Can You Ask for More?

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i went on an interview today at a family practice. i will graduate next friday, but our last test is next monday. i faxed a resume over on friday and not 5 minutes passed and i got a phone call for an interview. when i met with her today she said she was just thinking about hiring another nurse, and then she got my resume and was excited to meet me. she knows i'm still in school and said i could work even before i test for nclex if i wanted to.... since there is a 90 day probation period. they have 5 offices and she wants to keep me near my home. she kept asking me if i was interested, and of course i said yes... definitely yes! at the very end i brought up starting pay, and she said she would call me back with an offer. i guess that's how they do it?? she's going to call my references and get back with me. so let's say she does want to hire me, and offers me $15/hr to start... can i negotiate $16 or $17/hr or am i supposed to accept the offer if i want the job? i don't know if i'll get this job, but i guess this is a good questions for other interviews i may go on.

by the way, this is for a registered nurse position in sc and yeah, the office pay is kinda low. starting pay at hospitals are $18.9-$20/hr.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You could always negotiate--after all, the worse that can happen is that they'll tell you No :)

However, unless you can bring something really phenomenal (experience, certifications, etc.) to the negotiating table, the odds of getting more money as a new grad really aren't in your favor. It's an employers' market and they know it. They know that they'll have no problem filling the spot with applicants who would happily accept $15/hr just to have that first RN job.

I'm not saying you shouldn't negotiate...but just keep that in mind. Good luck.

It can't hurt to ask, but I would try to pharase it in a way that is easy to back out of this they won't negotiate. Maybe If they offer you $15 to start you can ask about receiving a higher wage once you've passed your NCLEX or been there for a certain amount of time.

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