Employee Surprised By All Of The HRs Who Reach Out To Him First But Then Tell Him He Wants Too Much Pay, Takes It To Social Media
Imagine that you are the general manager of a football team and you really want to get a star into your squad… let’s say Patrick Mahomes. You make contacts for a long time, persuade him to meet, offer him the opportunity to move to your team, and when he finally voices his expectations for salary and bonuses, you suddenly say something like: “Listen, man, but this is way too expensive!”
Sounds silly even if you’re not a football fan? So it is, but on the other hand, thousands of job recruiters around the world behave exactly this way. It would seem that if you need a specialist, you should study the level of their current salary and offer something significant to lure them away, but no.
Recently, blogger pbsquamer made a video on TikTok based on a conversation with one such recruiter. The video instantly went viral with 338.5K views and 41.4K likes. It is obvious that the topic raised is very close to many people.
More info: TikTok
The Original Poster made a video after a meeting with a hapless job recruiter
Image credits: Alan Cleaver (not the actual photo)
The Original Poster himself admits that he is often approached by job recruiters, about once a month, and this one was no exception. He slid into direct messages, described the vacancy, and offered to meet and discuss everything. According to the OP’s own words, he is completely satisfied with his current job, but he is still considering proposals – perhaps there will be something incredibly interesting.
Image credits: @pbsquamer
When the OP voiced his salary expectations, his interlocutor immediately told him that it’s way too high
So, in the process of discussing the vacancy, when it came to the OP’s salary expectations and he voiced them, he received a response that this was way too much. The OP was ready for something like this, but still surprised. Firstly, this recruiter was the initiator of the meeting himself, and secondly, the OP has this amount already at his current job.
Image credits: @pbsquamer
Accordingly, in order to lure a candidate who is satisfied with his current position, something more must be offered. Like… money? More money? At this point, the recruiter, like some of his colleagues, made an important mistake – instead of negotiating, he started arguing and gaslighting the candidate.
Image credits: @pbsquamer
The recruiter ended up trying to gaslight the candidate, which looked really unprofessional
For example, assuming that, in fact, he does not in any way deserve the money he’s asking for, and that his expectations are really too high. In response, the OP was pleased to note that he already makes about the same – and quite logically would like more, if he were to be given a reason to switch to a new employer.
Image credits: @pbsquamer
Image credits: @pbsquamer
Turned out, the employer’s budget just couldn’t afford an employee like the OP
The recruiter explained that he represents a government contractor and his budget doesn’t allow him to pay more. The OP also had an answer ready for this – the fact is that he now also works for a government contractor, and already gets quite a lot of money.
Image credits: @pbsquamer
In general, as the OP summarizes, the conversation with the hapless job recruiter ended with his advice: “If your budget does not allow you to invite me, just invite someone whose salary expectation is within this budget. But not me.”
@pbsquamer But but but our budget, k, get a better budget or get a cheaper person #fyp #recruiter #engineer #why #stop ♬ original sound – Pbsquamer
Commenters recalled lots of similar cases based on their own working experience
People in the comments, admittedly, had a lot of fun, recalling similar cases from their own practice of communicating with job recruiters. One of the commenters recalled how they ended a similar conversation with the phrase: “You’re not very good at negotiating, are you?”
By the way, there were also quite wholesome tips – for example, to voice one’s salary expectation even before the meeting is scheduled, just in order not to waste your precious time. However, the OP probably understood perfectly well how such a call would end, and agreed to talk just for fun.
We wonder if you’ve had similar conversations with job recruiters, and if so, how did they end? In fact, recruiting is a real art, even if the offer is very tempting. Perhaps any football manager is likely to readily confirm.
A head hunter contacted me a few weeks ago through DM from LinkedIn, stating that she had "a great career opportunity for me", without any more details than to contact her. I replied what I was earning and what it would need to leave where I was currently happily working. The answer was "Oh, the offer doesn't meet that." I mean, how much do they think a guy with 35 years of experience in the field is worth and will accept to move jobs?
"Hello can I speak to Sebedie"..."that's me"..."I'm calling from ABC Recruitment and I've got this amazing opportunity which I think you're perfect for".... "what's the payscale"... "I don't have all the specifics from the client yet, but"..."call me when you do, goodbye"
The recruiter has accepted a job to fill a position at a company that pays poorly (which they probably know) and are now trying to find candidates. A good recruiter would give honest feedback that the job was not possible to fill with a good candidate at that pay rate. A bad recruiter cold calls people in similar jobs hoping to find someone who doesn't know their own worth.
HR here. It's perfectly acceptable to stick with your number, but don't be rude to the recruiter who's reaching out. Could be, in 2 months' time, they will have the budget because they've gained an education about the market. You don't want to limit future opportunities by being short with a recruiter now. You never know - maybe they have a diff opportunity that you would be a fit for. If the recruiter lacks professionalism, then you cross that company off your list and politely disengage from the call.
I get these too. "Oh, here is a job 1+hr from your house. The class is 1 hr long." Okay, so adding up prep, commute, and class time in making minimum wage. Nah, thanks tho
SW developer here, been doing it for 25+ years. I get several messages from recruiters every day. About half of them are good, but I get some real winners. "We have a position that is remote until COVID is over, then you will need to come into the office 3x a week. Oh, BTW, it's on the other side of the country, so you'll need to relocate, and it pays $50k less than what you're making now." I am full time remote atm, and have no desire to move from the Austin area, so this has zero appeal for me. But it doesn't stop them from trying.
