SaaSam

Account Executive

Acclaimed Answer

Canned response to recruiters that reach out to me and don't mention comp up front. What do you think?

Hey XXX,

I appreciate you reaching out but feel you should know that, while I'm very happy at my current org I'm never completely against entertaining offers. However, I typically only set time for interviews when comp, in the form of Salary and OTE, are addressed up front. With that, if it's competitive to what I'm currently doing, I'm happy to move forward with an interview.

For reference. Currently I'm making 100k salary with an OTE of 200k on a 50/50 split. I've already surpassed OTE at my org and am tracking at 259,483 so far this year in OTE.

If you're willing and able to share comp expectations, and it's competitive to where I'm at now, I'd be more than happy to entertain the possiblilty of an interview.

Cheers,

--

I figure if they're going to reach out with obviously templated emails, InMails, and texts, then I'll respond with one. If someone bites and hits me with big numbers great, if not at least they'll leave me alone and potentially come back if they come across something that can compete.

Canned response to a templated email from recruiters

Attached poll

Waste of time Good to have additional lines in the water Tell them to go to hell

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

💰 Compensation

20

29 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

7

🦊

I always respond with something like, "Thank you for your email. What is the base and total OTE" then I sign off and wait for their response.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

3

Blow it up

The best way, short and sweet.

SaaSam

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I used to do something similar but occasionally would get them trying to dance around the question. This way expectations are clear and they know if they're wasting their time with me.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

6

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I think if you have the time and have your canned response in hand, it's a fair thing to send.

Devil's Advocate: What if the role they are positioning has a base of $150K or higher, OTE 50/50, and you just downsold yourself?

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Very good point, although I would imagine any role offering a 6 figure base would be quick to advertise that in their outreach.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Hmmm, maybe not. I'm not sure where you are located, either, which I know affects overall comp offers.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I've turned down pretty good offers from companies after finding out that they would have comped me higher if I lived somewhere else. I don't play that game.

Notmyrealname

Politicker

4

AE

That's way too long IMO. Could be as simple as “I'm open to learning more but in the interest of saving each other's time, what is the salary range for the role?" From experience, if they give you a run around, they're wasting your time. Also, I would not tell them what I make until I know what's on offer.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

The reality is, I'm likely not going to be impressed enough by another company to leave where I'm at. My purpose in putting where I currently stand in there is to ensure they don't reach out unless the offer is better on the surface.

Reality is, I still wouldn't jump at the first person to offer me 150k base. Too happy where I'm at.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

2

Rolling 20's all day

I like the notion but I wouldn't share what I'm making now.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I was on the fence at first, but it's consistently kept them from reaching out again.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

If its from a recruiter at the company who reaches out and its a good company I would at least say thank you for reaching out and ask about comp. I would just delete from a staffing firm

SaaSam

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Fair point

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Its good to be upfront on $$. Most recruiters won't tell you $$ in an initial outreach.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Very few do. Which only attracts desperate candidates at the end of the day. Someone that knows their worth a lot won't waste their time playing games with recruiters.

Pachacuti

Politicker

0

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

About half the recruiters will say "it hasn't been determined yet" which boggles my mind. Who has ever heard of creating a job with no idea what you'll pay someone. Kills me

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

It's a load of garbage when they say that. I actually go that response a couple of days ago.

tightlines

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Always good to have lines in the water if you know what I mean

ThomasRCallahanIII

Politicker

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Honestly, I used to send a “tell me comp” note but it never got a response back and looking back I missed out on decent opportunities. It’s like if you’re doing cold outreach and someone says “just tell me the price”.

Better to tell them you can give them 10-15 minutes and set up a call if you think it aligns at the surface level. It’s the cost of doing business.

SaaSam

Politicker

0

Account Executive

I don't think the two compare. Them not putting comp is akin to dealerships not telling you the price of a vehicle until after you've gone on a test drive. I'd be moving on to the next dealership.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

1

Bravado's Resident Asshole

it's a good start, just know your audience.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

1

Blow it up

I would hold back detailed info like your current earnings, you never know what they will open with and don't want to leave anything on the table.

Having a canned response asking for comp up front to save everyone's time is how I do things now.

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

Never hurts to have connections that can get you a job.

A quick, canned response makes sense.

SaaSguy

Tycoon

1

Account Executive

I wouldn't mention numbers, just that you would only accept a 15% increase to move etc. - if the role pays more you may be shooting yo self in the foot.

PineappleYa

Opinionated

1

AE

I do the same… it’s insane to me that they wouldn’t just shove that in the bit of info in the first line-perhaps they really do need someone in sales… starting first with hooking interested candidates w the $ .
I’m not leaving my job for the ping pong

KendallRoy

Politicker

0

AM

I have a template I copy/paste for most recruiters. I know it’s a grind so I try and be nice. If someone asks me to answer a million questions, I won’t respond. If someone reaches out to me for an SDR role despite my years of closing experience and results as a top performer displayed on my LinkedIn profile, they’re blocked

SalesinSeattle

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

I'd also agree with others here that putting your current earnings out there is a bad move. Zero upside for you, essentially lets them lowball you potentially. If they were looking at you and the range was 125k-150k for instance, they could go, well look we can go back at 125k here and it's a good bump for this guy. If they don't KNOW odds are good they'd start somewhere in the middle. My $0.02 are never disclose that unless you HAVE to.
I'd instead put a range of what you're willing to consider for salary plus OTE.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

0

Professional Day Ruiner

I just respond asking with what the OTE is. I'm not interested in talking to someone who won't be transparent with me.

happyhunter

Politicker

0

spittin' sunshine

Sending the automated message is totally fine and weeds out the shitty roles/recruiters.Recruiters earn commission basesd on your salary, so a good recruiter will work with you at whatever your expectations are and bring you opportunities that align with what you're looking for overall.

There are a lot of shitty recruiting companies so I suggest working with niche firms that have specific parallels related to your skillset versus generic Robert Half-type companies that have no idea wtf they're doing.

BTW...I wouldn't hate on them for sending out templated Inmails, etc. I'm sure in your career you have a template or baseline you have used when following up with whatever leads you're chasing. Again, good recruiters will make it more personal and catered to you specifically, but there's shit among all industries.

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