Job candidate refuses to settle for less than $65k salary, recruiter drags him through multiple interviews, only to give him a poor offer: 'The recruiter seemed genuinely shocked when he immediately decline'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Sep 12, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

It should not have to be reiterated that transparency during the job interview process is supposed to be a two-way street. However, far too many recruiters and hiring managers out there seem to take the concept of being upfront about salary, hours, and expectations as a slight suggestion.

This inability to take a candidate's considerations seriously could end up being a total waste of time for all involved, as it was for this author. He was transparent from the start that he was looking for a position that paid between $60k and $70k. The recruiter with whom he spoke for that first round interview insisted that he come in again for a second round despite his misgivings about the posted salary. The recruiter managed to convince him to come back in again and again, claiming that she had taken his proposed salary into consideration with upper management. Of course, she didn't actually honor his wish, and he ended up coming in for multiple rounds of interviews only to decline the offer in the end. Why? Because his honor was not taken into consideration!

This was clearly a tactic on the part of the recruiter to see if she could convince this guy to accept a considerable pay cut simply by wearing him down and charming him through these other interviews. Well, it didn't work, and now this lady wasted a ton of resources just to get the same answer she got in that initial phone screening.

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  • "I'll never understand the logic some companies use for salaries."

    Job seeker in an interview with a manager.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Kudos to this author for having the gumption to stand his ground. Despite being bothered again and again by this recruiter, he knew his worth and he didn't cave to a lower salary simply because he had given up so much time throughout the interview process. That's never a reason to cave. In fact, considering that they still didn't honor his salary proposal, it just goes to show that this company will do anything not to give employees what they want.

  • My friend just had this happen to him, and I have to share because it's genuinely baffling. He's trying to get out of a de d-end marketing job and got contacted by a recruiter on Indeed for a new role.
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • The initial phone screen with HR went something like this: Recruiter "So, what are your salary expectations for a new role?"
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • My Friend > "I'm looking for something in the 65k to 70k range."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Recruiter > "Okay, the budget for this role is closer to 55k, but there can be some flexibility for the right person."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • He thought that would be the end of it, obviously. But get this, the very next morning they call him to set up a Zoom interview with the Marketing Director. He figures, what the h I, maybe "flexibility" is their middle name.
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Marketing Director > "Just to be transparent, our offer would be 55k with a 3% performance bonus."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • My Friend > "I appreciate the transparency. As I told the recruiter, I can't make a move for less than 65k."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Again, you'd think that's a wrap. But no. They contact him another time for a final interview with the team. At this point, my friend basically tells them, "Look, I don't think we're going to align on salary, and I don't want to waste your time or mine."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Recruiter > "We understand. We'd just really like you to meet the team and hear our final offer. We've taken your expectations into account."
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Job seeker in an interview with a manager.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So, he does it. And today, the official offer letter comes through. The grand total? A stunning 58k a year, plus a $2500 signing bonus.
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • The recruiter seemed genuinely shocked when he immediately declined and said no when she asked if he wanted a day or two to think it over. I mean, what is
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • there to think about? Why go through all that just to ignore what he said from the very first call?
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • xpxsquirrel ⚫3h ago Yeah let me leave my good stable job for risk and a pay cut. Sounds like a great deal
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • HelpfulMaybeMama ·2h ago I would ask them how they've taken my expectations into account when during the previous interview they stated the salary.
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • Recruiters make money when people take jobs. They don't care if they waste your time. They need bodies in seats because someone is going to take less than they say they need. After all,
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • they're often overshooting what they say they need to try to bring the final offer up higher. It's a numbers game for them.
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • I told a recruiter my 6-figure minimum and not to contact me for jobs that pay less than that. So when they did contact me for s job that pays less and I called them
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • out, they said I was being rode. I was being røde for reiterating my minimum a second time but they weren't being rode by sending me a temporary job
    via Leading-Relief7762
  • that paid less than half of my current salary, let alone the increase that I need to make a job change make sense. My point is that they do not care.
    via Leading-Relief7762

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recruiter workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work recruiting recruitment company job interview interview toxic-work-environment
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