'The job listing read $110,000': Job candidate calls company out for refusing to pay the amount listed in job description, hiring manager denies salary expectations

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Jun 1, 2023 10:00 AM EDT

Companies falsely advertise salary ranges far too often, and the consequences are a lot of wasted time on potential candidates' part, never mind the recruiters. OP applied for an account executive job with a job description that offered a salary between $90k and $110k. Yet when OP was asked about salary expectations in the interview, the hiring manager acted surprised with OP's offer… even though his credentials were out of the ballpark.

Companies just don't seem to have a moral compass anymore, and the truth is, the cost of living has gone through the roof, so they shouldn't be surprised when people who have experience demand proper pay. OP followed up with the recruiter, only to be shot down miserably, lied to, and in other words, was denied the very salary they had advertised.

Many people replied with similar stories, and it's comforting to know that even though the world has definitely taken a turn for the worse, at least we're not alone in our frustration. Scroll down for a full, detailed account of events. For more stories like this, here are some clever tenants who found a way to get their landlord to reimburse them for an emergency repair he refused to pay. It involved a bit of laundry and some help from fellow neighbors.

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/sinistervice 11 hours ago Job description provides salary between $90k and $110k but interview manager is flabbergasted when I asked for $100k
    via u/sinistervice
  • 02
    Font - Companies nowadays are a joke. I recently applied for a account executive job with a job description that offers salary between $90k and $110k and when asked about salary expectations in the interview I give them a medium the hiring manager acts surprised with my offer even when my credentials are
    via u/sinistervice
  • 03
    Font - outstanding. I did this because I know these idiots aren't going to stick to their word, as almost 90% of these companies lie in their description, and I'm hoping for one that actually has a moral compass.
    via u/sinistervice
  • 04
    Font - There is absolutely no merit in being an honest job seeker. Companies are lying in their job descriptions, and their hiring personnel act like people who apply should never see that money they posted and lied about. I don't see a reason not to lie about your credentials when all they do is lie about the jobs they post.
    via u/sinistervice
  • 05
    Font - Edit: To answer some questions and comments for some of you fair folk. Some of you mentioned that AE starts at $45$-65k + Commish and that's what I got wrong. That's inaccurate. The job description says: $90k-$110 + commission + benefits. And "$90k-$110 DOE."
    via u/sinistervice
  • 06
    Font - I also followed up with the recruiter and asked where we are with the next steps, she said "the hiring manager is out office this week". Yeah right, haven't heard a peep in two weeks.
    via u/sinistervice
  • 07
    Font - I never mentioned the job description to them because I thought they were honest. I was obviously wrong, and what would me mentioning this change with my possible manager? For him to act like I offended him, I'm wasting my breath calling him out.
    via u/sinistervice
  • 08
    Font - APACKOFWILDGNOMES 5 hr. ago Couple of years ago when I was looking for work I filled out an application for a security company where the pay was listed for $27-32h. I got a call back and set up an interview. On my way to the interview I took a screenshot of the advertisement for the open job so I could go over the listing as I was interviewing. While interviewing he
    via u/APACKOFWILDGNOMES
  • 09
    Font - asked how much I was looking for and I said $30. He was taken aback and said the position way only up to $20h. I immediately got frustrated and asked him why it's so low when the position is advertised as $27-32? He said that I must be mistaken. So I showed him the picture. And he got all indignant and said that it was a mistake and that while I'm over
    via u/APACKOFWILDGNOMES
  • 10
    Font - qualified I wasn't eligible to make that much. So I made him sit there while I said that I was going to go to the indeed listing, and low and behold there were several other listings for the same position some with higher (up to $35) and some with $20 (what he was saying he could max out at). Right before I left I
    via u/APACKOFWILDGNOMES
  • 11
    Font - asked him what steps he is going to take to correct that “mistake “ so they don't waste other people's time. He didn't have an answer for that... These companies fu ng p is me off with this bu hit bait and switch. 216 Reply Share
    via u/uAPACKOFWILDGNOMES
  • 12
    Font - affecting_society. 1 hr. ago These companies fɩ ing pis me off with this bu hit bait and switch. That's illegal, and I would highly, highly encourage you to report it as such :) I'll be 100% honest. I wouldn't know who that should be reported to, but a call to the depth of labor might help point in the right direction. Vote Reply Share
    via u/affecting_society
  • 13
    Font - userbrn1 33 min. ago Love the sentiment but assuming OP is in the US, there is virtually no mechanism for an employer to be penalized for that. They can always just say "that candidate did not meet the standards and that's why they weren't eligible for that wage". Labor protections are a joke here. Reply Share Vote
