When companies ask for “expected salary,” is it really to understand your worth or to test how low you’re willing to go?
One fresh graduate from Sabah recently shared her frustrating experience after finding out that even lowering her salary range didn’t help, it only made employers offer her less.
Offered RM1.7K for admin executive role
In her viral post, the woman shared a screenshot of her WhatsApp conversation with a recruiter who asked about her expected salary.
She replied that she was “open to the salary offered by the company”, but mentioned her expected range was RM1,800 to RM2,000.
However, the recruiter responded that her work experience was not compatible with the requested salary and that the company was only offering RM1,700 for the position, below her stated range.
“I’ll just keep my degree in the drawer”
In her caption, she vented her disappointment, writing:
Admin executive but only basic salary? I even lowered my expected rate, and they still lower it more… damn, I’ll just keep my degree in the drawer. This is the hard truth living in Sabah, even in the so-called city Kota Kinabalu, salaries are still low.”
She explained that she had already gone for several face-to-face interviews, but whenever she stated her expected pay as RM2,000, she would either get ghosted or rejected.
“I thought lowering it would help… turns out they lowered it even more. Gila gila baa,” she wrote.
Netizens sympathise, say Sabah salaries still lag behind
Many netizens expressed sympathy and frustration, agreeing that low starting pay remains a major issue in Sabah, even in the state’s capital.
“You need to move out from Sabah. I did that six years ago, no regrets.”
“Don’t ever say you’re open or give a range. They’ll always go for the lowest number.”
“1.7K is basically minimum wage. A degree holder should start at least from 2.5K.”
Others questioned the professionalism of the recruiter, pointing out the irony of asking for an “expected salary” when the amount was already fixed.
The post struck a chord with many young Malaysians who felt the same way, overqualified yet underpaid.
“Please know your worth. Degree holders now should ask for RM3K minimum. If it’s not meant to be, move on.”
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