What Are Your Salary Expectations?
While this question can definitely create a bit of awkwardness during a job interview, being prepared can help you easily navigate this once the question is asked. It is important to know that interviewers are not asking this question to judge if you are pricing yourself to high or to low. They genuinely want to make sure that neither of you are not wasting your time and effort going through several rounds of interviews to find out they are unable to offer you what you are expecting. In an "ideal" situation, a recruiter would be upfront and transparent and bring up the salary range first, however more times than not this is not the case. Below, I will share several tips you can use to answer this question during your next interview.
Prior to your scheduled interview, do your research. Sites like Glassdoor.com, Salary.com and Payscale.com all have salary data that you are able to review. Take a look at these sites to get a better understanding of current salary trends and ranges for your particular industry and job role.
Once you have done your research, know your bottom line! This is very important. Take into consideration your household, childcare, transportation and entertainment budget. Think about all of these factors ahead of time so that you are prepared to respond based on your actual needs and and don't accidentally accept a salary that doesn't align with your lifestyle.
3 Tips for Answering, "What Are Your Salary Expectations?"
1. Give Them a Range
Give the interviewer a range based on your bottom line and your previous research. By giving a range and not just a single number, you are showing that you are flexible with room for negotiation. This also shows that you have done your research and know your worth.
When giving your response, don't forget to include your experience and what you are bringing to the table.
Example Response:
"With my experience, skills, and certifications, I would expect to receive something in the range of $78,000 to $86,000. I am also taking benefits into consideration, your free on-site gym, the commuter benefits, and other perks could definitely allow me to be a bit flexible with salary."
2. Offer a Salary Range with Negotiation Options
Let the interviewer know that you are open for negotiation and would like to know what salary range they currently have in mine for someone with your particular skillset. If they respond back to you with a range that meets or exceeds your salary expectations, let them know that is great and sounds perfect for you. However, if they mention a range that is below your minimum expectations, you will have to be prepared with a response.
Example Response:
“Thanks for this information, I was hoping for something more in the $80,000-to-$85,000 range, but I’m definitely open to negotiating based on the entire compensation package.”
While the employer may not have budgeted enough for your ideal salary range, they may be willing to offer equity in the company to make the compensation package more attractive to you.
3. Deflect the Question
If you are still in early on in the interviewing phase and learning about the company and their benefit offerings, you may want to deflect or delay answering questions regarding your salary expectations. Keep in mind you will eventually have to answer this question, so it is still a good idea to keep your target number or range in mind.
Example Response:
"Right now, finding the right position for me is more important than salary. Before I answer, I would like to learn more about what the company, benefits and what this position entails. That way, I am able to provide you with a more realistic salary expectation."
With these three tips, I want you to remember the value that you are bringing to the table. Share that value with the interviewer to remind them as well, reminding them why they should invest in You!
