…Because I have just fucked myself. I got a job offer last night for a review editor position at a good magazine, but the pay was a shade low. I made a counter-offer; the difference was all of $2,000, and I indicated I wanted the job anyway. The editor-ni-chief said he had to talk to his bosses, but he’d see what he could do.
I just got off the phone with him. He didn’t even ask the powers that be; he simply withdrew the entire job offer, claiming it wouldn’t work out, that I was conceited and arrogant, and he was going out on a limb for me by offering the job in the first place. I was the soul of reasonability and humility with this guy, I just wanted a little more money, which I can honestly say I needed and even deserved.
Making counter-offers is common and expected in this business. Now I am stuck in public relations, instead of on the editorial/publishing career track where I belong. By watching out for my best interests, I have fucked myself. Congratu-frigging-lations to me.
It’s been my experience that things are not always what they seem. Jobs I knocked myself out trying to get turned out to be not-so-great. Jobs I fell into by accident have always been the best ones.
Look at it this way - do you want to work at a company that has people like you describe working there? Coming up with a 2K counter offer is perfectly acceptable. Assuming you were polite and clear in your speech, what you did was perfectly fine. What he did was counter to what I would consider the unwritten laws of business - you don’t make an offer then withdraw it. Once the offer is made, it stands.
He was going out on a limb? Get real. He sounds like a lousy manager. If you had it to do over, knowing what you now know, would you really want to work with such a person for less than what you feel you’re worth?
Seems to me Cap’n Crude that perhaps they didnt want you bad enough, you deserve what you are worth and for him not to even go to the powers that be to ask, that doesnt say much for him really. Money isnt everything but never under estimate yourself either. Getting passed over on this one might leave you open to something much better for your career.
We are, each of us angels with only one wing;
and we can only fly by
embracing one another
I don’t think you f@#!!ed yourself; I think you just saved yourself from working for an insolent prick.
It’s common in just about any business. The proper protocal in this instance for whoever is doing the hiring should be one of three things:
Honor the requests of the recruit.
Work out a compromise with the recruit.
State that the offer is inflexible but ask the recruit if he wants the position anyway.
NOT:
Call the recruit “conceited” and “arrogant” and procede to withdraw the offer. Total lack of professionalism on the editor-in-chief’s part.
Your request for more money shows a sense of self-confidence and self-worth. My advice: Keep pursuing a review editor (or similar) position at various publications and try to end up with a boss who isn’t an asshole. You’ll be much happier in the long run.
Thanks, all, for your support. I’m a bit less bummed now. An interesting new development, though – I have an inside contact at the magazine, she thinks it’s all in the EiC’s head, and she wants to try and go to bat for me to salvage the situation. We both agree it probably won’t work – I’m a “closed book.”
At least I didn’t resign my old job first, right?
Handy – you have my sympathy for being repeatedly turned down due to being hearing-impaired. It’s unfortunate, it’s painful for you, it’s their loss, and it’s borderline illegal. You could make a living on suing the companies that turn you down.
Sorry to hear that Handy… some people are just plain dumb and too dumb to realize that you could be the person best for the job. An opportunity they are totally missing out on!!
We are, each of us angels with only one wing;
and we can only fly by
embracing one another
what a load of monkey crap. you’re better off without that job, mon.
The fact that he’d use such bullshit tatics during the hiring process implies that he’d be a real prick to work for. One of those “Do it my way exactly because I know everything and am perfect” Kinda pinhead managers.
Good luck with getting in on the “inside track”.
And FWIW, I thought the Title and OP here were really clever.
From time to time when I’ve had to play “management” I’ve been on the other side of the desk. Frankly, I wouldn’t make an official offer without having discussed salary. If someone’s demands were out of line for what I was prepared to pay, I’d simply tell them that. If there was negotiating room, I’d work with them, or at least try to get a nice bump for them after the probationary period.
I’m assuming you didn’t come off as arrogant or snotty, but kept it strictly business and polite. In which case, I have to agree – you’re better off without the job.
