Monday, December 6, 2010

When to "fold 'em"

From the Examiner:

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"You gotta know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em," is the famous line from the song "The Gambler," made famous by Kenny Rogers. This song contains some shrewd advice for those who gamble. The same advice is true of people who are in the middle of  the interview process. Some positions are just not a good fit, and there is no sense in wasting more of your time - or the prospective employer's time.


A major source of imperfect fit is in the salary department. There are many reasons prospective employers might pay lower than the norm for positions in Nashville. Some employers have a business plan based around the lower paying end of the scale. Some are trying to take advantage of the poor economic conditions. Some employers are unaware of how much they should be offering. Still other employers are trying to see if the candidate will accept lower pay (for any number of reasons).

Regardless of the company's reason for having an unacceptably low salary, the job seeker is best advised to politely inform the company that there is no fit. In the book "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, the author advises of the wisdom in allowing an opponent to save face. Sun Tzu advocates (page ten of this link): "When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard." This is good advice. The candidate should graciously and simply state that the salary range will be a poor fit, and thank the interviewer for his or her time.

A good response might be:
"Mr. Smith, I would like to thank you for your time. Unfortunately, the salary your company is able to offer is lower than I am prepared to accept. In the interest of saving your time and mine, I would like to respectfully request that my name be removed from consideration. I wish you well in finding the right candidate."

Never directly accuse, and never be impolite. There is simply no need. If pressed for a more detailed reason why you are withdrawing from consideration, a simple response is best:
"Salary is a major component of a good fit, and right now my salary expectations are closer to the $xx,xxx range."
Do not get into an argument about what range is and is not acceptable. This has no benefit, and can burn a bridge that you might need later.

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