    via u/userbrn1
  • 14
    Font - mostUninterestingMe 7 hr. ago edited 3 hr. ago I know It's different being an experienced software dev in a niche field, but on first interview I always say my expectation is the upper limit on the job listing to see if they're full of stor not
    via u/mostUninterestingMe
  • 15
    Font - Edit: I've made the mistake of going through 7 rounds of interviews to get an offer 15k below the bottom of the range lol. Never again. Money is discussed in the first call. You won't get a line of code out of me without knowing the position salary. 3.8k Reply Share
    via u/mostUninterestingMe
  • 16
    Font - Jes jep Comfortable_Leek8435 · 6 hr. ago If they are forthright with the range, I mention that the high end of their range is inclusive of the low end of my range. If they push for me to disclose my range before they disclose theirs, I always shift my range up 40k. Wait several seconds to see what they say. Then I begin negotiating.
    via u/Comfortable_Leek8435
  • 17
    Font - I almost always mention what Glass Door has for the salary range for the role and indicate that I'm confident in my abilities, so I charge more for my time. I don't "ask" for a salary, nor demand anything. I simply say that this is what I charge for my time.
    via u/Comfortable_Leek8435
  • 18
    Font - I always mention that "if you can't afford that, that's ok, I'm not sure what kind of expertise you need, if you don't need an expert, then I'm not the right fit anyway." Reply Share 2.8k
    via u/Comfortable_Leek8435
  • 19
    Font - Optimal-Island-5846 6 hr. ago Thanks, this is a good template for me. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I have legitimate expertise and this job search is very different than past ones (I spent a bunch of years with one company featuring three internal promotions and team hops, so
    via u/Optimal-Island-5846
  • 20
    Font - I've raised a ton, but the last time I was applying at a place where I couldn't say "ask my current manager" was when I was an unproven new person, so I'm really struggling to find the right words. Appreciated this post - I'm going to use exactly this template. 541 Reply Share
    via u/Optimal-Island-5846
  • 21
    Font - benfein 7 hr. ago It also seems universal that hiring managers don't understand 100k is nowhere near what it used to be. Sorry the average cost of living has 3x'd since you were hired... 1.1k Reply Share
    via u/benfein
  • 22
    Font - DiamondsAndDesigners 6 hr. ago And they likely don't really feel it bc they bought a house 10 years ago, then sold it and bought one 3x more expensive 3 years ago when interest rates were basically free. 363 Reply Share
    via u/DiamondsAndDesigners
  • 23
    Font - Future-Age-850 - 6 hr. ago Recently had an interview for a graduate job, the salary was listed as £26-£40k. I'm overly qualified for a graduate job, but needed to find work fast. In the interview I asked for £40k and they acted surprised and they said they could only offer maximum £25-£30k. They sent me an email stating I was under qualified for the role. However, I have a degree and 7 years in that field. Absolute w 320 K. Reply Share
    via u/Future-Age-850
  • 24
    Font - Aaron_TW 1 hr. ago You should have graduated at 22 with 30 years of experience in the field. That's on you mate Vote Reply Share Kraven_howl0 56 min. ago Ya know what, that got me thinking. In management I'm having to work around 80 hour weeks. I'm going to start counting each year as 2 years since a regular week is 40 hours. About to be 30 with 20 years of management experience! Reply Share Vote ...
    via u/Aaron_TW, u/Kraven_howl0
  • 25
    Font - Parking-Pie7453 · 8 hr. ago Did the hiring manager try to discount you by saying you have less experience or credentials? 88 Reply Share sinistervice OP. 8 hr. ago Nope. He knew I had what it takes to do the job. They're lying through their teeth and have no remorse. 133 Reply Share
    via u/Parking-Pie7453, u/sinistervice
  • 26
    Font - tehjoz 8 hr. ago "Well, the salary I'm seeking is $100k which appears to be in line with the advertised salary for this role" "B b but" "I'm sorry, the job was advertised as between $90 and $110k, have I misunderstood the salary being offered for this role"? "no oNe wAnTs to work aNymooooooRe" 2.5k Reply Share
    via u/tehjoz
  • 27
    Font - Turtlez2009 9 hr. ago Next time they seem taken aback you should play dumb. Oh, by your look 100k is low, is $120k more in line with the market now? It's been a few years. I mean if you apply for the job because it was in that range and they lied it's not likely you are taking a low ball 70k or lower offer anyway. 652 Reply Share
    via u/Turtlez2009
  • 28
    Font - sinistervice OP 8 hr. ago edited 8 hr. ago That's what it seemed like when I told him. He acted like it was a crazy proposition and $100k was an outrageous number, when their job description provides the range. Also want to mention that when I asked about where we are the recruiter said "hiring manager is out for a week" GTFO of here. 344 Reply Share
    via u/sinistervice

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management recruiter antiwork false advertisement hiring manager antiwork-reddit salary-range job listing job-candidate resume company job interview credentials salary-expectations
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