negotiating salary for gov't job with posted pay range

[keithwriter -at- hotmail -dot- com]

I'm looking for insights into negotiating the salary for a government job,
where the salary range for the position is cleary posted. A job I'm
interviewing for has a very precise range stated in the ad, down to
specific dollars such as "$47,646 to $75,432." So with that given, I
wondered what strategies you may have used to aim for the high end of a
stated range.

Other jobs I've interviewed for either gave ballpark ranges or no range at
all, leaving it up to me to strategize and try to come up with a salary
range I'd be happy with, which I hoped would share some common ground with
their range.

But in this case, I know the exact range, and - adding to the weirdness -
they know that I know.

In situations like that, where the employer knows that the candidate is
aware of how much they are willing to spend, what does it take to get them
to cough up that top salary? Obviously, skills and experience, and a good
impression made by the candidate. But to get to the absolute top - an
amount they are supposedly willing to spend for the right candidate - is
there any unspoken criteria? Would the top figure only be awarded to
somebody being promoted from within, since they're known quantity? Is it
too ballsy to ask for top dollar - will that turn off an employer? But on
the other hand, how am I supposed to be happy with an offer that I *know*
falls substantially below their upper range?

In my case, the top salary being offered is almost exactly what I was
making at my last gig, so I already have a history in that salary range.
And I think I'm a fit for the gig, based on the job description, and how
quickly they lined up an interview. But I'm wary of being oblivious to
some unspoken rule about how much one can ask for without seeming
presumptuous or greedy. (I'm already feeling presumptuous for projecting
that I may get an offer, but I want to have my negotiation strategy down
before I walk in the door, just in case.) The last time I negotiated a
salary was in '99, in a MUCH different economic climate, so I'm wary of
mishandling this opportunity.

Any insights from people with experience with government jobs would be
appreciated - thanks!


Keith C.
writing on a day when no turkeys are thankful

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