Yeah back when I was employed this has happened to me as well. I just look at it as another employee (of the headhunter) trying to fulfill their quota and not take too much offense over it. Most of the time, things would be civil. The one time that stuck would be the interviewer dissing my "current employment" as "lacking ambition". Yeah lady I'm not taking a contract role that isn't paying at least 300% of what I'm making now at a permanent role. Is that ambition enough?
I've been in the situation before, but it seems like both people are being unprofessional here. Why not just say "thanks, I don't think this the right role for me at this time, but keep me in mind in the future." No use burning bridges. I'm grateful when a compensation mismatch comes up early so that we can both move on.
I get the feeling the OP is blowing off some steam because of the way these recruiters are treating him. And I really don't blame him - when you clearly state what it would take to get you to change jobs & they blow you up for it, then yeah - rude is the only way to deal with them. Personally, my approach would be "I'm [current position] where I am now, with [X] benefits, at [$] annual salary. If you can offer a minimum of a 15-25% better package, then we'll talk." And see where it goes from there. If I get any blow-back like this guy has, we're done & I'm outta there.
Load More Replies...When I was still working as a Care Assistant/Clinical Care Specialist, I used to have my CV and information up on a job site. I specifically stated that I was looking for long-term contracts, live-in work, end-of-life packages, no domiciliary work, 40 hours/week and no minimum wage work. Apart from the normal training that you need as a carer, I also had up-to-date specialist training in PEG and Emergency Epilepsy medication. I kept getting so many phone calls offering me domiciliary work or minimum wage jobs. No I'm not an entry-level carer, I have loads of experience including hospital work, and I'm not doing this for spending money or to supplement my husband's income, it is my ONLY income.
A head hunter contacted me a few weeks ago through DM from LinkedIn, stating that she had "a great career opportunity for me", without any more details than to contact her. I replied what I was earning and what it would need to leave where I was currently happily working. The answer was "Oh, the offer doesn't meet that." I mean, how much do they think a guy with 35 years of experience in the field is worth and will accept to move jobs?
"Hello can I speak to Sebedie"..."that's me"..."I'm calling from ABC Recruitment and I've got this amazing opportunity which I think you're perfect for".... "what's the payscale"... "I don't have all the specifics from the client yet, but"..."call me when you do, goodbye"
The recruiter has accepted a job to fill a position at a company that pays poorly (which they probably know) and are now trying to find candidates. A good recruiter would give honest feedback that the job was not possible to fill with a good candidate at that pay rate. A bad recruiter cold calls people in similar jobs hoping to find someone who doesn't know their own worth.
HR here. It's perfectly acceptable to stick with your number, but don't be rude to the recruiter who's reaching out. Could be, in 2 months' time, they will have the budget because they've gained an education about the market. You don't want to limit future opportunities by being short with a recruiter now. You never know - maybe they have a diff opportunity that you would be a fit for. If the recruiter lacks professionalism, then you cross that company off your list and politely disengage from the call.
I get these too. "Oh, here is a job 1+hr from your house. The class is 1 hr long." Okay, so adding up prep, commute, and class time in making minimum wage. Nah, thanks tho
SW developer here, been doing it for 25+ years. I get several messages from recruiters every day. About half of them are good, but I get some real winners. "We have a position that is remote until COVID is over, then you will need to come into the office 3x a week. Oh, BTW, it's on the other side of the country, so you'll need to relocate, and it pays $50k less than what you're making now." I am full time remote atm, and have no desire to move from the Austin area, so this has zero appeal for me. But it doesn't stop them from trying.
Yeah back when I was employed this has happened to me as well. I just look at it as another employee (of the headhunter) trying to fulfill their quota and not take too much offense over it. Most of the time, things would be civil. The one time that stuck would be the interviewer dissing my "current employment" as "lacking ambition". Yeah lady I'm not taking a contract role that isn't paying at least 300% of what I'm making now at a permanent role. Is that ambition enough?
I've been in the situation before, but it seems like both people are being unprofessional here. Why not just say "thanks, I don't think this the right role for me at this time, but keep me in mind in the future." No use burning bridges. I'm grateful when a compensation mismatch comes up early so that we can both move on.
I get the feeling the OP is blowing off some steam because of the way these recruiters are treating him. And I really don't blame him - when you clearly state what it would take to get you to change jobs & they blow you up for it, then yeah - rude is the only way to deal with them. Personally, my approach would be "I'm [current position] where I am now, with [X] benefits, at [$] annual salary. If you can offer a minimum of a 15-25% better package, then we'll talk." And see where it goes from there. If I get any blow-back like this guy has, we're done & I'm outta there.
Load More Replies...When I was still working as a Care Assistant/Clinical Care Specialist, I used to have my CV and information up on a job site. I specifically stated that I was looking for long-term contracts, live-in work, end-of-life packages, no domiciliary work, 40 hours/week and no minimum wage work. Apart from the normal training that you need as a carer, I also had up-to-date specialist training in PEG and Emergency Epilepsy medication. I kept getting so many phone calls offering me domiciliary work or minimum wage jobs. No I'm not an entry-level carer, I have loads of experience including hospital work, and I'm not doing this for spending money or to supplement my husband's income, it is my ONLY income.
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