Received an email from a recruiter asking for times available to have a telephone screening. After completion of the screening, a panel interview was scheduled. As part of the interview request, the recruiter advised that the hiring team wanted me to prepare a 10-15 minute presentation on a potential enhancement that I would recommend for one of the agency's products.
Interview panel was engaging and pleasant. Many weeks passed until I received word that an offer letter was coming. When I received the offer, the salary was lower than expected and below my current salary. I naturally countered the proposal with justification and was advised due to strict compensation guidelines, no modifications could be made to the offer and the maximum pay allowed with a credit of 10 years of experience was only the 75% percentile of the pay band maximum, which was still uncompetitive and did not compensate whatsoever for an increased cost of living associated with said relocation.