Am I the only one who refuses to look at a job that doesn't include a wage range in the description?

Am I the only one who refuses to look at a job that doesn't include a wage range in the description? If you have "competitive wages and perks" you'd post it loud and proud. I feel this is an indicator of a company trying to find someone and pay them the least they can get away with and is a huge red flag.

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11 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    I try and lead that discussion right out of the gate. I just let them know that I think we need to discuss their range so "we" don't waste our time.

  2. Shannon Lavender

    You aren’t alone. FYI there are states that are passing laws that mandate employers disclose wage. It helps expose companies that aren’t paying fair wages.

  3. Shanita Taylor BSIS, BSc (Psyc), M.A.E.L

    It's not a problem for me unless they post a pay range because I wouldn't want everybody knowing what I make. Although, I think they should post a range before having people apply.

  4. Anonymous

    Hello ?

  5. Tomilyn Richards

    A large majority of positions do not post compensation... I think that is changing, especially with legislation making it mandatory in some States. It is not about being loud and proud... we have competitive wages. I think sometimes we recruit for roles with the inclusion of multiple skill levels. We want the right person, not just the right skills... so we are open to heavy experience as well as someone that might be more of an investment. Putting a range of like $75 - 105k seems pretty huge, and then it somewhat defeats the purpose, because we will discuss that in the first interview anyway to see if we are on the same page. I see positives on both sides... and venture to say we will start seeing rather large ranges posted on all positions... not sure that will help the process, but at least it will be transparent!! =)

  6. Anonymous

    Definitely not attractive to dig into further, especially if you have a good job already. I'd like to see the range.. Not sure if I'd call it a red flag but definitely not attracting as many people to the posting.

  7. Anonymous

    Check your states pay transparency laws. Not all states have them but there are around 15 that do have some form of law in place.

    Some require employers to disclose that information if an external applicant asks for it. Some only require them to disclose after initial interview which is why its important to check if you state has any kind of law.

    You aren't the only one that refuses though. There are so many arguments against it like it will turn candidates away but we are really willing to pay more for the right person, people won't apply if they see all salary range, etc.....

  8. Julie Humbird

    Every single time I have seen a job posting that fit my skill set AND did not have a pay range, I inquired and was told a number far less than I make. They know their pay isn't enough and are hoping for a good candidate that doesn't know their own worth.

    Salaries should be transparent. Everywhere.

  9. Joanne Rosen

    Some states have made it mandatory! However, there is nothing stopping them from giving ridiculously broad ranges: $60K to $180K.

    Also, for those states, I have seen job postings that say, "Please email salary.range.HR@company.com" So, if you do that, will they even consider you?

    It's so wrong to waste people's time. My son gets calls from recruiters and he says, "What's the pay?" If they are calling him, shouldn't they show up with flowers?

    So far, two have told him he is rude. (laughing)

  10. Anonymous

    It is not always that black and white. Sometimes HR can make mistakes in posting the job and leave it out by mistake. Or it can be intentional because they want people who are really passionate about the work which cuts time during the "weeding out" process.

    The candidate should take the time to research the company of interest. If it is a reputable company, take it a step further and look at linked in profiles of people that work there. Look at their career progression. If you see people in roles that interest you and they have been there consistently for 5+ years, that should be a positive sign that it may be a good place to work and perhaps someone in HR goofed up somewhere. Don't be afraid to network with them. Your demonstrated interest might result in them putting in a good word in for you for an interview.

    So I would not totally negate a company for that. There are many other factors that should be considered:

    -Are they a reputable company in the field of interest?

    -Is it a small/medium/large sized company? This will play a role in how robust health benefits coverage will be.

    -What is their presence like on online platforms? Is it appealing, welcoming or are they secretive?

    I get it, applying can be a numbers game so it is very frustration. If the job roles & responsibilities do not jump at you and peak your interest, move on. But if it does, do the research.

  11. Anonymous

    I think not all companies want to put it out there for non-nefarious reasons. Small employers in particular don’t have a lot of good market data / comp leveling info or internal comparisons so it all depends on the employer.

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