You just landed an amazing job offer, but the starting salary is way too low!
Lowballing in recruitment refers to an offer that is significantly below the candidate’s expectations. When this happens, you might feel upset and undervalued. While it’s unfortunate, a lowball salary isn’t necessarily a lost cause.
But, why do employers lowball you?
Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Tight hiring budget
Employers can offer low salaries for a number of reasons. Perhaps they have a tight hiring budget or they’re leaving some wiggle room because they expect you to negotiate. Make sure to not take it personally as it doesn’t always have to do with the individual person!
According to TRIIIO consultants, some employers also lowball their candidates because of having a fixed internal salary benchmark of 20%. Hence, if you demand higher, there is a high chance of you getting lowballed.
2. Employer-driven market
Another reason for low salary offers is that many hiring managers are still under the impression that this is a ‘buyers’ market’ or an ‘Employer-driven market’. Hence, they like to test the water with a low salary offer to begin with.
3. Skill sets don’t match the requirements
You might have the technical skills that they’re looking for but you’re either out of practice or have used your skills on outdated technology. They may feel a need to retrain you to adapt to the current systems and the employer’s ways of working. Hence, employers will need to invest in retraining you in order to adapt in their workplace.
So, what happens next?
Step 1 : Ask for time to consider the offer
Although it may be difficult, it's best to proceed with an open mind and a belief that your potential employer values you.
The first step is to say thank you to the hiring manager. Maintain a respectful tone and tell them how much you appreciate them for taking the time to interview you. Then, ask for a few days to think things over. Give them a definitive time frame in which they can expect your response, preferably around 2-3 business days. And make sure to confirm the numbers in black and white (especially if the offer was verbal)!
This will give you an opportunity to strategize while respecting the employer's timeline. If you’re working with a recruiter, it’s best if you discuss with them and express your thoughts and concerns. Your recruiters might be the best person to advise you on what to do as they may have dealt with similar situations before.
Step 2 : Decline the offer
You need to determine what you value most at this stage in your career. If you're trying to change careers, it may be worth taking a small step down in pay to make the leap.
However, if nothing changes your mind and you still think that the offer is too low for you to accept, then don’t waste your time. Thank the hiring manager for offering you a placement and give an explanation on why you have decided to decline the offer.
The faster you act, the sooner you can move forward with your job search!
OR
Step 2 : Negotiate the offer
If you have the time and energy, it would be great to do your research and draft a proposal. When you’ve got your points, stand your ground! Most employers expect some degree of salary negotiation. Before negotiating, you should take time to think about the figure that you’d like and also the minimum you’d be willing to take. Consider the work you’ll be performing, and also changes to cost of living if you’re relocating for work. This value will give you the reference point in your negotiation.
When you’re in the negotiation process, share the number you truly want and feel is fair. Remember, don’t skip this step and never deliver a response before coming up with your acceptable range and salary floor. If your proposal is realistic, research-backed, and respectful (instead of overly aggressive), it just might work. However, be firm and make it clear that the salary they’re offering is too low for you to accept. You should know your worth and be willing to stand by it. This is really important!
Check out our other blogpost on how to negotiate your offer package to find out more!
If you go through these negotiation steps and you still feel uncertain or unhappy about the overall offer the employer gives you, don’t be afraid to walk away. If you don’t feel comfortable with the offer, you won’t be able to fully concentrate on the job at hand, and you may find yourself searching for a higher paying role sooner rather than later. Remember, in today’s candidate-driven market, you’re in a good place to wait for the right job for you!
If you’re looking for your next dream job, explore techdesk and let our specialist recruiters help you. Let’s Search, Together!
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TRIIIO is a Malaysian recruitment firm focused on partnering with companies to find and recruit top talent and build their Software Engineering teams. For more information on how we can help you recruit Software Engineers in this candidate tight market, visit our service page.
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