The Proper Ways to Discuss Salary in a Job Interview
Interviewing for a new position can be stressful. It's also a balancing act that takes time and practice to perfect.
When it comes to salary expectations, the pressure is growing exponentially. how much will they pay you? How much courage do you have to ask? What about benefits and other decisive factors? The way you play this game can add thousands of dollars to your salary. So how do we deal with this?
When should salary be discussed?
There are various schools of thought on this. Some say wait until the questioner mentions it. If they don't bring it up, shut up and wait for the next interview (if any). Some people say that if the interviewer doesn't mention it or avoids the topic, you should bring it up yourself. Others strongly believe that you shouldn't talk about salary until you get a job.
In fact, there are no right or wrong answers here. You need to know how the interview is going and the attitude of the person conducting the interview. If you can relate to this interviewer quickly and the conversation went very well, you can be pretty confident that it's okay to bring up the salary topic unsolicited.
But if you're interviewing behind a desk with little chit-chat with a cold interviewer, asking questions about salary in an already tense atmosphere can make matters worse.
If the interviewer starts talking about the topic without directly mentioning salary (benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, etc.), you instinctively bring it up.
Salary research is imperative
You probably already know the salary range for this position. If not, be prepared. Before you go to your first interview or even apply, do your research. Check sites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to find out what employees are salaries for the positions you're applying for. Get enough range. Next, find out how much different companies pay for the position and how that salary varies from state to state (or country to country).
You need to understand your worth and how much the market will pay someone with your skills and expertise. Once you have this information, put yourself in a position of trust. Knowledge is power, and proper research can give you a better bargaining position.
Use anchoring techniques
This is a technique widely used in sales, advertising and marketing. Contrary to popular belief, you should come up with the first number in your interview. Old-school interviewers and respondents will tell you that this is risky because you could give a number so high that you would be disqualified, or a number so low that you would lose more money. In fact, as long as you do your research and control the discussion, that's good.
Let's make a hypothesis. You can see that this position is worth, say, $95,000 a year plus benefits. They also know that you are highly qualified, have an excellent resume and impeccable testimonials, and that the company in question is struggling to fill the position. So they are asking for well over $95,000. Starting from $120,000+. You have good reason for wanting that kind of money. You're worth it, but the company can't fill the position every day, wasting time and money looking for candidates. If they really want you, they will pay. Otherwise they won't do it.
Tying the interviewer to a higher number will eventually allow you to negotiate a salary you're willing to accept. For example, $100,000 is probably $5,000 more than the company wanted, but $20,000 less than the asking price. Everyone is a winner.
When it comes to salary expectations, the pressure is growing exponentially. how much will they pay you? How much courage do you have to ask? What about benefits and other decisive factors? The way you play this game can add thousands of dollars to your salary. So how do we deal with this?
When should salary be discussed?
There are various schools of thought on this. Some say wait until the questioner mentions it. If they don't bring it up, shut up and wait for the next interview (if any). Some people say that if the interviewer doesn't mention it or avoids the topic, you should bring it up yourself. Others strongly believe that you shouldn't talk about salary until you get a job.
In fact, there are no right or wrong answers here. You need to know how the interview is going and the attitude of the person conducting the interview. If you can relate to this interviewer quickly and the conversation went very well, you can be pretty confident that it's okay to bring up the salary topic unsolicited.
But if you're interviewing behind a desk with little chit-chat with a cold interviewer, asking questions about salary in an already tense atmosphere can make matters worse.
If the interviewer starts talking about the topic without directly mentioning salary (benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, etc.), you instinctively bring it up.
Salary research is imperative
You probably already know the salary range for this position. If not, be prepared. Before you go to your first interview or even apply, do your research. Check sites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to find out what employees are salaries for the positions you're applying for. Get enough range. Next, find out how much different companies pay for the position and how that salary varies from state to state (or country to country).
You need to understand your worth and how much the market will pay someone with your skills and expertise. Once you have this information, put yourself in a position of trust. Knowledge is power, and proper research can give you a better bargaining position.
Use anchoring techniques
This is a technique widely used in sales, advertising and marketing. Contrary to popular belief, you should come up with the first number in your interview. Old-school interviewers and respondents will tell you that this is risky because you could give a number so high that you would be disqualified, or a number so low that you would lose more money. In fact, as long as you do your research and control the discussion, that's good.
Let's make a hypothesis. You can see that this position is worth, say, $95,000 a year plus benefits. They also know that you are highly qualified, have an excellent resume and impeccable testimonials, and that the company in question is struggling to fill the position. So they are asking for well over $95,000. Starting from $120,000+. You have good reason for wanting that kind of money. You're worth it, but the company can't fill the position every day, wasting time and money looking for candidates. If they really want you, they will pay. Otherwise they won't do it.
