I applied to a position that didn’t mention the salary range in the job description, the role sounded perfect for me, so I decided to go for it. And I was excited when I received an offer. Until I saw the ridiculously low salary. I submitted a counteroffer and said I was willing to negotiate further so that we could find a salary everyone was happy with. Their response? “Are these negotiations really about the money, or you wanting to feel valued?” Can someone explain the difference to me?

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Both, I want to be valued and I want to be paid a fair wage.

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Exactly!

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I have nearly 20 years in the welding industry. I’ve seen a lot and have already been through the school of grind it out and do it again. In my opinion you pay for that 20 years of experience. If it’s entry level work then expect the same in compensation but if it requires experience and knowledge in the field then that doesn’t come for free. Welders say, good welders aren’t cheap and cheap welders aren’t good.

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It would take serious chemistry. I think it might be there. I just don't know!

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To me, I don't see a difference. Your salary is related to the value you bring to a company. This is some weird gaslighting

likesmarthelpful

This is a 🚩. Do you honestly see it getting better from here on out?

likehelpful

I don't have the benefit of observation. For me this is out of the blue after 15 years.

Maybe a lesson learned to never interview for a role where you know you’d never be happy with the offer. In the first phone screen you should at least know if they can offer something in the range you’d consider.

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Well it was indifference at that point. Even now it's still the same as Ma reminded me over and over.

That’s such a petty way to word that question. My response is “this is about the value I bring to the table”

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I honestly didn't know. Okay. You're high value.

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I would walk away. Don’t let anyone speak or devalue you like that.

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Why is he even asking that question anyways

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I encourage you to ask the budget for the position in the first conversation. If they’re not willing to share, thats very telling. What are they trying to hide (likely an inadequate salary)?

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When you are presented with an offer, calmly state, “this deal isn’t where I need it to be, how can you improve on it?”
This is confidence. This is effective!
When you do this, you imeediately get them negotiating with themselves and figuring out creative ways to think of better offers.
This is where you want to be, you want them to be coming up with the solutions so that they are more bought in, psychologically we are more taken with ideas that we originate — no brainer right!

likehelpful

I would put up with more bs for more money. It’s harder to leave a job where your salary is commensurate with what you bring to the table at work and what you need for your table at home.

I just left a job where the culture was not for me (or the half dozen other people who quit already in 2025) but I loved my job. I asked for a decent raise, commensurate with my value to the company, a bonus, or more pto, and got crapped on. I asked for a quieter workspace. And was lied to for half a year. I wasn’t going through that again for another summer (our busy season) without being paid my worth which is also aligned with what I need to survive where I live and my circumstances.

For the pay, I would have a) felt valued, b) been able to survive, c) continued working my butt off to help the company succeed even in a crap work environment.

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I would have to say no to that.

It’s about the process, if you enjoy negotiation as a process, you can weave in so much goodwill and value that you end up getting much closer, if not surpassing your original goal.

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I counter offered a Lab I was looking at going to work for. I had interviewed a couple of months before and they " low balled" me. I thanked them for the opportunity and said if the salary opens up to keep me in mind. 5-6 weeks later they were excited to have me come by to talk about a position. It was double the previous salary. Well, I took it. Fast forward 6 weeks my supervisor got caught fudging some data and was terminated. I was called in and told since I was making more than anyone else I was being "promoted" to Supervisor, with no salary increase due to my already making more than my previous supervisor. I might add, she had an AS degree with 5yrs and I have A dual BS in Biology and Chemistry with 10 years experience at this point. I told them I'd rather not accept it. I was then told it wasn't up for negotiation. I wound up ultimately leaving bc I felt like I was drawn in like a fat bass after a big bait and hook.
I said all of that to say, let them know you're confident that you more than meet the job required skills and that you are only looking for an opportunity to leverage your skills, grow with the company, and take pride in making their statement of purpose your number one priority. The more they realize the value your bringing AND that you know your worth, the more likely they're not going to try to gas light you. Also, some of the Dept heads are given salary ranges and get bonuses based on spending. (Just saying the quiet part out loud)

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I agree.

It's a red flag to look out for. Most of your interviews I would expect red flags and just let the place fail.

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There's a point.

Those are two very different topics. So really, seems the purpose of that response is a tactic to steer the discussion to non salary concessions... fancier title, schedule flexibility, more vacation days, a potluck lunch in your honor, etc.

This is what comes to mind how i would have answered that: "The salary negotiation is simply about the salary. We need to resolve it before I can agree to accept the role. Feeling valued will come later by way of the company's response to my contributions."

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I once received a job offer that was about 1/3 of what I was making at the time. I declined but they were very persistent on how the value to my career from working there was worth more than the money. Uhh. No. Hard No. I don't even know what that means. Can't pay my mortgage or kid's tuition in feelings of value.

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Sorry. I felt I had to settle.

Your big mistake was going so far without asking what the remuneration was. That told them you don't care about money so they lowballed you. Walk away and start again, but learn from this experience to treat getting your requirements met as equally if not more important to you than theirs.

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I have been thinking of DOJ recently.

What??? Of course we work because of money. But what I hear it like is that the company is toxic and confirms they only have their best interest in mind. Like usuall. Lol

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😳😳 wow. It’s either or? You can’t be valued and make decent money at the same time?

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I always ask the salary range when initially contacted (salary posted or not) for an interview. No need to waste my time or their time.

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What an interesting approach. This is foreshadowing at best for wanting things on only their terms. Simply put wages are tied to responsibilities. Everyone expects you to negotiate. If they react rather than respond it’s a red flag.

helpful

I think that the first thing to do thing to do before applying is to write or call to ask for the salary.
They should not publish a job advert without the salary they are willing to pay. In this day and age it seems disrespectful to me. In addition, on a portal like this you should ask all companies to put at least a salary range for the job.

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