I've been on what I'd call two interviews… an initial one on one with the hiring manager, then a second panel with the department. These two were after I notified the recruiter the top end of their advertised pay bracket was not quite enough to get me to consider leaving my current employer. They're interested. Very.

The hiring manager reached out after the panel interview, notified me I was their selection but that HR was working through a process to try and accommodate my requested pay.

All good things right? I've now met with the hiring manager twice since the panel. Both times seemed more casual and presumptive that an offer was coming. At both the third and fourth meet the hiring manager expressed he wanted me to meet the COO (who'd be my N+2) before an offer is finalized. This is pending.

Now for timeline:

Application in May
First interview in early July
Panel interview in early Aug
Third with hiring manager in early Sept
Fourth was yesterday, Oct 1.

It's starting to feel like they don't have the role/salary approved yet. The role is interesting and a great career move.

In the meantime I've FINALLY gotten a promotion and raise from my current company (of 8 years), which was 80% of why I was looking on the first place. The assumed pay bracket for this role is 1.5x my old salary and is 1.2x my new salary after the promotion. New gig is still attractive but honestly, not as attractive as it was prior to the promotion.

So questions:

A: how long do I wait for this offer?
B: is this long an interview process normal? It's been a while since I've interviewed and never for a near $200k job.
C: is 1.2x worth considering now understanding that I actually love my current company/team/benefits etc, like my job and now have more say in my advancement path?
D: how important is satisfaction to you? My current job/company/satisfaction is 7/10. New job itself would be 8/10, pay would be 9/10. Idk about company/team. They seem good but you just never know. Would you risk it?

DiskoTroop said:

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I've been on what I'd call two interviews… an initial one on one with the hiring manager, then a second panel with the department. These two were after I notified the recruiter the top end of their advertised pay bracket was not quite enough to get me to consider leaving my current employer. They're interested. Very.

The hiring manager reached out after the panel interview, notified me I was their selection but that HR was working through a process to try and accommodate my requested pay.

All good things right? I've now met with the hiring manager twice since the panel. Both times seemed more casual and presumptive that an offer was coming. At both the third and fourth meet the hiring manager expressed he wanted me to meet the COO (who'd be my N+2) before an offer is finalized. This is pending.

Now for timeline:

Application in May
First interview in early July
Panel interview in early Aug
Third with hiring manager in early Sept
Fourth was yesterday, Oct 1.

It's starting to feel like they don't have the role/salary approved yet. The role is interesting and a great career move.

In the meantime I've FINALLY gotten a promotion and raise from my current company (of 8 years), which was 80% of why I was looking on the first place. The assumed pay bracket for this role is 1.5x my old salary and is 1.2x my new salary after the promotion. New gig is still attractive but honestly, not as attractive as it was prior to the promotion.

So questions:

A: how long do I wait for this offer?
B: is this long an interview process normal? It's been a while since I've interviewed and never for a near $200k job.
C: is 1.2x worth considering now understanding that I actually love my current company/team/benefits etc, like my job and now have more say in my advancement path?
D: how important is satisfaction to you? My current job/company/satisfaction is 7/10. New job itself would be 8/10, pay would be 9/10. Idk about company/team. They seem good but you just never know. Would you risk it?

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1. How old are you?

2. Do you have children?

3. What is your financial cushion position? (i.e. Do you have $200 saved for an emergency?)

Not that you asked this, but I wouldn't go back to the potential new company with an increase in salary/compensation request at this time.

But it's a pretty slow play on their part if they are super interested in you, IMO.

A: how long do I wait for this offer? - waiting for months doesn't hurt you currently - keep waiting


B: is this long an interview process normal? It's been a while since I've interviewed and never for a near $200k job. - seems like a helluva long process unless it's a C-suite position?... dunno


C: is 1.2x worth considering now understanding that I actually love my current company/team/benefits etc, like my job and now have more say in my advancement path? 20% increase is nice, but with that comes 2-6 months of fitting yourself into the team/learning your team and that may come with quite a few bumps along the way.


