<prompt> Human: I had an interview last week with a small municipality Im the Midwest. I fit the job description perfectly. I am an engineer with a niche background. And they are more or less looking for someone with my exact experience.Ive been talking with my husband and sister about this job and one or two others Ive applied to and how Im easily worth 35hr plus benefits, considering all my qualifications. For weeks Ive been telling myself this. And I know I am.Its a part time position though. Which is what I want. But they said no way to part time plus benefits. OK...figured so. But I had to ask.Overall, Interview went great. Its exactly what i want to be doing. Its exactly what Im good at. I can tell theyre optimistic about me coming to work there to start tackling their problems. Get to the end of the interview. I ask if they have any concerns about hiring me. They said only that I would find something better closer to home its about a 30mile drive and would quit. Then the city engineer brings up salary. And my brain shut down. I said something like I wont do it for less than 30-32. And he said that that was within their range.WTF, brain?!? I know I should have asked what they had in mind or something like that. Anything other than what I said.So I just low balled myself out of 3-5hr. Plus I dont get any benefits. So no insurance or retirement,etc.I spent the weekend thinking of ways to say something like Ive been considering the position more, and with no benefits package, I really feel the salary should be 35-37.Today I got an email stating they were going to move forward with the hiring process and do background and reference checks. And then I think we are in the ballpark regarding compensation?How should I broach this with them? Call or email? Bring it up directly or wait to see what they actually offer me then try to negotiate from there? I feel like I painted myself into an ugly corner here.And please dont tell me what I should have done. Trying to focus on how to move forward and not feel like Ive totally screwed myself over. Thanks!Assistant: I would wait for the offer and then reach out explaining that you feel you need more compensation since you are responsible for benefits yourself. What are you going to do if they say no?Human: Well its really a job Id like. Plus my husband was recently laid off. So Im planning to take it regardless, then kick myself every time I get a paycheck. And hope that I can make up for some of it at my annual review.  <response>: If they wont go up on their initial offer, you may be able to negotiate a schedule for raises once you have proved your worth to them and demonstrated that you intend to stick around.I did that at my current job as I started here after taking about a year out of my career to do other stuff and it worked out very well for us both. 