Need STAT advice ~lowball job offer~

laddzey · Dec 1, 2011

The lower pay might have to do with shift differential. If it is a very nice schedule it may require you to take less pay. Just be honest and ask why the figure is less than you believe you deserve? If you believe they're willing to negotiate the figure you can always say I need at least this much money. You can always say you have other offers pending...sometimes that helps. Good luck.

mindlor · Dec 1, 2011

I would call her and thank her for her kind job offer, andthat you would love to work at their facility. However, the salary is not quite what I was expecting.....

Then pause and see what she says......

Understand that they could have many other folks lined up and this could cost you the position....or, they may REALLY want you. In any negotiation, party one always starts out low, yes?

Good Luck

Marshall1 · Dec 1, 2011

The web sites such as salary.com usually do not take into account a persons experience, where the job is located etc. They are more reference points...most companies are not going to offer someone the highest salary/hourly wage - they are going to go w/experience and the competitive market the company is in (locale). You can always call the person and ask if there is any negotiating room for the wage and have a number in mind to offer...you may have to take a little less to get the hours...I have recently done that and while I could make more working in a hospital - not have to work 12-14 hr shifts and deal w/the hospital stuff is worth it to me to work part time and have hours that are doable and pressure free.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2011

I think that they need someone ASAP because she was very concerned about me being available right away. The area is small by any standards and I would be in charge so they need someone with experience. I don't want to lose out but I know me and I'll be unhappy if I spend my time at work feeling underpaid. UGH....

noahsmama · Dec 1, 2011

I think that they need someone ASAP because she was very concerned about me being available right away. The area is small by any standards and I would be in charge so they need someone with experience. I don't want to lose out but I know me and I'll be unhappy if I spend my time at work feeling underpaid. UGH....

Well, then there's your answer -- if you won't be happy taking the job at what you consider to be a lowball salary, then you have nothing to lose by trying to get them to up the offer. If they don't, don't take the job.

I would explain to them your basis for concluding that the offer is low by $5K, tell them you'd love to work for them if they can increase their offer to an acceptable amount -- and then walk if they don't.

Good luck!

Merlyn · Dec 1, 2011

Ask. Phone the person who is offering the job to you why is the salary lower then the one on the web site. If you get a lot of BS, you can always say no, negotiate up, or in this economy take the job.

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 1, 2011

Ask. Phone the person who is offering the job to you why is the salary lower then the one on the web site. If you get a lot of BS, you can always say no, negotiate up, or in this economy take the job.

I didn't get the impression that they posted the salary on their website. She's extrapolating based on going to salary.com and looking at what other people are making at allnurses.com

OP - are you new to the area, or have you worked in that area of nursing and geographical area a while, and know what the going rate is? Is this a large facility, or a small franchise/independent facility? IME, larger facilities generally don't leave room for negotiation - they have a very concrete salary range based on role and years of experience, and they don't deviate from that. If it's a smaller, independently owned facility, there may be more room for negotiation.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2011

Submit a higher counter-offer with a clear-cut rationale on why the pay should be more and simply wait to see how the interviewer responds.

noahsmama · Dec 1, 2011

Just re-read the OP and realize you're basing your estimate of what the salary should be on information from AN and from a salary website.

As others have said, I would be VERY careful about drawing any conclusions based on either of those sources of information. Salary websites can perhaps get you in the right ballpark, but any given job can easily be + or - $5K or more compared to the averages found on such sites. As for AN -- be aware that nursing salaries vary widely from one region to the next, so unless you got info on AN from other nurses in your same geographic location, the numbers you get here may be close to useless -- salaries for nurses vary by as much as a factor of 2 or more from one part of the country to the next.

I still think it can't hurt to ask if they can up their offer, but think about whether you'll still want to say yes even if they don't. Do you already live and work in the same location where this new job is? If so, your current salary may be the best benchmark -- if this new job has more responsibility, you should probably be making more than you are at your current job -- but keep in mind that jobs with more desirable hours (day shift, no weekends) sometimes pay less for that reason.

Good luck!

mazy · Dec 1, 2011

Salary websites are not really accurate, as salaries can vary depending on region, facility, benefits offered, and differentials, experience level, desirability of job, etc. etc. Mainly they just show an average of what can be expected. I would hate to see you miss out on a job because of something you saw online.

Think about all the information you see online about the nursing shortage, and the great salary, benes, stability, etc. etc.

But as others have suggested, you really have nothing to lose by negotiating wage with them, throw your ideas out there, see what they have to say.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Dec 2, 2011

I agree with the posters who cautioned using a website as the basis for making a decision about a salary. I checked out my field on salary.com and according to that, I'm way overpaid! A lot depends on where you live and the competition in your area.