Job Seekers seeing low offers

An offer that might have been $100,000 a few years ago is now coming in at $85,000 or $90,000… what do you do?

I recently read an article at marketwatch.com that described what we Recruiters at Kinsa Group have been witnessing.  With companies more worried about margins and profitability these days, many hiring managers are offering salaries lower than what workers previously received.  The question is: How low should job seekers go when it comes to accepting an offer?

If you are a job seeker in this situation with a low salary offer, consider other types of compensation to make up the difference—benefits, paid time off, professional training, reduced work week, health insurance, bonus structure, expectations for next salary increase, tuition reimbursement, relocation expense reimbursement, and promotional opportunity.

Job seekers who receive what they believe to be a low offer should compare that offer to what they can get elsewhere in the current market for their skills, rather than what they could have received in years past.  Then it’s up to the individual to decide whether or not to walk away from an offer if it’s currently competitive. 

Don’t misjudge your value in the market because the longer a worker remains jobless, the harder it is to impress an employer and get that next offer.

Job seekers should feel free to negotiate with a potential employer regarding their offer.  Often times that employer has gotten attached to you as a candidate and realizes that starting their search for another new hire could be a long and painful process.