I need to know the starting pay

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I had an interview recently. The person interviewing me is the supervisor of the department. The interview went great, but she didn't discuss how much the position paid and I didn't bring it up. I've read that asking about salary is not proper interview etiquette.

Here's my problem...I've been invited to shadow for a few hours. How can I go about asking before I shadow? I don't want to waste my time moving forward with this process if the pay is less than what I make now. But the pay could be great, and I don't want to potentially ruin it by asking. Soon I will be sending an email thanking her for the interview. I so badly want to sneak in a question about the salary in that email.

Some employers will offer one prospect one rate of pay and another prospect another rate of pay. They might make this decision late in the decision process; otherwise, it could be awkward putting a range out front and then they make an offer that is at the bottom of, or below the acceptable range. Things are getting so bad in my area with decreasing wage ranges, that I have been offered unacceptable rates on more than one occasion lately. So now I am expecting a low-ball offer, if I get an offer at all.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It is true: some people will be offered more than others, based on experience. You can get a ball park if you ask the HR department about pay/benefits. But the real "OFFER" comes AFTER the interview. They not only want to know if you are a good candidate but will often base your salary/pay on your experience, education and fit into the unit/corporation.

The one difference is if it were a union position. It's easy to know hourly pay and the like, based on years' experience. But a salaried position is a bit trickier.

Still you may get a good idea from HR. The interview and shadowing is not the time to ask.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Please don't ask about rate of pay in your thank you note. That ranks right up there with a Christmas card that asks for a donation, in my opinion...

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Specializes in Pedi.

Pay is typically discussed by HR, not by floor managers.

That said, every interview I've ever been on included time with HR and time with the hiring manager and HR ALWAYS made salary known in the interview.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
The one difference is if it were a union position. It's easy to know hourly pay and the like, based on years' experience. But a salaried position is a bit trickier.QUOTE]

Yep, just go to the web page of the union contract for that hospital and look it up based on your years' experience.

Don't discount the shadow experience though. You are interviewing them too. Some places aren't worth it at any price.

Good luck to you in your job search.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Exactly what I was saying. It's not a waste of time, but time well-spent, especially if one figures out that it's a place that for no price, would they ever work.

The one difference is if it were a union position. It's easy to know hourly pay and the like, based on years' experience. But a salaried position is a bit trickier.QUOTE]

Yep, just go to the web page of the union contract for that hospital and look it up based on your years' experience.

Don't discount the shadow experience though. You are interviewing them too. Some places aren't worth it at any price.

Good luck to you in your job search.

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

I sent the thank you email. I didn't ask about the salary. I never planned to...was just thinking out loud in my original post. I'll be shadowing, so I'll see how I feel about the whole situation very soon.

Thanks for all the great responses.

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My current manager didn't even know what the salary was during the interview ( he brought up the pay). Benefits and pay are done by HR because if you have questions about either they will have the answer, not the manager. But since this was a union hospital I knew what the base pay was (before, education, exp, certifications, etc...).

In my first hospital job I was just so happy that I got an interview that I didn't care what the pay was. I just wanted in. The pay was actually pretty good but I didn't know what it was until the 3rd interview.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Heard the "don't ask about pay" line from so many people. But I go to work to make money. I consider it highly inconsiderate to not tell a person the pay rate. I have been hired on the spot each interview I have been to as a nurse, except one that was a transfer offer, and each time I knew an approx. pay rate before I left the building.

Nothing wrong with discussing pay as long as it is appropriately handled.

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It doesn't seem like too many people who have posted on this thread have actually hired nurses. I can tell you that it is about 50/50, those who ask, and those who don't. In the hiring position, I didn't mind the question either way. Some places, I could give a range, some I could not. But..... I respect the person who asks. It shows that their time is valuable also.

But I will tell you that in most hospitals, the offer is calculated from a grid based on years of experience. There is a little negotiation about the value of the experience, but probably not more than $1.00 per hour.

When someone asked, and showed discomfort with the range, it usually meant they would take the job if they had to, and keep looking for something better. That wastes my time and hospital resources. So be honest.

Edit - for those places I could not give a range, I would usually say "look on the internet to determine the range within this area. Our facility at least in line with that".

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

eroc,

Thank you for your reply. I feel the same way about this. The few interviews I've had since becoming an RN, I've met with HR first (either a phone interview or in person). That is where the pay was told. I've never met with the department manager first, then been invited to shadow still not having a clue about pay.

I have a question regarding your comment about it being okay to ask as long as it's done appropriately. How do you think that can be done after the interview but before shadowing?

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It doesn't seem like too many people who have posted on this thread have actually hired nurses. I can tell you that it is about 50/50, those who ask, and those who don't. In the hiring position, I didn't mind the question either way. Some places, I could give a range, some I could not. But..... I respect the person who asks. It shows that their time is valuable also.

But I will tell you that in most hospitals, the offer is calculated from a grid based on years of experience. There is a little negotiation about the value of the experience, but probably not more than $1.00 per hour.

When someone asked, and showed discomfort with the range, it usually meant they would take the job if they had to, and keep looking for something better. That wastes my time and hospital resources. So be honest.

Edit - for those places I could not give a range, I would usually say "look on the internet to determine the range within this area. Our facility at least in line with that".

Have you seen a significant difference between men and women in any aspect of negotiations?

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