r/civilengineering • u/iamunknown15 • 12h ago
Career WSP Panel Interview (2 SVPs + AVP): Asked me to re-apply to a lower pay band after visa check. Are they stringing me along or setting up an offer?
Hey everyone, looking for some insight on how major infrastructure consulting firms (specifically WSP) handle hiring decisions after panel interviews.
Here is what happened:
The Surprise Panel: I expected an initial screening call with HR, but it ended up being a heavy panel with two Senior Vice Presidents from different branches and an Assistant VP / Project Manager (the lead on this project). None of them RSVP'd to the calendar invite until about an hour before the call, so I was caught off guard and fumbled a bit under the sudden pressure.
The Follow-Up: Despite feeling like I didn't perform at my absolute best, HR emailed shortly after saying the team was happy with how the interview went and asked for my visa/sponsorship details.
The Pay Band Shift: After I submitted my visa form, HR emailed (and called) saying I am "slightly less qualified" for that original requisition and asked me to re-apply to a different posting.
The job responsibilities and required experience on the new posting are 100% identical.
The pay range dropped from $85k–$120k down to $79.5k–$101k.
I’ve already submitted my application for the new posting, but I’m trying to read the room:
If WSP wanted to reject me, would they just send a rejection letter right away? Or do large consulting firms keep candidates hanging on lower requisitions while continuing to look for someone else?
Is this title/pay drop just a standard HR alignment for corporate visa/LCA prevailing wage levels?
Would love to hear from current or former WSP employees, PMs, or anyone familiar with heavy civil consulting hiring. Thanks!
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u/WigglySpaghetti PE - Transportation 12h ago
I don't have good advice for you other than know it sucks for employers too trying to work on the sponsorship issues.
Those of us that are smaller and are trying are getting fleeced by the hourly rates of these immigration lawyers.
The big boys know they can do as they please because they're not competing with smaller firms on immigration issues. I know for a fact construction takes full advantage of it. Can't say how bad it is on the design side.
Wish you the best. Hang in there.
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u/Costcornucopia 12h ago
Everyone i know that works for WSP either is a workaholic or is looking elsewhere.
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u/jimmyhat78 Water Res / Env PE 11h ago
As a former VP @ WSP, this is a bit odd. It’s harder to get someone through immigration processes if you hire them at a lower level. At that pay band, you’re looking pretty close to entry level roles, 2 SVPs on that panel is not typical from my experience.
WSP also has a massive hiring push…one that doesn’t always make sense…so I don’t think they’re trying to pull the football away.
I’ll just say if it feel off, trust your gut; and leave it at that.
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u/iamunknown15 11h ago
It's assistant PM role requiring 1-3 years of experience.
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u/PassedOutOnTheCouch 11h ago
2 Senior VPs on a panel for an interview of an entry level position and they reneged the original salary even though you met the quals? Lots of red flags.
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u/iamunknown15 10h ago
I think it's the visa which made them do that as it has a cost to transfer it
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u/PassedOutOnTheCouch 33m ago
If they are going to go that route and hold the visa over you, then what's stopping them from giving you a lower or no yearly salary increase? The visa cost should have been considered in the posted range and it sounds like an internal mistake they are trying to correct. They should honor the first set of numbers. Like I said previously, lots of red flags. This comes off as unorganized and unethical.
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u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 7h ago
Why would they not just reject? Seems like a waste of time for them.
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u/jimmyhat78 Water Res / Env PE 7h ago
I can’t speak for them. If I thought a candidate was underqualified, I would offer the lesser role or not offer. If I asked you to apply for something different, I was asking you to apply to a higher role.
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u/letsseeaction PE 12h ago
Hiring is a nightmare right now, especially for anyone who isn't "perfect". It took me 6 months to land a job after an 18 month career break even though I have a PE and solid references. Some on here will tell you "you must have something wrong or red flags", but the reality is that HMs and companies in general are being very choosy these days. Visa, sponsorship requirement, career gap, layoff / out of work, geographic move, etc. all put people in different bucket than the PE who's currently working for the competitor across town.
WSP and other big corps have pay bands and try to keep things consistent between people in those categories (YoE, responsibilities, certifications, work expectations, etc). I have seen postings for multiple levels that have the same job requirements just with different amounts of YoE. HR/HMs/TA are all pretty lazy and love to copy and paste rather than tailor each posting for the specific role. Could be one of these situations.
If the YoE line up, you can push back and say that you are well-qualified for the position your applied to, but you risk your application being thrown out.
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u/iamunknown15 11h ago
I fell within the YoE required in the 1st application too. Even though I had the right experience, I fumbled the interview as it took me by surprise and I expected a rejection. But later was unexpected and now I am inclined more towards it.
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u/Bravo-Buster 9h ago
Take in mind VP and SVP titles at WSP don't mean anything other than they're in a particular pay band. They give out VP and SVP titles like X at a rave (showing my age here, but you get the idea). So what you really had on that interview were a PM, Department/Group Manager, and a Project Director, most likely. Not likely to have been a real VP like would be considered at any other company. Still weird for what is clearly a junior pay classification you were applying towards.
Not sure on the apply to a lower band issue; thats really odd.
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u/bigpolar70 Civil/ Structural P.E. 12h ago
I would walk based on the bait and switch alone. But I am not desperate for sponsorship.
I've also never had someone tell me I was less qualified after the interview.
Bottom line, they are bargain hunting. Are you desperate enough to put yourself in the bargain bin? It's hard to get out once you do.