Interviews and Salary

Hi Dwellars....

I've graduated college....looking for jobs...market is bleak, but I have to keep applying and applying and using my resources and just keeping it at it every single day...

I was wondering two things from you veterans of the game of life...

I had an interview at a baseball training facility for operations manager...it was with an HR woman and two men (I assume the directors/executives) and it lasted less than 20 minutes. Mind, this was first round interview day, and they had interviews until 9pm I think. The woman led me into conversation about my job experiences and I talked......most of the time, just talking, and them following up briefly asking questions. At the end, the woman asked the men if they had any questions and they said no! She said if you have any questions for us ____ will give you our email and you can follow up with us. Thank you!

I then got a quick tour of the small facility, where I asked a few questions...but I wanted to know...Is it a bad thing she didn't ask me a question? Is this kind of typical for first round, just rolling people in and out?

Also....looking in the future for advice: what is a good way to negotiate salary/benefits/compensation?

Marry rich.

freshnesschronic;686795 wrote:

Also....looking in the future for advice: what is a good way to negotiate salary/benefits/compensation?

My private first thought was,if I could answer your question I would get a crystal ball and sell my notions.

I am wondering, are entry level people negotiating salary? I mean, unless you had a specialty and everyone wants you then keep negotiating down to the barest minimum.

You said, the job market is bleak. In an interview you will be up against people willing to undercut co- interviewees. During the interview, it should be about what you can do for the team and less about the monetary reward.( at first) Yes, you should be decisive when asked, but you have to seem to want the company more than you seem to be after a big fat paycheck.

That's all I got.

freshnesschronic;686795 wrote:

I then got a quick tour of the small facility, where I asked a few questions...but I wanted to know...Is it a bad thing she didn't ask me a question? Is this kind of typical for first round, just rolling people in and out?

Not necessarily at bad thing if they are screening many people.

It sounds normal to me, but its been awhile since I was in your situation.

Different employers have different interview styles. Many times you don't get into any nitty-gritty until second round. You should think up a question to email, though, to show continued interest and enthusiasm.

As to salary...you negotiate that when offered the job. The thing to remember is to shoot a little high: they can always say "no" and it rarely would affect the fact that you have an offer in the first place.

Have been there many times! Good luck to you!

Piece of advice from my wise father: even when you have a good job, always keep your eyes peeled, you never know WHAT could be out there for you. I'm not saying be discontent and plan to leave all the time, just keep aware.

When we hire for entry level positions, there is a set salary. You can ask for more, and we may even give you more if you have some sort of experience in that field that justifies it, but for 99% of the candidates, the starting salary is non-negotiable. But we won't think less of you if you ask for more. Unless you are delusional and ask like 50% more than the going rate. Then we will wonder about you. We'll still hire you for the standard salary, but it won't be a good first impression.

Oh, and salary discussions happen at the time of the job offer.

Good point glatt.

I do worry that people miss opportunities for a little more money because they're afraid of being looked down upon for daring to ask for more. At entry level often you know the pay from the beginning.

If you are in any position to negotiate, do so. Sometimes, too, it's all about getting your foot in the door. My initial salary in this business was pathetic and sad...entry level, but almost 9 years later, after promotions and negotiations and finally a job change, I have the pull to ask for more.

Even if the $/hr is set in stone, there are other benefits that may be more flexible...

Health care $ paid by employer vs employee
Pre-tax benefits set asides for child care, etc.
Re-location (moving) expenses
Reimbursement for training (college) courses
Promotion or salary increases after X months
Promotion or salary increases after outside training courses
Promotion or salary increases after certifications, if appropriate
Vacation time off / compensatory time

What expenses the employer can offer you and benefit them, while still deductiing from their taxes ?

xoxoxoBruce;686797 wrote:

Marry rich.

:p:

xoxoxoBruce;686797 wrote:

Marry rich.

but he's jewish..... do you get asian jews?

Didn't you know all Jews are rich? They also report directly to the Trilateral Commission, and eat babies. :lol2:

I have an interview today over the phone with Groupon. Maybe you've heard of them?

http://www.groupon.com

I hope I get this!

Whoa there... What the heck is that? It looks like MLM.

A quick search of reviews ....

sitejabber

retaildoc

Hubpages

I'd be more than a little wary, but I honestly know nothing other than what I've read on the sites above.

I get the daily email offer from Groupon. So far I have only been able to use one of them because most of them are just just too far away from me, but I really like the site.

Do you use it as a business? That was more the issue - not the end user. I'd assume he would be getting businesses to advertise/market on the site.

The reviews were pretty positive for the users, but mixed at best for the companies.

and I just found this ...

A rumor that Yahoo (YHOO) is working on a deal for Groupon has been burning up the wires in Silicon Valley this weekend. Tech wags suggest that the struggling portal has offered between $1.5 billion and $3 billion for the red-hot social shopping company, which was valued at $1.35 billion at its most recent funding valuation.

There's little doubt that Yahoo is interested in nailing down a big acquisition after efforts to acquire local ratings site Yelp and mobile social network and check-in giant Foursquare failed to come to fruition. TechCrunch opined the if Groupon goes for $2 billion or less, then it has serious doubts about its business model and future. Groupon's CEO, Andrew Mason, has repeatedly said that price competition from the hordes of Groupon clones has not hurt demand and that his company was maintaining its extremely lucrative 50% split on gross revenues with advertisers using the Groupon service.

Groupon's dominance, in my mind, is clearly waning. Here are three reasons why.

See full article from DailyFinance: