Do you need any experience to apply for a civil service job?

I need help with a Job Offer question. Please Help!?

• I received a call from HR letting me know that the patient accounts dept wanted to offer me the job on 9/25. I called HR back the next morning and expressed my excitement for the job, but the salary was not what I expected, based on my experience. She contacted the dept and they said they will consider it. It has been 2 weeks now. I talked with HR last week on Monday and she said she sent an email to them asking them if they are moving forward with me and if so at what rate and to definitely continue to call her to follow up. Also the approval has to come from the Department Head. I am supposed to contact her on this Monday. I hope she has a answer. This is a hospital civil service position. Do you think she is giving me the run around? I worked for this institution for 15 years and was laid off a year ago. I need a job and I'm wondering if I should have just taken the offer immediately.

• Answer:

  No - you are right to stand for the correct pay level. What do you think has happened in the last year you weren't there? Did you ever feel you were overpaid? - if so, accept the lessor, but I wouldn't unless I got a written contract for a automatic raise within 12 months, to bring you back to your last wage. Good Luck!