I was at an interview not long ago for an IT Consulting firm in which I aced their interview process and they made me an offer. I did state on the application and verbally to the interviewer what my desired salary was. She was a bit dissapointed in my figure and asked if I was flexible, so I said I am depending on the entire package that they’re offering. About a few days after the interview, I get an email with a formal offer letter and I was shocked at what I saw. They’re offering me about $25,000 less than my desired salary. Now I can understand if they can’t offer what I want, but to lowball me with a salary that I made 10 years ago in my career is not only insulting, it’s very unprofessional on their part for what they call a “Senior level” position, which also involves managing field techs and engaging customers on a pre-sales and post-sales basis, as well as project management work. Do they expect me to haggle with them until I accept their peasly and pathetic offer, or should I just outright decline and move on? I’m still waiting on other offers, but I don’t want to take a job in which I’ll hate myself and be miserable because I shortchanged myself.
