i fucking hate when they just list salary as “competitive”. and i hate how normalized it is.
full confession, im lucky and old. in my discipline, i have incredible credentials and experience, and a CV that fucking cooks because i can and have played well with others and delivered the goods. i stick to the public sector, so I can’t “name my price”, but i have been able to work where i want if there’s an opening. point being, im not standing with my hat in my hand like i was 20 years ago.
the point:
i have been on multiple hiring committees and every time some partner org is trying to fill a position and they list that shit instead of a salary band, i call them out on it. i tell them “i would never apply to this job posting”. and it always ruffles feathers as they scramble to say some bullshit like “we want someone who isn’t so focused on the money” and other toxic, out of touch bullshit.
it is one of the most common signals to prospective employees that the hiring decision makers do not respect their time and will always default to whatever tactic exploits the power imbalance.
i get why for-profits do it, because the whole arrangement is adversarial. it’s a shit tactic, its counter productive mostly, but i get the logic. when a community “give a fuck” type of org does it, it’s so fucking toxic.
The problem is that the non profits are run by a toxic combo of people with business brain and donors who have been primed by repeated scandals to believe that any admin expenses above keeping the lights on must necessarily be some form of graft.
“entry level” job posting:
masters degree required, phd preferred. 5 years experience minimum
flexible hours! 9:00-6:00 M-F (including mandatory 1 hour unpaid lunch) WFH on weekends!
i fucking hate when they just list salary as “competitive”. and i hate how normalized it is.
full confession, im lucky and old. in my discipline, i have incredible credentials and experience, and a CV that fucking cooks because i can and have played well with others and delivered the goods. i stick to the public sector, so I can’t “name my price”, but i have been able to work where i want if there’s an opening. point being, im not standing with my hat in my hand like i was 20 years ago.
the point:
i have been on multiple hiring committees and every time some partner org is trying to fill a position and they list that shit instead of a salary band, i call them out on it. i tell them “i would never apply to this job posting”. and it always ruffles feathers as they scramble to say some bullshit like “we want someone who isn’t so focused on the money” and other toxic, out of touch bullshit.
it is one of the most common signals to prospective employees that the hiring decision makers do not respect their time and will always default to whatever tactic exploits the power imbalance.
i get why for-profits do it, because the whole arrangement is adversarial. it’s a shit tactic, its counter productive mostly, but i get the logic. when a community “give a fuck” type of org does it, it’s so fucking toxic.
The problem is that the non profits are run by a toxic combo of people with business brain and donors who have been primed by repeated scandals to believe that any admin expenses above keeping the lights on must necessarily be some form of graft.
*We dont actually want anyone with masters, you’re overqualified and not a good fit for the team
† Also, you need to say exactly what we want to hear, and have at least 10 years experience in the field