Toxic company recruiter
Recently gave an interview at a big Silicon Valley HW company. Went onsite and got selected, hiring manager even gave feedback that I would be a good addition to his team. Next step was company recruiter to get in contact for compensation etc. The company recruiter was right from the get go looked like very difficult person. First time, he said he would like to talk to me, I responded with a time for the same day. He didn't get back the entire day. Next day again asked me when I am available. It happened to be Friday before long weekend, asked him if he could talk to me on next working day. He confirmed, but didn't call the whole of next working day. I left him VM, texts, no cancellation, no reschedule, no response entirely. It looked like he was wanting to get the time go by. It was 10 days since the onsite and he didn't clearly even want to say that I am being offered a job. My only source of positive feedback was the email from the hiring manager. Finally 11th day he decided to again message me, and ask for a time. I wasn't even sure he will join at the time. Nevertheless, I politely responded to him and gave a time. He called, but right from the start, was bullying that I need to give him a figure of what he is to shoot for. I have learnt that it is never a good idea. He started lowball base salary figure and asked, is that ok. I said "no, extremely low". His response - how about I increase it 10K. Is it ok now? I said I already told you I am not giving a figure, but you are still trying to do that. I would really feel comfortable if the company (or you) came up with an offer and I will try my best to consider it after giving it a thought. I just expect the compensation to be fair and according to my skillset and market. His response - that answer of yours is no help to me. do you expect to be paid like a CEO? I need to know where you are and what you want. I said no I cannot tell you that, I surely can tell you that I have done my research. His response - this is not how we work...da da da..I said politely, I am not the first one who wants company to put out an offer, I am sure. His response - If I give you $K base/$K signin/$K stocks (quite a lowball offer), would you accept? I said, I think we already said the base is very low. But what I do want is that I write down the numbers you say and If it works for me, I will get back to you in a couple of days. His response - Ok then write this same lowball offer and let me know. BYE!!! Two days later just at the start of the day I get an email from him that your offer was cancelled and you are no longer considered for the position. Hiring manager revealed the reason for cancel was that I was unkind to the recruiter. Question- I am not sure what to do about it, other than explain the hiring manager my situation. Looks like recruiter abused his power, maligned my name for his unprofessional attitude and to satisfy his ego. Do recruiters abuse such unchecked absolute power with no consequences for them, and is that justified? Regards
The only good thing you can do is to reveal the name of the company so other members of blind community would refrain from wasting their time with such awful people !!!!
+1.
I think you should explain whatever you just told us to the hiring manager. This recruiter deserves to get fired for what he's done.
This. Have some courage.
Talking shit about the recruiter to the hiring manager will get you nowhere quickly. Just move on.
May be they cannot afford you that is why ... Hardware companies in bay are on budget for the past few years... was it Cisco, Juniper or Dell ?
You know a few things from this interview: 1. You got an offer. You’re qualified. Otherwise they wouldn’t ask about comp. 2. They can’t afford market salaries. 3. Their project is not important. Otherwise they wouldn’t let the recruiter waste so much time. All 3 signals say you should keep interviewing confidently. This is not common, don’t take it personally. Run to a nicer place.
"Market" salaries is ambiguous. If you want higher numbers than the recruiter gave you, tell them your numbers. If it's out of range, recruiter can ask compensation committee to see if there's wiggle room.
If the recruiter kept pushing for a number, I would have just given a number that was acceptable to me, that I knew (after much research) that they could likely pay. We all know the reasons for not giving a number initially, but some recruiters just won't budge on that (looking at you Amazon) and you have to use some finesse in compensation conversations. If giving a number will result in a firm offer, I think that it's worth giving that number, even if the company offers less than you're asking for. Otherwise you may end up with nothing, like what happened with the OP.
The only way to deal with ex car salespeople is multiple offers.
Before you interview, you should've asked what is the range for that position. Most companies will give you the ceiling for that position that way. Ask for that ceiling. If the recruiter lowballs, tell them numbers you want. If you stretch too much like you did, conversation will turn sour quickly.
Are you a rookie? No recruiter will give you that information. You know why, because everyone will want the top of the range. They will lose all the advantage. That’s why they ask you for a number to see where you fall in the range or out of it and they will tell you right away. If you give them a number that’s low end of their range then bingo! you get the low end offer and the recruiter gets a bonus for the money they saved. That’s why it’s so important for people to share their salaries publicly so you are at advantage not the recruiter.
Apple you don't have to be condescending. I have interviewed at 30+ companies in the last year. Most companies below FAANG level have predetermined ranges for positions. A lot of them give you an offer and then nickle and dime you on the numbers. I've had a lot of companies tell me their ranges upfront. And then I tell them whether it fits my aspirations. Saves a lot of time that way.
I think you could have given him a range. That would have helped rather than going in circles.
Apple? But I agree, you played it wrong
Idk, I don't think you need to avoid giving a number at all costs. Today, everyone has information enough about what companies usually pay that you can be sure to not ask fot too little. Ask for more than their top band for your level. That will anchor the negotiation upward and they'll likely reply to a number higher than their average. Counter one time to with something in the middle and they'll either improve it a bit or say it's firm. Then you decide if you want it.
+1
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