[cygned]

We don’t post salary ranges right now. We are a small firm and cannot keep up with the salaries from enterprises in our area. We are looking for (and finding) candidates that are willing to sacrifice parts of their salary for 100% remote, flexible work time, PTO and others.

We decided to screen applicants in an informal phone call and discuss salary options at the end, after they had a first impression of how we are as a firm.

[virtual_void]

Why wait for the interview? Post an advert that explains exactly this.

People would who are not prepared to make that trade off will skip you and you’ll be left with people that are.

There have been times where I’d have been ok with that trade off but would have skipped over you for not making the salary clear.

[ivraatiems]

Why not post the range and say what you just said?

[bena]

I think I can see a scenario.

You think you're hot shit on a silver platter. You apply for jobs with high TC listed and others which you believe will also be high TC based on... reasons, even though they don't list their salary ranges.

You get callbacks from some of the high TC positions you applied for. You also get callbacks from the non-listed salary positions. Cool. None of the highest, none of your first choices, but whatever, an interview is an interview.

You go through the processed and find out a lot of the non-listed positions have TCs much lower than you were hoping for. TCs so low, you wouldn't have considered the job if you had known. Whatever, you'll just ghost them. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

But then the days stretch on and the only positions submitting offers are the low TC jobs you applied for. You take the blow to your ego along with the job. Gotta pay those bills.

[FalconSensei]

but in that case... isn't it bad for the employer if the person is not actually happy with the salary is they are going to bail as soon as they find something else?

[bena]

That's assuming they can. In my hypothetical scenario, it's their best offer because it's actually where they should be but our hypothetical protagonist has an over-inflated sense of self-worth.

Like I said, it's just a possible scenario where I can see how not posting their range could get them more applicants.

[cygned]

Concern was that it still turns down too many, maybe we were too careful.

We have another vacant position soon, I might try it.

[cweagans]

You should! Not everyone wants to work as a cog in the giant enterprise machine. I've taken a lower salary from a small company specifically because they are small.

I would caution you against the "willing to sacrifice parts of their salary for 100% remote, flexible work time, PTO and others." mindset though. 100% remote, flexible work time, PTO, and other benefits are not added bonuses at this point: they are the minimum requirements for many positions/prospective employees. Instead, focus on the selling the qualities of your workplace that make people happy to work there (for instance, work/life balance, no red tape/micromanagement, creative freedom on solutions, interesting problems to solve, etc).

[csomar]

Why do you want to mislead these people in the first place? The advert has a role in filtering, and in turning down many people you are avoiding wasting time both for you and the potential candidate.

[ivraatiems]

Give it a try. I've taken a lower paying job in exchange for a better experience. It happens!

[jeroenhd]

IMO, things like the ability to work remotely, set up a flexible schedule and get a nice amount of paid time off are part of the compensation as much as the salary.

Some people just want money; hoard it like a dragon, invest, retire early. Others are perfectly fine with earning less if they can live better lives in exchange. After all, what's a huge pay check worth if you can't enjoy your hard-earned money in the prime of your life? Or perhaps the dev has a family and prefers spending time with their kids? You can still make money later in life, but your kids' life milestones are irreplaceable.

Posting a lower salary position may attract different people (i.e. people who value their private life more than the money) but that's not necessarily a bad thing. With enough experience, someone can always get more money elsewhere; their employment may only last until the second a better job offer comes in. People who value the additional benefits more are less likely to get them at other companies, as the market is aimed at making the most money right now, so I'd expect them to stick around longer and have more of a vested interest in the success of your company.

You may miss out on top players who want to see their money's worth, but if your package is as good as you say it is, I don't see why you wouldn't post your salary ranges. Focus the ad on what makes the job great and add the range for transparency and I'm sure you'll find the right people.

[martinsmit]

How has that gone for your firm? Why was the decision made not just be upfront about the salary? If you are afraid that people won't be willing to work with you if they knew the salary then why potentially waste their time?

The first impression of how you are as a firm is the job ad, and if you don't post a salary the first impression is worse.

[juve1996]

> for 100% remote, flexible work time, PTO and others.

Given how much more common this is now across all white collar work, do you find your company less competitive?

[zach_garwood]

Why would you try to compete with them instead of enumerating your advantages?

[Markoff]

TLDR your company likes to waste candidates time, that looks like big red flag