Take my client, a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years experience under her belt. She got a letter from a recruiter in response to an ad she answered that in essence said: You want to meet with the company I represent? They'd like to meet you too. But you gotta pay your way. Airfare, hotel, all your expenses.

Shocked and offended, she refused to foot the bill and didn't get the interview. Three months later, she was desperate for work. So when she learned about a position on the East coast and was told the company wouldn't pay for her expenses to interview, she swallowed her pride and pulled out her Mastercard, knowing she wouldn't be reimbursed.

"I was willing to do what others weren't," she told me. And, by golly, she got the job.

She didn't stop there. She had to fly back into town a few weeks later to look for a place to live. The company didn't pay a dime. She also packed up her things, moved herself and her two cats and stayed in a hotel without any financial help from the company.

I don't know many workers who are willing to suck it up and pay up to get an interview, let alone move themselves across country for a new job. And I'm not saying you should. You need to evaluate your situation and decide what you are willing to do at times like these.

Another shift from the way things were that continues to show up is the lower demand for M.B.A. graduates, who typically assume they can command $10,000 to $15,000 more salary.

Even thriving companies are wary of hiring expensive M.B.A. talent until it's necessary, says Ron Alsop in an article on CollegeJournal.com. Also, you can pretty much kiss goodbye big signing bonuses, year-end bonuses and stock options

The majority of business schools are also reporting fewer recruiters than last year-some seeing a 50% drop in the number of companies on campus, he said.

But many M.B.A. students seem intent on bucking this reality. Cited in the article were findings of a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showing that 54% of recruiters said students are still trying to negotiate bigger salaries.

And even though nearly half the companies surveyed said they plan to keep M.B.A. salaries flat, almost thirty percent of recruiters "find that students' sense of entitlement has not diminished during the economic downturn."

Like everything, we're in a cycle. In this one, the employer has the leverage when it comes to hiring in some industries and locales. It won't last forever. In some cases you have just as much leverage as ever. Depending on your particular situation, for now, you may need to lighten up on your expectations. But don't forget that when it comes to a career that can span a lifetime, you'll always be calling the shots.

© by Andrea Kay