D: how important is satisfaction to you? My current job/company/satisfaction is 7/10. New job itself would be 8/10, pay would be 9/10. Idk about company/team. They seem good but you just never know. Would you risk it? - what is the difference between 7/10 and 8/10 really? Plus you don't know what the new promotion actually is... might end up being a 9/10 on satisfaction.

JamesPShelley said:

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1. How old are you?

2. Do you have children?

3. What is your financial cushion position? (i.e. Do you have $200 saved for an emergency?)

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Turned 40 last Saturday.

I have a 7 month old and looking to have another.

$200? Absolutely. $2k? Yes. $20k if need to dip into 401k. I don't keep that much cash fluid.

AggieOO said:

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Quote:

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A: how long do I wait for this offer?

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you have a job. you just got a raise. you don't sound like you are itching to get out of your current role. Just keep working, keep talking to the new company, and let things play out. If an offer never comes, oh well, you got your raise at your current job. If an offer does come, then you get to decide which way you want things to play out. Its a good problem to have.

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Fair input. Thank you.

OnlyForNow said:

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Not that you asked this, but I wouldn't go back to the potential new company with an increase in salary/compensation request at this time.

But it's a pretty slow play on their part if they are super interested in you, IMO.

A: how long do I wait for this offer? - waiting for months doesn't hurt you currently - keep waiting


B: is this long an interview process normal? It's been a while since I've interviewed and never for a near $200k job. - seems like a helluva long process unless it's a C-suite position?... dunno


C: is 1.2x worth considering now understanding that I actually love my current company/team/benefits etc, like my job and now have more say in my advancement path? 20% increase is nice, but with that comes 2-6 months of fitting yourself into the team/learning your team and that may come with quite a few bumps along the way.


D: how important is satisfaction to you? My current job/company/satisfaction is 7/10. New job itself would be 8/10, pay would be 9/10. Idk about company/team. They seem good but you just never know. Would you risk it? - what is the difference between 7/10 and 8/10 really? Plus you don't know what the new promotion actually is... might end up being a 9/10 on satisfaction.

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All fair. Thank you.

Petrino1 said:

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If they were having trouble accommodating your salary request last time, then they'll really have trouble accommodating your new salary request after your promotion kicks in. I would have a frank talk with the hiring manager and let them know about the new promotion and the increase in salary.

I probably wouldn't waste my time doing another interview with them unless they confirm they are able to match your new salary request.

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This was where my mind was at. I had that frank conversation with him yesterday. I've not yet given the "next conversation needs to include an offer" talk but that was my next step. I wanted a gut check prior.

Anyone else see an issue with that?

You are in a great spot. Im guessing your required pay to leave is now higher than you told them. I saw another poster told you they wouldn't play that card, but if you aren't willing to play that card you might as well just bail on the process unless you would leave for what you told them before. And most likely, if you told them it was gonna take X, they are going to come in at 90% of X or something along those lines and then make you negotiate up to get close to X but you are unlikely to get there.

That being said, I would determine what number it would take for me to leave my current situation. Then I would go and softly bail on the new opportunity. Say something like "I really appreciate the opportunity and think it's a perfect opportunity for me, however I got promoted at my current job and I don't think the compensation range for this position is going to be enough to make me consider making the jump now." That's the short form version of a speech, I would flatter them with how amazing their company is, the people, the opportunity, etc with the "but I got promoted and now the pay isn't going to be enough, sorry". This approach is unlikely to work, but if it does then you are in the drivers seat. If it doesn't, you are staying put which seems like a fine outcome which allows you to play this aggressively. Make them ask you what it would take and then tell them you need to think about it. Don't give an answer right away. Get back to them a few days later with a response.

Hiring in at the top of the range is not a great place to start. The company obviously doesn't value your position the way you do. Each year you will hear the same thing when it comes to annual raises. 'Oh, you are at the top of the range so we can only do 1-2 percent.' Sounds like you are asking above the range, so you probably wouldn't get any raise at all for quite a while. If you are adding a kid, your bills will go up, add in inflation and lifestyle creep and you will want that raise each year.

