Overheard: Desparation
August 28, 2008
An unemployed man who off has a PhD and 13 years of experience: “Well, I’m making about $110 now, but that isn’t necessarily firm. I’m really just hoping to find a job I like.”
Ok, I guess in this economy, that isn’t awful to admit.
Except he followed up with: “Maybe at least $80k.”
Woah. What? You are willing to take what entry level PhD’s are (probably) making?? And even if you ran your budget numbers and calculated that you could live on $80k, and you decided for yourself you would accept as low as $80k… don’t tell them that! Especially not at the phone screen stage!
Yikes. I think he was caught off guard, but you should be prepared to answer that question (or rather, to deflect it if possible).
4 Comments
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What is the job? Entry level phd’s don’t make close to 80k where I work, but I work at a university so it may be different.
But I agree, don’t let off the lowest amount you will take in the beginning, espeically not in a phone interview.
In industry, not academia. High cost of living area. Entry level B.S. earn $65k-ish, masters over $70… so I extrapolated upwards.
Yikes. This is exactly the attitude and reflex I don’t want to have when I get to the interview stages.
Ah, I see! Makes so much more sense now. =)