post #28 - don't disqualify candidates because they ask about salary

#MerryMonday 💙

I actually had someone reply to my comment with a variation of "calm down". Are you kidding me???

Here's the backstory:

Recently, a headhunter posted that he sent cold-call emails to 50 people about a position he was trying to fill. Of those 50, 4 replied almost immediately. But here's where it goes off the rails, 3 asked when they could talk (to which OP replied and scheduled times), the other person apparently had the audacity to ask questions, some of which, like what's the salary, should have been covered in the cold-call email. The OP's reaction to that email? "And we never spoke again".

I'm pretty vocal about this topic because I live in a state where it's mandatory to disclose salary, yet at least half of the recruiters who reach out to me fail to mention it. It's been my experience that recruiters who aren't up front about salary have a client who doesn't pay well. I'm not saying that's an absolute truth, but in my experience, it has been the case.

But here's the bigger issue: everyone works to pay bills. Why are candidates being shamed in posts (and in this case being disqualified from further talks) for wanting to know how much a position pays before deciding whether or not to pursue it? I now put it back on the people who claim candidates only care about money if they ask about salary early on by asking them these questions: how long would you continue to work if your employer could no longer pay you? How long would your bank or landlord accept "I love what I do", "great culture", or "unlimited PTO" as payment for your mortgage or rent? Hint: not very. And guess what? Not one person has ever answered those questions, they try to deflect by gaslighting with phrases like "calm down" or "take a deep breath". Are you kidding me?

This headhunter not only tried to gaslight me, he just admitted that he ghosted someone he reached out to. And you think that's a flex? Wow.

Hang tough job seekers. You're not being difficult (or are only money motivated) for asking about salary early on. You're being smart about which jobs you spend your time pursuing. I'm sorry companies/headhunters/recruiters/hiring managers are trying to make it seem like you're the problem. You aren't.

#JobHuntingChronicles #SalaryTransparency

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