Sorry if this is the wrong place, but I wasn't sure where else to ask.
Like 6-8 weeks ago I was at a wedding shower for a couple I know. While there was hanging out with an old high school friend who introduced me to her father who owns an engineering firm. We got talking and he joked about "starting Monday" for him because they really needed another mechanical guy (which I am); they currently had this position posted on job sites. I followed up with a resume to him, went through three interviews and today was called with an offer (formal letter / email on its way). His daughter let me know my interview was "one of the best technical interviews they ever had", etc etc, I really got the vibe they liked me.
The job is posted locally with a pay range of $45-55/hr. If I was offered $45/hr it would be a 10% raise, if I was offered $55/hr it would be a 35% raise. Instead I was offered $34/hr.... a 17% pay drop from current.
I'm torn how to proceed... I will not be accepting the job at that pay rate, no way. So do I just respond saying that it is below my current salary, and well below their posted range but thanks for their consideration - THE END to play hardball; with the hope they come crawling back?
Or do I try and open negotiations straight away and just say I need $XX/hr or it won't work.
... it should be noted I really like my current job, very happy with everything about it except the fact there is zero room to move up without having to relocate, which my wife doesn't want to do. So I don't need to take this new gig, I can just stay where I'm at and keep floating along happy as a clam; but if I can snag 30% more money without having to move, awesome.
Thanks for any insight, this whole thing is just far different than other offers I've gotten and has caught me off guard.
Submitted August 24, 2017 at 01:59PM by Sidekicknicholas http://ift.tt/2vaAy3b
