Job Offers Don't Match Expectations
Candidates consistently experience a disconnect between advertised salary ranges/expectations and the actual offers received. This leads to frustration, wasted time, and a feeling of being misled throughout the interview process, often involving recruiters or agencies pushing for lower compensation. The issue spans various industries and company sizes.
SOURCES (60)
“I recently got rejected from a job on Indeed because my salary was out of their un-posted range. No interview, no negotiation, just an auto-rejection email. They literally asked me to guess a random number, then denied me when I guessed incorrectly.”
“Nung una 30, nakipag negotiate ako pra maging 35 eh, or 40 haha tnry ko lang nman. Nag direct ako sa client interview nun ayun kanina may email na pasado tas ung negotiation salary ko 35 haha. Sayo po ba”
“That is insanely higher than everywhere else lol. That is like a senior 2 salary for my B4”
“like 55-60k entry level, 65-80k for senior and then like 95k+ for managers (base salaries but you`re bonus is like a $20 gist card anyways at least as a staff). B4 in Canada actually pays quite a bit less than industry unlike the USA where B4 same if not more than industry. Your hours as a staff will be quite high like 40-60 hours throughout the year depending on the period of the year with quite a bit of stress at times. That`s also not including the time you`re studying for the CPA which is li”
“I’m 19, a junior at a polytechnic school majoring in Marketing Management, and I recently got a job offer that I genuinely don’t know what to do with. For context, I actually have pretty good work experience for my age. I’ve usually worked 3 jobs during a semester, so I’m definitely used to having a lot on my plate. I’ve also worked in photography, videography, graphic design, and marketing, so I do have a pretty broad skill set. The position is technically an Executive Assistant, but the actual”
“Let’s start with the big question. How much is your company offering for this position? That might be indicative of why you are getting such bad applicants.”
“I currently work as a Technical Support Engineer and recently applied for a Security Analyst role internally. I’m curious what you think would be a fair salary for the position based on the job description, my resume, and my experience. I was offered $78,000. I feel like I have a strong IT foundation and several transferable skills that line up well with this position. Based on the responsibilities, does this seem like a legitimate entry-level cybersecurity role where I’d actually gain valuable”
“I am an extremely high achiever my whole life. Summa cum laude. Best job. In my industry, my job is sort of the equivalent of playing for the Yankees. It’s the highest level company for what I do with an extremely limited team. There is room for growth on this team to be a top dog person there as well. And yet, I am on the brink of quitting my job to completely reorganize my life. There are some details that matter here… I’m 11 m PP I’m dealing with chronic back pain from si joint dysfunction on”
“Im currently a manufacturing engineer for a CDMO in the med device spaceand make around 95K a year and pretty good benefits. Im currently interviewing for a sales/Key Account Executive role for a components company in the med device space (like mcmaster for medical) which would be remote/home office with some travel (TBD on amount). I currently make 95K, 3 weeks of PTO and 6% overall match for 401K. The role im interviewing for would be 100k or more plus commission with a remote office and some”
“I'm being asked for a fifth interview, four if you exclude the HR screening. I would be working at a non profit (albiet a prestigious one) making 90-100K. In their defense, they are restructuring this particular deparment and one senior person recently retired and their replacement is joining next week. 30 min screening with HR screening 45 min interview with hiring manager 1 hour interview with head of another but related department 30 minute "conversation" with C-level executive”
“Thank you!! Yes, I live in Ottawa. I really feel like the wage isn’t that great, especially when I come across job postings that are strictly accounting roles and pay more. And thank you for the advice about family-owned businesses—I’m definitely learning my lesson 😩. Being 3–4 months behind on reconciliations because one son doesn’t provide invoices and the other forgets to update me is driving me crazy lol. Lesson learned! I was mostly worried that leaving after only 5 months might make me lo”
“Hi! As a new grad PA I’ve had several interviews. I’m narrowing it down to the two strongest offers. My question is, how do I approach the offers and let them know of my military obligations and how have you all navigated that? Do you see them decrease your pay? Right now I work one week per quarter in the military. Looking for advice from other military PA’s. submitted by /u/The_Dragon_Whisperer [link] [comments]”
“The company I work for is growing the team I work on to prepare for a retirement, and I checked out the job posting out of curiosity. (We're encouraged by the company to look at job postings on the intercompany network, so this isn't in and of itself an odd thing to do.) I noticed something pretty frustrating. The salary is on a range, and while the lower is less than I make, the higher end is almost $25k more a year. I've been with the company a year, and get nothing but praise for”
“Recent grad in South Texas(Houston) area and have a current contracting position in IT Support at a major hospital that doesn't pay crazy well (45-50K). In my undergrad i did multiple cyber internships and one with a F500 but they didnt extend offer because of budget, even though they had like 20 different AI tools.... My question is, I would want to look into grad programs but unsure if its even worth it in todays age. At the same time, looking into the industry and seeing how its going, I”
“Hi all, I feel pretty good about my choice but wanted some input. I recently accepted a new position that has been in the works and is a 90,500 salary position. We get raises every year which is typically 4%. I have room to grow in this position money wise. The position I left was 80,000 but hourly with an average of 9k - 10k worth of overtime. Finished last year at 104k. HOWEVER I was capped out and cannot receive a pay increase. The OT provided some comfort when I wanted to get a bigger check”
“I’ve had deals where I’m basically relaying numbers and conditions back and forth between both sides for ages because nobody wants to reveal their actual limit. Is that just part of the job, or does it feel like a real inefficiency to you too? submitted by /u/barathkrishnas [link] [comments]”
“Talking about money makes me super uncomfortable and I'm not sure where to start. I had an interview for a Hospitalist position and received a job offer shortly afterwards. I was a little surprised in how fast they sent a job offer as the interview seemed pretty informal. I was asked like 3 questions and only 1 had to do with the job (also not sure if this is a red flag). I didn't mention benefits or pay because I thought there would be a second interview. I have scheduled a time to talk”
“Hi everyone, I need some advice regarding a job offer I’ve received. I recently received an offer from a small IT company in Noida . The company has around 20–25 employees and is working in the AI sector . However, the company seems to be quite new — most employees have joined within the last 7 months, except for 3–4 people. About the role: The role is related to Data Analytics/Data Engineering . I would be working on: Data pipelines Data analysis Reports/dashboards Preparing and managing data f”
“Hi everyone, I need some advice regarding a job offer I’ve received. I recently received an offer from a small IT company in Noida . The company has around 20–25 employees and is working in the AI sector . However, the company seems to be quite new — most employees have joined within the last 7 months, except for 3–4 people. About the role: The role is related to Data Analytics/Data Engineering . I would be working on: Data pipelines Data analysis Reports/dashboards Preparing and managing data f”
“So, long story short, high stake role for a very known company. The role requires relocation and doesn’t pay well, so I was not too excited about it, but I take every shot I can because you never know. Recruiter interview went well, managing director and my direct boss interview - fantastic, he put me to the second round. Second round was a panel. I have noticed right away one of the panelists was someone I knew. This lady would be higher in ranking than me. I met her twice years back in profess”
“Just finished a phone call screening for a receptionist position and was told there’s 3 more rounds of interviews after that. This position pays 47-52k CAD !!!! What the hell!! submitted by /u/Purple_hearts001 [link] [comments]”
“The should not apply section is a bit of an eye roll or red flag. With the should not apply section, I probably wouldn't apply if this posting doesn't have the actual salary range. Salary and benefits is usually how I filter jobs as it really tells you how the company views the role and more broadly it's employees. I usually never apply for roles that don't have the salary range included in the job posting.”
“Hi everyone, if any of you currently working in this role- I will appreciate your feedback. Thank you submitted by /u/Suspicious_Mix_3399 [link] [comments]”
“Just wanted different opinions. To add more context: It is for the same company, same benefits, & yes the 75k would be 1 hour each way, both positions offer 1 day remote, after reading all the responses it looks like i will be taking the 65k submitted by /u/Prize_Towel556 [link] [comments]”
“I’ve been looking mostly on LinkedIn. Some examples of ranges are $226,000 - $533,000 and $186,000-$363,000 and $236,500-$449,300. The last time I was looking at jobs in this field (it’s kind of adjacent to what I’m currently doing) average comp was in the low 2s. Do you think they’re just advertising a higher potential to reel people in but they’re only going to offer at the bottom of the range? submitted by /u/Ok-Bear7221 [link] [comments]”
“Hello what would you do in this situation: around 210k total comp have great relationship with manager great work life balance but limited upside internal role (different department): assume total comp would get bumped up 250/260k? (unsure havent got offer) manager seems more serious / unsure about him title promotion, open more doors in future what would you do? submitted by /u/abc4327 [link] [comments]”
“I have an interview for my ideal job/salary, but see the reviews are pretty bad. I know job reviews can be pretty hit or miss though but seems like it is a big company culture issue. It’s in the crisis intervention team if that helps, but just seeking any insight! Thank you. submitted by /u/teaandmagic [link] [comments]”
“So some background Im in my 30s, I worked federal for over 8 years as an engineer. Really cool career but decided to take a risk and go corporate in the energy space. I applied to the role and was very honest in my interview with how much money I managed and what types of work I did. Now here is where the issue starts. My manager.....is something else. When I first started there I explained all the changed and initiatives I would be apart of due to my experience. I was bridging a huge gap and th”
“Am I underpaid at 24, or am I overthinking it? I’m 24 and currently working at a small Indian company that primarily works with US clients. I’m earning around ₹72k/month (₹8.64 LPA) . I know salary depends heavily on role and experience, but sometimes I feel like I’m falling behind compared to people my age, especially when I see salaries being discussed online. For people in India who are around my age: Is ₹72k/month decent at 24? How much should I realistically aim for over the next 2–3 years?”
