by Ashley
This past week was a tough one. I felt like the blows just kept coming.
First was work-related. After favorable reviews in the first round of comments, I received TWO manuscript rejections this past week: one on Monday and the other on Friday. For those of you in academia, you know how this stings – particularly after the first round of reviews sounded so positive. It felt a bit like being punched in the gut.
Then on Sunday I received an email from “University B” saying that their payment structure is going to be changing. Instead of paying an hourly rate, they’re going to switch to paying a per-project completion flat rate. I did a little math (figuring how many hours the projects typically take me) and determined the flat rate they are offering is actually a bit lower than what I’ve previously been getting paid. The email was sent to all of the contract employees, so I know this was not specifically targeting me individually and I don’t think it is negotiable. In the email they even said that some people may decide to no longer work with them as a result of the rate change, and that it was okay to let them know that. After thinking it over, I’ve decided to stay with them even with this reduced rate. They throw me enough work that I’d hate to severe the relationship and potentially loose this stream of revenue.
So…more shit. Coming right on the back of my extreme childcare-related stress and the serious expenses we’ve recently been hit with. Side note: Thanks for your comments on this morning’s post. I’m still going to explore new childcare options, but I think I’m going to give our current situation a fair try before making any changes. I thought about it and realized I’d had a bit of a freak out early on with both of our previous childcare situations (when the girls were infants at the JCC, and as toddlers at the in-home childcare), and they both ended up being fantastic. So I’m hoping some of my angst is related to the new, unfamiliar situation and that I’ll settle down and end up loving our current situation. Only time will tell.
BUT BUT BUT –
With all of these negatives and all these heavy blows, I do have one piece of POSITIVE NEWS to report so I’m trying to look on the bright side….
Remember all my networking I’ve been doing? Well, it landed me an interview. I received an email saying they would like to schedule a Skype interview with me either this week or next (I’ll receive a follow-up with exact time frame). This is for a part-time work-from-home managing editor position at a journal that I’m REALLY excited about! It’s right in my area of expertise and would look fabulous on my resume. The pay is also a little less than what I’m used to making, but I think its worth if for the experience, and I think the pay scale actually makes me a really attractive candidate because I’m assuming more qualified candidates may not have bothered applying since the salary is probably quite a pay cut for anyone with more experience than me. I think this is really to my advantage.
So I need to prepare for this interview – it’s been EONS since I last had to interview for a position (my last couple positions simply fell into my lap). I plan to do some googling for tips. I’ve never done a Skype interview before so this makes me a bit nervous.
Any tips or recommendations for helpful interview-tip websites?
Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Freshly 40, married mother of two, working in academia. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-digit student loan debt!
Sorry about the continued hits. When it rains, it pours, as they say.
Congratulations on the interview!
Your dual points about reduced contracting rates and the low pay scale for the editor job got me thinking. I know pay equality is a complex issue, but it has been demonstrated that one reason that women sometimes get paid less for men for similar positions is that women are sometimes less aggressive in negotiating their salary. (I just about said “Studies show…” but I realized you are probably the wrong person to flippantly say that to, so I switched to “it’s been demonstrated.” Sorry, I don’t know what the p-value is.)
The contract rate is probably not negotiable, but the rate for the editor job certainly should be! Your primary prep activities right now should be on content mastery for the interview. But if you get to the point of an offer, you should start reading about negotiating salary offers. You get one chance to negotiate – when you get the job. All of your future raises, and sometimes your salary at a future job, will be influenced by your starting salary if you get this job, so you have to try to make it as high as possible even if it’s uncomfortable to negotiate.
If they ask you about salary during the interview, I would just say that you see this as a good career opportunity and a unique work arrangement, so you’d be happy to discuss salary ranges in the context of the overall offer package they are willing to make if they choose to make an offer.
Regarding the contact job. You are right, it’s probably not negotiable. But the good news is that some people may drop out, meaning more work available for you. Is there anything you can do to improve the efficiency/productivity of the contract job to reduce the hours it takes to complete a job? I think it’s mainly editing, right? Could you invest in speed-reading to increase your editing rate? Is there any software that could help you out? Is there any part of what you do that you could actually subcontract to a cheaper or overseas resource? (mymaninindia.com).