Tying the interviewer to a higher number will eventually allow you to negotiate a salary you're willing to accept. For example, $100,000 is probably $5,000 more than the company wanted, but $20,000 less than the asking price. Everyone is a winner.
How to tackle some of the tricky salary questions
I get asked a lot about my salary. Remember you are negotiating. They want the most money for the role, but they want to pay as little as possible. Here are some typical questions and how to deal with them.
"What salary range are you looking for?"
Let's think about it. That's a silly question. They ask you, "What is the minimum amount I can pay for this role, and what is the maximum amount?" Do you feel you are receiving the top of your salary range? Of course not. You already told them how cheap you can buy them.
So limit your answers to those that you have little room for change. Example: "I'm looking for a salary in the high $90s" focuses on a salary of at least $97,000 annually. Say "$90,000 to $100,000" and you'll get $90,000.
"How much do you earn now?"
This may seem like a perfectly harmless question, but it's also a thorny one. You may be making $60,000 a year right now, but what now? After doing your research and combining it with your own experience, you know that the position you're applying for will earn you at least $80,000 a year.
Don't fall into this trap. You are selling yourself short. Answer something like, "Comparing my current salary to this role is like apples and oranges." If you can provide more details about your role, benefits, working hours, workload, etc., I'll get back to you. what is the salary i am asking for
"What is your salary forecast?"
"Um... I want as much money as possible, please!" Of course that's not the right answer, but that's what you're thinking. Again, you need to be realistic based on the research you've done so far, your current level of experience, and what you can bring to this new venture. It doesn't hurt to say, "This is a question I can't answer until I have a better understanding of the job's requirements and the benefits that come with it."
"We really want you, but we can't afford you. Can you take a pay cut?"
If you've already quoted a price and were asked this question, don't give up. If you really want it, you should be willing to pay for it. This is a sneaky way to keep your expectations low. they say: “We are cheap, so we want to pay the bare minimum.”
Well, you can't answer that question without knowing what that minimum is. Never say, "I'll think about it," or, "Of course, if that's what it takes for me to step in." Instead, have the entire offer on the table first, including benefits, travel allowance, time off, sick leave, etc. If other concessions were given to you, you could earn less than you do now. For example, he may only work four days a week, work remotely, or take six weeks of paid vacation.
Remember that salary negotiation is an important part of the interview. But you shouldn't be penalized for wanting a good living wage. Good Luck!
I get asked a lot about my salary. Remember you are negotiating. They want the most money for the role, but they want to pay as little as possible. Here are some typical questions and how to deal with them.
"What salary range are you looking for?"
Let's think about it. That's a silly question. They ask you, "What is the minimum amount I can pay for this role, and what is the maximum amount?" Do you feel you are receiving the top of your salary range? Of course not. You already told them how cheap you can buy them.
So limit your answers to those that you have little room for change. Example: "I'm looking for a salary in the high $90s" focuses on a salary of at least $97,000 annually. Say "$90,000 to $100,000" and you'll get $90,000.
"How much do you earn now?"
This may seem like a perfectly harmless question, but it's also a thorny one. You may be making $60,000 a year right now, but what now? After doing your research and combining it with your own experience, you know that the position you're applying for will earn you at least $80,000 a year.
Don't fall into this trap. You are selling yourself short. Answer something like, "Comparing my current salary to this role is like apples and oranges." If you can provide more details about your role, benefits, working hours, workload, etc., I'll get back to you. what is the salary i am asking for
"What is your salary forecast?"
"Um... I want as much money as possible, please!" Of course that's not the right answer, but that's what you're thinking. Again, you need to be realistic based on the research you've done so far, your current level of experience, and what you can bring to this new venture. It doesn't hurt to say, "This is a question I can't answer until I have a better understanding of the job's requirements and the benefits that come with it."
"We really want you, but we can't afford you. Can you take a pay cut?"
If you've already quoted a price and were asked this question, don't give up. If you really want it, you should be willing to pay for it. This is a sneaky way to keep your expectations low. they say: “We are cheap, so we want to pay the bare minimum.”
Well, you can't answer that question without knowing what that minimum is. Never say, "I'll think about it," or, "Of course, if that's what it takes for me to step in." Instead, have the entire offer on the table first, including benefits, travel allowance, time off, sick leave, etc. If other concessions were given to you, you could earn less than you do now. For example, he may only work four days a week, work remotely, or take six weeks of paid vacation.
Remember that salary negotiation is an important part of the interview. But you shouldn't be penalized for wanting a good living wage. Good Luck!