“Am I underpaid at 24, or am I overthinking it? I’m 24 and currently working at a small Indian company that primarily works with US clients. I’m earning around ₹72k/month (₹8.64 LPA) . I know salary depends heavily on role and experience, but sometimes I feel like I’m falling behind compared to people my age, especially when I see salaries being discussed online. For people in India who are around my age: Is ₹72k/month decent at 24? How much should I realistically aim for over the next 2–3 years?”
“I’m currently interviewing for a position that I’m genuinely interested in. During one of the earlier conversations, the recruiter asked me about my salary expectations and I gave a number that I now realize was lower than I should have said. At the time, I wasn’t expecting the question and I based my answer mostly on my current salary and what I thought would be a reasonable increase. Since then, I’ve done more research into the role, the responsibilities, and the market, and I think I undersol”
“senior accounting salaries in nyc are between 95k-140k. They’re well within the range.”
“Hello, I hope I’m about to get an offer at Salesforce over the next week. I work in the Product and Development area in software building, (I’d rather not say my exact role) This role would be based in the UK. Hoping this goes through, does anyone have any specific advice on negotiating their offer? Or even better, if you already have at Salesforce, could you share this. How this was done, how or what you negotiated, where it started and where it got too? I really want to know what levers are av”
“That is a crazy high TC for a senior accountant. What companies are these shelling out the big bucks”
“Need some outside opinions. Choosing between two Sys analyst/admin roles: Phoenix: mid-$70s, Level 1 title, 2 days WFH, lower rent, and more money left over each month. Long Beach: low-$90s, Level 3 title, 1 day WFH, higher rent, and a few hundred less left over each month. I’m in my early 30s and want to buy a home eventually. I’d rather live in California, but Arizona makes more financial sense. Would you take the Level 1 role in Phoenix for the savings, or the Level 3 role in Long Beach for t”
“Doesn't the company need to be incorporated in US for that purpose? I don't know if the OP was being interviewed for a US company that's a subsidiary or not.”
“Definitely take the money… also, aren’t you being grossly underpaid at $110k as a Manager?”
“I’m torn between staying as a Performance CSM (marketing agency) for $90K or taking a Paid Social Supervisor role for $95K . My current company originally had me at $80K, but after a conversation with my Director, they came back with $90K to retain me. I enjoy the clients, variety, strategy, and relationship side of CSM, but hate being the middleman/chasing internal teams. The Supervisor role offers more control and a stronger paid media specialization, but much less client interaction. I’ve onl”
“I work at a top 10 firm I’m currently a A1 mid 80k range, going to be a A2 what realistic raise should I expect for more context I know S1 in our office make 100k. submitted by /u/Usernameless123456 [link] [comments]”
“I have a first-round interview coming up for essentially my dream job, at an employer I have worked with often (mid-career, ~10y experience) as an external partner. I’m acquainted with the hiring manager, we’ve had a few friendly conversations, but I’ve mostly worked with their subordinates in the past. Because everything about the situation sounds so “easy,” I’m concerned I could be overconfident, under-prepare, etc. Any guidance on this kind of interview, pitfalls, etc.? Edit: It’s worth notin”
“I keep going back and forth, i need some perspective because theres a lot of nuances here… Im living in NY, 33M, no kids, have debt, my options: Current role: -100% WFH, and probably not changing anytime soon -Tech company thats been losing profits, has layoffs every now and then -Job is pretty relaxed, decent amt of work but bc i am overqualified it feels “easy” -I survived layoffs on our team and may even be up for a promotion next year… On the other hand, layoffs do seem somewhat unpredictabl”
“Is this better choice to go, or wait (For me PAN India work is the most disturbing one) submitted by /u/UnsungWhispers [link] [comments]”
“Makes sense why the job market is a hellscape when employers are playing in your face 🥴 submitted by /u/Outlandishness_Sharp [link] [comments]”
