[Anonymous]

I just relocated and managed to get an interview with a publicly traded company through a recruiter. When the role was initially posted it was for a staff, however, they presented my resume even though I have over 9 years of experience. I expressed my concern initially but he told me that he was just trying to get me in front of the client and that they had a working relationship with that client. If they liked me they would be willing work with them around salary.

Well, I interviewed and the company told me that they definitely are filling the position for a senior role because they have come to realize that a lot of entry level people are not looking to move with just one year of experience. They reached out to the recruiter and asked him how much I would be willing to take for the role. Well, he had told them initially that I was willing to take $5K less than what I want. I emailed him and told him what my ask was and then told me that no company can or will pay that much for a senior internal audit position. I am asking for $12K total more than what I made at my previous job. Considering that now we live in a State where we have to pay State tax I do not think that is too crazy. He told me my salary expectation is unrealistic. I mean he knew from when I first started working with him what my salary expectations were and yet he never said anything.

I finally just told him whatever. I mean at the end of the day he cares more about his relationship with the client than asking for $5k more than he was asking them to pay me as a staff. I am so annoyed.

Do you guys have any suggestions on how to handle this? I am so used to negotiating salary myself its hard to have someone else do it and having that someone tell me that the whole counter offering thing is not something that they do. But he really isn’t. He is simply telling them what I am willing to take and they then come back with what they are willing to pay. I am done working with him after this.

I looked on Robert Half and Salary.com and what I am asking is the market rate for someone with 9 years of experience.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that regional differences beyond sales tax make a HUGE impact. Ex: My parents moved from where I live (middle-of-nowhere southern KY, you can rent a 3BR 2BA house for $400/mo if you're good or $500/mo with ease, average per household income less than $30k, with state tax and sales tax) to Delaware (no state tax, no sales tax, but prices at least double of here, average household income $60k). To expect a pay raise coming from Delaware to here would be completely backwards; instead, you could take a big paycut and still come out ahead with more buying-power. So, as you look at Robert Half, you've got to adjust it for local differences, and same with the data I've found on Salary.com (though data that's relevant to my area is limited; perhaps you're in a highly populated area with more relevant data).

However…recruiters do throw in an odd variable. Having someone else negotiate for me who gets a percentage of what I agree to, but otherwise isn't affected by my agreement, would be weird – especially if they're making offers in my name that aren't what I agreed to offer. 😐 It reminds me of situations where the buyer's and seller's realty agent are the same on a house deal – means that the buyer doesn't really have an agent. Your recruiter might make more if you get paid more, but he won't make anything if you don't agree to the job, so he's got a bigger interest in making a deal than in making a great deal.

Anyway, don't know much about the recruiter piece, but just wanted to make sure that you're factoring in differences in local economy and not just in local taxes when evaluating appropriate pay.

[jules_cpa]

Do not use Robert Half salary guide as a source for salaries. They are way over inflated.

Tell the recruiter to present you at the salary you want. If he refuses, then move on. If he does and they counter then consider the reasons for why they think you are worth less than what you think you are worth.

AUD - 77
BEC - 82
FAR - 75
REG - 76

 Licensed CPA - September 2017

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for your input.

I usually look at Robert Half but then I estimate less than that because I know they are inflated.

I am just so annoyed with the fact that he is telling me that my salary which is $5,000 more than what he told them would be my yes number, without consulting me, is so unrealistic. I am just going to tell to either present what i am asking or go pound sand.

[Missy]

You don't have to accept the offer, tell them its too low. Chances are it was the offering company who said what they're WILLING to pay, recruiters don't suggest salaries they ask what the employer is looking to pay and aren't going to try to talk them higher for your benefit since you're not the one paying their fees.

However, make sure you consider the entire compensation package. Salary is only one component of compensation and I'll never understand why accepting or declining an offer is based on it alone. You're better off taking a 70k offer from a company that pays 75% medical and dental than a 75k offer from a company that pays 50%, your take home will be higher.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

@mla I actually spoke to the HR person and went over the benefits and they have very good benefits. And I actually consider most of the advice that you always give about actually looking at the benefit package instead of just being focused on salary.

I guess my only issue with the whole thing is that they company asked the recruiter what my yes number would be in order for me to take the job. And I gave my yes number and that was when he told me he had already told them a number and so he wants me to go with that number. I will gladly take the offer considering its only a $5,000 difference,its just the fact that he took it upon himself to tell them what my yes number was without actually discussing it with me.

[jules_cpa]

That would irritate me.

AUD - 77
BEC - 82
FAR - 75
REG - 76

 Licensed CPA - September 2017

[Vanessachy]

I recently accepted an offer through a recruiter, but I was looking for accounting firm. The recruiter told me that the salaries in the firms are structured and based on experience. Since I only have over two years of work experience, I accepted it quickly since I really like the firm. You have 9 years of work experience and it is a senior position, I would think you have a lot more negotiation power than me.
You can use multiple recruiters, I used KForce and I like my recruiter.

Far, 64 82
Reg, 60 86
Aud, 74 82
Bec, 70 81
Done done done! I did it!!!
Licensed CPA in MA, issued October 2016

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[Author]

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