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Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

bipolarco.de

31–40 of 86 posts

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I concur - it's like the author never even attempted to get a cost of living adjustment in the offer.

The offer was 20k more than my base salary already. Asking for even more seemed crazy to me. I have controversial opinions on how much money developers make already, probably stemming from my imposter syndrome. Asking for more money did not make me comfortable. If they had offered, I would have had to reconsider. I expected more of a conversation after I declined, but it didn't happen.

Was new offer in Bay Area? For Bay Area $20k increase is inadequate if you currently live in Texas.

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#32
> I sought advice from two of my best friends/coworkers.

Unless you trust them absolutely, it's a risky idea to talk to coworkers about your interviews somewhere else. If your coworkers are already talking about their interviews with you, then it's fine. I mean, there are some very weird companies out there where the managers get so upset at the idea that you might look somewhere else on your own initiative that it's usually best to not talk about job interviews with any coworker. It's one of those things that people do themselves but hold against you once they know you did. Talk about some job frustration during a company party, only to have it recited as an argument against you during an HR interview.

That said, interviewing at places even if you don't have plans to leave is normal and many people do it. It's interview experience and market research in one and it's something your employer may not punish you for, but some do, so keep it private.

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#33

All my interviews in my past few months have been in this format. 1. Talking to recruiter ( 0-1 hr) 2. InterviewStreet coding challenge ( 2 hrs) 3. Phone Screen - 1 hr 4. Take home coding exercise - 4 hrs So you are spending 8 hrs just to get your resume looked at. Then comes onsite interview which is another day ( assuming you are not flying out). All recruiter did was mass email ppl on linkedin. Spending at most 1…

What country are you in?

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I concur - it's like the author never even attempted to get a cost of living adjustment in the offer.

The offer was 20k more than my base salary already. Asking for even more seemed crazy to me. I have controversial opinions on how much money developers make already, probably stemming from my imposter syndrome. Asking for more money did not make me comfortable. If they had offered, I would have had to reconsider. I expected more of a conversation after I declined, but it didn't happen.

What happens if they say no? What are you afraid of? The universe won't explode. You still will have your current job.

But what if they say yes? You did not enable that to be an opportunity. You took things as they are, rather than considering what they could be.

Opportunities are not black/white. It is extremely rare that a company's first offer is their highest. Most companies expect a counter. Each side has to show some of their cards before making a compromise.

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#37

> felt guilty enough for turning it down after they had spent time and money on me In these cases you should never feel guilty about the time and other resource they spent on the process. If they hadn't made you an offer in the end they certainly wouldn't have felt guilty about the time/money/other you had spent.

Very good point, I've spent almost 40 hours of my time for an application only to be told at the final stages I wasn't right for the position.

I doubt anyone on the other side lost sleep over it.

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The offer was 20k more than my base salary already. Asking for even more seemed crazy to me. I have controversial opinions on how much money developers make already, probably stemming from my imposter syndrome. Asking for more money did not make me comfortable. If they had offered, I would have had to reconsider. I expected more of a conversation after I declined, but it didn't happen.

> Asking for even more seemed crazy to me Until companies start offering the salary that they are expecting to pay for the position in their initial offer, you're always going to have to ask for more to get it. There are a few startups (Buffer or maybe Zapier?) that are doing this. Offers are very one-sided, the company has all of the information and you have none. By not negotiating a better offer, you're leaving mo…

And when that happens, it's because robots are now coders and have all price adjusted their salaries in real time.

Re: Now I Fear Exploratory Interviewing While Employed

#40
I have been in this situation before where I was flown out and the company low balled me on salary with 5% pay cut despite the cost of living be way higher. My time and energy was wasted. Trust me, companies do the same things all time to prospective employees. Even for a startup, flying someone out and putting them in a hotel for a night is the cost of doing business and the risk you take for finding the right candidates.
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