Just some ideas. I hope your couple weeks of tough times will turn around soon!
I’ve heard of this tactic before, but does the same advice apply when it’s not really a “real” job (in that it’s part time hourly work, not salaried). In the job posting it specifically advertised an hourly rate (not a range, a single number was given), and it states that this position is funded by a grant. I guess it never hurts to try, but do you think it would still be negotiable?? A little more information about the job – the posting says that the position is currently half-time, but that there is an expectation that it can expand into a full-time position in two years or less (I’m assuming on the basis of continued grant support???) You’re definitely right that women are less apt to negotiate than men and I definitely feel a little uncomfortable about it. I guess my question is – even if the posting advertises a specific price compensation….do you still try to negotiate??
I would absolutely ask if the salary was negotiable. At my last 2 jobs, I’ve received significantly hirer pay just by asking. The job I currently have the set salary was less than I thought I was worth. I negotiated a stair step raise $20k higher than the “set in stone” amount. Keep in mind the answer is always no if you don’t ask.
I agree, but I would wait to ask about it until they make an offer. Not during the interview. There’s a chance it’s a brick wall, but you never know. Once they know they want you, it’s a pain to go try to find other people, so it usually doesn’t hurt to ask. I’ve never heard of anybody pulling an offer based on an initial request for more $.
Good point, Adam. Worst-case-scenario is likely just a “no, the compensation is set” – I agree I’ve never heard of anyone being like “how dare you ask for more money? We rescind the offer!” lol
Wow, thats an incredible boost from the “set in stone” amount! Thanks for the tip – I love your last sentence, “the answer is always no if you don’t ask.” Thanks!
Adam said: “If they ask you about salary during the interview, I would just say that you see this as a good career opportunity and a unique work arrangement, so you’d be happy to discuss salary ranges in the context of the overall offer package they are willing to make if they choose to make an offer.”
EXCELLENT advice. I don’t know what it is about women that makes them undersell themselves. Even highly educated women make this error. I would actually print out this statement (use LARGE, BOLD font) and have it in front of you (but out of skype range, ha, ha) so that you don’t forget to say it.
And of course, research salaries and make sure what you are asking for is inside of the pay scale for this job.
Congratulations on something good coming along. I understand about the boom-boom-boom of financial blows and with all of those PLUS your daycare dilemma, I would be as down as you are. Re the daycare, I was in a very similar situation with our little boy and I totally understand the unease you are feeling with not being totally happy with your situation. In our case, I did pull him from the center and I kept him at home until there was space at my preferred center (our church). I know keeping the girls at home is not an option; I was lucky (??) in that I was able to quit my job and stay home. Of course, that staying home contributed to the debt that we are plugging away at now, but it is what I had to do. My income was a pittance compared to yours, though, so this is obviously not an option for you. I think you are right to just tough it out at the new place for a bit longer to see if you start feeling more relaxed about it. You say the girls are happy when they come home? That is a good sign!
Congrats on the interview Ashley!
Good luck with your interview Ashley! I hope you rock it 🙂
Good luck with your interview!
Thanks!!! They emailed back and scheduled it for tomorrow – eek! Nervous!!!
Good luck with your interview!
I am sure you probably already thought about that: but make sure
– to sit in front of a calm background (no distractions for the interviewer)
– to have good lighting
Good luck with the interview! Of course once you are offered the job you should ask if the salary is negotiable even knowing it may be a non-negotiable line item in a grant. However, it may be and no one resents a cheerful request for more money!
I’m sorry about the manuscript rejection that sucks and never gets easier. But congratulations on the job interview!!!! That is awesome! Do you know about the interview format will there be several people at a time or just one on one?
I agree with the excellent advice of the other commenters leave the salary questions until job negotiations. Questions on salary come up as one of the worst questions during an interview in surveys by employers
http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2012/10/03/10-job-interview-questions-you-should-never-ask/
Whenever I’ve been part of a hiring committee I have to admit its kind of a turn off…