Reaching the end of a promising job interview, the Human Resources Officer was impressed with the confidence of a young engineer fresh out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Asking one final question, he said, “And what starting salary are you looking for?” 

The young engineer replied, “I’m expecting something in the region of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package.” 

The interviewer is a little stunned, and thinks for a moment, digesting that information. He then asks, “Well, what would you say to a package of five weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?” 

The engineer sits up straight and says, “Wow! Are you kidding?” The interviewer replies, “Yeah, but you started it.”