Eric Wise

# re: Yet another thing not to do in your interview process

I think asking for a salary range from a potential candidate is flawed from the get go.  Any smart company will offer the candidate the low end of the range and say something like "To start out will will do the bottom of your range, as things progress we will move you up.".  This just asks for the candidate to be mad at the company for low balling them.  This leads to the counter offers from the candidate.

How about starting with, "what salary do you require to work here?"  Then, when the candidate says a salary, if you can do it, just do it, no more haggling.  If they sold themselves short, its their fault.  If the company pays more than the candidate is worth, its the companies fault.  The process will never be perfect, but you don't have to deal with anything like you are talking about.  If there is haggling after this from the candidate, you can be assured that the candidate isn't the right choice because they were not honest with you from the beginning.

If your company can't pay the amount the candidate asks for, and you still want them, make them a counter offer of the top dollar the company is willing to pay for them.  Maybe they will adjust their needs to match what the company will provide.

I hate the salary range idea, it is really asking what is the lowest amount we can pay you in order for you to work for us.

# re: Yet another thing not to do in your interview process

It's not low-balling if you set your min salary requirement to something you're happy with.  I saw that x is the minimum amount I would take to work at the company, but X generally includes a nice raise for me.