[linuxjobs] Senior Linux Systems Administrator - Apache, MySQL - Isle of Wight

[Simon Hobson]

Dickon Hood wrote:

>: This seems to be becomming common practice. I've also noticed that
>: when you talk to people about the job they will ask you first what
>: pay level you are looking for, rather than telling you what they are
>: prepared to pay. If the you only ask for 30K and they were going to
>: offer 40K then the employer just got themselves a bargain. My advice
>: is to aim high and let them talk you down.
>
>That's all well and good, but I really don't want to spend my time
>applying for what looks like a potentially interesting job -- based on the
>company, and the list of skills they're after -- only to find the maximum
>salary / day rate they'll offer wouldn't get me out of bed[0].  It's no
>use to anybody.  Frankly, it's rude.

I agree. It's a waste of everyone's time if the 
employer (turning the above figures around) is 
only offering £30k, but you're not prepared to 
consider less than £40k.

If an employer isn't prepared to give some 
indication of what they'll pay, then they cannot 
complain if they get a stream of applications 
that aren't suitable[1], or who wouldn't take the 
job after having wasted time interviewing[2].

[1] Many of the 'more suitable' candidates will 
already be occupied with a full time job, and 
don't have time to apply for jobs that might well 
not be paying what they're on now.

[2] It's waste of everyone's time if you get to 
the end of the interview, they ask if you're 
still interested at £x/yr, and the candidate just 
says "not for that money".

For myself, I have to consider what it would cost 
to commute/relocate to wherever the job is. At 
the end of the day, there's a minimum I'm 
prepared to accept which will vary with location 
and other factors (I'd accept less for a really 
enjoyable job).

-- 
Simon Hobson

Visit http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk/ for books by acclaimed
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