Midwestern job offer/counteroffer blues

[judecorp]

Wow, I have the most boring journal ever. The Chronicle of the Unemployed. (Or is it The Chronically Unemployed?)

I got my tentative official offer from the new job, which means at least that they've officially said out loud that they are going to hire me, pending FBI results. The offer was a little under $1/hour more than I made at FM, which is not at all what the Assistant Director had mentioned to me in the interview. I've never done any of this salary bargaining before, and I said that to the Administrative Assistant, but I said that the AD had told me the other figure. She said she would take it back to the State Office and let me know.

How does this work? I'm paranoid about this job thing, you see, and now of course I've paranoid-ed myself into thinking that if they don't accept it, I won't get the job. The sad fact, of course, is that I would certainly take their offered salary - I wouldn't take anything lower than what I was getting at FM, /and/ this new job has a 35-hour work week instead of a 40-hour one - but when the AD put the dollar signs in my face, I felt more valued as a professional. So we'll see what happens when/if she calls back tomorrow.

Heck, even if they meet me halfway I'll still be rolling in dough. I have slightly lower expenses now that I've shacked up in sin, so any extra income would just be gravy money. Part of me is kicking myself for saying anything, but at least I had the benefit of "So-and-so said..." rather than, "I would really like..." I just hope they still like me - I'm cute, I'm funny, I work hard, and gosh darn it, I raised my car insurance for this!

Comments

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

good luck! That situation (of what you were expecting to be offered as opposed to the actual offer) frustated me so much! As I do pretty well everything, I took it personally, which I know is silly and pointless. I really hope that things work out for you!!!

Perhaps this...

[mythicalbeast.livejournal.com]

This isn't the salary as discussed in the interview with X, I'm still very much interested in the job as money isn't my only modivator - however I hope you understand that I was under a different impression than what I see here in this letter. Am I recalling the discussion incorrectly? If so what is the standard review/raise cycle like so I can anticipate salary growth linked with performance. If you could let me know these details it would be great.

Thanks so much, and I look forward to my start date.

(Adjust to sound like it's coming from a smurf)

Perhaps this...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha! I wish I'd had you on the phone with me, and I would have sounded much better than, "Umm... well, umm, that's not what I had discussed with X. Umm... it's not entirely about money, it's just... umm..."

I am a dumbass. But you love me anyway, right? And I can't even imagine thinking to ask about raises. You know I've /never/ in my whole employment career gotten a raise? When I was a Federal Work-Study student in college, I got a required $0.25 per year increase, but that's it. Never a raise!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

While I don't take it personally (after all, the AD said, "I think the last MSW got blah..."), I do think salaries represent how the organization values the professionals that work within it. This organization certainly values me more than my last one, though, and that's worth everything already. :)

[carina-s.livejournal.com]

You ARE SHACKED UP IN SIN! *hysterical laughter*

Re:

[grrlpower.livejournal.com]

good! I just hope things move smoothly from here on out!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

At this point, it's got to be, like, super sin.

Perhaps this...

[mythicalbeast.livejournal.com]

You should expect (at least in a corp enviroment... which you're not...) that when you leave the probation period (typically the first 3months during which you get no benifts and can be fired without cause 'it just isn't working out') that a mini-review is done indicating what they like and don't like about you from your first 3months, and welcome aboard in a full way... and with every review there is the option for at least a cost of living raise if not a performance and value to the group one.

Did you ask about the probation period and when benifits kick in?

Re: Perhaps this...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

There is, if I remember correctly from the interview (I asked), a 6 month probationary period. And benefits start immediately, except for Peace Leave and Tuition Reimbursement, which requires one year of work, and Long-Term Disability, which requires 90 days. And you have to wait 6 months (probation period) before you can take vacation.

I have never worked in a corporate environment. I've worked in education and the social services, and have never had mini-reviews or anything. I had a yearly review once, but my position was union, and the union was still arguing about raises when I eventually left after 20 months or so... so I never got the raise.

Poo.

[carina-s.livejournal.com]

WOO!

[poopsmoothie.livejournal.com]

Dude, thousands of people including me have more boring journals than you. If you doubt me, see how many comments you get. People find you interesting.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think you're boring at all. I just have everyone fooled.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Me too! I hope you are employed soon.

[rachelmichellek.livejournal.com]

...or if you're me, the chronically underemployed.

[vorpalbla.livejournal.com]

You won't lose the job. The worst thing that can happen is they'll say "no, that's the best we can do."

I tried to negotiate with Tammy over salary last fall and she said "No, that's the best we can do." I said "Let me think about it." Then I called her back and said I'll take the job. There is NO shame in getting the best salary you can

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

What can I say? I deserve more cash!

Yeah, I remember when you had that conversation with Tammy. Mostly because I was in her office.

How goes the J-O-B?