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Not sure if I should follow my gut or bother negotiating

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Not sure if I should follow my gut or bother negotiating

I've been out of work over a year at this point after being laid off from a director/senior level position. I have over 12 years experience in my field with over 20 total in general. I've been able to get some freelance consulting work but it's not been enough to get by. As such I've expanded my job search to include more junior jobs, lower paying etc.

I recently had a great consulting opp drop into my lap and I was able to book it in the last 2 weeks. It's remote, I work for myself, they're paying me my requested rate - all is great.

But I also recently had a company come to me with a FT offer. I feel really bad about it. I continued with the process over the last 2 months because I wasn't really in a position to turn it down. The job itself is in-office 3 days a week (WFH 2 days), and it's really below market rate from what the responsibilities are. The management of the company has made it clear it's not a junior position, that it's a senior role with lots of responsibility but it's titled as one and pays as one - literally 40-50% lower than the market rate for similar jobs in our city with that level of responsibility. On top of this they didn't even set their offer at the top of the pay band for this role.

At this point I'd like to decline completely and just stick with consulting, but my SO thinks that I should counter and "ask for what it would take to get me to take the job", and if they give it to me ditch my well-paying freelance client. I get that this is a more stable option but my gut is just saying I won't be as happy. Should I put effort into negotiating for a job I'm not really jazzed about?? Or should I just politely decline?

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  1. Anonymous

    Ultimately you will pass for sure.

    Listen to your gut on this. And on top of that they are looking for senior skills dressed as a junior bargin. Double the reason to decline and probably run as fast as you can.

    As for seeing it through....I like to keep sharp and that means playing the game. So I would negotiate knowing you have nothing to lose.

  2. Kat

    Stick with the freelance work. If you're not interested in the company or the job, it's best for both of you to move on. If they're only looking to pay half of what they should, I doubt they're going to come up to your desired pay level. Even if they did, would you really want the job? If the answer's still no (or even a weak, qualified yes) then turn them down. Don't waste anymore of your or their time.

  3. Vivian Lee

    Are you in a situation of collecting unemployment where you cannot decline offers as you will lose benefits?

    If not, you do have the luxury of declining the lowball FT opportunity to keep looking for a better fit. Hopefully the consulting work brings in more client referrals.

  4. Regina Brown

    If you're not really "jazzed" about the job position, my fear is that you will not give the position your full effort. Stick with what makes you happy and something that will get your full effort and even more importantly, joy and peace of mind.

  5. Maggie Stone

    The question for me is why you’re not excited about this position. If it’s the lack of pay that’s causing you pause, then negotiate. But if you’re hesitant due to other factors, why negotiate for a job you don’t want?

  6. Anonymous

    It's both the pay, the on-site component vs remote, the industry (this is an older more traditional type company vs startups I'm used to), and kind of the whole package of the lowballing, expecting senior level responsibilities and responsibilities that weren't outlined in the JD, a plan for this role that seemed larger in scope with no plan for promotion or adjusting comp, etc. To me that signs toxic work environment

  7. Anonymous

    Listen to your gut.

  8. Maggie Stone

    Yep. Always listen to your gut.

  9. Anonymous

    Trust your intuition! Job stability is an illusion, and you are already satisfied with your client. If you keep up the good work, you’ve got to believe you can take on additional clients eventually to increase your revenue. The salaried position sounds like a big “no” from the get-go.

  10. Anonymous

    If I were your coach I would suggest you do a few things. Firstly acknowledge to your contract gig that you enjoy it and hope that the relationship can turn into something longer term. See if they give you any inclination that it could go perm or perhaps have a long shelf life. If so the answer is easy, turn down the job.

    If not then I would let the company that made you the offer know that you are flattered and while the functional role seems interesting to you that your expenses outweigh the salary they are offering and that you would like to counter. Come to something in the middle (if you plan on accepting it) or if you truly DO NOT want the role, then wish them the best and let them know you would like to be considered for other roles where you can pay your expenses in the range of XYZ$. Then you set their expectations and also gracefully decline the role. You likely don't know how they internally stack the comp levels so there may be internal compression to deal with that limits or budgetary things that limit their giving top of range. You can also let them know that when you started speaking to them you were 100% available but now your commitment to this contract role is covering your expenses and so that has taken first place in things vs accepting their role which falls short on comp.

    If the job is something that you want then you will have to decide based upon your personal relationship, job content, culture and comp if it will suit to accept it as it is.

    You also reference the in office piece, frankly IMHO going into the office when you are taking a role that you feel is below your standards will give you the opportunity to show them what you are made of which may lead to greater things down the road.

  11. Anonymous

    As a former employer (and maybe this is horrible to say, but I’m being honest), I was much less concerned about a potential employee’s expenses, and much more concerned about a salary being below market rate for a position. And then losing talent as a result of the low salary band.

    I’d suggest bringing in salary comps of similar positions and seeing if the offer can get closer to market rates.

  12. Anonymous

    While I agree often the salary band is set by someone higher up or embedded within layers of discussions. A budget is a budget and if the comps internally cannot support them paying market rate it is what it is. The OP will have to determine which one feels more "secure" the contract or the FTE.

  13. Anonymous

    I think you should do what feels good for you , the full time job does not sound like a good fit and it sounds like you don’t really like it, it pays less and sounds like a lot of responsibility for not much money. Taking a job out of of a panic mode does not always lead to a good place . Think really hard about what you can live with

  14. Anonymous

    You could potentially get referrals from the client you are working with. If you ditch your client your reputation will be impacted. End well. Start right.

    If the full time give is too low and you know you would not be happy, why commit to it , because you won’t be able to make a lot of changes, you would be settling.

  15. Anonymous

    You are working. You have nothing to lose by countering salary and WFH days. If they can't meet it, you decline.

  16. Joann S. Lublin

    If your negotiations for a higher starting salary don't bear fruit, why not instead insist on a pay review after three or six months -- based on your achieving performance goals both sides agree about upfront? "Earning It," my first book of two books about working women, has some good strategies about winning better pay. Let us know how things work out!

  17. Anonymous

    Once you accept, they have no incentive to review salary later. Get what you want up front.

  18. Anonymous

    Do not settle. Strong-arm tactics like your SO is suggesting could backfire. And if you burn your bridge with your freelance client you'll have nothing- no income, no positive references, NADA. If you take the job that pays below market for a higher level they will know it and you will have difficulty getting any raises or promotions in the future.

  19. Anonymous

    Try the counter offer since you’re willing to decline the offer for your current gig anyway. Sounds like you’re happy though from what I’m hearing.

  20. Anonymous

    Decline. I could kick myself for the times I always went backwards. 2003 I was making way more than I took starting a job with more responsibility in 2014. I regret it. Now I am back to square one and people want want want it all (education, experience, on call, for you to basically kill yourself for them) but not want to pay. You will be miserable in the meantime selling yourself for that little while they get the benefits of having it all and calling it a senior role.

  21. Nofisat Tolulope Dopemu

    Trust your gut

  22. Suzi Jain Juarez

    I would trust your gut and decline. Personally I love consulting work and don’t want to go back to a full-time job unless I have to.

  23. LORI-ANN BURLINGAME

    Follow your gut instincts and do not sell yourself short! To me, it is insulting when a company (management) tries to low-ball a job offer. Would they do that to a man?

  24. Anonymous

    Don't settle. Who knows, the consulting gig could become a full-time gig. It's worth it to get paid more. You earned it.

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