And, if you are doing so well in your position and producing so much that they have no problem giving you a regular annual raise, you are being very underpaid.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Hiring in at the top of the range is not a great place to start. The company obviously doesn't value your position the way you do. Each year you will hear the same thing when it comes to annual raises. 'Oh, you are at the top of the range so we can only do 1-2 percent.' Sounds like you are asking above the range, so you probably wouldn't get any raise at all for quite a while. If you are adding a kid, your bills will go up, add in inflation and lifestyle creep and you will want that raise each year.

And, if you are doing so well in your position and producing so much that they have no problem giving you a regular annual raise, you are being very underpaid.

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Fair analysis, but there's a little more to it than that. I didn't want to overload the post with details, but there are a few other things at play regarding the pay bracket.

Goose06 said:

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You are in a great spot. Im guessing your required pay to leave is now higher than you told them. I saw another poster told you they wouldn't play that card, but if you aren't willing to play that card you might as well just bail on the process unless you would leave for what you told them before. And most likely, if you told them it was gonna take X, they are going to come in at 90% of X or something along those lines and then make you negotiate up to get close to X but you are unlikely to get there.

That being said, I would determine what number it would take for me to leave my current situation. Then I would go and softly bail on the new opportunity. Say something like "I really appreciate the opportunity and think it's a perfect opportunity for me, however I got promoted at my current job and I don't think the compensation range for this position is going to be enough to make me consider making the jump now." That's the short form version of a speech, I would flatter them with how amazing their company is, the people, the opportunity, etc with the "but I got promoted and now the pay isn't going to be enough, sorry". This approach is unlikely to work, but if it does then you are in the drivers seat. If it doesn't, you are staying put which seems like a fine outcome which allows you to play this aggressively. Make them ask you what it would take and then tell them you need to think about it. Don't give an answer right away. Get back to them a few days later with a response.

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Yeah, I was thinking this is probably my best play. I am going in tomorrow to review a proposal. If it is as you say and is 90% of what I had previously asked for this is going to be my play.

I can't remember if I posted above, but the company said when I requested the salary range I did, their HR department decided to create a new pay bracket for senior directors separate from regular directorships. That is part of what has taken so long and it potentially means that the pay bracket is more appropriate for what I'm looking for and would include some room for growth.

If I go in tomorrow and their proposed offer is what I was asking for, and there is room to grow in the bracket I'm going to have to seriously consider it.

Got notified the role was on hold until Q1 next year.

One one hand, womp womp… on the other hand, I get a few extra months to try out the new role with my current company and I know I'm at the top of a list come February.

I'd let the potential role go. If they are that slow at making a decision then you don't want to work for them. With that many interviews, I'd tell them to pound sand unless they are willing to pay 1.3 to 1.5x your promoted role.

Why should you move for the same pay?

Just my $.02.

There's no job or company you can interview with cold and guarantee you will have 8/10 job satisfaction with blind let alone one that take 4 months hemming and hawing only to decide in the end the right time for your job is… 3 months from now so we will get back to you!

Everybody wants more pay… but don't let the pay blind you to what you do know: you interviewed 4 times over a 4 month period and were told you were wanted but it just can't happen for a couple of months still. That's a major tell to the sort of process and bureaucracy you are walking in to when you say you are projecting 8/10 job satisfaction.

It's a (huge, 110 year old, United Way Funded) not-for-profit organization. I'm sure their financial calendars run a little differently than the for-profit corporate world, but over all, I think you're right. It was really starting to give me the ick.

DiskoTroop said:

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JamesPShelley said:

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1. How old are you?

2. Do you have children?

3. What is your financial cushion position? (i.e. Do you have $200 saved for an emergency?)

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Turned 40 last Saturday.

I have a 7 month old and looking to have another.

$200? Absolutely. $2k? Yes. $20k if need to dip into 401k. I don't keep that much cash fluid.

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Looking? Does your wife know this? May need a 2 ND job anyway.....

Exactly where I'm at....

Comfortable where I'm at, company merger looming (so some uncertainty) but also being assured nothing will change.

Being told an interview & offer is coming for same job (different company) at the same pay, but 3-4 hours from home vs 1800 miles. Intrigued, but not enough to walk off the bird in the hand quite yet until the actual offer comes in.

Classic Bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush scenario. But if you're holding 1 bird in 1 hand, and 1.2 birds in the other hand..... go for it.