Interview question

jennbaby Posted: Jan 29, 2003 08:16 PM

Interview question

When you go on an interview and you do not know what the job pays, do you ask what the position pays on the interview or not?
I have seen both done and wondered what you did?

allure Posted: Jan 29, 2003 10:06 PM

Re: Interview question

The 2 interviews i was on in the past were through an employment agency so i knew what i was getting myself into

JustJodi Posted: Jan 29, 2003 10:28 PM

Re: Interview question

I'm not sure but I would think its not proper to ask

Marcela1654 Posted: Jan 29, 2003 11:09 PM

Re: Interview question

I don't ask.

WishCandy Posted: Jan 29, 2003 11:29 PM

Re: Interview question

I don't ask, I wait until they make an offer.

Niecey Posted: Jan 30, 2003 07:48 AM

Re: Interview question

I don't ask too. Most interviewers ask you what your salary demands are if the are interested in you to see if you are in the same ballpark (I know I always do...). If it is thru an agency, ask them not the interviewer.

cluelessbride Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:00 AM

Re: Interview question

I wouldn't ask. Wait until an offer is made and then negotiate.

sept20yay! Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:13 AM

Re: Interview question

No- I wouldn't ask.... Although, I don't see why not..

Thrilled Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:22 AM

Re: Interview question

Exactly what clueless said.

PS - and never, ever ask about how much vacation time you get until after they offer you the job.

Becky Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:31 AM

Re: Interview question

I have always played by this rule - if they don't ask me what my salary demands are, then I ask what the job pays. I don't want to waste my time on a second interview if they are going to offer me 10K less than I make now. If I know through the grapevine (the legal community has almost no secrets) that I will be comfortable, then I don't ask at all. But I would never walk out with no idea.

And I have to say, that I asked how much vacation time I would get when interviewing for my current job. I had a cruise booked for one week in June when I was interviewing last March. Plus, at my previous job, they counted sick days as vacation days, and I would have gladly kept looking than taking a job that was at all similar to the nightmare I was trying to escape

eroxgirl Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:32 AM

Re: Interview question

I left my last job still not knowing how much vacation time I had...I never got a definite answer. I usually don't ask at all on an interview about vacation time but when I got this job I wanted to make sure I knew about it right away b/c some places won't remember to tell you! I guess it didn't matter that much b/c I got the job...

But I've never been on an interview where I didn't know what they paid so I don't know if you're supposed to ask or not.

boosh78201 Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:35 AM

Re: Interview question

They say you shouldnt ask, so I never did. Some places may tell you what it is.

bride082003 Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:50 AM

Re: Interview question

I wouldn't ask. From past experience the interviewer usually brought it up

If you get called back for a 2nd interview and at that point if nothing has been said about $$, then I would think it is okay to ask.

Suzanne Posted: Jan 30, 2003 08:55 AM

Re: Interview question

I would DEFINATLY ask... some companies make you come in for 2 and 3rd (and some even 4th ) interviews, i would not want to waste my time doing this if the job did not pay what i was looking for.

Remember, on an interview you are interviewing the company the same way they are interviewing you.. You want to make sure you like what you are getting into. I always ask on an interview The salary, the medical beneifts, the 401K benefits.. I wouldnt want to find out after all the interviews that it paid 10-15K less than i wanted and that there are minimal benefits.. I was on plenty of interviews where the people offering did not give out good med. benefits at all, and some companies did not want to insure my husband..so i am glad i found all that out in the first meeting.

Fran M Posted: Jan 30, 2003 09:24 AM

Re: Interview question

Suzanne is correct. If you are asked back for a second interview dont waste your time or the companies time. There is nothing wrong with asking about the comp range for the position and the benefits. We always have this discussion with candidates prior to a second interview. The last thing I want is a department head to see a candidate and then to have to tell them that we cant hire the candidate because of $$.

NuBride Posted: Jan 30, 2003 09:46 AM

Re: Interview question

I would NEVER go on an interview without knowing first what the job pays....I don't want to waste my time or the employer's time.

dcbride Posted: Jan 30, 2003 10:22 AM

Re: Interview question

I know that they say you shouldn't ask, but I don't think that is right. I went on an interview for a position once and I asked around how much- I had to know if I would be taking a pay cut and they said that info was confidential. Why waste my time and theirs.

OctBride03 Posted: Jan 30, 2003 10:24 AM

Re: Interview question

I never asked.

Karen H Posted: Jan 30, 2003 06:35 PM

Re: Interview question

I've been on 2 interviews where they both ended up increasing the salary to meet what I wanted, so even it what they are offering is low, it may well be negotiable. Don't rule out a job too fast based on the initial salary mentioned.

As for vacation time, you can always ask about the corporate culture, policies and benefits - that makes the question seem broader so you don't seem like you're just interested in how many days off! Once you're into the discussion you can be a bit more specific if they are not answering your questions.

balilove Posted: Jan 30, 2003 07:20 PM

Re: Interview question

In the not so recent past, asking how much a job was paying was considered taboo. In my last interview I was told all about the job responsibilities etc...At the end of the interview I was asked if I had any questions that were not answered. Yes I did. There were things I wanted clarified about responsibilities but especially about monetary issues and benefits. Life is short and for me wasting time with 2, 3, 4th interviews is not my thing. Either you want to hire me or not. So when there was a question in my mind about the salary, I asked it. I even got in the habit of asking the salary and benefits package prior to the in person interview---that way I knew I wasn't wasting my time.