who are "available to work" immediately because they don't want that done to them.

 

If you can't get them up on salary, be sure it's what you can live on in case they're blowing smoke. Ask for a firm agreement when your probationary period is over and when your first review will be that can include a negotiation about a salary raise when you go permanent.

[Malin889]

Give at least two weeks written notice. If you're kind of indespensible, three. The new company should respect you for doing so. They will mark down people who are "available to work" immediately because they don't want that done to them.

 

If you can't get them up on salary, be sure it's what you can live on in case they're blowing smoke. Ask for a firm agreement when your probationary period is over and when your first review will be that can include a negotiation about a salary raise when you go permanent.

 

Yes, they said that once I go permanent, once the probation period goes well, there should be a big raise and continue to be raises as long as things go well. I feel like "they always say that" but for some reason, in this case, I kind of believe them. I heard people stay there for a long time, which is a good sign.

 

I just received another email from the head guy, asking me to come work for them, so maybe that's a good sign.

 

And I agree on giving as much notice as possible - I don't understand when people ask you to start right away. That's never happened to me but I've heard that from other people and it doesn't make any sense.

[Banker Chick]

It sounds like things are working out for you!

 

Companies are usually needing someone right away but I always stress it's important for me to give 2 weeks to be fair to my current job. The new employer appreciates that mindset because they realize it might be them in that position some day & you won't leave them in the lurch.

 

As far as negotiating, I've used a recruiter a couple times & both times salary was negotiated. The recruiter should have been very clear upfront with you if the amount they gave you was the absolute maximum. Otherwise, the assumption is there's room for some negotiating whether it be salary, start date, vacation, etc.

[Malin889]

Yes, I agree most if not all companies will be ok with waiting the two weeks, if not more, they have to be...I did accept the position, and now I'm just waiting to make sure all the paperwork, background check, everything goes through ok. I have to give my current job tomorrow my 2 weeks, I'm scared to give me boss my notice, she's not the easiest person to talk to... I haven't had to give my notice to a job in a long time, I'm always super nervous to do so!