When an interviewer asks, "What are your salary expectations?"
If you are in a hurry to end an interview quickly, and this question is one of the first ones to be asked, you can eliminate yourself quickly by giving an unrealistic answer to this question. This should be one of the most thoughtful answers you can give in the process of being hired. You should defer this question until the company has told you they want to hire you for the job. . e% Y8 u" h/ s
' z1 X% n! p. GThe interview is where you learn the preliminary details about the position, so you can determine what it would be worth to you if you decide to accept the position. It is wise not to focus completely on salary expectations during the interview, as you will also want to consider the other benefits being offered by the company. Do not state your salary expectations on an application or in an interview unless you already know enough about the job and what the company is willing to offer. You need to understand the "big picture" before you can determine what role the salary plays in rewarding your efforts.
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8 @0 I5 b6 s* W7 KIf the interviewer pursues this question beyond a short answer, do not be intimidated by attempts to probe into issues. Fielding this question requires you to not let down your guard by confessing all your self perceived weaknesses, past incidents with former employers, or any other unpleasant information. If you are uncomfortable with where this question takes your conversation, have a good escape clause ready to throw the conversation into a different direction. To move on, you might say something like:. I$ Q6 W- m1 J3 j& L4 x
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"I would like to table the issue of salary for the moment, until I know more about the job you will be asking me to do."
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When considering a job offer, you should take into account how far you live from job site, what kind of health insurance, dental insurance, disability, retirement, perks, bonuses, and services the company has to offer you as an employee. These details are not usually covered at length during an interview, but they should have a big impact on your decision to balance all the elements in deciding whether or not to accept the salary being offered. Since there is so much other information needed to analyze the level of salary, you should insist on time to look over the company's benefit package before responding with salary expectations. + |9 T# {/ F9 ?- s/ j6 |: D. p
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You should be ready to find out how much the company thinks the job is worth, and consider the figure they quote as their lowest bid for the job. If you are given a salary range, your response and decision should be based on the highest possible starting point for the range of salary provided. When you pursue the top end of the salary range, it sends a signal that you feel qualified and confident in your own ability to perform the job.8 P: G1 x8 v5 ]& ?( n
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It will be helpful to your decision to find out how much flexibility is in their starting figure, and how often they give salary reviews once you are working. It is very likely that your most significant salary boost will happen on the day you are offered the position. Once the company makes you their employee, you will be subject to all the rules, regulations, and drawn out excuses for slowing down your financial progress. + D$ X2 f, f7 \8 v/ z/ v5 c
! \/ L" i) [- x! \8 k& b+ oFor many people, the quickest way to move up the corporate ladder is to change companies, and negotiate a reasonable increase in wages with each new company you work for. All your detailed salary discussions should take place at the end of the hiring process, and after you have confirmed the company's interest in bringing you on as an employee. Until you have an offer for employment, you should firmly defer discussing your salary in detail. : |. s6 ]8 q7 D4 d
9 G @! d% T7 V' I e6 VTry using responses something like this:" C! F, S1 m; }6 j
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"We can talk about salary once I have had a chance to review more details about the job, and the benefit package available from your company. It does not make sense for me to talk about salary before knowing if I am a fit for the position. I am sure you are willing to offer a fair wage for the position, but right now, you are more qualified to tell me what the job is worth to the company than I am."7 W! O; Y, ^# {1 \; A8 [
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If an interviewer insists on you quoting a salary range, or asks you to tell them the minimum amount you are willing to accept to do the job, and this action takes place early in the interview, you will need to be strong enough to insist on more details before you can answer their question. Tips for doing this without appearing circumspect are to include the following types of comments:
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"You want me to give you a salary I want for the position, but I am not sure what your position involves yet. I'm sorry, but I need more information about what kind of work you are expecting me to do for you."; [1 `. F* y' r0 i& X8 Y, o& r
9 c+ Y* e! v, p: z; ?) z"The salary I need will depend on what benefits you offer, and how much I will have to pay from my salary to take advantage of your insurance plans and other expenses."% @- o6 I. Z* \! l$ `# \ {0 h
/ a! ?' `. x' ^: t"Are you offering me a job right now?"
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The idea here is to make the interviewer realize that you do not have enough data to quote a salary minimum, or even a reasonable range until you are able to learn more about the details of the job, and what the company is willing to offer in pay AND benefits. If the interviewer insists that the interview cannot proceed without first knowing what salary you have in mind, consider thanking them for their time and leaving the interview. All these tactics are aimed at getting the company to be the first to name a salary for any position.
