Duplicitous recruiter changes salary from $4-5K to $3K per month before final interview round: 'This is [for] a Senior Engineer position'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Mar 22, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

When you are applying and interviewing for jobs, it's common for recruiters to be incredibly elusive about the salary of the job you're applying for. It's supposed to be in poor taste to ask for the salary at the beginning stages of the interview process, but it's incredibly valuable information to know. It's so beneficial that some states make listing salaries on their job postings a legal requirement, which I think is a great idea. Unfortunately, if companies lie about the wages they're offering, there's very little an applicant can do besides saying, "No way."

One job applicant recently got into a pickle where the company he was interviewing at walked back on their previous offer of a $4000-$5000 per month salary. They emailed the applicant that he'd only be getting $3,000 a month, which is a paltry salary for a senior engineer position, no matter where he lives. 

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  • 01
    r/antiwork u/FaceInTheSpace • 18h Making it to the final round of interviews and receiving this message
    via u/FaceInTheSpace
  • 02
    Hi, I wanted to let you know that there has been a slight change in the Job Description. For us to be on the same page, I wanted you to know that the salary is up to 3000 USD/month going forward. Is this okay with you? If not, I can keep you in our database for future reference and when we have an opening that is within your budget, I'll reach out to you. Please let me know what you think. Best,
    via u/FaceInTheSpace
  • 03
    To be clear, this is a position of a Senior QA Engineer and the original offer was starting at $4000 and up to $5000 per month. "Slight change" Imao
    via u/FaceInTheSpace
  • 04
    MtDewMitch • 18h The "up to" part is SUCH sharing it could be even lower company too, like thanks for clown Reply 8.6k
    via u/MtDewMitch
  • 05
    FaceInTheSpace OP • 18h There actually was a bottom line of $4000. Basically stated $4000-5000 per month . . . 3.4k
    via u/FaceInTheSpace
  • 06
    Owain-X 16h Did they advertise or accept applicants for this role from CA, CO, WA, NY, CT or NV? If so they may have violated the law in those states which require transparency of pay ranges in employment ads. This kind of bait and switch is definitely illegal in at least some of those states. ← 2.3k
    via u/Owain-X
  • 07
    Snoo-43335 • 15h Yeah, but there is no punishment so companies don't care. 721
    via u/Snoo-43335
  • 08
    wlfwrtr. 17h Email back, 'Just so we're straight you are offering up to 3000 on top of the 5000 you've already offered?' ... Reply 5k
    via u/wlfwrtr
  • 09
    Warm Doublet • 18h The old bait-and-switch and hoping you are one of those sunk-cost type of people. You could waste their time by pretending you'll accept the job and call-in sick everyday. If they catch on and get mad, say there has been a slight change in commitment. Reply 3.5k
    via u/Warm_Doublet
  • 10
    Tell_Me_Get_to_Work 18h Yes. These fools deserve some reciprocal tomfuckery. ... 966
    via u/Tell_Me_Get_to_Work
  • 11
    Ippus 21 17h • 100% that's a bait and switch, OP. They did that on purpose, I guarantee. And now it's a "sucker" filter. They want a qualified candidate, but they also want a doormat who won't balk at future mistreatment. Bullet dodged. ... Reply 926
    via u/Ippus_21
  • 12
    dukeofgibbon • 17h Glassdoor them 234
    via u/dukeofgibbon
  • 13
    diablomnky666 • 17h If it's fully remote, I'd take the job and put in no effort while collecting that extra check and search for a better position immediately. Reply ↑ 307 ⇓
    via u/diablomnky666
  • 14
    GravyBoatWarrior • 17h The only thing to do here is accept the job, then tender your resignation on day 1. They will have informed all other applicants they did not get the job and they will close the ad. By doing this, you force them to reopen it at a cost to themselves, restart the hiring process as most others will have moved on, and cost them significantly more time and effort that it will cost you to basically not turn up. companies like this. They are scum. Reply 1.1k
    via u/GravyBoatWarrior
  • 15
    This is RE-Trace 16h • delicious, though if they have an onboarding process, I would make them put you through that/any internal training they need, then drop them. A day 1 resignation means they can go to the next schmuck. This way, you get paid for doing the literal bare minimum in any training they need, they use resources, close off those contacts, and THEN have to crawl back to them cap in hand. ↑ 326
    via u/RE-Trace
  • 16
    Familiar_Outcome_688 • 17h As a Senior QA engineer I feel this salary very very low even 4k or 5k ... Reply 491
    via u/Familiar_Outcome_688
  • 17
    FaceInTheSpace OP. 17h I know mate. But being based in Europe means the majority of the offers are around the €2000- €4000 mark. 170
    via u/FaceInTheSpace
  • 18
    TopLaneConvert • 17h I like how they say when they have a job that's "within your budget". My man, I am not in YOUR budget Reply 152
    via u/TopLaneConvert

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salary engineers recruiter antiwork jobs job email lies work engineering emails recruiting recruitment Reddit interview money engineer
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