I had an interview yesterday with a local family owned business that is steadily growing.

Anonymous

April 15,2023 at 7:00PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I had an interview yesterday with a local family owned business that is steadily growing. It was the best interview I’ve ever had to be honest. The excitement I felt when I first saw the job posting and then once I finished the interview is something I haven’t experienced in years. I’m just praying that the financial part of it get works out so that I’m able to turn in my notice at my current job ASAP!!

But the one thing of concern (and why I’m posting) is the pay. On the job posting it said between $15-$22/hr. I asked for $23, obviously so that there was room for negation. Going in I knew that $20 was absolutely the lowest I could possibly go with working 40 hours instead of 32-34 hours at $21. I was offered $17/hr because of my lack of knowledge in Quickbooks. I am a single mom of a 15 year old son, with a house mortgage and growing bills. I almost broke down in tears right there in the middle of the interview. I loved everything about this company, from their core values to the benefits offered. I almost feel like it was a way to find out how low I would go if she through in the things that didn’t cost the company money. She told me that she would get me insurance right away, ?? and see about getting the 401K started immediately as well. Unfortunately, those things are great but won’t pay my mortgage. I told her my bottom dollar and then she said it was negotiable and we could talk more about it. She gave me a tour of the building and then right at the end asked if I was on a time crunch because she really wanted her Grandma and Brother to sit down and get a chance to get to know me!! I felt super confident about the whole thing when I left. The interview lasted almost an hour and a half! She told me at the very beginning that even though she had other applicants with more Quickbooks experience, she loved my personality! Just by my explanation, how do you think it went? Do you think she is going to come back and say that $17 is all they can do, when the original posting was up to $22? Or was she just testing me?

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

12 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

12 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousApril 15,2023 at 10:08PM UTC
I think it was just gaming and will have her grandma come back with a few extra bucks. If a few hundred dollars a month is going to break the bank for this company I don't think they are truly looking to hire.
It sounds like the interview went well. My warning to you is to stick to your guns and do not budge from your number because family businesses are nightmares generally to work for and they will continue to play amateur games on every front so you will definitely earn your $.
AnonymousApril 16,2023 at 3:49PM UTC
I'm a single mom too, don't budge on what you need/want to be paid! Stick to your guns, if she doesn't give you what you want $-wise then you need to walk. Don't let her play on your emotions. I'm betting she won't give you more than $17/hr that's why she wants to introduce you to grandma etc. So you'll forgo the $ you need in order to work with "nice people".
AnonymousApril 16,2023 at 7:00PM UTC
I would absolutely say that I would love the opportunity, I can easily become an expert in Quickbooks, and my salary would need to be no less than xyz/hr. The extra couple of bucks per hr is minimal to them. Don't let them play on your emotions.
GirlBossanova934974April 17,2023 at 12:39PM UTC
Stick with your $20-$22/hour rate. Even a family owned business can afford the extra $5/hr. That's $800/month or a little over $900 with payroll taxes. I own my own business and I understand this. Giving a little bit more up front often gets you a lot more down the line if you are a business owner. Quickbooks? You can pick that up in a few Youtube videos. I would! The faster you come up to speed, the better your new employer will appreciate it.
Valerie RiegerApril 17,2023 at 1:05PM UTC
This may be an unpopular opinion, but because you need $20 /hr doesn't mean that the company needs to pay you $20/hr. They need someone with more experience in their required software package. If you had the experience they needed, the offer may have been more.
Also, the idea that insurance and 401k don't cost the company anything isn't correct. Most companies pay a portion of the premium (my organization pays about 80% of the premium cost). A 401k plan costs money to administer, and if there is a employer match, that money comes out of the company bank account.
If knowledge of QB is a requirement for the position and a payroll/accounting software that you would use more than anything, it is understandable that the offer would be less than someone who had more experience with the software.
If $17 is the final offer, I would ask how soon you would be considered for a pay increase and if a pay increase would be considered once your proficiency meets their needs.
Cynthia Armistead NewmanApril 17,2023 at 1:24PM UTC
Stand your ground! If you need at least $20, don't try to settle for $17. If they can't afford you, they can't afford you.
Family businesses are bad news in general. You will never be part of the family, and you must never forget that the business exists to benefit them, NOT you.
Sidney BristowApril 17,2023 at 1:31PM UTC
As a hiring manager, a teachable person with a pleasant can-do personality is worth their weight in silver. I can get you up to speed on software; I can't teach you to be kind and considerate of others. The hiring mgrs at the company know that.
It's a 2-way street always when it comes to hiring. Each party must gain in order for it to work. The company gains a great worker. You gain what's on your list - in this case, $20/hr minimum.
AnonymousApril 17,2023 at 1:57PM UTC
Quick books is easy to learn if you understand basic accounting principles. Even I can use it and accounting is NOT my forte. My thought though is that sometimes working for family businesses is not a good move for the employee in the long-run. Family tends to come first, lack of raises are explained as putting money into the company (while family members are getting them), and favoritism is just frustrating. I am not saying that all family businesses are horrible to work for if you aren’t family. But I know too many people, including me, who after a few years realize the promises or raises, promotions, better working hours just are not going to happen for you.
That being said, if they come back with a salary you can accept, then give it a shot. Put money aside for emergencies, and hope for the best.
AnonymousApril 17,2023 at 2:15PM UTC
I wouldn't accept the position for a wage lower than you need to pay your bills. However, I would also jump right on all Quickbook trainings EXPEDITIOUSLY. I'm sure there are tons online and if you cannot afford a training, YouTube university may help.
Mary PoolApril 17,2023 at 2:21PM UTC
I would immediately find an online course on Quickenbooks and let them know I am taking it. This shows them you are serious about the position. Taking less is not a good idea; it is hard to get wages up and easy to lower them.
MislynApril 17,2023 at 9:03PM UTC
I learned the hard way that working for a local family business is not always what it’s cracked up to be. I had a business owner recruit me from I job I really liked by offering me more money and more opportunity. I was so excited for that new opportunity for growth and advancement that I would tell everyone how great this job was going to be. What a big lie that was. That job basically ruined me. I was lied to daily and lead to believe that our future and the business would really take off and that we would be making so much money and blah blah blah. All lies I was never promoted in the company and realized I was never going to be. I was there only to make their family money. They didn’t care about me and my family it was all about them. Greedy family ran businesses can be a very toxic work environment. I learned the hard way. If it’s not your family I wouldn’t listen to all the smoke they blow you in the interview. Just my two cents and what I learned along the way.
JessicaApril 19,2023 at 3:59AM UTC
I had a great interview with a mom and pop shop that seemed to be booming and they were promising me the moon at first to get me to stick around. Turns out the Owner was bipolar and liked to throw tantrums to get his way. The wife would sit there and take it and I was appalled. I just hope you know what you are getting into!