“I have an interview for the following position next week. I'm a little apprehensive because it sounds like they want the PA to do a LOT. But given I'm a new grad and haven't worked clinically yet, I figure that folks here with more experience can offer a better assessment. Let me know your thoughts - thanks. "The position may begin on a part-time or full-time basis depending on the candidate. Initial training will focus on the Clinic's surgical procedures, patients, systems,”
“I had an onsite interview today and hiring manager asked me "Why are you trying to leave X company ?" I responded saying " Actually I am not actively looking for a new job , but when the recruiter reached out I thought of checking out the oppurtunity and I like this role very much and the my skills align a lot for this role " Hiring manager interupted me and said this in surprising (almost shocking) tone " You are not actively looking ?" Was I wrong with my reponse”
“Would you switch jobs for a $25K bump? Currently making $130K, and new role is offering $155K Current role is hybrid; new role would be remote submitted by /u/AccomplishedPlum1803 [link] [comments]”
“Hello, I had a 3rd round interview with Global Director of Program management on 8/3/26. I thought I did well during initial, 2nd round and 3rd round interview. On 8/13/26 HR asked for my salary expectations from and I said the middle of the posted range. I followed up with them on 8/21/26 for any updates at 9-10am Today is 8/31/26 and I have heard nothing back from them. Does this mean I am essentially ghosted and should not expect an offer? I am extremely anxious and worried because I wanted i”
“Follow up: I asked clarifying questions regarding: - KPIs for bonuses. Response was non-committal and very grey. This is concerning as a CEO, and their board, should have this as part of the outcomes they want from a new hire. Red Flag - Trigger and timing for salary review Response was again very grey. Red Flag - Vacation time He responded saying they would do 20 days for me. Everyone else is on 2 weeks (min by provincial standards). He also commented that he has not taking any time off in over”
“Hey guys, I’m a biomedical engineer in Orange County with 6 years of professional experience. I’m juggling whether to stay at my current company after they’ve offered a 25% raise or leave to find something more. I don’t really like the job anymore, but it would mean job security and a stable income. Has anyone been in a similar situation? submitted by /u/Mashed_Brotato [link] [comments]”
“I got a job offer! This is internal talent acquisition manager paying 115k with some bonus potential. I am burnt out on agency after being in the business for 7 years. Should I take this offer? Last year I made 130k, but years before that never more than 100 and already back down to about 95k this year. I'm thinking consistent pay and responsibilities might be nice, but I'm scared as I have stable employment at the agency. submitted by /u/Asleep-Resist-1241 [link] [comm”
“I’m in my mid-30s and work remotely at a marketing agency. I’ve been with my current company for a few years and make around $120K. I’m currently a team lead with direct reports, but my company is going through several department changes right now. Teams are being reorganized, responsibilities are shifting, and people are moving into different roles. As part of this, my company has been discussing potentially moving me into a senior individual contributor role. Nothing about that role is finaliz”
“Actually it can, I am getting a new assignment that requires significant travel when this was sold to me as a remote position, and this will easily be over 40 hours a week. I asked my boss for a salary increase. Now they rescinded my PTO request, are coming to all my calls, and being highly critical, all around my 4 year review. So yea, I guess it can hurt to ask lol. submitted by /u/Conscious-Air-9823 [link] [comments]”
“I asked for a raise, and my firm gave me a 25k raise (I asked for a 45k raise). In lieu of that, they offered to pay for a car lease of my choice. While it would take an extra expense off my plate, it’s not what I asked for. I understand how it benefits them bc they get a tax write off, but really, how does it benefit me? Also don’t know if I will stay here for the long haul so I feel that’s another way to keep me tied up. Looking for advice on how to navigate turning this offer down politely. &”
“So I'm passively looking for a new job and I was reached out to by Insight Global. I researched them before I took the call and online sentiment was mixed. Today I joined the call and the onboard specialist sends me a link to "apply/join" their system, however, I have to have a Facebook profile to begin. I don't have a FB account and I haven't had one since 2016. I told her I didn't have one but I do have Instagram, and she said there was no other way for me to apply. A”