'I worked [there] for $16/hour... Now they’re willing to pay $150k': Ex-company tries to recruit an old employee for 4.5x the salary; he laughs in their face

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 17, 2023 12:00 AM EST

Fresh-faced college kids are willing to put up with a lot in the workplace. Desperate to find that shiny job they were promised would pay off their student loans within the year, they'll usually start with a scrutinous eye for the golden entry-level job of their dreams. Quickly, they realize it's harder than it seems to find a half-decent job. After the weight of the world settles upon their shoulders, they'll take whatever scrappy position they can find, even if that means putting up with coffee runs, undermining managers, and minimum wage pay. 

Welcome to the workforce, kid!

In our next story, a guy has deja vu after decades of climbing the corporate ladder. After being approached by a recruiter and getting excited about a new prospect, OP was flabbergasted that he was being recruited by the job he first accepted as a college graduate– a toxic company with an even more awful employee roster. 

Scroll for the ironic tale of rewarded success, where a man finally wields the power of denial, gladly denying $150,000 a year to avoid a terrible job.

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  • 01
    "This is clearly some kind of cosmicjoke" bo
    via u/canva
  • 02
    Posted by u/slobberypuppykisses SocDem 18 hours ago 2 The job I quit <4 years ago tried to recruit me for 4.5x as much as they paid me A third party recruiter reached out to me asking for a call to discuss X role he was recruiting for at an undisclosed company. After going
    via u/slobberypuppykisses
  • 03
    through my experience for about 5 minutes, he tells me the name of the company and the expected salary. It took everything in me not to laugh and hang up... It was literally my ex-supervisor's job at the company I worked at 4 years ago, for $16 an hour with a bachelor's degree. And now they were willing to pay $150k (very well over make now).
    via u/slobberypuppykisses
  • 04
    But I would not touch that company again with a 10 foot pole!!! I would not work there again, I would not do business with them, and , I probably wouldn't even buy out their intellectual property if they were selling it for pennies on the dollar. That's how much of a clusterf ck they were. I still have self confidence issues from the toxic work culture I experienced there.
    via u/slobberypuppykisses
  • 05
    This is clearly some kind of cosmic joke. They wouldn't promote me when I was there, and now they want me back? They're either extremely desperate or just plain stupid. Probably both. Now that I think of it, I should have led them on just to I with them... Bet I'd have nowhere near the expertise they want if I had stayed all this time. Truly, job hopping is the only way to get ahead when you're green. I did not think this would happen to me, but especially not so soon.
    via u/slobberypuppykisses
  • 06
    Southern-Beautiful-3 17 hr. ago This is what happens when a company pees in the labor pool. Reply Share 464 OpheliaRainGalaxy . 17 hr. ago It's like they don't know we talk to each other! Few years ago Amazon put a distribution center in my city. They're already struggling to keep it staffed because they burned through the local population so quickly.
    via u/Southern-Beautiful-3
  • 07
    Capable-Rutabaga5877 18 hr. ago Give the recruiter the low down on how bad the job and the work environment is and say that even at $150k it's not enough. If the recruiter is paid on commission based on the salary then it may be enough to pump the market up and cost your ex employer. Why get mad just make the company lose more.
    via u/Capable-Rutabaga5877
  • 08
    blowtorchbaby84. 18 hr. ago Or tell them you will go back for say 100k full remote. Do nothing except send a few emails twice a day until you're fired. Cash checks 503 Reply Share Green_Rabbit - 16 hr. ago Remote doesn't fix toxic, from personal experience
    via u/blowtorchbaby84
  • 09
    DogToesSmellofFritos 16 hr. ago It's easier to tell someone to step it up in an email after all haha Reply Share 51 FO-ThumperOnYouTube 6 hr. ago He saying you get hired, enjoy the money but don't actually do any real work. Don't quit your job and just go into this one knowing it is just a small bonus check you get for awhile before they fire you. You say remote so you can continue to do your current job without issue.
    via u/DogToesSmellofFritos
  • 10
    _Choose-A-Username- 4 hr. ago How? My biggest problem with toxic in the workplace is how hard it is to escape it. If someone is online it's nothing being a worse than what Reddit can say 2 Reply Share . CakeComprehensive870 · 12 hr. ago Exactly
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  • 11
    tandyman8360. 16 hr. ago lazy and proud When HR decided I couldn't apply for a position in another department due to corrective action, I told my (current) manager I should quit and apply as an external candidate. About a month later I did quit, but I went to another company and a better role.
    via u/tandyman8360
  • 12
    FigNewton555. 17 hr. ago Based on most of the recruiting stories around here they probably drop "oh no sorry the ENTRANCE LEVEL is only 50k" as soon as the subject comes up on the interview/offer phase. Reply Share 16 Troutman86 17 hr. ago . "Willing to pay $150k for the right candidate"
    via u/FigNewton555
  • 13
    Suspicious-Bed 9172 17 hr. ago What a slap to the face 2 Reply Share mildxsalsa 14 hr. ago 1. Accept the job offer 2. Leverage the new offer to find similar position at a more competent, competitive company at that higher wage 3. Tell your recruiter thank you but your services are no longer required 4. Laugh your way to the bank
    via u/Suspicious-Bed9172
  • 14
    lostcauz707 5 hr. ago Yea, solid win to waste their time. Show up to the interview and see the same people and make it obvious to them, woof, so and so is still here, or you're still here? then withdraw. 3 Reply Share LiquidHotSmagma - 6 hr. ago But if you go back in charge maybe you can fix all the problems!
    via u/lostcauz707
  • 15
    Udoshi As 4 hr. ago as it sounds, this is your opportunity to negotiate hard and put a six figure salary on your resume. Remember, you can negotiate for things besides cash, like actually making sure you have the power to kick toxic people in their toxic and ot have management get in the way.
    via u/Udoshi
  • 16
    A pro move, for example, would be to join and unionize the workforce. Think about what you'd need to take the job and put up with it, and if they don't meet literally everything on your checklist - don't take it.
    via u/Udoshi
  • 17
    Nihilistic_Mystics. 3 hr. ago I also frequently get my old company trying to recruit me. Except they offer less money than I made there, which was already rock bottom for the industry. They keep trying to offer California salary minimum ($64,480) for aerospace engineering. I'm not going back to 12 hour days, 6 days a week for a fraction of my current pay in an incredibly toxic environment, thanks.
    via u/Nihilistic_Mystics
  • 18
    Schizoid Rainbow 3 hr. ago Go through the interview process. . When they start negotiating for salary, name a bunch of people you demand must be fired for you to work there. "The money is fine, but you'll have to get rid of these people first. I'll need to see proof of their termination before I can agree." The look on their face should be worth the effort.
    via u/SchizoidRainbow
  • 19
    SquareDonut 12 hr. ago 4.5X? How did you get there? 150,000/16 = 9375 You should definitely reconsider working there. It seems like they value your skillset much more now.
    via u/SquareD0nut
  • 20
    PunkyAllons_y. 4 hr. ago Almost the exact same thing happened to me. My old manager texted me about all the new "growth opportunities" and I should come back. Left her on read.
    via u/PunkyAllons_y
  • 21
    Economy_Way_8346 No this kind of is running rampant run as fast as you can and don't EVEN think about the . 16 hr. ago money.Complete iidiocy and more common than you would expect.Your gut feeling is usually right!
    via u/Economy_Way_8346

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