Can/should I haggle with the recruiter?

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I am just wondering. Is the "deal" from the recruiter the final word on the matter, or can haggling be done? Should it be done? Or is that not a smart thing to do? I'm asking in regards to inital rank, etc. Just curious!!

Actually, the numbers are turned against the applicant - there are fewer slots than there are applicants, and officer recruiters do NOT run on the same types of quotas that enlisted recruiters do. So to be quite honest, if someone wants to be difficult, they'll drop them like last week's shorts and find someone else who's less trouble for them.

My guess is there's at least three applicants for every slot. So in reality, it's the recruiter who has something the applicant wants, and not the other way around.

Re-read my quote, only this time with a tongue-in-cheek tone; as indicated by the smiley sticking his tongue out. Having recently been through the comissioning process, I'm well aware of the ample supply of applicants. My post was meant to be more of a mocking of the over abundant number of posts that are seem to be along the self-centered "how do I get everything I want right off the bat" train of thought.

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Re-read my quote, only this time with a tongue-in-cheek tone; as indicated by the smiley sticking his tongue out. Having recently been through the comissioning process, I'm well aware of the ample supply of applicants. My post was meant to be more of a mocking of the over abundant number of posts that are seem to be along the self-centered "how do I get everything I want right off the bat" train of thought.

Oh, so you mean it really IS "serving your country"...not being served BY your country? Novel concept ...lol :lol2:

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Specializes in NICU, Nursery.

I'm not a military nurse, but I wouldn't call it haggling if I were you. Call it being a wise applicant. Just say/explain politely where your coming from, what your point is and ask questions if you have one. You have every right to do so.

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Thank everybody. Sorry if you misunderstood me. I wasn't trying to haggle like at a car dealership. I'm new to military, so I didn't know everything is uniform. On another forum board, several people were talking about negotiating with their recruiters, which didn't sound like a good idea to me, but I wanted to know ahead of time what i should do.

Thanks for having patience with someone who has no idea what the military is comprised of, structurally.

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Specializes in Flight/ICU/CCU/ED/Trauma.
I'm not a military nurse, but I wouldn't call it haggling if I were you. Call it being a wise applicant. Just say/explain politely where your coming from, what your point is and ask questions if you have one. You have every right to do so.

No, no you really don't. For all of the reasons in all of the earlier posts. There is none. No wiggle room, no haggling (except, potentially, for a first assignment. Which is realistic in the OP's position as she is not a new grad)...it's not that any of us are trying to sound rude, or obstinate...it's just reality. And, as carolinapooh points out, it can very well get your application on the bottom of the pile, essentially ignored. It's not worth it.

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I can't even get the recruiter to send me the package to start applying!!! I am a veteran with 10 yrs active duty and an honorable discharge!!! If i could even get to the application process right now I'd be happy!

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

surromom,

tell us where you are. Maybe one of us knows how you can get hold of your regional recruiter. and what branch you are looking into.

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I am in San Diego! I talked to Senior Chief Edwards....he is pcsing so i talked to LT Campbell and she said she'd email me. I was ad navy for 11 yrs, and hubs is still in the navy too so I need to go back in the Navy. I am already a RN (passed nclex last month) and take my last final may 25,2010... thats why i am shocked to see people graduating same time as me w/acceptance letters already since I was told to wait till 6 months prior to graduation to contact the recruiter...and by doing that I may have missed the FY 2011 entrance...and there is a hiring freeze here in Cali.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

From what I understand for all services you can apply 1 year from graduation. Keep on the recruiters, call them everyday, find out where their office is at and if you can stop by. If their office is like the Buffalo office there might times when no one is in the office. But give it a try if you can.

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I think I will do that, I went in to the "e" recruiters office asking for the address to the O recruiter they gave me her # instead...her office is by my husbands base so hey wouldn't but such a wasted trip if i lunch w/hubs (if she wasnt in) i wish I knew it was a year out...oh well such is life!

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Re-read my quote, only this time with a tongue-in-cheek tone; as indicated by the smiley sticking his tongue out. Having recently been through the comissioning process, I'm well aware of the ample supply of applicants. My post was meant to be more of a mocking of the over abundant number of posts that are seem to be along the self-centered "how do I get everything I want right off the bat" train of thought.

I sort of thought that later - but still, and case in point - you NEVER know what people are going to choose to believe on a message board.

And I've seen enough of your posts to sort of think that! :0) LOL

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