I was offered a great job but the pay is lousy, should I pass?

I was offered a job with amazing benefits (health, dental, flexible hours, etc.), but the pay is terrible. It’s about half the industry average. Should I try to convince them to pay me more or do I leave?

Why would you leave without trying? If you don’t accept the job at the salary offered, you have nothing to lose by trying to negotiate a better compensation.

Regardless, negotiating a job offer is common practice and no one will blame you for it.

I’m sure this company is well aware of how its pay rates compare to the market, so it probably won’t be surprised.

It’s hard to say how flexible they are.

When comparing offers, do not underestimate the value of the benefits mentioned, as they count towards the total value of your compensation.

Additionally, you can’t quantify the value of one company’s culture and job over another.

But ultimately there is the practical question of how much take-home pay you need to earn to live your life and be happy.

I have been working at a fintech company for 16 years and am now looking to change roles. Will it hurt or help me to have stayed at the company for so long? I have heard that you are now considered “on the decline” after five or more years of tenure.

I love corporate jargon. “On the bench,” “on the beach,” “on the bench”—all of these terms refer to varying degrees of non-employment, but none of them have anything to do with tenure at a company.

Depending on your profession and the company, extensive experience can be an asset or a detriment to your career.

If you’re hiring an engineer who’s been at Google for 15 years and is working on the latest technologies, that long experience would be an asset. If you’ve worked at Blockbuster for 15 years and are applying for a job at Netflix, that might not be the case.

However, generally speaking, as long as your skills and experience remain current with market needs and you come from a company with a reputation for success, you will remain marketable.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a human resources executive. Listen to Greg Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: [email protected]. Follow us at: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande