You apply for a job knowing the advertised salary range is somewhat below what you previously earned. The market is very different now, so even though you are well-qualified for this job, you aren't opposed to taking a pay cut. Then you get a job offer and aren't you surprised to find out that the employer is offering a salary below what was advertised? This is what happened to one of our readers.
When he emailed me to ask what to do about this sticky situation, this is what I replied:
Something you might want to ask yourself is this: are you going to find it difficult to work for this employer even if you can negotiate a higher salary? For me, that would be a problem because I would feel that the employer's tactics were deceptive. It's one thing to take a pay cut—you aren't alone in having to do that as you know—but it's another to find out the salary is lower than what was advertised.
Had he not pulled what I consider to be a bait and switch, I would tell you to be flexible. As I advise in one of my articles on salary negotiation: 'When going through a salary negotiation you aren't likely to get the exact amount of money you want. You will probably have to compromise. The trick is to figure out how much you are willing to compromise and what you will do if your boss doesn't offer you a salary you find acceptable.'
What would you do in this situation? Could you work for someone who blatantly lied? It could be about anything and not just salary. I guess your answer would depend on what your needs were at the time. If you were in the middle of a long job search, you might be more inclined to ignore the dishonesty. Unfortunately, I think there are some employers who are ready to take advantage of that situation. Keep in mind, though, if you do accept an offer in spite of your misgivings, you may find yourself looking for work again before too long. After all, how long could you work for someone you didn't trust?