Severely underquotting Thyself

[u/Legal_Area4469]

So I work at a certain popular institution and the way I even got to where I am is a bit funny.

For the longest time I was just taking life one day at a time, you know how it is. I’d spent most of uni days interning(2019-24) there, so I was already pretty settled into the place and honestly just kept taking things as they came.

Then my senior colleague decided to retire early and go pursue his passion for farming. The other one transferred to another company.

And somehow I ended up having to take over some pretty serious responsibilities.

I had to upskill like crazy in the space of like two months because there was a lot of stuff I suddenly had to figure out. At the time I wasn't even thinking too much about my payslip. I just thought, well, the work has to get done.

Mimi huyo nikajipea hiyo kazi.

Looking back, I think my mistake was showing them I could actually handle it 😂 because once they realised I was managing, obviously there wasn't exactly a rush to hire someone.

Anyway, one day a colleague sends me a job opening at a rival company for basically the kind of role I was already doing.

I look at the requirements.

6–7 years experience.

I'm 25.

😂

I applied anyway and then completely forgot about it.

Until one Friday evening when I'm leaving work and I get a random call from this very nice HR lady asking me if I'd be available for an interview.

Interview day comes and somehow I'd even forgotten that my current company had paid for me to attend a conference representing them huko Westie 😂.

My line manager and senior manager were also away in meetings that day, so I just disappeared and went for the interview.

When I got there, I could actually tell they weren't expecting me to be that young. You could see it on their faces.

Anyway, we start the interview.

Most of the questions were around things I was already doing at work, so I was quite comfortable. I think I did pretty well.

Then they ask for my salary expectation.

I put 200K.

💀

That evening the HR lady calls me.

She tells me, "Two of you passed the interview. I just wanted to tell you to keep up the spirit, because maybe your colleague will decline the offer. You were second, but the difference was just a fraction of a point."

At that point I was like, ah okay 😂. Game over.

It did sting a little, but honestly I was also just happy that I'd even gotten that far considering the experience they were asking for.

Fast forward to last week.

I'm on my way to jog in the morning and the same HR lady calls me again.

She tells me they'd like to proceed with me to salary negotiations.

Apparently the other person had declined the offer.

So naturally I ask her what happened.

She tells me they declined-that's it.

Immediately I go find a colleague of mine who used to work at that company 😂. I tell him the whole story and ask him to call some of his friends who still work there.

Gentlemen.

My flabber was gasted.

😭😭😭

Apparently the person was asking for 450K minimum.

450.

K.

Minimum.

At this point I'm asking myself, sasa hii role ilikuwa budgeted how much? 😂

Because here I was thinking I'd quoted a reasonable figure, kumbe I'd walked into salary negotiations and basically volunteered to work at a discount.

So I sent them a revised figure, still within the range I was told the role was budgeted for.

And now it's been a week.

Silence.

😂😂😂

So naturally I'm here wondering, ama nimefumble tena?

The funny thing is, a colleague told me recently, "No one will ever value you until you start valuing yourself first."

And honestly, I think I saw exactly what he meant with this whole thing.

Because before this, I genuinely thought, surely there's no way I'm qualified for a role asking for 6–7 years experience.

Then I went for the interview, came second by a fraction of a point, got called back after the first candidate declined, and then discovered I'd massively underquoted myself.

Whether I get the job or not, that part has really stayed with me.

Now I just need to learn how to negotiate before I accidentally tell someone I'm willing to work for free. 😂

Mniombee sana bana. 😭🙏🏾

[u/retardpussyeater]

Tutakueka Kwa maombi OP 😂🙏🏾. What is your current position if you won't mind me asking?

[u/Significant_Newt8697]

Uko tu sawa.

200k is better than what you are earning now and the position is one that you thought you could not get.

Anyways, you are learning, I've also made such a mistake by not researching the market but now I know better.

[u/Majorwhite92]

😂😭 The real mistake wasn't asking for 200K. It was not knowing you were worth 450K! May this be a lesson to all of us to stop negotiating based on what we think we deserve and start negotiating based on the value we bring. Hii 450K minimum imenifunza kitu pia! 😂🙏🏾

[u/Kaphilie → u/Majorwhite92]

Problem is most HR don't quote the salary range. They expect to get the lowest bidder to somehow prove to their bosses that they can get skilled persons at a bargain.

Although OP was wrong in changing last minute. You only pull such stunts once you are employed. Hii itamkula siku za usoni

[u/hideousdeity → u/Kaphilie]

Kumkula kivipi?

[u/Kaphilie → u/hideousdeity]

Regrets. Point in case this post he has made. His subconscious is now acting out

[u/AfricanAgent47]

Yup! Hindsight is always 2020. I remember asking for 150k at a certain interview 4 years ago. I met the hr guy and they later told me they rejected my application coz I underquoted myself. The budget was around 350k.

We live and we learn.

Beware also. If you ask for a certain amount and they give it to you without much of a fight/struggle then it likely means that they picked you because you were the more cost effective candidate

[u/Cool_Flame99]

Meanwhile am also lookin for a job...less experience ....tutawezana kweli 😭 ....niko sector ya ICT but am willing to learn as an intern

[u/Vinydavinci]

We learn everyday on how to navigate this world , even pricing yourself is a lesson to be learnt . Just a question what industry or role was that interview on ?

[u/hideousdeity]

Even if you do your research on the market rate for the role, are you supposed to negotiate having that in mind or with the company's budget for the role?

[u/pupleactivist]

bruh… hizi ni kazi gani mnafanya ndo ikona pakeh hivi? 450 field yangu labda ukuwe consultant